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Sassyzeal



One of the tourist attractions that caught my attention was the Firefly watching. I read reviews and asked my friend who already went there about this. She said, the ambiance is so romantic. 

On our Palawan Getaway Day 2, we went to Underground River in the morning and rested for an hour before we dressed up for a romantic Dinner in Ka Lui Restaurant. By 7:30 PM, Bro.James (driver) fetched us in the restaurant
to bring us to the Firefly watching site. 

Firefly watching site is located in Iwahig River of Firefly-Watching Ecotourism and Wildlife Park in Iwahig, Puerto Princesa. It is being managed by Iwahig Community Ecotourism Association, Inc or ICETA which was established by ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. and the Puerto Princesa government and Tourism Department. 

The simplicity of the plain river on the dark night is what we can see upon arriving in Firefly watching Ecotourism and Wildlife Park. Only the tiny sounds of fireflies are what we can hear on the surroundings. It was actually raining and only the four of us were the visitors that night. 

We proceeded to the registration and entrance payment area. Identification Card is required for recording purposes. We paid P 600.00 per boat. Since the boat can only accommodate maximum of 3 visitors + 1 boatman, we divided ourselves into two boats. We paid a total P 1,200.00 for two boats for the four of us. They provided us raincoat and umbrella and put on our life vests before riding the boat. Then Pastor and Ate Aiza rode on the other boat, while me and Miel rode on the next boat with two boat man. I was scared at first thinking that in that deep and dark river there are crocodiles and mumu (ghost). The deepest part of Iwahig River is 60 feet deep. Then the boatmen started their spiels (facts about the Iwahig River and Fireflies). It made me glad to know that somehow, this tourist spot provided a living for some of the residence of Iwahig like our dear Kuya Bankeros (boatmen) and the fact that they (the boatmen) provided us insights and shared their experience about the Iwahig River and the treasures of it like the fireflies. They were humorous enough to help us restore our confidence under a dark sky and calm floating motion. 

I was not able to capture those little creatures because, One – I don’t have a high quality dslr flash to capture the camera shy fireflies. Two – fireflies are sensitive to lights. 
Fireflies are plenteous during December to February. Since it was raining, it was very hard to see fireflies. Kuya Jhon-Jhon (one of the boatmen) was pointing his red laser light to the mangroves which have fireflies. He really knew where among the mangroves fireflies usually dwell.



Romantic River under a constellation with fireflies as witnesses

The boat men brought us to the center point of the river where there were mangroves surrounded us with brilliantly shining fireflies under a perfect sky with constellation. It seems that in a middle of a dark night, we were lighted by a spotlight and the blinking little lights being emitted by fireflies and stars in formation above.

In a discreet moment, Miel opened his purpose by saying “Kuya,may sasabihin lang ako” (He was talking to the boatmen, “I need to say something”) Then he faced me and showed me a bracelet. Good thing that was a bracelet or else, I might think that it was a proposal if he showed me a ring. Then he said, "I want you to be my girlfriend again” It was a very long story, so just don’t be confused. In short, that was our renewal of commitment to each other. Even though I can’t show and explain to you how romantic it was, just believe me IT WAS REALLY ROMANTIC. Then after our moment, Kuya bankero said that there were also couples like us who become engaged in that point of the river. He cited numbers of couple which I forgot already. So that means, this place is also a romantic place to propose. So sad I was not able to provide you photos. 



Here are the things we've learned from the boatmen:


Fireflies are indicator of a balanced ecosystem. Their presence indicates that the place is still healthy to live in. Fireflies are responsive to color red. Male fireflies use their bioluminescence (bioluminescence is the emission of light)to attract female firefly. 

Boatmen discussed about the Nilad or Nila or the Yamstick Mangrove. The name Nilad was derived from the City “Maynila” where there was abundant Yamstick Mangrove specifically in Pasig River Banks during pre-spanish era. As the year passed, Pasig River was becoming populated which caused the loss of Nilad. Good thing is that, there are still living Nilad in Iwahig where the fireflies are dwelling. 




