After hopping around the many islets of Honda Bay, I felt I was already acclimatized with the seas of Palawan and that it was time for me to enjoy the natural wonders that Palawan boasts of. As you all know, the Subterranean River of Palawan is the official nominee of the Philippines for the New Seven Wonders of the World. It measures up to 8.2 kilometers long and it is navigable up to 4 kilometers, beyond that, one should be an expert spelunker as there are many obstacles inside the underground river: darkness, bats, rock formations and other wild animals (possibly).
The trip takes about two hours and originally would cost P1,500 however, being in a big group has its advantages. My group was able to avail the tour for only P1,200. It includes: van service, boat ride, permit to the river, free lunch and snacks and a very knowledgeable tour guide named Cielo, although she insisted we should call her Ms. Beautiful. We passed by this view deck half-way to Bgy. Sabang where we are going to have our lunch.
Sabang Beach is a swimmer's paradise. The sloping terrain is ideal for swimming and the soft, powdery sand surrounded by aquamarine water is so inviting. There are a number of resorts on this beach, each offering good ambience, wonderful hospitality and unforgettable service. It made the tour truly worth every centavo we paid for.
Rocky cliffs provide panoramic views as we cruised to the underground river. They reminded me of the cliffs in "New Moon" where the pack of wolfs practiced their jumping skills (I can't resist inserting that).
The entrance to the underground river is a very busy one as boat after boat, tourist after tourist arrived. The local government limits the arrival of visitors and permits need to be obtained prior to coming here. I can't blame the local government, with the number of guests arriving almost every hour, the place would be in a miserable state by now if they didn't control the arrival of visitors to a manageable number.
What people do not know is that the area around the underground river is also a protected wildlife area. There are endemic Palawan wildlife that freely roam the thick tropical forest, reminding people that it is their territory and to leave them alone.
This is one of the resident bayawak at the underground river. It is almost over three feet long and has a very thick body it would definitely take all night to soften its meat should anyone dare catch and attempt to make a meal out of it.
The white-tailed macaque is also one of the resident species of monkeys around the area. We were warned not to bring any plastic material as the sound of plastic drives them wild and make a go for the object. So I tried to avoid it lest I end up wrestling with it for my stuff. (No harm in listening to Ms. Beautiful)
There was a slight drizzle that day, but that did not dampen my enthusiasm to see this natural wonder. Each fiberglass boat can carry up to 10 passengers and while the boatman navigates inside, one passenger carries the lamp to illuminate the area that we would be passing by so that visitors can see the rock formations and their unique shapes. Nature is really the best artist, yet it also is the best secret-keeper. The darkness inside the cave kept this natural wonder from being excessively-visited.
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