Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park: A Subterranean Experience

Just last year (2009), the province of Palawan has received recognition from China. In a survey that was conducted by CTrip.com, one of the China’s leading online travel agency and travel magazine – Elite Traveler, the province of Palawan scored high on the list . Readers and frequent travelers have noted Palawan as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

This is another validation of the fact that Palawan is one different kind of experience in the Philippines and it can be traced on its eco-tourism sites. Other Philippine provinces offers their main theme to be beaches (like Boracay), but in Palawan, visitors are treated to a different eco-tourism adventure. And in this province, one eco-tourism site that is leading the charge for better appreciation is the Palawan Underground River.

There are a lot of things going for this subterranean river. One noteworthy feature is the fact that this has been cited as a candidate to become one of the world’s new wonders. The way voting has been behaving, it can be expected that this subterranean wonder will make the list.

What to expect from the Palawan Underground River
When you get to the area, expect to be treated to a spectacular limestone karst landscape that line up the underground river. There is tour boat that can be rented in the area which can be used to navigate the underground river. As you go along on one of the longest underground river in the world, you will be treated to stalactites and limestone formations.

Another interesting feature on the underground river is the behavior of the flowing water. The water actually flows directly into the sea, and the lower end of the river is influenced by the movements of the tides.

But the river and the stalactite and limestone formations are not the only things worth visiting at the Palawan and the Underground River Park area.

The diversity in flora and fauna surrounding the park are interesting as well. As of the last count, there are at least 800 plant species thriving in the area. And when it comes to fauna, expect to witness at least 252 birds’ species in the area including the Palawan horn bill and the breasted sea eagle.

And inside the cave, a good number of bats can be expected there as well. You could say that this underground river is just the perfect spot for tourists looking to learn about biodiversity and ecological environment, reason enough why it was included in the UNESCO listing.

Since there is a boat that can be rented for a minimal cost (less than $10 for everything), navigating this subterranean paradise is easy and affordable.

Though this area is open year-round, still the best time to visit is from January to June when the weather is friendlier. Past June, the weather can put your trip at a disadvantage due to rains and unexpected shifts in the weather. Navigating the river system could be hard, and exploring the rest of the area can be problematic.

There are some things to be remembered when visiting the Palawan Subterranean River Park the first time. The best time to check is during the day since there are no overnight facilities that operate at night. But you can check out some commercial and locally-owned facilities that can be rented. Foods are offered at modest prices and yes they are offered in both local and international cuisine.

Visiting Restrictions
Since this is already one of the country’s natural reserves, expect some restrictions in place. For example there is the ‘No Permit, No Entrance’ policy . You can get your permits from the Information and Booking Office of the park located in the city. And if you are a group of more than forty people, do secure your booking at least 3 days in advance. (http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com/tourism/accommodations-and-park-entry/).