Crocodile Sisig, anyone?

Good to know:

• The quickest way to get to Palawan is via Manila. I flew PAL (Philippines Airlines) from Manila to Puerto Princesa (PPS); it's a 1 hour 15 minutes flight.
• As always, while in The Philippines, make sure you book a hotel that has a generator (especially during the summer months of December to April) as there are constantly power outages and trust me, you don't want to be in such conditions!

Once again, I used Rocketmiles to book my stay at the Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa and earned 9,000 AA miles.  The other reason for booking here was that it's very close to the Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's new 7 wonders of Nature.

• Should you need to travel throughout Palawan, you can use the services of Lexus van transfer for El Nido. It's only 800 PHP for an almost 6 hr drive to El Nido but you can also hire a private van for 4,000 PHP one way; it may drop to 3,000 PHP if you allow the driver to pick-up passengers throughout the route.

On departure:​
There is not any signal of how to navigate the small airport of Puerto Princesa. So ... once you arrive do as follows:

1. First, check-in and drop off your luggage so you can obtain a printed boarding pass.
2. Then head to the long line (to the left and before you enter security) to pay your Terminal fee of 200 PHP. They will ask to see your "printed" boarding pass!
3. Once you enter and clear security, you'll come to the crowded waiting lounge. There are only two gates, one for PAL and one for Cebu Airlines, but I'm sure they change as to accommodate flights for AirAsia.

You could also head to the second floor where they have room for more seats but do bear in mind that the only two gates are on the ground floor as you need to walk out to board the plane.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Also known as the "Underground River" it is one of the new 7 wonders of nature. I booked my tour from the Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa. 
We met at reception at 7:30 a.m. and we were given a short intro of what to do and not to while on the tour. It all sums up to keeping your hands to yourself and not to open your mouth under any circumstances while looking up.

We then walked 5 minutes off the resort and reached the port where you will take a boat to the entrance to the park. I can say that we were one of the first to board and enter the Underground River. Way to go Sheridan's tour group!

The same life vest you are given when boarding the boat is the same one you will keep throughout the tour of the underground river. 
Once at the park, you'll be given a hard hat and an audio guide that will narrate to you the history, facts and information about this UNESCO site. Then you're off (on groups of 10) to board a different boat that will take you through the 1.4 km (in 45 min) out of the 8.2 km long stretch of the underground river. 

​Once inside ...

As per our paddle boat guide which I do have to acknowledge that he was the funniest guide ever. He kept us well entertained while also reminding us not to open our mouths as we looked up to the ceiling.

​The guide said: You will feel droplets of two kinds, cold and warm droplets. Those cold droplets are known to Filipinos as blessed water within the cave while the warm ones are those of the urine coming from the bats taking their siesta up above!

This Underground River is the Philippines greatest pride and is well taken care of; however, new guidelines have been set to only allow 600 visitors to this site per day, instead of there regular 900 - 1500 visitors per day.

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The rock formations here are stunning. Just imagine that this limestone scenery grows just a few inches every 10 years.
You also get to see stalactites and stalagmites as well as mineral formations and even a few snakes. Moreover, there is a mountain to sea biosphere which hosts a huge range of wildlife watching, mangrove forest tours, adventure caving for adrenaline-seekers as well as spending some time on the pristine beaches that offer cool and crystal waters to enjoy sunbathing and snorkeling.

El Nido

That's Spanish for "the Nest".
​ ... and other than the island hopping experience that leaves at 7:30 am for 4 hours, you can also try:
​

• Zip lining at Las Cabañas beach:

You get to experience a great view from above at this 750 m long zip line over Las Cabañas beach. They offer the sitting (500 PHP) or the superman (700 PHP) one-way of zip lining to a nearby island; should you decide to do it both-ways (which brings you back to the main island) you can pay 1000 PHP for trying both the sitting and superman experience.
I do have to say that it's not so well organized as to how to pay, sign off your life and then embark on your zipline  journey; but if you do go through it, it's an amazing experience, especially if you go during the sunset.

To reach this point from the El Nido town, it could cost you 150 PHP on a tricycle who will leave you at mid-range of the hill and then you need to walk a few stairs (as warm-up) up to the top of the hill. It's a breath-taking (literally) 10 min hike. 

I went for the superman experience!

Go to Nacpan beach:

This beach is located almost 45 min (on a tricycle) from El Nido town and offers more of a relaxed, laid back and not so touristy atmosphere. The tricycle driver that I chose - Rosto - charged me 1000 PHP to get here and back. He said that he normally charges 1,500 PHP but he was giving me this offer. You may contact him at 09079820654.

If you do choose an AirCon van, you will get here quicker but I'm not so sure about the cost of it. 

... and enjoy the sunsets!