Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis, Bohol is an Underground Wonder of Nature
Updated April 10, 2019
Hinagdanan Cave, located in Panglao Island, takes its name from the Cebuano word “hinagdanan” which translates to “laddered”. A farmer was said to have found the cave by accident.
The farmer came upon 2 holes while clearing his land and out of curiosity, he dropped a stone into one of the holes to measure its depth. To his surprise, he heard a splash so he decided to make a ladder or “hagdan” to access the cave. This became the reason why it was named “hinagdanan”. The 2 holes that were found by the farmer became the first entrances to the cave. The present entrance was only found recently.
Aside from being known for its beauty, Hinagdanan Cave also holds a bit of history. In World War II, Filipino guerillas used the cave to hide from the Japanese forces but they were still found.
Watch your step when you walk down the cave’s entrance as it has low headroom and a narrow flight of stairs
Inside the cave, you will find stalagmites which is one of the features that the cave is most known for. You will also find a small lagoon in the cave. Since the cave is located near the sea, the water in the lagoon is saltwater which is said to have healing properties. Because saltwater flows into the lagoon, it also has its high tide and low tide. Visitors are allowed to swim in the lagoon so it is best if you come here after hitting the beach or if you plan to hit the beach right after.
There are volunteer guides that will guide you through the cave. They will give you a bit of the cave’s background, infused with some witty jokes which will make your trip through the cave very entertaining.
The guides are also adept with handling cameras, so if you’re a solo traveler or if you want a group photo taken, the guides will gladly take them for you!
While you can visit the cave anytime during your day tour, it is recommended that you visit Hinagdanan Cave in the morning or in the early afternoon when the sun is high. This way, you’ll be able to admire the cave in all its splendor.
How to get here:
- By private car: You can arrange for Hinagdanan Cave to be included in your tour of the island by coordinating with your hotel or your travel agency. Alternatively, from the new Bohol Panglao International Airport, go straight to the Dauis-Panglao road then head to the Panglao Island Circumferential Road then make a left at the street next to the Divine Mercy Chapel, go straight and the cave should be at the end.
- By public transport: From your hotel in Panglao Island, you can arrange for your front desk to arrange a third-party tricycle ride to the cave. One tricycle costs about Php 200 – Php 300.
General Information:
Address: Bingag, Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol
Operating hours: 8 am to 6 pm
Ticket Information: Php 50 for adults, children are free admission; if you want to swim, there is an additional Php 75
For tours around Bohol, you can contact Bohol Tours and Nature’s Wonder Travel & Tours, they are a Tagbilaran City-based travel agency who can assist you in your adventures on the island. You may contact them through boholtourismphilippines@gmail.com, you may also visit their website at boholtourism.com.ph. You may also contact them at 038-422-8321 / 0926-750-4755.
A version of this appeared in Philippine Primer’s Japanese Magazine April 2019
Written by Feliz Grace Bueno
