Palawan, Philippines
A paddle boat into a cave river that runs beneath the mountains to the sea, in a UNESCO World Heritage park, on a day trip from Puerto Princesa. Every tour here says what the day adds besides the cave.
Underground River tours
In the centre, the most booked: a full day from the city with the cave and lunch by the sea. On the left, the day that adds a zipline and the mangroves; on the right, a top-rated tour with a buffet and the fees covered.
Most to do
★ 4.610 hoursFree cancellationThe fullest day in Sabang: the cave with an audio guide, lunch on the beach, an 800 m zipline along the coast and a quiet paddle-boat ride through the mangroves at the end.
Most booked
★ 4.58 to 10 hoursFree cancellationThe most booked day: pickup in the city, a stop above Ulugan Bay, the boat from Sabang to the cave beach, the paddle boat into the river, then lunch by the sea before the drive back.
Top rated
★ 4.89 hoursFree cancellationA well-rated day from the city proper: the cave permit, both boats, the audio device, parking and terminal fees and a buffet lunch all in the price, with a licensed guide.
Lowest price
★ 4.27 to 8 hours
Licensed guide
★ 4.39 hours
Shorter day
★ 4.46 hours
Fees included
★ 4.68 hours
Private
★ 4.58 to 9 hoursLive availability
Prices shown in USD. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Compare
Every tour takes the same park paddle boat into the cave for about 45 minutes to an hour. What changes is everything around it: lunch, extra activities, which fees are covered and how private the day is.
| Tour | Pickup | The day adds | Best for | Length | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underground River Full-Day Trip with Lunch | Hotel pickup, downtown Puerto Princesa | Lunch in Sabang | The classic: the cave, a viewpoint and lunch by the sea | 8 to 10 hours | $45 | Book |
| Underground River, Zipline & Mangrove Paddle Boat | Pickup within 5 km of the airport | Zipline and mangrove paddle boat | The most to do in one day in Sabang | 10 hours | $72 | Book |
| Underground River Tour from the City with Buffet Lunch | Pickup in Puerto Princesa city proper | Buffet lunch, fees covered | A buffet and the fees sorted for you | 9 hours | $50 | Book |
| Underground River Tour with Permit & Pickup | Hotel pickup, Puerto Princesa | The cave only, lunch extra | The lowest price, with the permit and safety gear included | 7 to 8 hours | $38 | Book |
| Underground River Guided Day Trip | Pickup within 7 km of the city | A licensed guide, lunch extra | A licensed guide and audio device, lunch your choice in Sabang | 9 hours | $39 | Book |
| Underground River Tour with Buffet Lunch | Pickup in the city proper | Buffet lunch, 6-hour day | A 6-hour day with the permit, wharf fees and a buffet | 6 hours | $51 | Book |
| Underground River with Lunch, Fees Included | Shared pickup in town proper | Lunch and the environmental fee | Entrance and environmental fees both in the price | 8 hours | $60 | Book |
| Private Full-Day Underground River Tour | Pickup within 5 km of the airport | Your own van and driver | Your own van and driver for up to 4 people | 8 to 9 hours | $341 | Book |
Every tour on this site cancels free up to 24 hours before. Prices are per person except the private tour. Most tours leave out the environmental fee of PHP 150, paid in cash at the wharf.
The river
On the west coast of Palawan, the Cabayugan River disappears beneath Mount St. Paul and flows about 8.2 km through the limestone before it meets the sea. Paddle boats carry you in from a quiet lagoon under the cliffs, past chambers carved over millions of years.
The park around it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011. To protect it, the park allows 900 visitors a day, each with a permit.
Navigable, reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world.
From Puerto Princesa City to the park.
By boat from Sabang to the cave beach.
Visitors allowed, each with a permit.
The environmental fee, cash at the wharf.
Your day
How a typical tour from Puerto Princesa runs, from your pickup to the cave and back.
The van collects you early in the morning in the city and drives north, with a stop above Ulugan Bay.
Early morningYour guide sorts the permit while you pay the environmental fee, then a boat runs along the coast to the cave beach.
MorningHard hat on, audio device in, and a park paddle boat takes you into the river for about 45 minutes to an hour.
Late morningLunch in Sabang, the zipline or mangroves if your tour includes them, then the drive home.
AfternoonPlan your trip
The classic day, more adventure, everything included, or a van of your own.
Getting there
Every tour picks you up in the city, and several within 5 km of the airport.
The van drives north to Sabang, about 1.5 to 2 hours. At Sabang Wharf your guide handles the permit and the queue for the boats, and you pay the environmental fee in cash. The boat runs about 20 minutes along the coast to the cave beach. Your booking confirms the exact pickup time.
