- Overview
- Registering at the Tourist Information Center
- Going to the Underground River Entrance
- Paddle Boat Tour inside the Underground River
Here’s what you should do to get inside the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River without taking a packaged tour.
- Get a Visitor Entry Permit to the Underground River.
- Go to Sabang Port at Brgy. Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa.
- Register at the Sabang Port Tourist Information Center.
- Get to the entrance of the Underground River for the start of the Paddle Boat Tour.
- Do the Paddle Boat Tour inside the Underground River.
Since I’ve done a post on the first 2 items (click on them to get to the post) I’ll discuss the steps 3 and 4.
Registering at the Tourist Information Center
When you arrive at Sabang Port at Brgy. Cabayugan, go to the Tourist Information Center and register to let them know that you have arrived for your scheduled Underground River Paddle Boat Tour.
You must register at least an hour before your tour.
Do not forget to bring a valid ID when you register as this is required.
Going to the Underground River Entrance
There are 2 ways for you to get to the Underground River Entrance and that is
Riding a Pumpboat to the Entrance of the Underground River
This is the easiest way to get to the Underground River Entrance. You’ll just ride a boat from Sabang Port up to the beach near the entrance, then a little walk to until you reach the paddle boats at the entrance of the Underground River. They will also wait for you until your paddle boat tour ends.
To arrange your round-trip pumpboat, during your registration at the Tourist Information Center tell the officer there that you will be riding the pumpboat to the Underground River Entrance. The officer will then arrange your boat and you will wait at the port until your name is called.
The boat ride will take about 15 minutes (one-way) on good weather to reach the beach to the Underground River and the walk to where the paddle boats are may take 10 to 15 minutes depending on how picture addict your group is.
When you ride the boat wear clothes that are ready to be wet as the transit to and from the beach near the Underground River may have strong waves. Life vests are provided. 😉
The rates of the boats are
Monkey Trail to the Entrance of the Underground River
The cheapest way to the Underground River is to trek that Monkey Trail until you reach the entrance to the river.
The total distance that you will be trekking is 5.3 kms and may take up to 2 hours at slow pace.
After the Paddle Boat Tour, you’ll have to trek back on the Monkey Trail again.
Additional Notes
- Before you reach the monkey trail you will first arrive at the jumpoff for the Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour, you will need to ask their assistance to cross a small river to the Monkey Trial. A little donation would not hurt.
Mangrove Forest Paddle Boats
- Never bring plastics that can be seen by the monkeys on the trail. They attack automatically at people with plastics to get the plastics because they think that is food. It is best to bring a bag that is securely fastened to you.
- Don’t forget to bring water and small snack.
- There are trail signs that will not make you lost inside the trails but if you are not confident you can hire a guide at the Tourist Information Center. The guide could costs 500 to 700 Pesos.
What if I did the Monkey Trail and after the Paddle Boat Tour I do not want to do it again?
You can ask the people that handles the paddle boat tours to radio to the Tourist Information Center and send a boat to the beach near the Underground River. The cost of the boat would be 600 Pesos for 6 pax.
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Paddle Boat Tour inside the Underground River
Paddleboats at the entrance of the Puerto Princesa Underground River
When you reach the paddle boats at the entrance of the Underground River, you have to register again, simply ride the Paddle Boat and enjoy your tour inside while laughing at the crazy jokes of the tour guide.
I highly advise that the people in the front of the paddle boat be attentive to the instructions of the tour guide as they will be the one pointing the light on the different spots of the Underground River. My brother experienced having 2 lovers in front of the paddle boat and they just flirted with each other the whole tour! and they only pointed the spotlight on whatever they desire.
The Paddle Boat Tour inside takes about 45 minutes. Life vests are provided.
Inside the Puerto Princesa Underground River
I hope this post helps for you to plan your visit to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River.
This post is part of my 12 for 2012 Travel Project which aims to document places in the Philippines to help travellers.
Follow my Puerto Princesa Series
- Cheaper Way to Tour Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Helpful)
- Environmental Enforcement Museum (Must Visit!)
- Iwahig Firefly Watching (Must Try!)
