Return to Palawan | The Visit to the Underground River

In our second visit to Palawan, it is the first time to visit the most iconic landmark in Palawan, the Puerto Princesa City Underground River. Also known as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature voted in 2012. It is one of the longest underground rivers in the world which flows directly under the Saint Paul Mountain Range, a park which has a limestone or karst mountain landscape. The Saint Paul's Underground River Cave contains 8.2 kilometer long Cabayugan River which flows directly into the West Philippine Sea. It is navigable by boat up to 4.3 kilometers from the sea. The subterranean river features numerous stalactites, stalagmites and large chambers.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River with the tourists riding on a boat as they go outside from the cave.

To make it on the place, we had an approximately one-and-a-half hour travel to Sabang, a small town where the Underground River is located. As we travel, the lush and abundant rainforests are common in Puerto Princesa City. First, we visited Buenavista View Deck, a stopover which offers a panoramic view of Ulugan Bay. There are food stalls and souvenir shops in the area and the view deck offers a beautiful view of sunset before you go home.

The Buenavista View Deck marker/

The scenery of Ulugan Bay with verdant rainforests, blue waters of the bay and a long mountain range.

The top portion of the view deck.

After the stopover, we also have the chance to see the formation of Saint Paul Mountain Range along the highway as we go to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. These limestone and karst mountains are formed million of years ago from marine sediments and it was submerged under the sea 20 to 30 million years ago. There are interesting places including the Elephant Cave and the Saint Paul Mountain.

You can check the YouTube post on the Limestone Mountains of Puerto Princesa City

As we proceed to our destination, we tried the Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour where we have a thirty minute boat trail in the mangrove forest near the Underground River. There are also private hotels and resorts near the area which offers a relaxing tropical ambiance because of the line of coconut trees and mangrove seedlings,  pristine white sand beaches, and the aquamarine waters of the ocean.

Bancas gathered in the shallow waters.

The turquoise waters of Palawan.

Trees are teemed in the limestone.

Palawan is noted for its limestone and karst mountains.

After that, we take a thirty minute boat ride from Sabang Port to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. There is a limestone cove and a wooden trail in the miniature forest filled with local trees such as apitong, narra, molave and dao. Afterwards, the team wore our life jackets and ear phones and we ride on the boat going inside the Underground River.

Welcome marker of Puerto Princesa Underground River.

Unfortunately, there are no photos because it is challenging to take pictures as we go inside the cave. inside the cave which features mystical rock formations such as the Cathedral, the Market, the Last Supper, Dinosaur's Head, the Pegasus and even the face of Jesus Christ. The Underground River is also rich in flora because of numerous local tree species found there and fauna because of the diverse wildlife such as thousands of bats, several species of small fish, monkeys living on trees and monitor lizards roaming around the area.

Tourists are preparing for a thirty minute boat ride inside the subterranean river.

Crystal-clear shallow waters with groups of small fish swimming

The entry to the Underground River.

Passage from the cave to the outside.

We enjoyed the 1.5 kilometer boat ride as we experience excitement, thrill and amazement as we sail towards the Underground River. Tours can allow the 1.5 kilometer boat ride in the Underground River. However, it is allowed to go on a 4 kilometer ride, just ask for special permit

The tour on the Puerto Princesa Underground River is such an amazing yet humbling experience because it is all about the appreciation of nature's beauty, as well with the fact that the Philippines is a country rich in flora and fauna and taking care of our natural tourist spots.

"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time, keep nothing but memories."
A simple reminder for the tourists in Sabang Port.

Date of Travel: March 11, 2019

Return to Palawan | Honda Bay Island Hopping and Beach Bumming

For the second day of our Palawan tour, we had a chance to visit Honda Bay to go island hopping in three islands namely Lu-li, Starfish and Cowrie. It's been nine years since the last time that we went to this tourist destination. Everything seems to be different unlike before.

Trees in Cowrie Island.

Numerous boats in the coast of Cowrie Island.

Honda Bay faces major change due to its popularity among tourists and the increase of commercial establishments as well with the presence of additional cottages and signage in each island. There are plenty of foreign and local tourists who flock the island during our tour, unlike the last time that we visit there in 2010. 

Starfish Island signage.

Lu-li Island signage. 

Cowrie Island signage

The place remain its pristine beauty because of the abundant mangrove forests, white sand beaches, and the crystal-clear blue waters. However, there are only few marine creatures found, particularly in Starfish Island. Nine years ago, starfish, small species of fish, sand dollars and even stone fish can be found in the shore. Nowadays, there are only few marine creatures in the shallow waters near the beach. According to the tourist guide, there are changes in the topography of the island and the numerous tourists has able to touch the creatures and even disturbing their habitats due to swimming. It also added the increase of man-made structures such as cottages and wooden signages in each island, even tourists are not responsible in maintaining the cleanliness of the island. 

There are only two starfish in the shallow waters of Starfish Island. 

The shallow waters of Starfish Island with rocks and small fish.

The mangrove forest in Starfish Island.

Small fish in the turquoise waters of Honda Bay.

Sand dollars in Starfish Island.

In the end, we spend in the three islands through swimming and having our lunch through boodle fight. Looking forward to preserve the natural beauty of the bay, take care of the islands and the tourists should be responsible in the cleanliness and preservation of the creatures in the area.

The timeless, natural beauty of Palawan as the Philippines' Last Frontier.

You may also check my 2010 escapades in Honda Bay: 

• In the Island of Stars
• Honda Bay Island Hopping

Date of Travel: March 10, 2019