The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park also known as the PP Underground River lies in Palawan Province at a distance of 50 Km to the north of Puerto Princesa city.

Visiting the amazing underground caves is an experience like no other; after visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) you will know the difference between the bounties of nature carry and that an out of this world experience exists right here; it will also reveal to you how far we have come from a people who were at one time closer to nature.

The Underground River is a colorful and enigmatic spectacle like no other. Not only is it the longest river in the world which can be navigated, it is also replete with stunning rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites, as well as a spectacle diversity of the ecosystem that will truly make anyone’s trip memorable.

It is decked with ancient trees at the commencement of the cave which has a variety of fauna in the adjacent beach.

This area is teeming with a variety of exotic fauna like monitor lizards, Monkeys and squirrels due to the natural surroundings; a clean, clear lagoon welcomes visitors at the beginning of the underground tour.  Bottom of Form

That being so, the feeling of having visited an alien land may persist with you for quite some time following the refreshing tour. The intricate looks of the beautiful underground rock formations reflect the marvelous artistry of the hands of nature that have resulted in declaring this place a World Heritage Site while also being bestowed with the distinction of finding its deserved place in the New seven Wonders of Nature.

This distinction, declared on November 11^th 2011, prompted the then President of the Philippines to declare November 11^th III as Puerto Princesa Underground River Day.

Sabang is a simple fishermen’s village which is like the base camp for the visit to PPUR; it now has all the facilities that you could hope for; it lies on the western coast of Palawan province. It is als accessible through various modes

Location

Note: The following arrangements that have been noted hereafter might have been altered, changed or dropped; this document is only for basic information, kindly make your own enquiries. The author or thephilippinepride.com do not take any responsibility for the correctness or accuracy of the info provided.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National also known as the PP Underground River lies in Palawan Province at a distance of 50 Km to the north of Puerto Princesa city.

At Sabang pier, the permit for entry to the underground river has to be purchased prior to setting off; the cost for entry is P 250. However, tickets are also available at Puerto Princesa. Since the permits issued daily are limited, you should book two or three days in advance to avoid disappointment during holiday season.

There are some flights available from Puerto Princesa to the Underground River; most of the domestic air carriers have service here. The following airlines have regular services:

1. AirAsia,
2. Philippine Airlines, and
3. Cebu Air Pacific etc.

• The flying time is about from Manila is approximately 1 Hour and 15 Minutes.

Bangka boats are available at the Sabang pier and you may even walk down the five km route through the jungle trail; this route can be utilized in the return direction too.

There is another boat ride from the cave mouth to the underground river and you must, after getting your boat number, be on the watch so that you do not miss your boat; this place is highly commercialized and groups are cared for more.

 

From Puerto Princesa city to Sabang Port

 

Option 1 – By Shuttle Van

There is a shuttle van service from San Jose Terminal to Sabang Port.

The fare is :

1. For foreigners P 200, and
2. For locals: P 150.

Travel Time: Less than two hours

Advance reservation is recommended to avoid getting stuck up

Reserve for return trip as soon as you arrive at Sabang Port.

Shuttle van goes non-stop.

Schedule:

Puerto Princesa to Sabang (vice versa) – Starting from 7:30 AM they are available every one or two hours – till 5.00 PM.

 

Option 2 – Via Jeepney or Non Air Conditioned Bus

There are also non air conditioned buses and jeepneys going to Sabang Port that can be found in the San Jose Terminal.

The fare is about P100 for Palawan locals,

P120 for local tourists and

P200 for foreigners.

The travel time, is just short of three hours since there are frequent stops and halts to fill up the passengers; there is no advance reservation available for jeepneys and buses.

Schedule:

Puerto Princesa to Sabang (vice versa) – Starting from, they are available almost hourly till 2:00 PM.

From Puerto Princesa city to reach the San Jose Terminal you have to one of the multicabs plying between San Jose and the city proper and vice versa.

The cost is only about P 15.

 

Option 3

Shared tricycles are also an option costing about P 80 for all combined.

San Jose Terminal is in the San Jose New Market, near Robinson’s Mall.

Other attractions

There are some other attractions around the area which may be of interest if you are not going on a whirlwind tour; for the leisurely travelers the following places might be of interest:

1. The jungle trail and the Monkey Trail for those who like to wander around,
2. Daylight Hole cave,
3. Kawili cave,
4. Lion’s Cave,
5. Elephant Cave karst mountain,
6. Ugong Rock adventures,
7. Sabang Waterfalls, and
8. The Mangrove Forest.

