Hinagdanan Cave is a site I definitely didn’t expect to find in Bohol. Crawling down the tight entrance reveals a huge naturally lit underground cavern with a turquoise blue lagoon.
It’s certainly a pretty epic cave. However, when I went it was a little crowded, which didn’t complement the ambiance.
What is Hinagdanan Cave?
Hinagdanan translates to “laddered” cave. The story has it that the cave was accidentally discovered by a farmer while clearing his land. The farmer then built a ladder down the hole for the village to enjoy the cool waters below. It’s heavily disputed as to when this occurred, however, it is said that villagers used the cave to hide from the Japanese Imperial Army invasion during World War Two.
Cave Details
Hinagdanan Cave is a 100 M wide grotto with large limestone rock formations. There are several large stalagmites and stalactites that cast impressive shadows when lit from the holes above.
The entrance to the cave is very narrow and short. However, it won’t take long before the cave opens up to reveal a large cavern. From here, you’ll get to see the epic blue fresh water.
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How to Get to Hinagdanan Cave in Bohol
Hinagdanan Cave is located in Dauis, a small municipality in the famous tourist island; Panglao. Due to the proximity to popular tourist hotels, resorts and guest houses, it is very popular. Depending on where you are staying, you will most likely be able to walk there following the map below. Otherwise, there are several tricycle drivers that would be happy to take you for 150-200 pesos.
Below I’ve pinned the exact location of Hinagdanan Cave to help you find it.
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Is the Cave a Tourist Trap?
While I was definitely impressed with the beauty of Hinagdanan Cave, I personally think it was a little too crowded. You will realize as soon as you are near the entrance just how much industry is build up around the attraction. There are stalls, vendors and even a ticketing office to see the cave.
While I appreciate that locals are rightly turning a profit off their natural wonders, I’m not too sure if it’s a place I’d visit again. The cave was cramped and full of people swimming with life jackets. This made it difficult to even move let alone explore.
If you decide to visit Hinagdanan Cave, then I hope that you have a better experience than I did.
Hinagdanan Cave Entrance Fee
The Hinagdanan Cave entrance fee is 25 pesos per person. However, if you want to swim in the azure blue waters you’ll have to pay an extra 100 pesos. I decided to check out the cave without purchasing a swimming ticket.
Due to the cave being on private land, all of the money goes to the owner. Considering just how popular the site has become, I bet she’s pretty happy with her ancestor’s discovery.
All in all, Hinagdanan Cave is certainly an impressive grotto with some unique history. If you’re close-by and have a spare 30 minutes and 25 pesos, then by all means check it out. However if you’re looking for a quite place to relax and explore, then I’d probably suggest skipping this one.
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Werner
Thursday 2nd of February 2023
Agree with your article, and that it has become too crowded which takes away some of its charm. For a more relaxed caving experience, there are plenty of caves on Camotes Island that are just as beautiful and us being the only people inside when visiting.