Underground River

Underground River Tour in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

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I decided to have a short vacation and since I’m in Palawan and my friends are frustrated when people ask them that they are from Palawan and have yet to enter the Underground River (1,500 Pesos/person), we decided to end that frustration.

Hello Underground River. We meet again. #UndergroundRiver #PuertoPrincesa #Palawan

A photo posted by Lakas ng Trip (@lakasngtrip) on

We booked with Northern Hope Tours a week in advance just to be sure that we get slots to enter the Underground River. I do not want to risk traveling all the way to Puerto Princesa just to be rejected entry.

They adviced us that pick-up will be from 7AM to around 7:30AM, so we had breakfast around 6AM for us to be able to have breakfast and get ready for the tour.

7:00 AM We were picked up in from our accommodation, Kuhl-in Pension. When we boarded there were other groups inside the van and since we were the last group to be picked up the van was now headed straight to Sabang, or so I thought.

Failed Attempt to trek the Monkey Trail to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, Palawan

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It was the morning after our visit to the Iwahig Firefly Watching. Our plan was to do the Underground River via Do-It-Yourself, lucky for us since we got to secure our permit from the Underground River Booking Office.

Failed Attempt to trek the Monkey Trail to the Underground River in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

We woke up early and checked out of our lodge in Puerto Princesa for us to catch the 7:30 AM trip to Sabang via Lexus Shuttle Services. When we arrived on their terminal, there were 2 caucasian guys (I forgot the nationality) that were asking if they could still get on the van. Since we all looked like backpackers it was easy for us to get to chat with them. We found out that they still do not have a permit to the Underground River. I told them that there was a way before to get inside the Underground River if they were staying overnight in Sabang, I’m just not sure if that way still exists. Luckily, there was a resort owner in Sabang that was riding with us that verified that they could still enter the Underground River as long as they stay in one of the accommodations in Sabang!

Puerto Princesa, Palawan 3D2N Budget and Itinerary

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This itinerary is made for those who want to visit Puerto Princesa and wants to be sure that they will be visiting the Underground River.

Ugong Rock Caving at Tagabinet, Puerto Princesa

Summary

No. of Pax: 4 pax
Budget: P4,900 – airfare and airport terminal fees not included
Duration: 3 days – 2 nights
Estimated Start: Day 1 – 9:00AM Arrival at Puerto Princesa
Estimated End: Day 3 – 5:00PM flight out of Puerto Princesa
Lodging:  Fan Room
Activities: City Tour, Iwahig Firefly Watching, Honda Bay Island Hopping, Ugong Rock Caving & Puerto Princesa Underground River

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1
0900 AM Arrival at Puerto Princesa
0910 AM Walk outside of the airport premises; Ride tricycle to Lodging (P10/pax)
0920 AM Arrival at Lodging; Check-in & Rest
1130 AM Ride Tourism Accredited Tricycle to Badjao Seafront Restaurant; (P150/tricycle)
1145 AM Arrival at Badjao Seafront Restaurant; Tricycle should wait for you
0100 PM Start of City Tour via Tourism Accredited Tricycle (P600/tricycle)
City Tour includes Crocodile Farm, Rancho Mitra, Baker€™s Hill, Butterfly Garden, Baywalk, Cathedral and Plaza Cuartel
0500 PM End of City Tour; Back at Lodging; Rest for a bit and get ready for Iwahig Firefly Watching
0600 PM Ride Tourism Accredited Tricycle to Iwahig for Firefly Watching (P700/tricycle)
0645 PM ETA Iwahig; Register for Firefly Watching Paddleboat Tour (P600/boat; 3 pax/boat)
0700 PM Start of Iwahig Firefly Watching Paddleboat Tour
0830 PM End of Iwahig Firefly Watching; Ride tricycle back to Town Proper; Drop at Kinabuch
0915 PM ETA Kinabuch; Late Dinner; Try Tamilok
1030 PM Ride tricycle to lodging (P10/pax)
1040 PM Back at Lodging; Freshen-up and sleep
Day 2
0600 AM Breakfast at Jollibee/Chowking/Dunkin Donuts
0700 AM Arrival of Van for Underground River Packaged Tour (P1,500/pax)
Hopefully, your sidetrip will be Ugong Rock Cave
0500 PM Back at Lodging; Freshen Up & Rest
0630 PM Ride tricycle to Kalui (P10/pax)
0635 PM ETA Kalui; Dinner and art tripping!!!
0800 PM Ride tricycle back to lodging
0805 PM Back at Lodging; Freshen up & Sleep
Day 3

