Ugong Rock Adventure in Brgy. Tagabinet, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

While we were on the van on our way to the Underground River our tour guide told us that we will be doing a sidetrip to Ugong Rock Adventure. Remembering that we had lots of fun on my visit there last October 2010, I wanted to try it again and see the changes. Good thing I brought a generous amount of extra cash.

8:33 AM. Our van arrived at Ugong Rock Adventure. We first took photos with the large sign and we were guided to the briefing area.

In the briefing area we listened to what Ugong Rock Adventure was all about. It was a community based tourism which helps build work for people in Brgy. Tagabinet, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. What really struck me is their motto “Nag-enjoy ka na. Nakatulong ka pa.” Roughly translated to “You already enjoyed, you even helped.”

They also told us that if we availed of the Ugong Rock, we had an option to do the Zipline going down.

The rates of Ugong Rock Adventure are as follows.

• Ugong Rock Caving – 200 Pesos/person
• Zipline (Sitting Position) – 250 Pesos/person (optional)
• Zipline (Superman Position) – 350 Pesos/person (optional)

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When I asked the difference between the sitting position and the superman position they said that in the sitting position you are not allowed to take pictures or selfies because you need to hold on to the rope for you to maintain the sitting position while in the superman position you can take pictures and selfies because your hands are free. So in the name of vanity I availed the Zipline Superman Position. It was a hard decision for someone selfless like me. Total of 550 Pesos for me.

We then went to the cashier to pay for the Caving and the Zipline. They told us that we could just pay for the caving and then decide if we’ll take the zipline when we were on top. Since I was decided already and does not want to be reminded of my financial problems on top I decided to pay the whole 550 Pesos to the cashier.

Next was selecting gloves and a helmet. If you think you do not need a helmet, I just want to let you know what my friend told me “It was a good thing I wore a helmet, I could not count how many times I hit my head on the rocks.”

8:54 AM. After a lot of picture taking and selfies we were finally ready to experience the adventure.

Then another briefing on what we can do and not do inside the Ugong Rock Adventure.

After the briefing, we went inside one of the darkest areas of Ugong Rock Adventure. We were at the middle of the group and the guides were in the front and in the back, and I left my celphone at the van so I had no light. I tried remembering the features of the floor and the rock so that I would not trip. Luckily, I survived!

After the dark hallway we made a little walk and it was not all going up.

Since there were many people doing the Ugong Rock Caving we had to wait in queue due to the effort to go up.

I remembered this section that they did not require us to wear a harness. I’m glad now that they require a harness as one misstep may mean and end of a whole life of adventure.

9:34 AM (40 minutes of climbing to the top) After many twists and turns through the natural obstacle course we were finally at the top.

A little rest and a lot of dripping sweat and we were lining up for the zipline. Unfortunately for me, there were a lot of people doing the Superman Position so I had to wait for a time for me to be fitted with a harness, which by the way made emphasis on the size of my tummy and something below the belt.

When it was my turn, I had myself stand on a step and be clipped to the zipline contraption. This was my first time to do a zipline so I did not want to let my fear defeat me, at the moment I was already hanging from the ropes and facing down I quickly told the staff to let go off me. Which they generously did.

Here is a selfie video for some selfless documentation.

At the end of the zipline, a staff help me remove all the harness. When I got down from the platform our van was already waiting for me. I was the last one to do the Superman Position Zipline. Then we fetched our groupmates who did the Sitting Position Zipline.

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10:27 AM. We were on our way to Sabang for the continuation of our Underground River Tour.

Author’s Opinion

This trip was around my sixth visit to the Underground River, my first was last 2010, and in my honest personal opinion, my experience was definitely better when we did the Ugong Rock Adventure than just to do the Underground River Tour alone.

When I asked my friends about their experience on the Ugong Rock Adventure one of them said that he enjoyed more Ugong Rock than the Underground River Tour because it was challenging enough to make us release sweat and effort just to go through the obstacles. While the Underground River Tour you will just sit down and enjoy the view and the boatman.

This is only my opinion, I am an adventure seeker at heart so I’m more for the effortful adventures. I’ve also met people who did liked the Underground River Tour better than Ugong Rock Adventure and I respect their preference and opinion.

Ugong Rock Adventure Details

Ugong Rock Adventures is a community based tourism effort with the help of the Puerto Princesa City Tourism Office and ABSCBN Foundation which bring work to the locals of Brgy. Tagabinet.

Usually, this is a sidetrip during the Underground River Tour. But I would highly advice you to tell your guide to take you here. 🙂

Rates/Prices

• Ugong Rock Caving – 200 Pesos/person
• Zipline (Sitting Position) – 250 Pesos/person (optional)
• Zipline (Superman Position) – 350 Pesos/person (optional)

Other Details

Everyone is required to wear a helmet and wear gloves to protect yourself and the environment.

Have you tried Ugong Rock Adventure? Was it fun? Tell me on the comments below.