“An 8.2-kilometre river flowing through cathedral-sized limestone caverns directly into the sea — one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world and a UNESCO site that caps daily visitors to keep it from being ruined.”
About Puerto Princesa Underground River
Known to the Tagbanua people long before tourism arrived. UNESCO-listed since 1999 for one of Asia's most complete limestone karst landscapes. The 2012 New Seven Wonders of Nature vote brought global attention and the permit system that followed.
Overview An 8.2-kilometre navigable underground river that flows through a limestone cave system directly into the South China Sea. The boat tour covers about 4 kilometres of it — the rest is off-limits to protect the ecosystem. The cavern ceilings in some chambers are over 60 metres high and the stalactite formations are millions of years old. It was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in 2012.
2-kilometre navigable underground river that flows through a limestone cave system directly into the South China Sea.
The Story Behind It The river was known to local Tagbanua people long before it became a tourist destination. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, partly because it contains one of the most complete limestone karst landscapes in Asia. The cave system also has significant geological value — the rock formations record changes in sea level and tectonic activity going back tens of millions of years. The 2012 'New Seven Wonders' vote brought a flood of tourism that required the permit system now in place.
What You'll Experience The boat ride takes about 45 minutes. Your guide uses a spotlight to illuminate formations — cathedral-sized chambers, stalactites that have merged with stalagmites into columns, and shapes that get names like 'the Holy Family' and 'the vegetable market'. The darkness is total when the spotlight turns off. Bats roost in the upper chambers and their guano smell is noticeable. Monitor lizards and long-tailed macaques hang around the beach at the cave entrance. The setting — a white sand beach backed by jungle and limestone cliffs — would be a destination in itself without the cave.
Getting There The river is in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, about 80 kilometres northwest of Puerto Princesa city. Most visitors book a day tour that includes the van ride to Sabang, the 20-minute boat to the cave entrance, and the river tour. Book through the city tourism office at least a day ahead — daily entries are capped at 900 and it sells out in peak season.
Getting There The river is in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, about 80 kilometres northwest of Puerto Princesa city.
The Experience
A 45-minute boat ride through total darkness punctuated by spotlight reveals of million-year-old stalactite formations, cathedral chambers, and the sound of bats overhead.
Why It Matters
One of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
Why Visit
The scale of the cave system is hard to describe until you're in a small boat in complete darkness and the guide's spotlight hits a chamber ceiling 60 metres above your head.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Book permits through the Puerto Princesa city tourism office at least one day ahead.
- 2
Daily entries are capped at 900 — go early in the season or on weekdays.
- 3
The entrance beach has macaques that will steal food and bags. Keep everything closed.
- 4
Bring insect repellent for the boat ride to the cave — the mangrove stretch has mosquitoes.
