We went to the Puerto Princesa Underground River through a tour package I booked online. To go there, we had a 2-hours trip by land going to Sabang. Sabang is the nearest town to the underground river.

From Sabang, we took a boat ride which offered beautiful views of the limestone cliffs and lush forests along the way. At the entrance of the underground river, we boarded a paddleboat with a licensed boatman. These boatmen are knowledgeable guides who will navigate the river and provide interesting information about the cave’s formations and wildlife.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located approximately 80 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa city center in Palawan. This national park, also known as the Puerto Princesa Underground River, is situated in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the island’s western coast. It is bounded by St. Paul Bay to the north and the Babuyan River to the east. Since 1992, the City Government of Puerto Princesa has been responsible for managing the National Park.

The park features a stunning limestone karst mountain landscape. The St. Pauls Underground River Cave, with a length of over 24 kilometers, encompasses an underground section of the Cabayugan River that stretches for 8.2 kilometers. The river meanders through the cave before flowing directly into the West Philippine Sea. It is possible to navigate by boat up to 4.3 kilometers from the sea.

Within the cave, there are remarkable formations of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as several spacious chambers. Among them, the Italian’s Chamber stands out, measuring 360 meters in length and having an approximate volume of 2.5 million square meters. This chamber is one of the largest cave rooms in the world.

Until the discovery of an underground river in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula in 2007, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River held the reputation of being the world’s longest underground river. Besides its geological wonders, the area is a vital habitat for biodiversity conservation. The park encompasses a complete mountain-to-sea ecosystem. In recognition of its exceptional value, UNESCO designated the site as a World Heritage Site in 1999. It was also voted as one of the new seven wonders of nature in 2012.