Puerto Princesa, Palawan in the Philippines is known for its stunning attractions, which are one of a kind in the world. One of those must-see attractions is the Underground River Tour, which gives visitors the unique experience of discovering an underground river flowing through a spectacular cave. The Underground River of Puerto Princesa offers visitors a unique journey through a breathtaking underground oasis where stalactites and stalagmites appear to stretch forever.
The Underground River of Puerto Princesa first earned its place as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011 due to its stunning beauty and geological significance. This incredible 8-kilometer navigable underground river winds through winding passages beneath limestone cliffs before entering an expansive cave chamber filled with spectacular rock formations. Not only is this underground river home to a plethora of wildlife species such as bats, monkeys, lizards, snakes, and otters, but it also contains some of the most amazing geological formations that can be found anywhere on earth.
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located on the coast near Sabang, about 80 kilometers away from Puerto Princesa City. The area encompasses 8.2 km2, including 7 km2 of land and 1.2 km2 of marine habitats consisting of mangrove forests, coral reefs, and beach forests. This park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 for its incredible karst limestone landscape containing an 8.2 km navigable subterranean river with 13 major chambers and hundreds of minor ones along its course. It is said to be one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world, with its total length estimated at 24 kilometers!
The journey begins when visitors take an hour-long boat ride from Sabang Beach to reach the mouth of the Underground River, where they can board another smaller boat to traverse inside it. Inside this majestic cave system, tourists will find themselves surrounded by crystal-clear waters and unique rock formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and curtains, as well as other fascinating shapes created over thousands or millions of years by running water on limestone rocks and minerals.
Apart from being mesmerized by these breath-taking scenes inside the cave systems, visitors also get to witness wildlife wonders while navigating through this network of passageways leading into different chambers filled with bats and swiftlets. Serenity reigns supreme throughout each chamber, which makes it easy for travelers to take time out from their hectic lives and simply appreciate nature’s wonders in all their glory. Moreover, there are several species—about 295 bird species—that can be spotted during certain months, such as kingfishers, blue-headed pitta, and Palawan peacock pheasants—that have made their homes around this area due to favorable conditions like abundant food sources and suitable habitats for nesting or roosting activities. Thus making this place not only geologically extraordinary but also ecologically important because it serves as an important habitat for many endangered species, including the Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), which is endemic to Palawan Island!
Exploring this wondrous destination will surely be an unforgettable experience! Visitors should bear in mind that apart from having great fun, they should also do their part in keeping this place clean by observing No Littering rules while touring around this site so future generations could continue enjoying its beauty without harm caused by human negligence or carelessness.
The Underground River of Puerto Princesa is truly an experience like no other in Southeast Asia and should not be missed when visiting Palawan Island. This geological marvel gives visitors the opportunity to explore unique environments while deepening their connection with nature, making it an unforgettable trip that will stay with them forever! So why not take the plunge and come discover what Puerto Princesa’s Underground River has to offer today?
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