- Badjao Seafront Restaurant (Food)
- Kalui Restaurant (Food)
- Kinabuchs Grill and Bar (Food)
- Noki Nocs (Food)
- Puerto Princesa Do-It-Yourself 4D3N Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
- Puerto Princesa, Palawan 3D2N Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
Follow my Sabang Port, Puerto Princesa Series
- 9 Things to Do at Sabang in Puerto Princesa (Overview)
- Puerto Princesa Underground River Do-It-Yourself Travel Guide (Helpful)
- How to get an Entry Permit to the Underground River in Puerto Princesa (Helpful)
- How to get to Sabang, Puerto Princesa (Helpful)
- Lodgings in Sabang, Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Helpful)
- Sabang Waterfalls
- Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour
- Food Tripping in Sabang
- Ugong Rock Caving
Just want to ask bout the rates of boats is this per pax or the 700 for the whole 6pax? ty
Hi Geezelle, it is as it is written.
This is very helpful. I visited pp last year and signed up for packaged tour. we’re going back this year and I think we’re going DIY. Thanks for the tips and detailed info.
You’re welcome Baye. Enjoy your trip back to the Underground River. 🙂
how much is the paddle boat to go inside the Underground River?
Hi Odie, the permit to the Underground River that costs 175 Pesos per person for Filipinos already covers the paddle boat tour.
hello,
just out of curiosity,
why is it that the filipino and foreigner permit rates are different?
my bf wasnt very well pleased when we read ur blog 😀
Good question Alanna. I’ve been trying to answer that question for years and I still do not have the answer. Maybe we should try asking the people responsible directly.
Hello there! Thanks so much for this very reliable information. I now know what the permit is and so paddle boat and monkey trail are for. Btw, Sir, does the registration to the Paddle Boat Tour requires additional payment or what? And in your opinion, is it okay to do Monkey Trail if I’ll be with my folks? Like ages from 40-60? I’ve read it’s try, but I’m also afraid if the trail is steep and risky.
so how much does the whole underground river experience really cost for 8 people taking the ferry to the entrance of the river?
I will be traveling in palawan for 5 days and four nights. However, during the duration of my stay i booked it in a hotel in puerto princesa proper. With your post, i wanted to experience Mangrove Paddle Boat tour and Ugong Rock caving and Zipline. Do I really need to stay in Sabang for that or it can be accommodated in a one day tour? I have my reservation as well with underground river.
your immediate advice and reply is very much appreciated.
joven
Hi Joven, you can do the Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour, Ugong Rock Caving and Zipline including the Underground River in a single day given that you have the freedom of time and quick feet to go to one place to another. But I highly advise that you stay in Sabang for a slower travel to enjoy the sites more.
hi, is it possible that you can get the Underground River Permit in the Tourist Information in Sabang? Thank you
Hi Maia, unfortunately it is no longer possible. You can only get a permit via the UR booking office at the city coliseum.
thanks so much for the reply! Your blog is very helpful indeed. I am so excited going to Palawan. 🙂
But anyway I am also looking forward to the online booking system that will be up and running soon by January 2013. Thanks!
Me too! I’m excited for their online booking system. I hope this gives equality for the DIY travelers from the tour operators that does tours to the Underground River.
Hi Josiah.
I’ll be in P.princesa Mar.10 night to Mar.13 afternoon. Is it possible if I will try my luck on the 11th morning to register for the following day’s underground river tour. Will I be able to get a permit?
Thank you very much. Such a helpful blog.
Hi Chris,
Yes it is possible for you to try your luck for the 11th, but I’m not the PPUR Office and they are the only ones who can tell someone or a group whether the booking is full. So I’m not sure whether you will get a permit or not. But I do hope so.
Hi, can i ask youmhow much all the cost when u go po in underground river all in.?
It is possible po n mkapag mangrove paddle boat muna kami bfore mg undergroundriver nd go back to hotel n need nming umalik sa sabang port pbalik
Hi Maja, I think you could get all the information you need if you read the posts that I made. But better if you also check-out other blogs as the data of this post were from 2012, they may be outdated.
sir is 8pax is max? ilang person per boat? kasi 10 kami lahat…
8 pax po ang max dun sa huling visit ko. Kung 10 persons po kayo, kailangan 2 boats na po.
Hi!!!super helpful netong blog mo…tanong q lng…2 lng kasi kaming pupunta ng puerto prinsesa mas makakamura ba kami pag nag DIY kami s underground river? Or dun s package?
Hi Jonah, thank you! Opo, masmakakatipid po kayo kung DIY, pero hindi ko po inaadvice na magDIY po kayo for the Underground River dahil mabilis po magka-ubusan ng permit. Kapag naubusan na po kayo ng permit hindi na po kayo pwede pumasok ng Underground River.