Around your trip
When to go, what to wear, the park rules and the fine print.
Palawan
A day trip from Puerto Princesa, a boat along the coast and a river that runs through rock.
Check availabilityGuest reviews
★★★★★Great trip, the caves are fascinating, lunch was lovely with lots of choice
★★★★★The Zip lining was exciting! The hike to the platform was very beautiful!
★★★★★Amazing experience, the underwater cave is unique and inspiring. Nature wins again. [...] lunch was lovely and the whole day was an experience to remember.
★★★★★The Underground River Tour was well organized and the site was amazing.
★★★★★Overall excellent tour. Everything was perfect from start to finish. The Underground River is mystical. What an experience!
★★★★★It was a unique experience. Great tour, nice, attentive and excellent guide and driver. Perfect organization.
After dark
Want more from the day? This tour adds an evening trip to watch the fireflies in the mangroves, with dinner.
The river in the morning with lunch in Sabang, a rest at your hotel, then out again after dark to watch the fireflies in the mangroves, with dinner. All entrance fees included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Lunch and dinnerFirefly watchingFees included
The guide
One famous cave, a daily visitor limit and a two-hour drive from the city. Here is how the tours differ, and how to pick the one that fits your day.
The park lets 900 visitors in a day and enforces a no permit, no entry rule. It also warns that turning up in Sabang does not guarantee a permit. Every tour on this site arranges it for you, which is the simplest way in. More in how to book the permit.
Every tour uses the same park paddle boats, about 45 minutes to an hour inside. The difference is the rest of the day: lunch or not, the zipline and mangroves, the fireflies after dark, and whether the fees are already paid. More in what the tour costs.
Sabang is about 1.5 to 2 hours north of the city by road, then a boat of about 20 minutes takes you along the coast to the cave beach. Tours include the van and both boats. More in how to get there.
The dry season in the Philippines runs from December to May, per PAGASA, and the park closes the river in extreme weather. More in the best time to visit.
Guides
In-depth guides to the questions people ask most before booking. See all guides.
How to book the permitThe 900-a-day limit, how tours book your entry and what to bring on the day
What the tour costsAll nine prices, the environmental fee, lunch, the add-ons and the cash to carryHow to get thereThe drive north, airport pickups, Sabang Wharf, the boat and the paddle boat
What to wearClothes and shoes for the boats, the hard hat and audio device you get, cash, the dry bag and the park rules.Best time to visitDry and rainy months, a month-by-month climate table, the busy weeks, weather closures and the best hour.
Is it worth itWhy it is famous, what you see inside, the New 7 Wonders, how many days to plan, and what each tour adds.From the blog
The 2026 updates at the park, the 2027 season and a day in Sabang. All posts.
Underground River: the 2026 updatesThe Sabang Wharf dry run, the 900-a-day permit rule, the PHP 150 fee, closures and the Subaraw festival.
Underground River: the 2027 seasonMonth by month in 2027, the busy weeks to book around, and the from-prices of all 9 tours.
A day in SabangThe mangrove paddle boat, the Sabang X zipline, Ugong Rock, the beach and the museum, and how to fit them in.FAQ
Straight answers to what people ask most about an Underground River tour.
Yes. You glide by paddle boat into a cave river that flows straight into the sea, past huge limestone chambers and thousands of bats and swiftlets, inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More in is the Underground River worth it.
Day tours on this site start from $38 per person with the permit and pickup included. Most tours leave out the environmental fee of PHP 150 per person, paid in cash at the wharf. See what the tour costs.
Yes. The park allows 900 visitors a day and enforces a no permit, no entry rule. Every tour on this site arranges the permit for you. More in how to book the permit.
A full day of 7 to 10 hours from the city. The paddle boat tour inside the cave lasts about 45 minutes to an hour; the rest is the drive to Sabang, the boat to the cave and lunch.
By road to Sabang, about 1.5 to 2 hours, then a boat of about 20 minutes to the cave beach. Tours include both. See how to get there.
Light clothes, sandals or water shoes and a hat. You get a hard hat, a life vest and an audio device at the cave. More in what to wear.
Yes. It was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011, and the park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
About 8.2 km, of which about 4.3 km is navigable; the visitor tour covers the first part by paddle boat.
The drier months from around December to May are the usual pick; the park closes the river in extreme weather. More in the best time to visit.
Yes. Several tours pick up within 5 km of the airport, and the private tour suits travelers with limited time.
Ready to go
Pick your tour, bring cash for the fee, and the permit is sorted.
More: with zipline · with fireflies · a private tour
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