PH · Palawan · 10.17°N 118.92°E

puerto princesa underground river

Paddle into a long underground river cave full of bats and stalactites.

Best time
November to May is the dry season and the safest bet. From June to October, rough seas can stop the boats from Sabang to the cave.
How long
A day trip from Puerto Princesa
Getting there
Fly from KL to Manila (about 4 hours), then about 1.5 hours on to Puerto Princesa. From the city it's about 2 hours by road to Sabang village, then a short boat ride to the cave entrance. Most people go on a day tour that sorts out the permit.
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PH · Palawanpuerto princesa underground river10.17°N 118.92°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Paddle into a long underground river cave full of bats and stalactites.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPuerto Princesa Underground RiverPH, Palawan
KLpuerto princesa underground river
≈ 2,056 km from KL, as the crow flies
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Philippines)

Photo: Ron Van Oers · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

An underground river that flows through a limestone cave straight into the sea on Palawan's west coast. You glide in on a paddle boat past huge chambers, rock formations and a lot of bats. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Makan

  1. Chao longPuerto Princesa's own noodle soup, brought by Vietnamese refugees who settled in the city.Map ↗
  2. TamilokWoodworms from mangrove trees, eaten raw with vinegar. For brave eaters only.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Underground river boat tourAbout 45 minutes in a paddle boat with a boatman and an audio guide, deep into the cave.Map ↗
  2. Sabang mangrove paddleA quiet, community-run boat ride through the mangrove forest near Sabang.Map ↗
  3. Ugong RockA limestone rock on the road to Sabang, with a short cave climb and a zipline off the top.Map ↗
  4. Honda Bay island hoppingBack near the city, boat trips visit small islands and sandbars for snorkelling.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Daily permits are limited, so book a few days ahead, especially in peak season.
  • Stay quiet inside the cave and keep your mouth closed when looking up. The bats are right above you.
  • Monkeys and monitor lizards hang around the park station. Don't feed them, and keep food out of sight.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.