How to get from Puerto Princesa to Underground River

Last updated on September 12th, 2022 at 06:56 pm

We will tell you in this blog post how to get from Puerto Princesa to Underground River. It was a part of the 7 wonders of the old world for its natural beauty and you can’t miss it when traveling to El Nido.

Puerto Princesa Underground River a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We enjoyed the trip because we were in a good and interesting spot. One of the most popular thing to do when you travel Palawan. 

Read here Puerto Princesa Itinerary and where to stay in Puerto Princesa!

Read here things to do in Puerto Princesa and how to get from El Nido to Puerto Princesa.!

Best time to visit Puerto Princesa Underground River

Puerto Princesa Underground River is best enjoyed during the dry season. The best time to visit Puerto Princesa Underground River is around October to June since the rain usually falls in the middle of the year. However, Palawan’s wet season does not have typhoons that directly hit the island so going on those months might still be fun.

Click here to know more about the weather in Puerto Princesa Underground River!

Click here if you want to get your discount booking the Underground River with Klook!

How to from Puerto Princesa to Underground River

How to get from Puerto Princesa to Underground River by Van or Bus

You need to head to Sabang which is 2 hours driving from Puerto Princesa to Underground River. You can book tours starting from 1300- 1500 PHP and you can DIY for little bit more than 1,000 PHP which is $20 USD.

If you are planning to go on your own to Sabang first you need to ride a van or a bus from San Jose Terminal. Travel time is around 2-3 hours and prices 200 PHP. There are buses leaving to Sabang Port from San Jose Terminal at 7am, 9am, 12noon, and 2pm.

If you want to go to San Jose Bus Terminal by multicab is 12 PHP and by tricycle can be 80-100 PHP from Puerto Princesa City. It will take you 15 minutes to get there!

How to get from Puerto Princesa to Underground River by Taxi

If you want comfort the best option to go from Puerto Princesa to Underground River is by taxi. Prices are around 1500 PHP and it will take you 1 hour 30 minutes to get there.

Going from Puerto Princesa to Underground River on your own

If you decide to go from Puerto Princesa to Underground River on your own you will save money but it will take hassle for you. We will explain for you with all the details. In my opinion is worth it to save the money if you decide to sleep in Sabang and it’s not so worth it if you decide to do a day trip from Puerto Princesa City to Puerto Princesa Underground River. But we will give you the options and you will decide by yourself.

First thing you have to get the permits the day before going to Puerto Princesa Underground River. Schedule of the office is for the permits from Saturday & Sunday: 8AM to 12PM, 1PM to 5PM and this is the address Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park – Booking Office: Ground Floor, City Coliseum in San Pedro, National Highway, Puerto Princesa City.

From 8 am you can register in Sabang Pier to do the Puerto Princesa Underground River tour. These are all the fees that you have to pay in you decide Puerto Princesa Underground River on your own.

You will have to pay 500 PHP per person for the permits. 85 PHP for Audio guide,  pay the enviromental fee 150 PHP. And 200 PHP each for the boat for 6 people. It will be around 950 PHP and you will have to add 200 PHP each way with the van. It can go to 1350 PHP plus the multicab or tricycle going to San Jose Bus Terminal.

If you decide to join on a tour you will save all this hassle paying little bit more. They will arrange everything for you and drive you to your hostel or hotel plus you will enjoy a lunch buffet in Sabang port after your Puerto Princesa Underground River tour. Just make sure if your tour includes 150 PHP enviromental fee whne comparing prices tours and on your own.

Click here if you want to get your discount booking the Underground River with Klook!

From Puerto Princesa to Underground River Tour

If you are going from Puerto Princesa City to Sabang and going back it will take you the whole day since there are 2 hours trip each way to reach Sabang port and going back to Puerto Princesa City.

The whole underground trip to the river was meant to be a quiet trip, so we had audio devices and we listened to a simultaneous audio presentation of the whole underground river and cave. Then rode a small boat and finally had the 1-hour tour inside the caves.

We saw one of the things Palawan boasts- the perfect rock formations which took thousands of years to be formed.This was definitely one beautiful part of the trip, and if you’re fascinated by history, archaeology and natural phenomena, you’d love how they patterned the audio explanation, showing us various parts of the cave and rock formations: the Cathedral, the angels, the Nativity, fruits and vegetable – all created from imagination.

These are usually rock formations that were perfectly created naturally, hundreds of years. It was a great hour of just being in touch with nature. You will experience the beauty of stalagmites and stalactites and also bats that inhabit the cave.

Click here if you want to get your discount booking the Underground River with Klook!

What to Bring to Puerto Princesa Underground River

If you decide to join on a tour or doing on your own for a day trip to Puerto Princesa Underground River. You can bring clothes to change just in case you get wet. Make sure you bring water, snacks, sunblock, dry bag to keep your devices and if you have underwater camera to take videos and pictures.

Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa

You can find prices around 500-800 PHP per night in a dorm. You can get a room with air condition around 1200-1500 PHP. Cool, right? What’s even cooler is you can do also Airbnb.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK THE ACCOMMODATION BEFORE YOUR TRIP WITH AGODA!!!

CLICK HERE TO BOOK WITH BOOKING.COM!!!

Let us know if we are missing information how to get from Puerto Princesa to Underground River. If you have questions let us know in the comments below. Which one would you prefer on your own or joining an organized tour?

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Happy Travels!