One of Siquijor’s best things to do and interesting tourist spots is Cantabon Cave. Located in central Siquijor the Philippines, Cantabon Cave is an adventurous trail inside a pitch-black cave beneath the earth.
From a small hole in the ground, local guides lead visitors into this unique Siquijor tourist attraction.
Hundreds of stalactites hang from the cave roof and a stream of fresh water flows through Cantabon Cave creating natural swimming pools in this underrated activity in Siquijor.
More Tourist Spots? Siquijor is home to some stunning tourist spots. Think of dreamy cascades with gatorade blue water tucked away in the jungle. And jumping off cliffs into unbelievably clear water.
Read the full post: THE BEST SIQUIJOR TOURIST SPOTS
How To Get To Cantabon Cave
Cantabon Cave is located in the Central part of Siquijor island. If you are in San Juan, which is the main tourist strip in Siquijor, it should take around 30 minutes of cruising along the lush jungle and small villages.
The best and most popular way to reach Cantabon Cave and explore Siquijor is by scooter. Scooters cost between Php 250 ($5) and Php 350 ($7) per day depending on the number days you intend keeping the bike.
Roads in Siquijor are mostly concrete roads in excellent condition but you are bound to come across some odd rough patches which is just part of the adventure and nothing really to worry about. So just keep an eye out and take extra caution if any road works are taking place.
An alternative is to rent a tricycle for the day.
Tricycles are basically cousins with Thailand’s tuk-tuks and are scooters with an enclosed sidecar. A tricycle isn’t the most comfortable option but will cost around Php 1500 ($32) for the day and can carry up to 4 persons.
The price also includes the driver who will suggest a route and the best tourist spots.
Related: →Moalboal/Oslob to Siquijor
Cantabon Cave Location on Map
The map above is interactive. You can click on the map for live direction to Cantabon Cave from whichever part of Siquijor you are in.
How Much Time At Cantabon Cave
The whole adventure took us 1 hour and 30 minutes from start to finish. Around 30 minutes were spent organizing, getting prepared and walking to and from the cave. And for an entire hour we were inside the cave.
Set aside 2 1/2 hours if you are staying in San Juan which is a 30-minute ride away.
To give a perspective of our day. We started off the day at 7 am, went to Cabugsayan Falls, Locong Falls where we had fun diving in crystal clear water, had a local breakfast and arrived at Cantabon Cave at 11:30am.
Cantabon Cave Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Cantabon Cave is 20 Php ($0.40c) per person and another Php 500 ($10.50) for the guides.
The Php 500 guide fee is good for up to 3 persons and Php 100 for any additional person. The price will include life vest, helmet and maybe even flash light (fee for flashlight is unclear, it seems sometimes they charge a fee and others don’t).
Considering the whole adventure takes around 1 hour and the price can be divided between 3, that works out to be $3.50 per head.
TIP: The Php 500 guide fee is good for up to 3 persons but if going solo this fee still applies. Try doing this tourist spot in a group.
When To Go To Cantabon Cave
We usually do our adventures and visit tourist spots early morning which is the best time for photography and to avoid any crowds.
But since this Siquijor tourist attraction is inside a cave and there won’t be any natural light, tourists can visit at any time of the day.
And regarding any crowds, Cantabon isn’t as popular as Cambugahay Falls, even so visitors are limited so don’t expect any crowds.
However, if it has been raining, Cantabon may not be accessible since there may be too much water or could be dangerous to let anyone in. Guides take measures to ensure all visitors are safe so they will inform you of any situation.
What You Will Need
A few things you will need for this tourist attraction are water shoes, headlamps and a water camera or at least mobile phone water pouch.
Water shoes and headlamps can be rented out for 50 Php each while paying your entrance fees. But if you have your own, you can avoid the extra 50 Php for the shoes and headlamp.
Cantabon Cave – Caving in Siquijor
After Cabugsayan Falls, Locong Falls, and a great local breakfast with sausage, veg, meat, and noodles we decided to include Cantabon Cave.
We were already in the higher lands of Siquijor when we stopped for breakfast. After a few blank stares and giggles from kids that don’t usually see tourists up here for breakfast, we cruised for a further few minutes to reach Cantabon’s jumping-off point.
