12 September 2007

Spelunking at the Bayukbok Caves

One thing I like about our nature trips is that there is always something new to see and experience. Waterfalls, rivers, dazzling sunrise views, caves. Caves are of special wonderment to me because there aren't that many caves to explore in our vicinity.

Trivia: I haven't explored Baguio's Crystal Cave yet! Although they say I'm not missing much because the place has been heavily vandalized and bereft of its crystals. What a waste of what could have been a wonderful tourist spot.


While we had experienced entering one in Dolores, Quezon, that one was a rather claustrophobic one. Traversing the cave involved walking half-stooped most of the time, which obviously made it a popular site during Holy Week as part of penance.

The Bayukbok Caves on the other hand, is located up north in Bulacan within the territory of Biak na Bato. Biak na Bato is a national park, and has an important place in our history involving Emilio Aguinaldo. Bayukbok Caves is located near Mt. Manalmon, also a popular trekking destination.

This is the Manalmon River. To the left is Mt. Manalmon, to the right is Bayukbok Caves. Choose your adventure!


It takes 2 hours on the average to explore the caves. There are areas whereby you have to climb or descend using a portable bamboo and rattan stairway provided by the guide. There are narrow passageways that test your body's flexibility. There are even areas where you are right beside the cliffs. It's an adventure like no other.

The adventure starts with a short, uphill walk to the caves. The rocks here are something else. They're jagged and really rough. It looks more like it was created from lava flow, or an ocean bottom rather than terrestrial.
Here's the start of the adventure: a narrow passageway...

... that leads to this place where you have to climb down using the rickety ladder! Yipee!
Ummm... guys.... how were you able to fit in through there?!

Wonderful stalactite formations abound, sparkling as we trained our headlamps on them.
This looks like a flimsy shot. haha. Help!

Indiana Jones, here I come!

Land, ho!




After two hours, we finally saw the light. Whew! Now, that was one unforgettable adventure!

12 comments:

  1. ooh, i love, i love, i love! hehehe. this one looks really fun tapos malapit pa, sa bulacan lang. bayukbok caves, sige, bookmarked! magkano pala guide fee?

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  2. Zherwin: maganda talaga! Promise! Guide fee is 150 pesos for 5 persons. extra person is 30 pesos each. Sa lake pa lang, exciting na! Ang ganda dun talaga

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  3. er... ako naman natakot ng sobra.. hindi ko kakayanin yan sir nick. promise.. iiyak nalang ako tapos iiwan niyoko sa loob ng cave..

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  4. hey nick, i like spelunking as well. one of my best so far is the cave in Sagada, Mountain Province (forgot the name e). Since experienced ka naman, ask th eguide to take you to the harder trek (approx 5 hours) as compared to the normal trek, which is around 2 hours din. it is death-defying and enriching as well. You will see dip pools inside, or a plateau full of bat shits, 7 types of rock formations depending where chamber you are. Oh yeah, you will need to swim under the rocks as well.

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  5. Dessa: Haller, bakit ka naman namin iiwan? Bring along Donnie para masaya deba

    Owen: Inay ko po... ummm... to tell you frankly I cannot swim that well so baka I'll stick to the 2-hour trek in the meantime. However I would love to visit Sagada! Tagal na ngang plano eh. Puro plano so far..

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  6. watson,

    mukhang enjoy na enjoy ka sa spelunking sa kweba ah. nice pics!

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  7. Hi Watson. Great photos. Thanks for sharing about your adventures. I enjoyed going on a virtual trail with you. These nature trips must really be fun, exciting and rewarding.

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  8. Sorry, this is not related to the current post. I've just been wondering about your "boycott manila standard" banner... what's that all about?

    (Not that I read manila standard in the first place, I'm just really curious about it...)

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  9. Jane: It was a really nice adventure!

    Rach: They sure are. It was amazing.

    Meowok: It's about none other Malu-ho Fernandez, who still writes for that paper.

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  10. Anonymous10:43 pm

    wow! ang galing. been to biak-na-bato na rin but not those caves

    maybe owen's refering to Sumaguing cave in sagada :)

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  11. Tutubi: I've just been to your blog. Yes, it is sad that people vandalize these caves. Mga walang magawa! Nakakainis.

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  12. aliw ang pics nick! hehehe, walang sinabi si indiana jones =)

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