800-Meter Palawan Over-Water Zip Line Ride - Puerto Princesa Manlipien Beach Jungle Trail Peak

WATCH: 800-meter over-the sea fantastic zip line of Puerto Princesa Palawan!

There are lots to do in Palawan and when in the capital, Puerto Princesa, there's one trip a tourist should not miss - the St. Paul Subterranean (Underground) River tour. Because it's a trip that's world famous, there's a waiting time of a few hours. To while away the time, you will be given the option by your tour guide to either ride the 800-meter long zip line or take a boat and row among the mangroves that grow near the protected Manlipien Beach area. Most of the adventurous ones choose the zip line. It's a long ride and takes you over the waters of the Sulu Sea like the wings of a bird. To get there, you will take a short hike along a primeval beach, then go up the side of a mountain thickly covered by an ancient forest. At the top, there's a zip line platform where you will be treated to an amazing view of the shore, the sea, and distant mountains!

This zip line isn't scary at all, though the thought of hanging by a cable for short of a minute (my estimate) can give you butterflies in your stomach. Once you're there (hike up the mountain in a dense primeval forest) and you soak in the awesome view and see kids as young as seven taking the ride, then whatever apprehension you might have would likely dissipate with the wind. It's not everyday that you get to ride an 800-meter zip line over water, so when you do get the chance to visit the Underground River of Puerto Princesa Palawan in The Philippines, do so. You will feel alive and if you're lucky, have a zen-like experience. Oh, and there's also a treat on the tiny island below, which is your destination. It's a very primordial island with layered rock formations that are probably more than 20 million years old, if you would consider the gelogical history of the area.

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Lonely Planet Philippines (Travel Guide) Paperback – June 1, 2015 by Lonely Planet (Author),‎ Michael Grosberg (Author),‎ Greg Bloom

Finding a Starfish on Starfish Island, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philipp...

WATCH: Armored starfish of Starfish Island, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, PH.

In Puerto Princesa, there is an island where starfishes abound. It supposedly has the most starfishes anywhere in the province of Palawan. It's called, not surprisingly, Starfish Island. It sits among other islands, just as colorfully named, in Honda Bay. Despite the name of this body of water, tourists won't find any motorcycles or cars floating in it. It's name likely originated from the Spanish phrase for deep bay, bahia profunda. Other people might have other origin stories for the name. You can choose what you want to believe.

It's a bit of a mystery why there are lots of starfishes on Starfish Island, but you have to bet there are plenty of food there for them to eat. The starfish in the video is a type of armored starfish. They have knobs on top, they feel hard to the touch, and for some tourists, they would appear to be dead, although, if they would just take the time to look at the underside, they will see the tiny tentacles that line the midsection of their arms

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Fruit Shake Refreshment Stand near the Zip Line and Mangrove Paddle Ride in Puerto Princesa Palawan

WATCH a fruit shake being made with a fruit blender at a fruit shake refreshment stand.

If you're going on a trip to visit the Underground River of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, you'd likely be given the choice of a side trip between the 800-meter zip line and mangrove forest paddle boat ride. One can make your heart race in anticipation (not for the faint-hearted) and the other can lull you to dreamland. What's common for both is that these rides can make any tourist thirsty and hot, because after a few hours of being under the sun, well, let's just say you'd be in desperate need of cooling liquid refreshments.

So once you've screamed your heart out zipping over the sea hanging from a cable or tested the limits of your patience while languidly floating through mangroves, the most obvious thing to do is to buy some refreshments and waiting for tourists with parched throats at the beach, are a number of colorful fruit stands, ready to serve you a cold fruitshake or two, like the one in the video. There's no lack of refreshing drinks in Puerto Princesa, because with all the tourist spots that one can visit, they're really a necessity.

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Puerto Princesa Palawan Baywalk Seafood Restaurant Walkthrough

WATCH THE VIDEO AND EXPERIENCE THE PUERTO PRINCESA BAYWALK.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan is a city known for being a city in a forest, but its also famous for its seafood and the Baywalk, near the docks, is where you can get your fill of local seafood fare to your satisfaction.

There are stalls that sell seafood from one end to the next and if you don't know what you're looking for, you might have a hard time choosing what to order. If the vendors see your confusion, though, they might offer you the delicacy that Puerto Princesa is famous for, the tamilok mollusk, also called a woodworm (although it's NOT A WORM) It's found inside decaying wood along the beaches, especially where there are mangrove forests. Locals swear it's tasty like oysters, perhaps even more so. It might not be for everyone, but if you do happen to be on a trip to Puerto Princesa, do check out the Baywalk and order some tamilok. You won't find it as readily available in Metro Manila so don't miss the opportunity.

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