Puerto Princesa, Sabang - The Underground River

Getting to the Underground River

The day started for us with a dreaded three hour bus ride, but we endured the bumps and turns as well as the inevitable carsickness because a very exciting day lay ahead. The underground River in Sabang, we were told, was 80km north of the Puerto Princesa city center. We also heard that it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and was voted a New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012. So as you can imagine, we were really keen.

The drive was beautifully scenic with lovely greenery to enjoy through the waves of nausea. The final part of the journey is rough so be ready for some bumps and serious off-roading! The monkey spotting and magnificent palm trees made up for this, as well as the breathtaking forested beach area around the reserve.

The boat journeys

After we arrived, we took a traditional Banca boat from the main reserve area to a secluded island. Then it was just a short walk to the start of the river tour. The boat ride provided an enjoyable element to the experience and definitely built anticipation! The tour guides and staff were truly on top of their game.

The guides were very skilled boatmen when it came to navigating the narrow spaces inside the cave; they also had to put some impressive muscle into their paddling and steering. They were not only really knowledgeable and experienced at their trade but they made each guest feel comfortable and happy. I would encourage carrying some cash to tip your guide at the end; they are always really appreciative as they rely greatly on this income.

Inside the cave

The fact that it was voted a New 7 Wonders of Nature soon became evident. It was a truly magnificent wonder to behold. The cave tour came with an audio guide in various languages which was very accomodating. The quiet, cool and dark atmosphere inside the cave was surreal and felt truly otherworldly.

I was amazed at the stalagmites and stalactite formations inside the cave, and of course, the bat inhabitants were an exciting sighting too! Although it was pitch dark inside, the guides would shine a light on the relevant attractions as we passed, which would then be accompanied by the audio explanations or information. We could use our imaginations to identify Sharon Stone, the cathedral, dinosaurs and other formations.