How to go to Firefly Watching Site


Option 1:  
Rent a tricycle that will bring you from Puerto Princesa City   Proper to Ihawig Firefly Watching. 
Cost:  P 700.00 maximum of 5 passengers

Option 2:
Rent a Van a tricycle that will bring you from Puerto Princesa City   Proper to Ihawig Firefly Watching.
Cost: P 1,500.00 for four hours

Travel time: 45 minutes – 1 hour

Iwahig River of Firefly-Watching Ecotourism and Wildlife Park Information

Rates: P 600.00 per boat. Good for 3 passengers + 1 boatman
For Reservations: 0916-780-9118 or 0929-616-5990 
Operating Hours: 7PM – until there are visitors


Iwahig River Firefly Watching Costing


In our case, we were four and we rented a van for P 1,500.00. For Van rental, please refer here: Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa, Palawan. We paid P 600.00 per boat. Since the boat can only accommodate maximum of 3 visitors + 1 boatman, we divided ourselves into two boats. We paid a total P 1,200.00 for two boats for the four of us.


Service
Cost of service
Cost per person
Van Rental from City Proper to Iwahig
P 1,500 / 4 persons =
375
Boat Ride
P 600.00 / 2 persons =
300
TOTAL COST OF FIREFLY WATCHING INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION PER PERSON
P 675

For Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa, Palawan, you may also opt to contact the Van we rented  on that link.



Take note of the Tips and Enjoy!
All I want is to share, to inspire,  be sassy and to be zealous.



If you find this post helpful and you appreciate it, Come on! please do SHARE on social media and let your friends know as well! 


Or want know more about my sassy experiences? Subscribe on the right pane of this site! I'll be happy to spread the enthusiasm to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST SMARTLY!

Is there any experience you want to share with me or you want to seek any tips or ask questions, I will be delighted to hear it! COMMENT on below because I am interested! Ops! Don't forget to add your email address so I can get back to you!



Related helpful topics:

3/ 2 D DO-IT-YOURSELF PALAWAN ITINERARY

City Tour: Puerto Prinncesa, Palawan
Booking a Permit for Underground River Palawan Tour
Underground River Tour
 Kain na! Sa Ka Inato
Get wild at Crocodile Farm, Puerto Princesa
Life and Freedom inside Iwahig Penal Farm
Mitras Ranch
Baker's Hill: The Baker’s Artistic Haven
Bunuatan Weaving Center: Preserving Filipino’s hard work and culture
Plaza Cuartel: A piece of history
Souvenir Shop: Hand-crafts and native delicacies as Pasalubong!
Ka Lui Restaurant, Palawan


Tuesday, June 17, 2014 No comments
Part of the perk we can enjoy in availing the Underground River Tour is the free Lunch Buffet.

Before going back to our ride that will bring us back to our hotel, we stopped over this cottage for free buffet lunch.


Do not expect for a luxurious buffet, because it only consist of Adobo, fried danggit, Chicken, breaded sweet potato, cucumber, okra and of course rice, just enough to fulfill our hungry tummy. 



Here are the photos I got.


 


We'll, if you will ask how we availed the Underground River Tour with free buffet lunch, here is the perfect post that may help you with. Get a hassle free tour package!
Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa, Palawan


If you find this post helpful and you appreciate it, Come on! please do SHARE on social media and let your friends know as well! 

Or want know more about my sassy experiences? Subscribe on the right pane of this site! I'll be happy to spread the enthusiasm to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST SMARTLY!

Is there any experience you want to share with me or you want to seek any tips or ask questions, I will be delighted to hear it! COMMENT on below because I am interested! Ops! Don't forget to add your email address so I can get back to you!



Related helpful topics:
3/ 2 D DO-IT-YOURSELF PALAWAN ITINERARY
City Tour: Puerto Prinncesa, Palawan
Booking a Permit for Underground River Palawan Tour
Underground River Tour
 Kain na! Sa Ka Inato
Get wild at Crocodile Farm, Puerto Princesa
Life and Freedom inside Iwahig Penal Farm
Mitras Ranch
Baker's Hill: The Baker’s Artistic Haven
Bunuatan Weaving Center: Preserving Filipino’s hard work and culture
Plaza Cuartel: A piece of history
Souvenir Shop: Hand-crafts and native delicacies as Pasalubong!
Ka Lui Restaurant, Palawan



Thursday, June 12, 2014 1 comments
Sabang is the doorway to the majestic Puerto Princesa Underground River. It seems like a port with many boats waiting for passengers. Just like an airport, here is the place where you need to process your papers for you to be allowed to go to Underground River. Papers? Yes papers, What I meant was, you will need the permit to enter Underground River. You cannot get a permit on the spot. So you need to book it earlier, a month or better 2 months in advance, just to be safe. You will only need to do this if your are the one who is planning for your Do it yourself Palawan Getaway. If you have contacted a travel agency or a tourist guide in Palawan, you don’t need to do this, because you already availed they hassle free Underground River Tour. They will be the one who will arrange everything for you. The cost of a worry-free Underground River Tour is P 1,500 per head. (See Cheaper way to explore Palawan)



Sabang Information Center

Sabang Port, Palawan

Boats waiting for passengers at Sabang Port, Palawan

All ready! Life jackets on! 

