“Haguk” means to snore in Surigaonon dialect. They say that on the onset of high tide, the opening of Hagukan Cave almost gets flooded. The entry of splashing water plus the strong winds create the sound of a snoring giant. Thus, it was named Hagukan Cave. Exploring Hagukan Cave proved to be more relaxing for me. There was no climbing involved, nor did we jumo any cliff. We just had to snorkel or way in as it was high tide and we didn’t want to bump our heads onto those sharp barnacles lining its entrance. But once inside, we just reveled at the greenish glow as if we were in a magical portal. Hagukan is the part of the crevice where the ceiling of the cave and the water level is slightly larger than the size of one’s head.
The Explorers and Tourguides that guiding them.
Bolitas Cave
This close-ended cave is named as Bolitas, a Filipino term for pellets, due to abundance of small pellet-like stones inside. This rounded stones are droplets from tiny stalactites and believed to be formed thousand years ago.Another crucial path that we had to take but really worth the pains and sufferings!!! Bolitas Cave is home to balinsasayaw, a rare bird that produces a very expensive bird’s nest that is a popular soup ingredient in Chinese restaurants.The trek to this cave is harder than the Crystal Cave due to its small chamber and very narrow passage that can fit only a person at a time. One needs to slide, glide or crawl to get inside. Bolitas Cave which was named so, due to the presence of small rounded stones they call “bolitas”. The chamber is so small that only one person could pass through at a time and he has to literally crawl downwards. It was a dark chamber, they say.
Crystal Cave
Crystal Cave is an open-ended cave. The name was derived due to its shining stalactites, stalagmites, columns and formations that seem to be dotted with crystals.This is the cave we chose to get into. Since this has not been tagged yet as an official tourist destination (BTW we’re lucky they brought us here), there was no provision for flashlights unlike Kweba De Oro in Cagayan De Oro. Somehow, we managed to get in and see crystal-like formations on its stalactites. It was getting warm as we walked further through the cave. With its big chamber and pathway, it is definitely an easy trek.His wonderful creation. I do not know how it felt like for my other travel mates, but for me, it was more than just a nature trip - it was communing with the Creator’s unfathomable works of wonder. I guess I have somehow learned to shift from the been-there-done-that kind of mentality in traveling.
Diving Cave / Magkukuob Cave
In Magkukuob, we penetrated its dark, steep and sharp crevices. It was sort of spooky and exciting at the same time. Our guide was with us all the way so we didn’t have anything worry about. The only thing that kept my heart beating a skip was the thought of jumping off a cliff afterward! It’s the only way to get back to our boat once we exit Magkukuob Cave. Diving Cave is another cave smaller than Hagukan. It was not as dark as Hagukan, but it had more visible and beautiful rock formations inside it. The water inside was waist-level. Upon entering the cave thru the water, we climbed up into its elevated chamber of plentiful jugs .
Here they are jumping from the Cave.
“Haguk” means to snore in Surigaonon dialect. They say that on the onset of high tide, the opening of Hagukan Cave almost gets flooded. The entry of splashing water plus the strong winds create the sound of a snoring giant. Thus, it was named Hagukan Cave. Exploring Hagukan Cave proved to be more relaxing for me. There was no climbing involved, nor did we jumo any cliff. We just had to snorkel or way in as it was high tide and we didn’t want to bump our heads onto those sharp barnacles lining its entrance. But once inside, we just reveled at the greenish glow as if we were in a magical portal. Hagukan is the part of the crevice where the ceiling of the cave and the water level is slightly larger than the size of one’s head.
The Explorers and Tourguides that guiding them.
This close-ended cave is named as Bolitas, a Filipino term for pellets, due to abundance of small pellet-like stones inside. This rounded stones are droplets from tiny stalactites and believed to be formed thousand years ago.Another crucial path that we had to take but really worth the pains and sufferings!!! Bolitas Cave is home to balinsasayaw, a rare bird that produces a very expensive bird’s nest that is a popular soup ingredient in Chinese restaurants.The trek to this cave is harder than the Crystal Cave due to its small chamber and very narrow passage that can fit only a person at a time. One needs to slide, glide or crawl to get inside. Bolitas Cave which was named so, due to the presence of small rounded stones they call “bolitas”. The chamber is so small that only one person could pass through at a time and he has to literally crawl downwards. It was a dark chamber, they say.
Crystal Cave is an open-ended cave. The name was derived due to its shining stalactites, stalagmites, columns and formations that seem to be dotted with crystals.This is the cave we chose to get into. Since this has not been tagged yet as an official tourist destination (BTW we’re lucky they brought us here), there was no provision for flashlights unlike Kweba De Oro in Cagayan De Oro. Somehow, we managed to get in and see crystal-like formations on its stalactites. It was getting warm as we walked further through the cave. With its big chamber and pathway, it is definitely an easy trek.His wonderful creation. I do not know how it felt like for my other travel mates, but for me, it was more than just a nature trip - it was communing with the Creator’s unfathomable works of wonder. I guess I have somehow learned to shift from the been-there-done-that kind of mentality in traveling.
In Magkukuob, we penetrated its dark, steep and sharp crevices. It was sort of spooky and exciting at the same time. Our guide was with us all the way so we didn’t have anything worry about. The only thing that kept my heart beating a skip was the thought of jumping off a cliff afterward! It’s the only way to get back to our boat once we exit Magkukuob Cave. Diving Cave is another cave smaller than Hagukan. It was not as dark as Hagukan, but it had more visible and beautiful rock formations inside it. The water inside was waist-level. Upon entering the cave thru the water, we climbed up into its elevated chamber of plentiful jugs .
Here they are jumping from the Cave.
