Pinoy Roadtrip

Our Day with the Kids at the Underground River

September 3, 2010

Our Day with the Kids at the Underground River

6 AM
Wakeup

what to bring to the underground river tour:

waterproof backpacks, extra change of clothes, cellphone, swimsuit, sunblock, off lotion, coconut oil, hand sanitizer, underwater camera case, underwater plastic case for gadgets, cellphones, wallet, toilet paper, emergency medicines, slippers, bottled water, cookies or biscuits

7AM-10AM: Travel from Puerto Princesa to Sabang River

Buenvista View Deck

     We were picked up by Wildrock Tours at Casa Linda Inn around 7am. Travel from Puerto Princesa to Sabang Beach takes around 2-3 hours, depending on the state of the roads and the number of stops you make. Why go to Sabang Beach? Sabang Beach is the jump off point to the Underground River Park. You ride the outrigger or banca at the small pier at Sabang Beach. The outrigger takes you to the beachfront entrance of the Underground River Park.

     In 2009, the road from Puerto Princesa to Sabang Beach was only paved half-way. Half of the road was rough. We were told by our guide that before a system was started on how to line up to see the underground river, all vans carrying tourists will race through rough roads just to make it to Sabang Beach ahead of the others. He showed us how they did it and my daughter got dizzy. Even then, when roads were rough, foreign tourists were never discouraged from seeing the underground river. We also stopped by the Buenavista View Deck to see the view of Ulugan Bay.

     The road going to Sabang Beach is pretty remote. For those concerned about toilet stops, you will be surprised to find that locals living along that road maintain toilets that you can use for a fee. The guides know where they are located.

10AM-12:00 PM: Swimming at Sabang Beach

We arrived around 10am. Our guide checked our scheduled boat ride from a list found with the pier management. We were informed that our turn to ride the banca will be at 1pm.

The hut where we stayed at Taraw Resort

We decided to walk around Sabang beach. We were led to a hut at Taraw Resort. Taraw Resort will serve our buffet lunch.
To kill time, we did a lot of swimming at the beach. I walked around and explored the nearby Daluyon Resort, which is also along Sabang Beach. In 2009, almost all resorts along Sabang Beach are made of native huts and very basic. At that time, only Daluyon Resort had modern facilities. A big hotel complex beside Daluyon Resort was being constructed and expected to be completed August 2010. I found out that it's called Sheridan Beach Resort and Convention Center.

Sabang Beach

Left side of Sabang Beach

Middle of Sabang Beach

Right side of Sabang Beach

If your schedule permits, I recommend you stay overnight at Sabang Beach because the beach is quiet with fine white sand. Daluyon Resort is nice resort to stay in.

12:00 PM-1:00 PM: Lunch at Taraw Beach Resort

     We had our sumptuous buffet Lunch at Taraw Resort. We invited the guide and the driver to join us, especially seeing the amount of food served to us but they declined.

     After swimming, we showered and changed clothes at the toilet of Taraw Resort.

1:00 PM -1:30 PM: Boat ride going to the Underground River Park

Sabang pier

We went to the pier on the left side of Sabang Beach. We rode the boat and were immediately given lifejackets. They are very strict in the use of lifejackets while onboard the boat.

1:30 PM -3:00 PM: Line up and take the Boat Tour inside the Underground River

The Underground River Park does not have a pier. So we got off the boat directly to the beach front.


Entrance to the Underground River Park

We entered the park and proceeded to the paved path to where we board the boat for the Underground River Tour. We line up and take the Boat Tour inside the Underground River

The Underground River Boat Tour only takes 30 minutes. The length of time you stay at the Underground River Park also depends on the length of time it takes to line up for the Underground River Boat Tour.

The people in charge of the boat tour group you together to make sure you're together in one boat. The system is fairly organized. They provide you with life jackets.

This is where we rode the tour boat.

We are about to enter the underground river

The Underground River

We are now inside the underground river

The unusual rock formation

The cavern inside

The ceiling

At the mouth of the cave as we ended the tour

My tip:

Ride on the first row of the boat if you want to hold the light while the guide talks about the Underground River. The person holding the light also points it to the rock formations within the cave as the boatman explains what it looks like.

Do not look up often and talk at the same time. You might catch the bird poo.

