Bagumbungan Cave | Marinduque's Newest Attraction

  Date : May 25, 2016 | Author : Jeric Par Esplana | Category : Cave
  New Blog Post : Kawa-Kawa Falls, Marinduque

Travel Brother @ Bagumbungan Cave

Bagumbungan Cave in Sitio Puti Brgy. San Isidro, Sta. Cruz Marinduque is for sure one of the best cave here in the Philippines. It is a 1.9 km. long cave and some part are still unexplored. It is protected by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the help of San Isidro (Local Government Unit) to spare the cave from exploitation. According to our guide, it was discovered 7 years ago by the cave enthusiast and a tourism officer. Since then the local government has been doing so much efforts in promoting this cave as their tourist destination in San Isidro. 

This trip was not actually part of itinerary since the transportation in Marinduque is limited only. We can't take to miss its last trip as early as 1 pm going back to the Sta. Cruz townproper. Day 2 of our hometown vacation was beach hopping in the famous Maniwaya Island, Mongpong Island and Polo Island but due to very bad condition, we quickly changed our plan so it happened to be a caving trip in Bagumbungan.

How to get there:  

Manila : Ride a bus (Jac Liner in Kamias, Cubao) going to Dalahican Port in Lucena City, Quezon Province (fare is Php 227.00 for regular and Php 182.00 for Senior/Student with a travel time of approximately 4-5 hours). When you arrived in Port, buy tickets depending on Shipping Lines schedule (Starhorse and Montenegro) (fare is Php 260.00 for regular and Php 186.00 for Senior/Student plus a Php 30.00 terminal fee per head with a travel time of approximately 3-4 hours). When you reached Balanacan port, ride a van or jeepney bound for Sta. Cruz, fare is Php 80.00 for regular and less Php 10.00 for senior and student with a travel time of 1-2 hours depending on delays.

Marinduque : From Sta. Cruz Town Proper, ride a jeepney bound for Botilao (San Isidro route) and tell the driver to drop you off at Sitio Puti. Fare is Php 20.00 per head and travel time is approximately 1  1/2 hour. Make sure to do this trip as early as 6 am because the last trip going back to town proper is at 1 pm only. In case you miss the last trip, you can hire a habal-habal for 2 persons or you just wait for a tricycle that is good for 6 people. 

Sta. Cruz Town Proper

Our family went to Sta. Cruz Church that day for its 2nd mass at exactly 7 am. After the mass, we met our relatives in nearby town called Brgy. Bitik then 8:45 am, my brother and I decided to locate where is Bagumbungan Cave and experience its own adventure. It's funny but very thrilling experience because we need to aboard on top of the Jeepney since it's already full. We left the terminal around 9:00 am and arrived at exactly 10:30 am. We had to walk for almost half an hour before reaching the registration area. Since it's unexpected trip, we don't have anything to eat and drink. Luckily, there's a Sari-sari store before the registration area where we bought our trail food. 

When you arrived, you'll see a big tarpaulin showing the cave map, history and the official tariff for all inclusive fees per person. Tour guides (2) per group  are required as well as their hard hat with headlamp and before you enter the cave, you'll have an orientation regards do's and don'ts inside the cave, its features and history.

Registration Area

In terms of Bagumbungan Cave trip, you have two options. (1) Entry point up to Falls only then going back via same route. (2) Entry point up to exit then a bit of trekking in forest going back to registration area.

Entry Point (Outside Look)

Entry Point (Inside Look)

Our experiences inside the cave was brilliant! I was wearing a high-cut red converse shoes because it's unexpected trip. The trail in entry point is a bit steep and very slippery so be careful. We saw a rare owl inside this cave! It's very unusual to see a kind of creature like an owl inside a dark cold cave so we were very lucky to sight this moment. We saw lots of not so typical limestone formations and in fairness, the cave is clean and well maintained. We were also able to see a shrimp, crab, an eel and a catfish  that means of pure and not exploited biodiversity. There's a part where the feeling was like an earthquake scenario because of the huge numbers of bats (bat area).  It's a bit adventurous because there are parts where we used a rope to climb, we duck for us to pass and we almost crawl because the pathway is really narrow. We also tried total dark experience, the blind feeling actually. It's really true when you get down, you get dirty and we loved it! 