Upon arrival on the Sabang Port, go to the registration booth, you will need to show ID for registration. Then you can now ride the pump boat going to Underground River Natures Park. From there, you can now reserve for paddle boat that will bring you inside the cave .
Note: Do not forget to get a permit going inside the Underground River before traveling here.
Booking a Permit for Underground River Palawan Tour

If you find this post helpful and you appreciate it, Come on! please do SHARE on social media and let your friends know as well! 

Or want know more about my sassy experiences? Subscribe on the right pane of this site! I'll be happy to spread the enthusiasm to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST SMARTLY!

Is there any experience you want to share with me or you want to seek any tips or ask questions, I will be delighted to hear it! COMMENT on below because I am interested! Ops! Don't forget to add your email address so I can get back to you!


More to enjoy in Palawan!

Palawan | 3/ 2 Days Do-It-Yourself ITINERARY

Palawan | Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa

Palawan | City Tour at Puerto Princesa

Palawan | Iwahig Penal Farm

Palawan | Get wild at Crocodile farm, Puerto Princesa

Palawan | Booking a Permit for Underground River Tour

Palawan | Underground River Tour

Palawan | Mitra's Ranch

Palawan | Baker's Hill: The Baker’s Artistic Haven 

Palawan | Bunuatan Weaving Center: Preserving Filipino’s hard work and culture

Palawan | Plaza Cuartel: A piece of history

Palawan | Souvenir Shop: Hand-crafts and native delicacies as Pasalubong!

Palawan | Firefly Watching

Palawan | Honda Bay: Palawan snorkeling and Island Hoping




Wednesday, June 11, 2014 1 comments
Just in Case you need to book your own, here are the things you need.


You will need to call Puerto Princesa, Palawan Local Tourism Office to secure for your tour date. 


Dial Numbers:  +63.48.723.0904 or +63.48.434.2509
National Highway, Brgy. San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

Why you need the permit for Underground River Palawan Tour?
Since Puerto Princesa Underground river has been declared as one of the official 7 Wonders of Nature, the visitors figure increased rapidly. Due to this, the visiting capacity of this new member of the 7 Wonders of the Nature has been regulated to 900 visitors per day. This is to conserve the natural state of the park and the underground river. And so, before going to the actual site, one must secure a permit to be given by the Puerto Princesa Local Tourism Office. NO PERMIT, NO ENTRY POLICY.

 You cannot get a permit on the spot. So you need to book it earlier, a month or better 2 months in advance, just to be safe.


Tip: Bring Identification Card during the tour

If you want hassle free Underground River Tour, you may contact service provider like what we did here Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa, Palawan


More to enjoy in Palawan!

Palawan | 3/ 2 Days Do-It-Yourself ITINERARY

Palawan | Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa

Palawan | City Tour at Puerto Princesa

Palawan | Iwahig Penal Farm

Palawan | Get wild at Crocodile farm, Puerto Princesa

Palawan | Booking a Permit for Underground River Tour

Palawan | Underground River Tour

Palawan | Mitra's Ranch

Palawan | Baker's Hill: The Baker’s Artistic Haven 

Palawan | Bunuatan Weaving Center: Preserving Filipino’s hard work and culture

Palawan | Plaza Cuartel: A piece of history

Palawan | Souvenir Shop: Hand-crafts and native delicacies as Pasalubong!

Palawan | Firefly Watching

Palawan | Honda Bay: Palawan snorkeling and Island Hoping





Wednesday, June 11, 2014 No comments
The popular Underground River also known as Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is now part of the New 7 Wonders of Nature which was recognized last 2011. It is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range. Having said that, even before the declaration that it is now part of the 7 Wonders of Nature, Palawan Underground River was already became a haven for vacationists and Nature explorer like me.



Going to Underground River Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Going to Puerto Princesa Underground River is a one and a half hour to two hours travel from City Proper to Sabang wharf. 15 minutes travel from Sabang to Natures Park. From the Natures Park where you can see monkeys, you will need to ride a paddle boat to tour inside the cave or the underground river itself.




