Appreciating nature: Palawan's underground river

The highlight, of course, of our Puerto Princesa trip is the Subterranean river tunnel in Sabang. With all the hype brought about by the recent declaration of it being one of the new seven wonders of the world, it was not at all surprising to find many people going there. And so, on the second day of our stay, we found ourselves in a 14-seater van together with mostly foreigners on our way to the famous natural marvel.

Going there is quite tiring I can’t imagine doing it outside an arranged tour. The travel consists of a two-hour drive exclusive of a 30-minute stopover at a souvenir shop and a rocky boat ride (around 30 minutes). Between those, we had a buffet lunch by the beach and limitless wandering in Sabang. On top of the simple foods on the buffet table, we also ordered tamilok, a Palawan delicacy of uncooked woodworms that come from mangroves. I didn't bother to try it but those who did say it tastes almost like oysters, only better.

After the meal, we were allowed to wander around and enjoy the water. There was even an optional tour of a mangrove site. This break before the boat ride lasted for more than two hours, including the waiting time. So much for a buildup to the celebrated underground river.

While we were still on the boat, the view did not disappoint a single bit. We were in awe just passing by the rock formations and were in crazy excitement on how much more awaits us in the cove hidden behind them. When we finally disembarked, we took our time and enjoyed the great scenery, inhaling all of nature that our bodies can accommodate. The moment, despite our exhaustion, was very refreshing. If I were alone, I would have lied there in the sand and slept for as long as possible. But since I was with family, we instead took pictures. And we weren't in the river cave yet. It was still a walk away and along the road, there were still some wonders to see. The monkeys, the ostrich and the monitor lizard. And of course, more water. Everything was a sure treat to our senses.

In order to appreciate the beauty of the underground river, we boarded a small boat with one funny Palaweño as both the tour guide and pilot. The water looked great and the view astonishing. Even before entering the cave, I was humbled by the magnificence of the place. Inside, I was totally awed by how nature made it possible to actually scoop a hollow under a submerged mountain and, above the water, display enormous sculptures that are, unbelievably, not sculpted by man. It was not comfortable inside as it is totally dark and it gave a sense of intrusion as well as mystery. It was weird to feel empowered by the fact that I was able to go there but at the same time belittled by the bigness and power of nature.

*0900: Van arrives at hotel for pickup; tour starts
*1030-1100: Stopover for souvenir shopping
*1145: Buffet lunch
*1330: Tour guide summons us for a ride to the port
*1400: We arrive at the port/tourist office
*1430: We board the boats taking us to the national park
*1500: We disembark, wander around while waiting for our turn inside the underground river
*1525: We board the boat and start the underground river tour
*1610: End of tour

We left the place at around 4:30 pm and arrived at the Marina de Bay resort shortly before 7 pm.