Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour

Top of my list when visiting Palawan, the Philippines is to experience the world-renowned Puerto Princesa Underground River. I do not know what to expect, although I am hearing good news that it is worthy to do the tour. Various online reviews are telling it is a must-see place when in Palawan.

So, in May 2015, It was the time when I decided to visit Palawan.  I made a separate hotel booking in Sabang, Puerto Princesa primarily for convenience in visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River. I also wanted to experience seeing the other beach side of Palawan called the Sabang beach. I was only basing this assumption that there are somehow more places to visit in Sabang Beach when I checked the Sabang in Google Maps.

I made the correct decision that I spent a night in Sabang. The travel from Puerto Princesa City Airport to Sabang is very tiring. The road has so much curves and slopes and at times some slight steep turns; maybe because of the mountainous terrain. It took us 3 hours to reach the hotel. Good thing, the hotel staff in Amos Digue Pension House was helpful in getting us a private van because we missed the last trip of the Lexus Shuttle Service (5 pm usually from the airport). The flight was delayed more than 1 hour and 45 minutes from Manila as expected from Cebu Pacific.

Reaching the hotel Amos Digue Pension House in Sabang, Puerto Princesa City, my daughter and I were tired. We immediately slept after a quick hot instant noodles for dinner. Good thing, there were still sari-sari stores open. I gave to the hotel staff the payment for the permit going to the Puerto Princesa Underground River as suggested because he will arrange that early morning.

I found out that it is preferable to get a hotel in Sabang when taking the Puerto Princesa Underground River tour because the hotels/inns/cottages here have allocation given by the municipal government for the permit. If you’re doing the tour your way, booking can be made a month before your planned tour. The other option is to ask your hotel anywhere in Palawan (mostly hotel near in Puerto Princesa City proper) to arrange the tour because most of them have counterpart hotels in Sabang.