Hinagdanan Cave in Bohol

Bohol in the Philippines is considered as a cave country because of the many caves found there. Of the roughly 1400 caves found there, one of the most renowned caves in Bohol is the Hinagdanan Cave.

Hinagdanan Cave is found in the country’s most important karst region--- the Chocolate Hills in Panglao Island. Hinagdanan Cave is found in Barangay Bingag, Dauis, Panglao Island, which is just a 5-10 minute ride from Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol. To get to Dauis, one may ride a Dauis-bound jeepney at the Dao Terminal in Tagbilaran. You will also find tricycles willing to drive you to Dauis.

Hinagdanan Cave is a karst cave; meaning, it is made of limestone. The cave is within easy reach. To reach it, one will have to walk through dense vegetation of just about one kilometer. One will find the entrance of the cave, a hole about 1 meter wide in diameter, visible from a limestone hill. Cemented steps lead to the interior of the cave. The cave is a slippery, but there’s a railing made of rope to hold on to.

As story goes, Hinagdanan Cave was accidentally discovered when the owner of the area was clearning decaying branches and found the hole. Throwing a stone into the hole, the owner heard a splash. A ladder was then built to get to the inside of the cave. Hinagdanan, in fact, means “laddered” and the cave took its name from the man-made ladder used to get to the cave’s interior.

Inside, one spelunk and admire the beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations. The cavern is about 100 meters long of beautiful rock formations. The stalactites and stalagmites stick out from the ceiling and floor of the cave as though trying to meet each other.

Inside the cave, there’s also a lagoon whose glimmering greenish surface is produced by the green limestone at the bottom of the pool. People used to bath in the lagoon. Recently, however, it has been advised to not dip in the lagoon because of the karst pollutants present in the water.

But perhaps the most unique feature of the cave are the two eyelike-holes found on the ceiling of the cave. From these holes stream light from the outside, giving the whole cave an eerie and, at the same time, beautiful effect. Artificial lights have also been added to make tourists see better the beauty of the cave.

Beside the cave, one will find the cheapest souvenir shops in Bohol, Philippines. With or without the shops. the underground Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis, Bohol is always a worthwhile stop.