Puerto Princesa: Underground River, Zipline, and Paddleboat Tour

Visiting Puerto Princesa, a city located in western Palawan in the Philippines, is a true delight for visitors looking for an unforgettable vacation experience. The place features unique attractions like the underground river, zipline, and paddleboat tour.

Underground River

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is located on the edge of the Saint Paul Mountain Range. It is part of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. The underground river is made up of 5.2 miles (8 km) of navigable channels, including a breathtaking underground cave filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and other natural rock formations. Going through this subterranean river is truly a mesmerizing experience.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily for day-tour visitors. They are offering an underground river tour which starts from the main gate of Sabang Village and goes up to the mouth to the sea. The tour is about 1.5 hours long, and it includes safety briefing, introduction to cave fauna and flora, and boat ride into the underground cave.

Zipline

Puerto Princesa has several zipline locations available. The most popular zipline locations are the one located in Iwahig Penal Colony, Kwayan-Lapakan Zipline Adventure, and Palo-Charity Eco-Tourism Site & Beach Park.

Iwahig Penal Colony is one of the oldest and largest prison colonies in the world. The zipline there offers four interconnected cable lines which feature a drop from over 30-meter height. Adventure seekers will soar through the air and get a glimpse of the trees, valley and prison farm from an aerial perspective. The zipline tour is accompanied by a guide, who will provide safety information before launching into the zipline tour. The ziplines are located right in the prison complex, so visitors will get to see interesting prison structures too.

Kwayan-Lapakan Zipline Adventure offers four interconnected cable lines which are great for families and introductory level zip liners. This zip line features two canopy walk bridges that spanning across century old giant trees and 360 meters of ziplines at different heights. There are also beginners’ courses available here to help zipline beginners who can easily navigate their way through the course.

Palo-Charity Eco-Tourism Site & Beach Park is also an ideal spot for ziplining in Puerto Princesa. It offers six interconnected cable lines with different levels of heights perfect for both seasoned and first time zip liners. Locals transportation (shuttle van) to and from the resort is available for a fee of Php250/person.

Paddleboat Tour

The Puerto Princesa city proper also has a paddleboat tour perfect for vacationers who are looking for a more relaxed and enjoyable way to explore Puerto Princesa. The tour includes visits to interesting sights around around Honda Bay and to fish sanctuaries in Puerto Princesa Bay. It also includes a visit to Starfish Island, where visitors can feed hundreds of starfish or snorkel in the shallow waters nearby. Some other attractions included in this paddleboat tour are Pandan Island (A place surrounded by deserted beaches), Philippine Crocodile Exhibit in Baker’s Hill, and Iwahig Penal Colony’s Firefly Watching.

The tour includes an airconditioned transfer from the city proper to Santa Lourdes Wharf, boat transfer to sit-n-go station near Starfish Island, visit to fish sanctuary near Honda Bay, island hopping activity around Honda Bay Area (visiting islands with white sand beaches), snorkeling activity at Pandan Island, complimentary lunch buffet at Pandan Island Resort (Includes grilled pork/chicken barbecue, fish fillet stuffed with pork adobo, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetable salads), firefly watching activity around Iwahig Penal Colony’s Firefly Visitor’s Center, Philippine Crocodile Show at Baker’s Hill (See different species of crocodiles), and stopover for souvenir items shopping at Baker’s Hill Pasalubong Bakery/store before heading back to the city proper via airconditioned transfer service.

Summarizing, opting for a tour that allows visitors to enjoy all three activities – Underground River, Zipline, and Paddleboat Tour – is probably the best way to experience Puerto Princesa’s natural beauty without having to worry about transportation or accommodation. A great option is GetYourGuide’s Puerto Princesa Underground River, Zipline & Paddleboat Tour, whose experienced guides will provide detailed information about each activity and also ensure that everyone follows safety protocols during the activities. Plus, on this tour you’ll get to enjoy fresh lunch buffet with breathtaking views during island hopping activities. Booking an organized tour like this not only saves time but also makes it easier for everyone to have a more peaceful and enjoyable experience.