Puerto Princesa Underground River

You might have noticed that it took me more than 3 months to continue with my Palawan posts.  I honestly don’t know why it took me that long but I guess this post about Puerto Princesa Underground River is just too special.  The place is too beautiful that I’m totally lost for words.  I kept thinking how I can share the awesomeness of Underground River and how I can influence you to visit the place.

After our visit to Buenavista Viewdeck, we went straight to the main destination.  The Underground River is known by many names: Puerto Princesa Underground River, Puerto Princesa’s Subterranean River National Park and St. Paul’s Subterranean River.  When I describe it to people, I usually refer it as Underground River.

Upon arriving at the Sabang Pier, we rode the boat to reach Underground River.  The ride took approximately 10 minutes.  It was a pleasant ride considering the great view.

We arrived at the destination and I immediately noticed the beautiful Tuturinguen Point.  It’s an astounding view and I highly suggest you take pictures with it.

From the beach, we took a walk to the registration table.  While I wait for all my travel companions to finish registration, I walked around the site.  According to the people there, we can actually see monkeys and lizards!  I was lucky enough to see several lizards and was able to take a good picture of it.  Cute!

When everyone’s done, we all walked through the wooden footbridge to the cave opening where the boats are.

I was greeted by the pungent odor right at the jump off point.  I learned that the smell were actually the bat feces/urine.  I said to myself, “this must be a great adventure!”.

We were asked to wear an orange life vest and a helmet.  We cannot take them off during the ride coz we can fall off the boat and bats might pee on us.

A boat can only take 8 tourists.  The two people in front will have to take responsibility as light torch-bearers.  Do take note that Underground river is completely dark inside.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It’s the world’s longest navigable underground river and is our country’s nominee to the New 7 Wonders of the World.

The river is 8.2km long that winds through a spectacular cave before emptying into the South China Sea.  It’s navigable up to 4.3 km.  However, we took the shorter route which is about 1.5 kilometers.  I hope that when I get a chance to visit Underground river again, I’ll do the longer route which is about 3 kilometers.

Trained staff members operate the paddle boats to take tourists to a 45 minute tour of the cave to appreciate the different rock formations and tons of bats that lives in it.

The view inside was just so cool!  It includes stalactites and stalagmites formations and several large chambers composing of limestones.  I was sitted on the 2nd row so I wasn’t able to hear much of what the tour guide was saying.  Based on what I heard, he was explaining the different formations and what those shapes are.

Can you tell from the pictures below what those formations are? 🙂

While I was enjoying the tour, I was really a bit worried that the water dripping down from above were bat pees.  I was reacting quite a bit whenever water drips down my way hahaha!

Don’t forget to say hi when you see other tourists in the cave.  Smile! 😀

I also noticed some signatures in the rocks.  I hope I can do that too.  It’ll be a great way to mark a very awesome visit to Underground River.

Light signifies the end of the tour.  I didn’t even notice that 45 minutes has passed already.  I wish to go back in the future.

I took a short video while inside.  For you who are curious what you’ll see in the Underground River, here’s a preview.  Please visit Underground River when you go to Palawan, okay? 🙂

Before I end this post, I would like to convince everyone to please vote for our very own entry to the New 7 Wonders of Nature.  Do vote for Underground River, we only have until November 11, 2011 to do so!  I have voted a few months before and I highly suggest that if you haven’t done so, please do vote!

We have been very active SMS and internet users here in the Philippines.  This is our time to put it into good use.

To vote via SMS, send PPUR to 2861.  There’s a Php 2-2.50 charge per SMS but it’s totally worth it.  We’re making history here! 🙂

To vote online, just go to the New 7 Wonders of Nature site and vote.