3:00 PM-3:30 PM: Boat ride from the Underground River Park going back to Sabang Beach

4:00 PM: Depart Sabang Beach

6:00 PM: Arrival at your Puerto Princesa hotel/resort/inn

7:00 PM: Dinner

If you have kids, Check this out: What kids will like about the Underground River Tour

Expenses for the day:
1. P1500 per person for the tour inclusive of roundtrip transportation from Puerto Princesa to Sabang Beach, lunch, entrance fees, permits, roundtrip boat transfers from Sabang Beach to the Underground River Park
2. Drinks during lunch
3. Tip to guide and driver (optional)
4. P10 for every use of the toilet at the Underground River Park
5. Souvenir and Pasalubong: I didn't see any worth buying.
6. Breakfast and dinner for today

Estimated total cost per person for this day: P2,000 per person
Note: If you wish to go to the Underground River without getting a tour, you can get information here

Will President Aquino Declare September 10 a Public Holiday?

Will President Aquino Declare September 10 a Public Holiday?

The news from Manila times as of August 31 says that the "NCMF asks Malacanang to Declare September 10 'Eid'l Fitr' Day" . I have already given an opinion that this is not optional for the President whether or not to declare it a public holiday. See my article.

We hope his advisers will advise him to respect this date and follow the law. That remains to be seen. For us parents, this will be a welcome break. For our Muslim brothers, Happy Eid'l Fitr' Day!

Latest News!!! Malacanang Declares Sept 10, 2010 as non-working holiday!!!

What Kids Will Like About the Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour

September 2, 2010

What Kids Will Like About the Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour

Why see the Underground River

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is one (1) of only five (5) World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. It has only been recently inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1999. Everyone must see why it's worth the inscription.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Park shows a limestone karst with an underground river beneath. The river flows into a cave (which is the limestone karst) and then flows out to the South China Sea. The tour boat enters the cave and explores the rock formations inside the cave while traversing the 8.2 kilometer area of navigable river.

It used to be the longest underground river in the world until the discovery in 2007 of the underground river in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

What kids will like

The adventure and mystery of riding a boat and going into a dark cave. The boatmen guides make it interesting and mysterious with their narration and warning before going inside the cave. You experience the eery quiet, the unusual smell and the coolness of the cave and the encounter with sleeping bats on the cave ceiling.


The rock formation inside the cave. The guides let their imagination roam as they describe what the rock formations seem to look like.

They encounter animals like monkeys, monitor lizards and squirrels roaming freely inside the park grounds.

Swimming and building sandcastles at Sabang Beach. It has the same fine white sand but with calmer waters than Honda Bay, which is the other place in your Puerto Princesa trip where you can swim at the beach.

My tip:

1. Get the tour. Why?

The rates are reasonable considering that you don't have to worry about transportation, meals, and getting government permits to go inside the Underground River.

You are sure of getting inside because the tour operators know people from the pier management and lines up for you and makes sure you get in.

The tour operators know when the park is closed to visitors. One time, my sister-in-law was not able to visit the Underground River because the tour operator advised them that the Park Management closed it for the shooting of scenes for the Miss Earth Pageant. In the Philippines, it's hard to get that kind of information unless you specifically ask the locals. They are not announced in the newspapers or the information made accessible to the public.

But if you still wish to go to the underground river on your own, see information on how to do it here

2. Give a whole day for it.

Never think that you can go to the Underground River and hope to catch your plane on the same day. The guides do not know your number in line for the use of the boat to go to the Underground River Park until you arrive at Sabang Beach. They also cannot predict how long you will line up for the boat tour itself once you arrive at the site where you take the boat that goes inside the cave. They can promise your tour will be complete. But they cannot promise what time the tour will end.

For a detailed narration of our trip, see Our Day with the Kids at the Underground River

21st Philippine Travel Mart Sale

September 1, 2010

21st Philippine Travel Mart Sale

(September 3-5, 2010 at the SM Megamall, Megatrade Halls)

Seair Sale

Seair is the first to announce the promo fare available only at the Philippine Travel Mart. Details are as follows:

1. Manila to Batanes roundtrip promo

Buy 1-take-1 roundtrip tickets for only P14,344 all in.
Good for travel until December 19, 2010.
Tickets must be bought on September 3-5 at the Philippine Travel Mart at Booths 108-109.

2. Manila to Boracay roundtrip tickets

Roundtrip rate of P3,500 all in per person, good for travel until October 15, 2010.
Roundtrip rate of P4,463 all in per person, good for travel from October 16, 2010-December 19, 2010.
Tickets must be bought on September 3-5 at the Philippine Travel Mart at Booths 108-109.

3. Manila to Tablas roundtrip tickets

Roundtrip rate of P3,500 all in per person, good for travel until October 15, 2010.
Roundtrip rate of P4,463 all in per person, good for travel from October 16, 2010-December 19, 2010.
Tickets must be bought on September 3-5 at the Philippine Travel Mart at Booths 108-109

I will update you of details of other sale on this event as soon as I know. Please be back...