Getting to the river

How far is the Underground River from Puerto Princesa?

About 80 km. The park puts it some 76 km north-west of the city, and the drive to Sabang takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

The road crosses Palawan from the city on the east side towards the west coast. Several tours stop on the way at Buenavista, a viewpoint above Ulugan Bay, before the road drops down to Sabang, the small beach community where the boats leave. The listings time the drive at 90 minutes to about 2 hours each way.

One detail surprises people: you never leave the city. Sabang sits in Barangay Cabayugan, and the City Tourism Office gives the park's address as part of Puerto Princesa City. The city government has managed the park since 1992.

Jessica took the 6-hour tour with buffet in Jan 2026: "Excellent knowledgeable guide. Prompt collection & drop off in air conditioned van."

How do you get to the Underground River from the airport?

On a tour that picks you up near it. Puerto Princesa International Airport is within the city proper, and the Corazon tours here pick up within 5 km of it.

The airport (code PPS) takes direct flights from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Clark, says Wikipedia, and its current terminal opened in May 2017. From there the city hotels are close, and that is where the vans start. The full-day trip with lunch lists both Puerto Princesa City and the airport as pickup options, and the river and firefly tour picks up downtown or at the airport.

Pickups run early, from about 6:30 on several tours, and bookings made after midday on the day before get a later pickup. On the day you fly in, the timing is tight. Most visitors land, sleep in the city and go the next morning. If your flight lands early and you want to go straight away, check the start times for your date on the booking page before you book.

Can you get to the Underground River by public transport?

Yes, partly. The City Tourism Office lists jeepneys and shuttle vans bound for Sabang from the Irawan terminal, taking 1 to 2 hours. You still need a permit booked in advance and a boat at the wharf.

The same page has you take a tricycle from the airport to the Irawan terminal first, and it says vehicle hire is available at the airport and from licensed car rental agencies. Departures and fares change, so check them at the terminal close to your date.

The catch is the order of things. The permit comes first, booked at the Underground River Booking Office in the city before you travel, and the park warns that turning up in Sabang does not guarantee one. Then you arrange the boat to the cave at the wharf. How to book the permit has the office details.

Rather not juggle the permit, the terminal and the boat? The lowest-price tour sorts the van, both boats and the permit, starting at $38 per person.

What happens at Sabang Wharf?

Your guide checks in the group and sorts the permit, you pay the environmental fee of PHP 150 in cash, and then you board a pump boat for the ride along the coast.

The listings give the wharf about 30 minutes in the day: a break, a look around, a safety briefing. On the zipline day the guide arranges the paperwork for the cave on arrival. On the lowest-price tour you get some free time on the beach while the guide sorts everything, then you hop on the boat.

Since 7 February 2026 the park has been running a dry run of a new guest-handling process at the wharf. Your guide knows the new steps. If you are on your own, read the park's public advisory first.

A practical note from the guided day trip listing: avoid wearing shoes as you board, since you step onto the boat at the shore. Sandals or water shoes are easier. What to wear has the full list.

How long is the boat ride to the Underground River?

About 20 minutes each way, by motorized pump boat from Sabang Wharf to the beach near the cave. Life vests are on board.

The boat runs along a jungle coastline under the karst, and the cave beach is where the wildlife starts: long-tailed macaques, monitor lizards, birds. The park asks you to bring no food or plastic bags, since they attract the monkeys, and never to feed them.

From the beach it is a short walk across a wooden bridge to the lagoon at the cave mouth. You get a hard hat, a life vest and an audio device, and a park paddle boat takes you into the river for about 45 minutes to an hour. The audio tells the story, so the boat stays quiet in the dark.

Jeffrey took the zipline and mangrove day in Mar 2026: "The UNESCO River Tour was stunning and well organized."

The cave with an audio guide, lunch on the beach, an 800 m zipline along the coast and a paddle boat through the mangroves.

★ 4.6 · 10 hours · from $72

Explore the zipline and mangrove day → Tour details

How long does the Underground River trip take?

A whole day. The tours on this site last from 6 hours to 10 hours, door to door, and the cave itself takes about 45 minutes to an hour of that.

A typical day, step by step, from the listings:

The shortest day is the 6-hour tour with buffet. The longest is the zipline day, and the river and firefly tour goes back out after dark for the mangroves and dinner.

Can you visit the Underground River from El Nido or Port Barton?

Not on the tours on this site. They all start in Puerto Princesa, so plan a night in the city before your tour day.

El Nido is about 269 km from Puerto Princesa, says Wikipedia, with daily buses and jeepneys from the San Jose Terminal in the city. That puts a full day of travel between El Nido and the river, which is why most visitors sleep in Puerto Princesa before the trip.

Heading north after the cave? The guided day trip listing asks you to tell the operator if you have a flight or an El Nido transfer after the tour, so the team can coordinate. The best time to visit helps you pick the day.

Is a private van or a shared tour better for getting there?

Shared suits most people and costs less. Private suits cruise passengers, families and anyone on a tight schedule, at $341 per group of up to 4.

Shared tours run in small groups of up to 13 per van and collect guests from several hotels. The private tour gives you your own van and driver, with the boats, the entrance fees and lunch included, and the listing calls it a fit for cruise ship guests and short stays.

Nancy took the private tour in Nov 2023: "He and his driver were there to pick us up on time and returned us to our ship right on time."

Frequently asked questions