Informative Cantabon Cave signs mark the starting point and indicate the booth where the fee is collected.
From here we were listed with 2 local ladies who would be our guides. It takes around 5 to 10 minutes to reach the cave from the booth.
A rusty steel door covering a hole in the ground leads the way into the cave.
Once inside, it was amazing how much the cave opens up. And hundreds or even thousands of stalactites drop down from the ceiling.
A stream of water is what leads the way into the cave. And from just ankle deep water, some point got deep enough for Jacqueline to swim in.
The cave continues for some distance when all of a sudden starts closing in. This is where we made a U turn and headed back.
Cantabon Cave in Siquijor is an amazing tourist attraction that offers a different experience and an add on to chasing waterfalls in Siquijor.
Here’s a sneak peek of the caving experience at Cantabon Cave.
Where to Stay in Siquijor
San Juan is a beachside town on Southwest Siquijor and is where most tourists stay. The main tourist area is a street parallel with the beach and has a great choice of guesthouses and beach resorts catering to various tastes and budgets. It’s the liveliest part of Siquijor with lots of restaurants and affordable local eateries along with a good nightlife scene and hip beach bars. The main pier is a 20 minutes ride away.
Below is a list of the best accommodation in San Juan divided into budget categories. The prices shown are base prices for 1 night for 2 people. Use the prices as a guidance as they may change depending on seasonality. If you have fixed travel dates and want to find the best options and deals, it is always a good idea to reserve a place in advance.
| Category | Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | →Kadij Guest House | ₱1330/$24 | 9.6/10 |
| Budget | →Mariella’s Guest House | ₱1450/$26 | 8.5/10 |
| Budget | →MIKI’s Guest House | ₱1500/$27 | 9.6/10 |
| Mid-Range | →AA Jungle Guesthouse | ₱2300/$40 | 9.0/10 |
| Mid-Range | →AA Jungel Guest House 4 | ₱2784/$50 | 7.2/10 |
| Mid-Range | →Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals | ₱2784/$50 | 9.0/10 |
| High-End | →Southmountain Resort | ₱3500/$62 | 9.3/10 |
| High-End | →Coco Grove Beach Resort | ₱4200/$75 | 9.2/10 |
| High-End | →Bermuda Triangle Bungalows | ₱5000/$89 | 8.9/10 |
How to Get to Siquijor
Siquijor can easily be reached from Dumaguete and Bohol, or from Cebu City. There are direct ferries every day from Dumaguete and Bohol. If you’re in Cebu City, you can book a combo ferry ticket. This ferry will first go to Bohol to drop-off and pick-up visitors and continue the route to Siquijor. This ferry depart 1:00pm from Cebu port pier 1.
From Dumaguete → Reserve ferry seats here
From Cebu City → Reserve Ferry seats here
From Bohol → Reserve ferry seats here
If you’re in Moalboal or Oslob, the best route is to get the ferry from Dumaguete. From either of these destinations take a yellow Ceres bus down to Liloan port. From here you can take a ferry and cross over to Sibulan port. The ferry operates every 30 minutes and you don’t need to book tickets in advance. From Sibulan port take a tricycle to Dumaguete port which is a 6 km ride. This journey will take around 5 hours to 6 hours. The last ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor is at 7:10pm. Make sure to be on your way by noon in order to make in time. →you can book the ferry from Dumaguete here
Or read this →how to get to Siquijor guide
Are you missing something? Siquijor is a small island packed with tourist spots. (there’s something interesting behind every other corner!). That is why we created a list of the best things to do and combined them into an easy to follow 3 day Siquijor itinerary. You can click on the link below for a detailed guide that includes the very best waterfalls and pools, beaches, ways of getting around and the best area to stay in Siquijor.
Read the full post: SIQUIJOR ITINERARY | PERFECT 3 DAY TRAVEL PLAN
South Philippines Guides: are you planning a trip to Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Dumaguete, Siargao or Camiguin? You can hop from one island to the other by ferry. Click on the links for inspiration on your next trip!!
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