One of the mountains we saw along the way to Sabang Port - Underground River tour

Along the road from Puerto Princessa to Sabang, We saw the Ulugan Bay which is one and a half hour motor boat travel going to the controversial Spratly Island. We also saw the Tres Marias island (Three mountain rock formation), the Mangrove forest, the Ugong Rock (limestone mountains), the Elephant Mountain (Elephants face shaped mountain facing the sky) and Cleopatra’s Needle Mountain. Aside frm this known mountains, we were passing 1014 more mountains. Plenteously! While the tourist guide was discussing and showing these mountains to us, I just realized how reach Philippines is with unique nature bodies and another thing is, we Filipinos are very creative thinker to give look-a-like names like such.



Reaching SabangBay from Puerto Princesa City Proper : Port to underground River Palawan
Sabang is the doorway to the majestic Puerto Princesa Underground River. It seems like a port with many boats waiting for passengers. Just like an airport, here is the place where you need to process your papers for you to be allowed to go to Underground River. Papers? Yes papers, What I meant was, you will need the permit to enter Underground River. To know more about what you need to do in Sabang, it is recommended to see this Reaching Sabang Bay from Puerto Princesa City Proper : Port to underground River Palawan.




Just in Case you need to book your own, here are the things you need: 
Booking a Permit for Underground River Palawan Tour


What to Expect in Underground River  Tour




After the boat ride from Sabang to Underground River National Park, You’ll be meeting many of our dear friends. Monkeys! Since you’ll be passing in a forest going the main river, expect animals that can be seen in forest. Don’t be afraid because mostly they are monkeys. It is highly suggested to take care of your belongings and tightly hold on your important things as the monkeys around might grab it. I have a friend of mine who lost her digital camera because it was grabbed by a naughty monkey while she’s taking picture. The monkey climbed too going fast up in a tree and dropped the camera when he found out that it is not edible. So beware, most especially if you see big monkeys. They are the Alpha male, the troop leader, more dominant and aggressive. Do not worry too much. Your fear might get your full attention that you may not enjoy the real focus… To enjoy! They are not as harmful as you may think, they are just curious that you might have something they can eat in your belongings. So keep attractive stuffs on your bag and hold on tightly. Just a friendly reminder!

Monkeys that can be found in Underground River Par


There are Bayawak too! 






Can you see how happy we were when we arrived in the Underground River Natures Park seashore?


There is a wooden path in the middle of mangroves that will lead you to the river side


The way going to Underground River

The tour guide was showing the way to the Underground River and explaining the tips upon riding the paddle boat

Picture taking with the whole gang!
Soon to upload photos and review inside the cave

If you find this post helpful and you appreciate it, Come on! please do SHARE on social media and let your friends know as well! 

Or want know more about my sassy experiences? Subscribe on the right pane of this site! I'll be happy to spread the enthusiasm to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST SMARTLY!


Is there any experience you want to share with me or you want to seek any tips or ask questions, I will be delighted to hear it!
COMMENT on below because I am interested! Ops! Don't forget to add your email address so I can get back to you!

More to enjoy in Palawan!

Palawan | 3/ 2 Days Do-It-Yourself ITINERARY

Palawan | Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa

Palawan | City Tour at Puerto Princesa

Palawan | Iwahig Penal Farm

Palawan | Get wild at Crocodile farm, Puerto Princesa

Palawan | Booking a Permit for Underground River Tour

Palawan | Underground River Tour

Palawan | Mitra's Ranch

Palawan | Baker's Hill: The Baker’s Artistic Haven 

Palawan | Bunuatan Weaving Center: Preserving Filipino’s hard work and culture

Palawan | Plaza Cuartel: A piece of history

Palawan | Souvenir Shop: Hand-crafts and native delicacies as Pasalubong!

Palawan | Firefly Watching

Palawan | Honda Bay: Palawan snorkeling and Island Hoping




Monday, June 09, 2014 No comments
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Time flies! and the truth is, we never know when life will end. So as long as we have TIME and LIFE, cherish!. Maximize the precious time with love ones and explore God's crafted wonderful world for us. Share your life with others who need inspiration and encouragement. Spread love, laugh and enthusiasm to humanity. Let not your limited budget hinder you to do whatever you want, go wherever your feet will bring you, taste whatever your tongue desires, experience what you haven't and discover the unseen. You can do anything through proper planning, budgeting and wise promo hunting! Remember that you can always...

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