Palawan sights
Puerto Princesa Underground River
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature — an 8 km navigable underground river winding through a vast limestone cave of stalactites and chambers, explored by paddle boat from the village of Sabang.
About
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is Palawan's most celebrated natural wonder — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the official New 7 Wonders of Nature. Beneath a protected jungle of limestone karst, a river runs underground for some 8 kilometres before emptying into the sea, the lower stretch of it navigable by boat. Visitors reach it from the coastal village of Sabang (around two hours from Puerto Princesa city), take a short outrigger ride along the coast, then board a paddled canoe that glides into the mouth of the cave. Inside, guides shine lights across a cathedral-like world of stalactites, stalagmites, and soaring chambers, home to swiftlets and thousands of bats, with rock formations nicknamed for the shapes they resemble. Because it lies inside a strictly managed national park, numbers are capped and a permit is required, so most people book through a tour from the city; the dry season (November–May) brings the calmest seas and clearest conditions.
Good to know
Opening hours and entry fees vary by season — check before you visit.