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The Enchanting Puerto Princesa Subterranean River & National Park photo by Paweesit (via Flickr)

The Enchanting Puerto Princesa Subterranean River & National Park

by : Becky Johnson posted :

Uncharted Philippines’ Palawan Adventure in Paradise Tour offers travelers an adventure unlike any other. Not many locations offer a sense of mystery like the Puerto Princesa subterranean river (commonly referred to as the Underground River), so perhaps this is why it was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012. Located approximately 30 miles north of the city of Puerto Princesa (the capital of Palawan), this marvel of nature is a top destination for visitors to the Philippines and part of the Uncharted Philippines’ Palawan Adventure in Paradise Tour.


Macaque monkey family photo by Sophia Lucero (via Flickr)
Macaque monkey family

National Park

The river is part of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which comprises 22,000 hectares of limestone karst landscapes, beaches, and of course, the 8.4 km underground river. Like the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, this National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is a variety of flora and fauna within the park, offering so much to see beyond the allure of the river and its enchantments. Traveling to the park takes about 2 hours from Puerto Princesa to Sabang, and then a short ferry ride to the entrance of the underground river, where seasoned tour guides will take you underground and extol the virtues and wonders of the caves and river.


Mangrove snake photo by Iris Young (via Flickr)
Mangrove snake

Unique Biodiversity

As a true mountain-to-the-sea environment, the biodiversity of the park is vast and varied. Of the 252 birds in the Palawan region, 165 have been observed within the park! If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a blue-naped parrot or a white-breasted sea eagle. The park also boasts 30 species of mammals, including the bearded pig, Palawan stink badger, and the macaque monkey, along with 19 species of reptile, including the mangrove snake. If that seems incredible, the park also has 8 out of 13 forest types found in Asia, comprising 800 species of plant and 295 different kinds of trees.


Puerto Princesa Subterranean River photo by Carrie Kellenberger (via Flickr)
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Exploring the River

The river is 8.4 km long, the second longest subterranean river in the world, although only part of it is accessible to tourists without a special permit. Explorers can expect to see stalactites and stalagmites, and like our ancestors who saw figures in the stars, some of the rock formations are said to resemble horses, cacao fruit, and mushrooms. A second floor to the river caves was discovered in 2010, leading scientists and geologists to believe there may be hidden waterfalls, like an undiscovered treasure just waiting to be explored. Bats and some marine animals occupy the caves, dwelling far from the sun’s rays, though no longer far from the eyes of humans.


You can travel through the caves of the Puerto Princesa subterranean river and explore the national park and other wonders of the Palawan region on a tour with Uncharted Philippines . Palawan is a premier destination for adventure and relaxation, and our experienced and knowledgeable guides will ensure your trip is as enchanting as the surroundings. Discover the magic of the Philippines for yourself.

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