Destination Detour: September 2012

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

The archipelago of Palawan, Philippines consists of a huge variety of tropical forests, over 11,000sq km of coral reefs, mountains, 2,000km of coastline, marine wilderness with more than 2,000 species of fish.

Palawan has a full mountain-to-the-sea ecosystem and some of the most important forests in Asia.

The area is home to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park which is also known as the “Underground River Cave“. Located only an hour flight from Manila, it is one of the world’s longest underground rivers – whole 8.2 km.

The underground river navigates through caves that includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large deep chambers.

At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge, creating a surreal landscape that reminds you of what untouched nature provides.

The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. Animals such as snakes, bats, large lizards, squirrels and fishes live in the cave, and many other special of animals in the surrounding area.

Puerto Princesa features a lot of exciting activities such as rock climbing, bird watching, seeing mangrove trees, and tours in Sabang River. Enjoy these videos to see a virtual tour of what to expect when you visit Puerto Princesa!