Puerto Princesa River, Nature reserve in Palawan, Philippines
Puerto Princesa River is a protected area on Palawan Island that includes a subterranean waterway running through limestone caverns before the water flows into open ocean. The landscape combines dense rainforest with mangrove forests along the coast and includes several cave systems accessible only by boat.
The caves served for centuries as shelter for fishermen and hunters before the government placed the area under protection in the mid-20th century. International recognition came in the late 1990s when scientists documented the geological importance of the limestone formations.
The Spanish name means Royal Harbor City, and visitors today can see how local groups protect the forest and coastline using old methods. Many residents still make their living from fishing and gather plants for daily use, entering the area with care.
Visitors must secure a permit in advance and should arrive early in the morning to avoid long waiting times. The boat ride to the cave takes around 45 minutes from the coast, and sturdy footwear helps when stepping onto the wet shoreline.
In the back chambers of the cave, colonies of bats and swiftlets live, their calls echoing in the darkness. The rock itself consists of fossilized coral, showing that these caverns once lay beneath the sea.
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