Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, also known as the Underground River, is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can book this independently, but we chose to book it through our hotel (the Four Points by Sheraton in Sabang) to reduce the hassle, since several permits and tickets are required. We paid around PHP 2’500 per person for the hotel organized tour and would do it the same way again.
On the day of the tour, a guide picked us up directly at the hotel and brought us to the Sabang Wharf. From there, you take a motor boat to a small island (which in and of itself is already beautiful) and wait a bit until you’re assigned a paddle boat.
The actual river tour is truly impressive. You are paddled through the cave for about 45 minutes, following an audio guide that explains what you are seeing along the way. Inside, it really feels like a river running through a cave. At some points, the cave opens up and feels incredibly high, easily 60+ meters. The rock formations are beautifully and uniquely shaped, and since it is pitch black inside, the boat paddler uses a headlamp to point out details and formations as you pass them. It is something very special and absolutely worth seeing.
Location: Sabang, Palawan, Philippines