PPUR has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and on January 8, 2018 it was then declared as one of the Seven Wonders of Nature.
PPUR is navigable by boat up to 4.3 km, and the cave consists of major formations of stalactites and stalagmites that form different shapes which can be compared to other things such as vegetables, holy trinity and more, PPUR is also one of the largest cave rooms which form a dome of 300 meters, it also boasts different species of flora and fauna, and two (2) additional minerals were discovered in the underground river.
It is truly a magnificent creation of nature, one of the fascinating underground rivers in the world, a place that needs to be witnessed right before your eyes.
To get there, you would need to secure a permit at the PPUR Booking Office and travel by tricycle, van (or bus/jeepney), and two boats to the Underground River and then back.
On the other hand, the fastest way to get to the Underground River is to book a package tour preferably at least three days before your preferred tour date.
We recommend you secure your slots ahead of time as the tours can get fully booked.
Planning to do a DIY trip? Here’s what you should know.
Secure your permit (P500 per head) at the Puerto Princesa Underground River Booking Office at least a day before your planned tour. Personal appearance and one valid ID are required to get a permit. The Booking Office is located in the City Coliseum (see map) in the city center. Operating hours is between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm everyday.
On the day of your tour, take a tricycle to San Jose Terminal (see map) in the city center. This costs around P80 per person or P150 per tricycle, depending on the distance. It is much recommended to have multiple tricycle ride, as it usually cost only 10 PHP per way, just ask around locals they’re happy to help. Try to get the earliest trip possible to Sabang because the line to the Underground River is crazy long!
Once at San Jose Terminal, you can get on a van, jeepney, or bus bound for Sabang, Puerto Princesa. Travel time is roughly 2 to 2.5 hours as there might be several stops for loading and unloading of passengers. This does not include the waiting time as some need to fill up the seats before leaving. But you’ll be lucky if you get into a van which all of the passengers are heading to Sabang, this could be lowered to 1.5 hours.
Once you arrive in Sabang, just walk to the Dispatch Area in Sabang Port and show your permit. From here you can also secure your boat transfers (P185 per person, round trip) and environmental fee (P150 per person), note to keep your environmental fee slip as this can be used if you are planning to go for an island hopping in Honda Bay. You can also get an optional audio device guide (P85 per person) for the boat tour down the PPUR.
Remember to secure your permit at the PPUR Booking Office (see #1). The National Park has a “no permit, no tour” policy.
Go to Sabang as early as possible to be the first in line at the Underground River.
If you’re coming late, you may want to skip the long lines by doing the Underground River tour in the afternoon instead, at around 1:00 pm.
Wear light clothing and water shoes or flip flops. Your feet can get wet during the boat transfer.
Bring sunblock, water, small towel, and an extra pair of clothes. You may want to swim in Sabang Beach before or after your PPUR tour. This is located next to Sabang Port.
Other things to do while in Sabang?
Located next to Sabang Port, this beach spans about a kilometer long of soft white sand and lovely aquamarine water. You’ll have to watch out for riptides though as the current in this beach can get pretty strong.
The best best time to go to Sabang Beach is during the summer months between April and June, when the weather is calm. The waves are wild and choppy during the amihan season between November and March.
There are several accommodations along this beach, going for as low as P500 per room, good for two. The two best rated places to stay are Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort and Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa.
Operating Hours: The beach is open 24 hours but lifeguards are on duty only during day time.
This serene boat tour takes you deep in the sprawling 47-hectare Sabang Mangrove Forest. The mangrove trees in this forest are some of the oldest in the National Park, rising as high as 45 meters and going as old as more than 300 years.
The boat guide will introduce you to the four species of mangrove in this forest, as well as the wild creatures that make this place their home. These include various kinds of fish, birds, snakes, lizards, and crabs, some of which you can spot from the boat.
If you’re lucky, your guide can let you visit a 100-meter bamboo boardwalk on a cliff side. You’ll see some mud-surrounded mangrove trees, their impressive root systems, and the mangrove tree that’s more than 300 years old. Unfortunately, during our tour they are fixing the boardwalk.
Situated right next to the Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour, this experience begins on a cliff side in Sabang. You’ll go on a 10-minute hike to the starting point of the zipline, wear safety harness, and then fly down an 800-meter cable over the beautiful sea and waves crashing on crags and rocks. The zipline experience takes about 40 seconds and ends on an islet. You’ll have to walk on a sandbar and white beach on the way back to the entrance and parking area.
So there you go, the Puerto Princesa Underground River.
Also, check-out my Things You Need to Learn About Legazpi, Albay: The Gateway City of Bicol.
