The Puerto Princesa Underground River

Quick answer

• What it is: an 8.2 km underground river through a limestone cave, part of a UNESCO World Heritage national park and one of the New7Wonders of Nature.
• Permit first: every visitor needs a Visitor Entry Permit from the Underground River Booking Office at the City Coliseum in Puerto Princesa. No permit, no entry.
• Daily limit: 900 visitors a day, so book ahead or join a tour that includes the permit.
• Getting there: a drive of about two hours from Puerto Princesa to Sabang, then a short boat ride to the cave.
• Tours run: from 8 am to 4 pm, weather permitting.

Why it is a wonder

On the west coast of Palawan, a river disappears into the base of a limestone mountain and runs through it in the dark before emptying into the sea. The Puerto Princesa Underground River is 8.2 km long, and its lower half is brackish and rises and falls with the ocean’s tide.

The river is the heart of the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where forest runs from the mountains right down to the coast. It was also named one of the New7Wonders of Nature.

Gliding into the cave mouth by paddle boat, from a green lagoon into total darkness, with the boatman’s light picking out rock formations overhead, is one of the great experiences of a trip to the Philippines.

Beat the crowds

• Book ahead. The park allows 900 visitors a day, and permits sell out in peak season.
• Aim for an early slot. Tours run from 8 am to 4 pm, and the earliest boats are the calmest.
• Stay a night in Sabang if you can, so you aren’t racing the day tours from the city.

Getting there

The river is within Puerto Princesa’s city limits, but it is in Sabang, on the far side of Palawan from the city centre.

1. Get your permit. Every visitor needs a Visitor Entry Permit from the Underground River Booking Office at the City Coliseum in Puerto Princesa, before going to the park. Bring a valid ID; everyone registers individually. Most tours handle this for you.
2. Drive to Sabang, about two hours by road from the city, by tour van, private car or local transport.
3. Take the boat from Sabang to the beach near the cave, then walk the short trail to the river mouth.

Hikers who are fit for mountainous terrain can take a 5.3 km trail from Sabang to the cave entrance instead of the boat.

A perfect day

1. Leave Puerto Princesa early with your permit or tour.
2. Board a boat in Sabang and cross the bay to the park.
3. Paddle into the cave with a guide, wearing your life jacket and hard hat, and keep quiet to hear the drip of water and the bats.
4. Have lunch in Sabang, then relax on the beach or head back to the city.

Through the seasons

• December to May: the drier months on the western side of Palawan, with calmer seas for the boat to the cave.
• June to November: the rainy season. The park stays open, but rough seas can suspend boats, and storms can cancel trips at short notice.

See our guide to typhoon season for planning around the weather.

Respect the place

The cave and forest are fragile and protected.

• Stay in the boat and follow your guide’s instructions.
• Don’t touch the rock formations, and keep your hands and voice down so as not to disturb wildlife.
• Avoid flash photography if your guide asks you to.
• Leave nothing behind, on the boat, the beach or the trail.

Photo gallery

📍 Open in Google Maps

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for the Underground River?

Yes. All visitors must get a Visitor Entry Permit from the Underground River Booking Office before going to the park, and register individually with a valid ID. Most tours from Puerto Princesa arrange the permit for you.

How long is the Underground River?

The river is 8.2 km long. The standard paddle-boat tour covers only the first part; longer trips further into the cave need a special arrangement.

Is the Underground River in Puerto Princesa City?

It is within the city's boundaries, but it is in Sabang, on the other side of Palawan from the city centre, about two hours away by road.

Is it open in the rainy season?

Tours run all year, weather permitting. Rough seas can stop the boats between Sabang and the cave, so keep a spare day if you travel between June and November.

Can children visit?

Yes. Visitors wear life jackets and hard hats on the boats. Check the current rules for young children with the booking office or your tour.

Next wonder · No. 4

El Nido's Big and Small Lagoons

Two hidden lagoons inside the limestone cliffs of Miniloc Island, reached by kayak or a swim from the boat.