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The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Sabang is home to some of the most spectacular rock formations you’ll ever see, so it’s no surprise if this ends up being the highlight of your Palawan trip.  good hotels in Puerto Princesa, it’s easy to find one for you and your family, too, before you go to Sabang.

Sabang has a lot of natural wonders. In fact, the town has a number of hidden gems worth exploring like the Sabang Waterfalls, Sabang Buddhist Temple, Lion’s Cave, Kawili Cave and Elephant Karst Mountain Cave.

Of course, you can’t afford to miss its gorgeous and tranquil mangrove forests.

 

What to Expect During the Tour

As with the Underground River, you’ll have to take a boat ride to see up close the forests’ stately, centuries–old mangrove trees.

This 45-minute Mangrove Forest Paddle Boat Tour is a community-based ecotourism project created to educate locals as well as tourists about the beauty and ecological importance of mangroves.

You’ll get to learn about the forests from the person manning

The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Sabang is home to some of the most spectacular rock formations you’ll ever see, so it’s no surprise if this ends up being the highlight of your Palawan trip. Given that there are so many good hotels in Puerto Princesa, it’s easy to find one for you and your family, too, before you go to Sabang.

Sabang has a lot of natural wonders. In fact, the town has a number of hidden gems worth exploring like the Sabang Waterfalls, Sabang Buddhist Temple, Lion’s Cave, Kawili Cave and Elephant Karst Mountain Cave.

Of course, you can’t afford to miss its gorgeous and tranquil mangrove forests.

 

What to Expect During the Tour

As with the Underground River, you’ll have to take a boat ride to see up close the forests’ stately, centuries–old mangrove trees.

This 45-minute Mangrove Forest Paddle Boat Tour is a community-based ecotourism project created to educate locals as well as tourists about the beauty and ecological importance of mangroves.

You’ll get to learn about the forests from the person manning the boat, who introduces herself as Lady Mangrove. As the tour guide, she lets you in on the different roles of mangrove forests in the ecosystem.

One of these roles is to provide a barrier against waves and storms. Another is to provide shelter to wildlife species, including fascinating underwater and land creatures. (There’s a big chance that you’ll spot some of these animals during the tour.)

Lady Mangrove also teaches how to distinguish a male mangrove from a female mangrove simply by looking at the shape of their leaves. As an added treat, she even performs a lovely song by the end of the tour.

Tour details and tips

Make the most of your visit to the Mangrove Forests by taking note of the following:

• Registration fee is P150 per head.

• You can take the tour while waiting for your turn to enter the Underground River (where it could take hours to get in, especially during peak season).

• Traveling to Sabang to see the Underground River can be hectic, especially if you’re on a tight schedule. Making room in your itinerary for the mangrove tour will help you relax, as the forests offer the kind of peace that you can only find from nature.

• Contribute to the management’s conservation efforts by making a donation or planting a mangrove sapling in the designated area.

• If you are an adventurous foodie, or are willing to eat anything at least once, try the tamilok, a wood worm that lives inside dead mangroves. They taste like oysters and have become a popular delicacy among locals and tourists.

• There is a fruit shake stand near the registration area where you can order refreshing drinks while waiting for your turn.

• Be quiet during the tour. This is to ensure that the forest inhabitants are not disturbed while you tour their home.

About 40 percent of the Philippines’ mangrove forests can be found in Palawan. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get a glimpse of these ecologically important treasures. Take part in the boat tour before you make your way to the Underground River, and your trip to Sabang is sure to be more meaningful.