Puerto Princesa: Underground River (Day 3)

The scenic road trip from Puerto Princesa proper to the Subterranean River National Park took about 2 hours. Thankfully, the road was smooth enough for a comfortable expedition, but it's an awfully long and winding road, so if you're prone to motion sickness, you have to pack up on those Bonamines. But before all that, if you are planning to visit the underground river, make sure to secure your permits ahead of time. Permits are absolutely necessary for you to be able to enter the reserve. Ideally, you must acquire your permit months before your visit.

If you're staying at a hotel in Puerto Princesa proper, it's best to start hitting the road at 7-8am. We left at 8:30 and got there at about 11. We weren't in a hurry since we had the van to ourselves, so we stuck to leisure driving. We had our lunch at a buffet restaurant in the vicinity. The place was packed with tourists who probably just got back from the underground river or still waiting for their turn to board a boat to the reserve. Grabbing some lunch with your companions is the best way to avoid the long queue at the wharf, just make sure to present your permits to the person in charge of the water transport and got your assigned number before relaxing elsewhere.

The boat ride to the underground river park took another 10 minutes and, once again, we found ourselves at the mercy of the huge waves. It felt like our boat was gonna tip over any minute. But no need to worry, you'll be in the hands of experienced boat men. And trust me, the beautiful scenery is enough to make you forget about your anxiety.

   

The place is simply sublime! A short stretch of white sand coast, well-preserved forests, and wild animals roaming around freely would greet you upon your arrival. But try to stay away from the monkeys; they are expert thieves.

   

The experience was surreal. It's like one of those Disney It's A Small World rides, minus the annoying music and replace the playful atmosphere with something more ethereal. You lose track of time marveling at the breathtaking rock formations, you won't even notice that almost an hour has passed since you plunged into the dark belly of the cave with only a single spotlight and the steady voice of your guide to accompany you. Occasionally, you'd run into other tourists making their way back to the entrance and you exchange a few hellos from one boat to another. Digital photos would never be enough to epitomize the beauty of the place.  You have to experience it firsthand.