Accomodations

The joy of staying and enjoying your stay in any tourist spot lies in getting cost-effective accommodations that do not bore a hole in your pocket; in a way, it makes the joy of your stay more enjoyable. Hygiene and other aspects of proper service are taken care of efficiently.

At Sabang, you can easily get a comfortable room or even a cottage for anything below P 500; cheap accommodation does not mean low quality services here.

Some of these accommodations may suffer from power breakdowns or failure of internet sometimes but that is quite normal in countries in the third world.

There are a large number of resorts and cottages around and most of them are reasonably priced.

Security tips

Some security tips that should be observed to prevent any mishaps are necessary when you visit this national park; they are:

• Stick to the rules that require visitors to wear protective gear like a life jacket and a hard hat; these should be worn throughout the tour,
• Do not overlook the boatman’s instructions,
• Stay within the boat without standing or moving too much,
• Monkeys or other animals should not be teased or fed; maintain a safe distance from the animals and keep a tight hold on your belongings to avoid snatching by monkeys,
• Polythene bags are prohibited unless thjey are bio-degradable,
• Swimming is only permitted at Sabang beach; one inside the underground river, swimming is strictly prohibited since there have been some incidents involving drowning of visitors. Even in the beach visitors have to wear a life jacket and remain with the area designated for swimming,
• Never go alone in the jungle trail or monkey trail since the terrain can be deceptive and tricky,
• Insect repellents and sunscreen lotions must be liberally used while moving outdoors; a lip balm and sunglasses with UV blocking properties are also a must,
• Sabang is not known for its crime rate but, care should still be exercised to preserve your belongings from theft,
• These tours are not social gatherings to flaunt your valuables; kindly avoid wearing valuables to have an enjoyable excursion.

 

Get protection – Health tips

As is customary while visiting new locations, it is necessary to consult your doctor before leaving home so that he can advise you regarding the precautions to take keeping the intended location of your trip in mind.

The most common need is to get a flu shot and get yourself vaccinated before you embark on your trip. There are other common medicines that help you with common ailments while visiting abroad, these should be carried and preserved.

Most people love street food and fast food while travelling; gourmands are particularly advised to get themselves vaccinated beforehand since there is a very real risk of contracting Hepatitis A or B.

Use repellents and medicines

Though Malaria is on a decline, there are still cases of this disease and Palawan still see such cases; Sabang also does not have a high incidence of Malaria but there still is a real danger of being infected. Hence, please carry the protective medicines and repellents to protect yourself. Natural products are recommended.

Carry your own water

Traveler’s diarrhea is the main ailment that ruins the enjoyment of the vacations for a large number of tourists that are afflicted every year; it may be due to your own follies affects millions of tourists worldwide each year. So you don’t become a victim of this vacation-ruining ailment, it would be a smart move to bring your own water.

To remain safe from the scourge of water bourne diseases in an alien land, it is very important to be extra careful in ensuring that you are not taking a chance when consuming water from anywhere, however clean it may look.

In fact, a common mistake made by tourists is to trust ice while being careful while consuming water; in this case, it is suggested not to overlook the germs that the ice carries due to the use of unclean water for its preparation. Keeping yourself hydrated continuously is necessary during all travels.

Avoid heat stroke

Heat stroke is quite a common occurrence that mars the vacations for many a tourist who come to Palawan without making proper arrangements or do not take care of their habits or lifestyle while visiting Palawan. Hence, the suggestion is to wear light clothing and drink a lot of water at regular intervals. Other precautions that will help a lot include wearing a hat with a wide brim and carrying a wet towel or tissues around for keeping yourself hydrated.

To prevent this from happening, be sure to wear light clothing during your travel. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and drink plenty of water. If you’re feeling hot, relieve yourself by applying a wet towel on your forehead, face and neck.

As suggested earlier, all precautions should be followed scrupulously.

However, a note of caution to all visitors; it is more convenient to get a guided tour to avoid all sorts of inconvenience.

 

Umrao Singh                                                    umraoz.wordpress.com

 

Written for:  Lars-Magnus Carlsson                             www.thephilippinepride.com

 

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