Puerto Princesa Underground River

Posted on 11 March 2015 at 04:03

At some point in our lives, we are left with certain questions in our mind like where we should be or what we should really be doing at this time. We ask ourselves these questions, and we never really have a constant answer. Every day, we face stressors and we deal with all of them until we are about to give up. This should not really be the case for all of us all the time. Sometimes, we need to let go of what is holding back, and let ourselves relax even for just a moment. We should travel and see the world. We need to see the beauty of the Universe in order for us to appreciate it more, and be able to point out that life has so much more in store for us. And this is why we need to talk about the Philippines. Many people still do not know about the beauty of this country, and many still wonder why there are so many tourists that dream of visiting. The Philippines is home to many tourist spots, one of which is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park or more popularly known as the Puerto Princesa Underground River.

Puerto Princesa is the capital city of Palawan, Philippines, and is known as the Eco-Tourism Center of the Philippines. One of Puerto Princesa's famous landmarks is the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which is the second longest navigable underground river in the world, If you find yourself in the Philippines one of these days, then you must not leave without ever seeing this exquisite underground river.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and is one of the most important protected areas of the Philippines. It offers limestone and karst landscape, and contains an 8.2 kilometer long underground river that winds its way underneath a mountain range, through the St. Paul Underground River Cave, and then goes out directly into the South China Sea. The lower half of the river is brackish or slightly salty, and is affected by the ocean’s tide. An underground river that directly flows into the sea, and the associated tidal influence, makes it a significant natural phenomenon.

The drive to the Puerto Princesa Underground River from the city could take around two hours, but it will definitely be worth all the wait. Along the way, you will see the majestic mountains of Palawan, and you will be amazed. There will also be limestone formations. Before you visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River though, you need to remember to apply for a permit while you are still in the city proper as "All visitors are required to secure an entry permit at the Underground River Booking Office."

During your tour, you will see rock-protected, sandy coves that are totally devoid of human habitation. There will be fascinating birds too. The place will totally take your breath away. When you get to the park where you will start the trek to the staging ground of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, you will need to register for the last time, so as for them to keep track of the number of visitors.

The park where you will be at largely consists of the St. Paul Limestone Formation, which is considered a National Geographical Monument. To make it clearer, the Puerto Princesa Underwater Cave is inside the St. Paul Limestone Formation.

During the trek to the staging area, you will see animals like huge lizards and monkeys. You will then see the mouth of the Puerto Princesa Underground River and the rock formation that surrounds it, and you will surely be amazed. Some people say that when they got to this point, they got scared and excited at the same time.

Looking at nature this beautiful will give you that certain sense of gratefulness and wonder if there is more to the world than this. And yes, there is. The beauty of the Universe is vast and limitless.

There are some things that you should remember when planning a trip to the Puerto Princesa Underground River. It is best to arrange your tour with an agency or tour operator as this will give you less things to worry about. They will be the ones to take care of all the permits and such, so as all you have to do is enjoy and relax. Also, make sure that you do not feed the animals that you will see in the park, as this may alter their feeding patterns. Do not throw your trash anywhere in the park, instead, throw them in the designated garbage bins. Be ready for an adventure, because visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River will be one of the best decisions you will ever be making in your entire life. Hold on to your seat and just enjoy the ride. It is never too late to have fun with your life and to finally enjoy the beauty of the world and of nature. Welcome to Puerto Princesa Underground River!