Puerto Princesa Do-It-Yourself 4D3N Budget and Itinerary

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Entrance to the Puerto Princesa Underground River

Summary

No. of Pax: 4 pax
Budget: P5,300 – airfare and airport terminal fees not included
Duration: 4 days – 3 nights
Estimated Start: Day 1 – 9:00AM Arrival at Puerto Princesa
Estimated End: Day 4 – 5:00PM flight out of Puerto Princesa
Lodging:  Fan Room
Activities:

  • City Tour
  • Iwahig Firefly Watching
  • Honda Bay Island Hopping
  • Ugong Rock Caving
  • Puerto Princesa Underground River
  • Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour

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Suggested Itinerary

Day 1
0900 AM Arrival at Puerto Princesa
0910 AM Walk outside of the airport premises; Ride tricycle to Underground River Booking Office (P8/pax)
0915 AM Get permits for the Underground River on 3rd day afternoon (P175/pax)
1100 AM Ride arranged tricycle to Badjao Seafront Restaurant; (P150/tricycle)
1115 AM Arrival at Badjao Seafront Restaurant; Tricycle should wait for you
1215 PM Ride arranged tricycle to lodging
1230 PM ETA lodging; Check-in and prepare for City Tour
0100 PM Start of City Tour via Tourism Accredited Tricycle (P600/tricycle)
City Tour includes Crocodile Farm, Rancho Mitra, Baker’s Hill, Butterfly Garden, Baywalk, Cathedral and Plaza Cuartel
0500 PM End of City Tour; Back at Lodging; Rest for a bit and get ready for Iwahig Firefly Watching
0600 PM Ride Tourism Accredited Tricycle to Iwahig for Firefly Watching (P700/tricycle)
0645 PM ETA Iwahig; Register for Firefly Watching Paddleboat Tour (P600/boat; 3 pax/boat)
0700 PM Start of Iwahig Firefly Watching Paddleboat Tour
0830 PM End of Iwahig Firefly Watching; Ride tricycle back to Town Proper; Drop at Kinabuch
0915 PM ETA Kinabuch; Late Dinner; Try Tamilok
1030 PM Ride tricycle to lodging
1040 PM Back at Lodging; Freshen-up and sleep
Day 2
0600 AM Breakfast at Jollibee/Chowking/Dunkin Donuts
0715 AM Ride Tourism Accredited Tricycle to Honda Bay Port (P600/tricycle); Ask to stop somewhere to buy snacks & packed lunch; The tricycle will go back for you when the Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour ends
0745 AM ETA at Honda Bay Port; Register for Island Hopping (P1,500/boat)
0800 AM Start of Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour
0400 PM End of Honda Bay Island Hopping
0415 PM Ride tricycle back to Town Proper
0445 PM Back at lodging; Freshen up & Rest
0630 PM Ride tricycle to Kalui (P10/pax)
0635 PM ETA Kalui; Dinner and art tripping!!!
0800 PM Ride tricycle back to lodging
0805 PM Back at Lodging; Freshen up & Sleep
Day 3

Puerto Princesa Underground River Do-It-Yourself Travel Guide

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Here’s what you should do to get inside the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River without taking a packaged tour.

  1. Get a Visitor Entry Permit to the Underground River.
  2. Go to Sabang Port at Brgy. Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa.
  3. Register at the Sabang Port Tourist Information Center.
  4. Get to the entrance of the Underground River for the start of the Paddle Boat Tour.
  5. 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