Sabang

Sabang is home of the Subterranea River, one of the 7 wonders of nature. It is marketed as being a Puerto Princesa destination, but trust me, it's a long car ride away from Princesa. I guess you can make it a really long day trip, but staying overnight in Sabang will make the experience much more enjoyable. 

Getting to Sabang

We took a private car from Princesa to Sabang. One of the scariest rides of my life, because we zipped around the roads, at unsafe speeds, nearly hitting grannies sitting on the side of the road. But in the end, we made it with no casualties. Safety on the road was an issue everywhere. Check out this man bringing his chainsaw to his neighbor's house. And check out the driver, he's got one hand holding a heavy bag. Oy!

That's one way to bring your chain saw home...

Where to stay

Sabang is a pass through town, so stay in a convenient spot, but don't break the bank. We stayed at the Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort. For about $80 USD we stayed in a cool bungalow on the beach. 

Beach bungalow at the Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort

You can spend more or less, but as long as you're on the main beach strip, you are in a great location. This dirt road will bring you to the main port where you will catch a ride to the underground river. It's also your access to restauarants and bars. 

The main walkway in Sabang for restauarants, bars and hotels

The Subterranean River

The main draw for coming to Sabang, is taking a ride through the Subterranean River. To get there, you'll take a bangka ride past isolated beaches until you reach this location. It looks like it's straight out of a movie. 

You'll get in a small canoe with a handful of other tourists and you'll put on your headphones that provide the audio to your tour. The commentary is well done and you'll travel through the dark cave looking at stalagmites and stalactites that resemble every day items or biblical references. 

Entrance to the underground river in Sabang

What else should I do?

• Enjoy the beach
• Shop the local market setup near the port (tanks for only $4USD
• Walk the path that runs from the port across all of the hotels. Stop in tiny bars and restaurants for a drink and a meal. 
• Head north to El Nido!