Private Puerto Princesa Underground River Shore Excursion from Cruise Port

Puerto Princesa•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

5–8 hours

Fitness Level

Moderate—able to walk short unpaved sections and board small boats multiple times.

Overview

Leave the ship for a day and follow a river that runs beneath a cliff — the Puerto Princesa Underground River tour pairs a scenic 90-minute drive with a motorized banca ride into one of the Philippines’ most dramatic karst caves. This private shore excursion is timed for cruise passengers and includes park fees and lunch.

Private Puerto Princesa Underground River Shore Excursion from Cruise Port

bus-tour

other

wildlife

sightseeing-tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Nov 6

Travelers

You step off the ship into humid air heavy with salt and green — Puerto Princesa’s port is busy but compact, and a local guide waits at the gates with a name card and a calm, practical smile. The ride to Sabang is a slow unwinding: two-lane highway, patches of coconut palms, roadside villages where children wave, and the occasional limestone bluff rising like a ship’s mast. The drive is roughly 90 minutes each way; at Sabang you transfer to a small motorized banca and cruise toward a cliff face that hides a cave mouth as ordinary as any seaside cliff and as extraordinary as anything you’ve seen.

Adventure Photos

Private Puerto Princesa Underground River Shore Excursion from Cruise Port photo 1

Adventure Tips

Bring ID and cruise details

You must present ID for port verification and provide ship name and arrival/departure times in advance so the operator coordinates pick-up correctly.

Expect wet transfers

Boat launches and short paddles can spray you—pack a towel or quick-dry change of clothes, and waterproof a camera.

Morning departures are cooler

Choose an early slot to avoid peak heat and the longest park lines; mornings also improve wildlife sightings.

Watch your footing on docks

Docks and cave walkways can be slippery—wear shoes with good grip and avoid the edges while boarding small boats.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Philippine long-tailed macaque
Various cave bats and swiftlets

History

The underground river runs through karst formed from uplifted coral limestone; the site became a national park in 1971 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Conservation

Park fees and the environmental management charge support local conservation; visitors must follow strict no-touch rules to protect fragile cave formations and bat colonies.