Philippine Destination: PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN 2009
Puerto Princesa is synonymous with breath-taking sights, pristine sand beaches, lush rainforests and beautiful islands. Mangrove swamps and limestone cliffs create a scenic counterpoint to foaming surf pounding the uneven shoreline. Hilly terrain dotted with trees, home to a wide array of colorful wildlife, hug the winding roads to the north. Rivers, cold and hot springs, and waterfalls offer a serene repose amid the rugged landscape.
Right in the center of the main island of Palawan—a province dubbed as being the Last Frontier in this part of the globe, Puerto Princesa serves as its nerve center being the seat of public administration as well as the focal point of trade, commerce, service and industry.
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with its underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it flows directly into the sea, and the lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full mountain to the sea ecosystem and protects forests, which are among the most significant in Asia.