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| Welcome! |
On the 3rd day of our vacation in Palawan the group decided to have Underground River Tour. La Tiara Tours was the agency in charge for our Underground river tour, they charge us 1400 php per pax inclusive of permit, tour guide, buffet lunch, van and boat transfer. Since it is peak season it is advisable to booked it ahead of time since they will just accommodate 900 visitors a day. What I did is I send an email to La Tiara Tour together with the name of the guest and our age. After how many days they emailed us the copy of our permit and they ask us to pay 2000 php that serves as our deposit.
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| Victoria's Guesthouse |
Before heading to Sabang port we had our breakfast in our guesthouse. Since we just paid 400 php/pax inclusive of breakfast and airport transfer we didn't expect to have luxurious breakfast. I think it's just enough to start the day plus they have unlimited banana fresh from their farm.
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| free breakfast |
The travel agency fetch us from our guesthouse, call time is 8:30 am and yet they arrive 10 minutes earlier. There are 10 of us inside the van plus the tour guide and the driver. Travel time is approximately 2 hours but we stop twice before we arrive. First is for rest room break from there we can buy insect repellents and bottled water. Second is at Elephant Cave, here is where the Amazing Race Philippines shoot one of their episode. This stop is only intended for picture taking.
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| Karst means limestone |
Upon arrival to Sabang port, our tour guide advised us to eat our lunch first since we arrived 10:30 am and yet our schedule of the permit is lunch time. The restaurant is just around the port it is buffet style and because it is Saturday the port is crowded with tourist like us.
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| the boat is sooooooo noisy! |
Our group waited for about 30 minutes in the port before going to the underground river. We traveled for 20 minutes before reaching our destination and waited for 2 hours before it's our turn to go inside the cave. Unfortunately when it's almost our turn, it rained cats and dogs. Good thing there are some locals who were selling raincoats that cost 50 php each.
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| power rangers! |
There was a 2 minutes trail before reaching the mouth of the cave, just remember to keep your belongings properly because there are some monkeys roaming freely around the park. Every time they hear a sound of a plastic they will come near and they will grab it. Our tour guide said they love to play bottled water so better keep it inside your bag. Visitors are also not allowed to give them any food because it is not good for their diet plus it will make them more aggressive.
Monkeys are not the only animal in Underground River or now known as Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park but there are also some monitor lizards or commonly called bayawak in tagalog. Don't worry there are no crocodile inside and outside the cave so it is very safe.
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| Panoramic view |
For every paddled boat, it can fit 10 people plus the boatman who will serve as the guide in our tour inside the cave. Exploring the underground river took us 45 minutes but there is never a dull moment since the boatman keeps on cracking a joke.
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| Underground River |
FYI : Stalactites are formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which is precipitated from mineralized water solutions. Limestone is the chief form of calcium carbonate rock which is dissolved by water that contains carbon dioxide, forming a calcium bicarbonate solution in underground caverns. An average growth rate is 0.13 mm (0.0051 inches) a year. (Wikipedia)
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| stalactite 1 |
Inside the cave there are lots of stalactite and stalagmite, the locals give them names according to how they look like such as vegetables, human formation and many more. Located at the highest part of the ceiling is what they call the cathedral in which there are many rock formation such the "holy family" that compose of famous character like Mama Mary, Joseph and Jesus Christ. The biggest stalagmite inside the cave is known as the candle. When stalagmite and stalactite meets it is called column.
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| stalactite 2 |
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| stalactite 3 |
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| queue |
Many locals were extending their heartfelt appreciation to all people who voted for Underground River as part of the 7th Wonder of the World. It boosted the tourism in Palawan, and it generated income to our fellow Filipinos living their. I am happy visiting this place because it is visible to their faces their warm welcome to the visitors and the simplicity of the way they live.
Contact information:
La Tiara Tour
- contact number: 09178094509
- email add: latiaratours@yahoo.com
- website: http://latiaratours.wordpress.com/
Victoria Guest house
- contact number: 09999941332, 09177576749
- facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoriaguesthouse.palawan
Contact information:
La Tiara Tour
- contact number: 09178094509
- email add: latiaratours@yahoo.com
- website: http://latiaratours.wordpress.com/
Victoria Guest house
- contact number: 09999941332, 09177576749
- facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoriaguesthouse.palawan
Underground River Must Have:
1. Insect repellent
2. Camera
3. Bottled Water
4. Sun block
EXPENSES
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AMOUNT
(php)
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Underground River Tour
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1400
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Raincoat
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50
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Off Lotion
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35
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Bottled Water
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35
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TOTAL
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1520
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next : Ugong Rock Rocks!