What to EXPECT inside the cave?

• Falls inside the cave

The Waterfalls

• Unusual Stalactites/Stalagmites formations

Eagle like Limestone Formation

Angel like limestone formation

Mermaid's Tail like Limestone Formation

Stalagmites

Tooth like Limestone Formation

Pilgrimage like Limestone Formation

Kissing animals like Rock Formation

Stalactites

Saw like Limestone Formation

Chandelier and Candle like Limestone Fromations

• Bat Area

Our Guide (Kuya Eric)

• Seeing Shrimp/Eel/Crab/Catfish and if you'll be lucky like us, you might see an OWL

Cave Animals

• Passing a water basin up to your waist

Basin entry point

Water Basin

• Total dark experience

Almost Exit

• Part where you need to crawl, duck, side walk, rope climbing

Rock Climbing Area

Just playing around 

My brother (author of TravelTropa) 

Semi-Duck walk

Travel | JePar

--Reminder--

As a Travel Blogger, I am sharing all my experiences, guides and the expenses in every trip I have been so that you can also experience this trip to specific place with your friends or family. Be responsible enough by: following the rules and regulations of the place, learn to protect and maintain its genuine beauty, be nice and respectful to local people, observe cleanliness, leave no trace

--Sample Itinerary--

0530 - Meet Up (Sta. Cruz Town Proper) + waiting
0600 - ETD via public vehicle
0730 - ETA Sitio Puti then trek
0800 - ETA Registration Area
0815 -  Start Caving
1015 -  End Caving then rest
1100 -  ETD going back to Town Proper
1330 - ETA Town Proper 

--Budget--

Note: Rates are subject to change without prior notice
+ ADDITIONAL Php 30.00 Terminal Fee 

TRANSPORTATION	FROM	TO	FARE	TIMEFRAME
Bus (Jac Liner)	Cubao (Kamias)	Dalahican Port	Reg (Php 227.00) Senior/Student (Php 182.00)	4-5 hours (w/ waiting and delays)
Starhorse/Montenegro Shipping Lines	Dalahican Port Lucena, Quezon	Balanacan Port Marinduque	Reg (Php 260.00) Senior/Student (Php 186.00)	3-4 hours (w/ waiting and delays)
Van/Jeepney	Balanacan Port	Sta. Cruz	Reg (Php 80.00) Senior/Student (Php 70.00)	1-2 hours

Ride a Habal-Habal if you missed the last trip, it is negotiable.

VEHICLE	FROM	TO	FARE	TIMEFRAME
Tricycle	Brgy. Aturan	Sta.Cruz Town Proper	Php 19.00	15 mins.
Jeepney	Town Proper	Sitio Puti (San Isidro)	Php 20.00	1 1/2 hr.
-	Sitio Puti (Trek)	Registration Area	Negotiable	30 mins.

Tariff according to Brgy. Ordinance No.5 S.2012 (Resolution No. 133-B-S. 2012)

PACKAGE TRIP	Falls Only	Punong Exit
Entrance (Environmental Fee)	Php 15.00	Php 30.00 (LGU-Mun)
Entrance Fee (LGUs)	Php 35.00	Php 70.00 (2 Brgys.)
Cave Guide Fee (Min. Fee/Trip)	Php 55.00	Php 110.00 (SPCGA)
Rentals: Skull Guard/Gloves	Php 10.00	Php 20.00
Headlight	Php 25.00	Php 50.00
Right of way	Php 10.00	Php 20.00
Total per Head	Php 150.00	Php 300.00