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Corazon Travel & Tours · Downtown or airport pickup

The river by day, fireflies at night

Two trips in one booking: the Underground River in the morning with lunch in Sabang, a break at your hotel, then out again after dark to watch fireflies light up the mangroves, with dinner. Pick it if you want the city's two nature trips done in a single day.

Underground River & Firefly Watching with Dinner

About this experience

The morning half is the classic river day. Pickup is from downtown Puerto Princesa or the airport, within 5 km of the airport, and the van takes about 2 hours to Sabang Wharf. A water taxi of about 20 minutes runs to the cave beach, home to macaques and monitor lizards, and after a short walk the paddle boat carries you into the river with an audio guide. The cave tour lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. The park lets in 900 visitors a day, and the rule is no permit, no entry. Your tour arranges the permit for you, which matters: turning up in Sabang on your own does not guarantee one.

Back at the wharf, lunch is a local-style buffet. You can then add the Sabang X zipline or a quiet mangrove paddle-boat tour, if you picked that option when you booked. The van heads back to the city, and you get about 2 hours of free time at your hotel: a shower, a nap, a change of clothes.

What the day adds is the fireflies after dark. Your guide collects you again for the drive of about an hour to the firefly-watching site on the listing's itinerary. Dinner is served there, before or after the boat, depending on the group. Then a boat cruise of about 45 minutes slips along the estuary, where the fireflies blink in the mangrove trees and, per the listing, plankton makes the water glow. All entrance fees are covered. The PHP 150 environmental fee is paid at the Underground River site. Practical tip: pack insect repellent for the evening, and leave large bags at the hotel.

  • Fireflies in the mangroves on an evening boat cruise
  • The Underground River by paddle boat in the morning
  • Buffet lunch in Sabang and dinner at the firefly site
  • A break at your hotel between the two trips
  • All entrance fees and boat transfers in the price
  • Optional zipline or mangrove paddle boat

How the day runs

  1. MorningPickup and the drive north

    From downtown or near the airport, about 2 hours by van to Sabang Wharf.

  2. About 45 minutesPaddle boat into the river

    A water taxi to the cave beach, a short walk, then the cave with an audio guide.

  3. About 1.5 hoursLunch in Sabang

    A local-style buffet at the wharf, then the zipline or mangroves if you chose them.

  4. About 2 hoursFree time at your hotel

    The van brings you back to the city for a rest before the evening.

  5. EveningDinner at the firefly site

    About an hour by van from the city. Dinner comes before or after the cruise.

  6. About 45 minutesFireflies on the estuary

    A boat cruise through the mangroves at night, then the drive back to your hotel.

Yellow hard hats on boat seats

What's included

Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off within 5 km of the airport
  • Lunch and dinner
  • All boat transfers
  • All entrance fees
  • Professional tour guide and driver
  • Zipline or mangrove paddle boat, if that option is selected
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Not included

  • Environmental fee, PHP 150 per person, paid at the Underground River site
  • Gratuities

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You want the river and the fireflies without booking twice
  • You have one or two days in Puerto Princesa
  • You like a rest in the afternoon before an evening out
  • You want lunch and dinner taken care of

Skip it if

What guests say

★★★★★

An amazing day with the underground river system and firefly watch. The dinner was great too.

Akanksha · Sep 2025
★★★★★

Excellent organization. The guide and driver were very professional. The Underground River is simply wonderful.

Marcello · Apr 2026
★★★★★

Great. Very informative and well organised. It was great to be collected from and dropped back at the accommodation.

Lucy · Feb 2026
★★★★★

Whole experience was great, it deserves it's UNESCO recognition. Lovely location, well managed attraction.

Adrian · Nov 2026

Tips before you book

  • Bring your passport or ID card and insect repellent, as the listing asks.
  • Leave luggage and large bags at the hotel. They are not allowed.
  • Book before 12:00 the day before. Later bookings get a pickup after 08:00.
  • Want the zipline or the mangroves? Choose that option when you book.
  • Wondering if the river earns the long drive? Read whether the river is worth it.

Read next:

Frequently asked questions

Can you do the Underground River and firefly watching in one day?

Yes. This 10-hour combo tour does the river in the morning with lunch, gives you a break at your hotel, then picks you up again for the fireflies and dinner.

Is dinner included on the firefly tour?

Yes. Lunch in Sabang and dinner at the firefly-watching site are both included, along with all entrance fees.

Can children join the firefly tour?

Not under 13. The listing says the tour is not suitable for children under 13, and children must be with an adult.

Is the environmental fee included?

No. The PHP 150 environmental fee is paid at the Underground River site on the day.

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Book Underground River and Fireflies

The river by day and the fireflies after dark, with lunch and dinner.

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The river by day and the fireflies after dark, with lunch and dinner.

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