Tayangban Cave is an awesome blue-water grotto that you can walk and swim through on Siargao Island, here’s how to visit.
Exploring this cave was one of my favorite stops while exploring Siargao. If you’re visiting the island and looking for something a little off the beaten path, then definitely check out this attraction.
In this quick guide, I’ll outline everything you need to know about visiting the Tayangban Cave Pool, with information on how to get here, what to expect, and the costs involved.
About the Tayangban Cave Pool
Entrance fee: 100 pesos (mandatory guide)
The Tayangban Cave Pool is an inland attraction on Siargao, close to the Magpupungko Rock Pools. This site is on private property, and you'll need to pay one of the family members to guide you through this mini-canyoneering adventure.
Similar to the Bohol Cave, Tayangban is actually categorized as a cenote (similar to what you'll find in Mexico's Yucatan). These are natural sinkholes that form when limestone collapses to expose deep pools of fresh groundwater.
Our guide told me that the deepest pools at Tayangban Cave are really deep, over 100 meters, in fact!
These caves were first named Kantoloi Twin Cenotes after the first Filipino cave divers to explore them.
How to Get to Tayangban Cave Pool
There are two options when planning how to get to Tayangban. You can either book a guided tour from General Luna, which also includes other attractions, or you can ride here yourself by renting a scooter in General Luna (usually about 250-350 pesos per day).
Option 1: Guided tour
After checking recently for 2024, there are currently no tours running to Tayangban Cave Pools that you can book online.
Therefore, I recommend walking down the main street in General Luna and asking for a tour to the cave.
Alternatively, you can book the Siargao Land Tour, which includes other highlights including the Magpupungko Rock Pools, the Maasin River, The Coconut Road, and more.
Option 2: Ride Independently
For independent explorers, rent a bike in General Luna for between 250-350 pesos per day. This is how I explored much of Siargao during my visits and is a great way to see all the sites on your own terms.
Getting to Tayangban Cave Pools on Siargao is easy and the roads on this stretch from General Luna are well-maintained. The easiest way to get here is to simply plug in the coordinates in the map below which is accurate.
Want Affordable Travel Insurance for the Philippines?
Safeguard yourself from unforeseen travel mishaps like accidents, cancellations, delays, and loss of your personal items. HeyMondo offers peace of mind travel insurance for the Philippines with an easy-to-use app to manage claims.
Tip: We Seek Travel readers get 5% OFF
Where is Tayangan Cave?
From General Luna, take the Dapa - General Luna Road up to the intersection beside the Eagle's Club Statue.
Turn right here onto Siargao Circumferential Road.
Next, follow the road past the famous Palm Tree Viewpoint, down the Coconut Road, and past the Maasin River. From here, continue again on the Siargao Circumferential Road until you see the sign for "Tayangban Cave Pool".
This is literally right on the side of the road.
Google Maps Pin: "Tayangban Cave Pool"
You'll pull over here, pay your fee and your guide will take you down into the caves. You can park your bike here for free.
Tip: Magpupungko Rock Pools are only 10 minutes away!
What to Expect at The Tayangban Cave Pool
When I arrived at the Tayangban Cave Pool for the first time in 2019, it must have been a quiet day because the tour consisted of myself and just one other solo Filipino traveler. However, after speaking to travelers more recently, the cave is reportedly much more popular– so it might be a good idea to arrive early.
Our guide took us both through a small crack in the cave, which led into a larger cavern with waist-deep water. You'll need to get wet up to at least your waist, so make sure you're prepared for this!
We stopped at a few sections, where our guide pointed out huge stalagmites and stalactites. Similarly to the bat cave in Railay and the famous bat cave in Lombok Tayanbgan is full of bats, as well as some swiftlets flying through the caverns.
It's pretty dark inside the cave as the only light source is a torch carried by our guide. If you have a headlamp with you, it's probably a good idea to pack one for this cave (if it's waterproof).
After wading through the Tayangban Cave with the aid of some ropes and bamboo structures for roughly 15 minutes, we reached the exit point.
This large section features two cave openings and is quite picturesque as opens up to the cenote, or cave pool ahead.
At the end, we spent about 15 minutes swimming and exploring the cenotes. Some sections are quite deep and it looks like you can jump from some of the sides of the cliffs surrounding it.
Where to Stay on Siargao
When planning accommodation on Siargao, you'll want to know that the main tourist hub is called General Luna. Here, there is solid tourism infrastructure like hotels, resorts, guest houses, restaurants, clubs, bars, and tour offices. Below are my favorite picks for where to stay.
1. Las Palmas Villas & Casitas Luxury
Very popular luxury villas located within 100 m from the beach in General Luna. Includes swimming pool, bar, and tropical gardens.
2.
The best tropical retreat in Siargao. Located in an excellent location on Malinao Beach which offers a unique glamping style accommodation with BBQ dinners and free bicycle rental!
3. Sinag Hostel Budget
The best hostel in General Luna with impressive reviews on popular booking sites. Great for those looking to save money and meet other like-minded travelers.
I hope that you've enjoyed this quick guide to visiting the Tayangban Cave Pool on Siargao Island, The Philippines. If you're up for adventure in Siargao, check out other epic tourist spots like the epic island hopping trip or the amazing day trip to Sugba Lagoon.
Otherwise, for more travel guides and adventure inspiration, make sure to check out some of my other articles from the Philippines below.
- Siargao Travel Guide - discover the epic island of Siargao and why there are so many more things to do than just surfing
- Cebu Island Travel Guide - my ultimate adventure travel guide to Cebu
- Siquijor Island Guide - off-beat adventures in Siquijor
- Kawasan Falls - how to visit the Philippines' most famous waterfall
- 10 Best Islands in the Philippines - a roundup of my 10 favorite islands to travel to in the Philippines
- Accommodation Guides: Plan where to stay in Siargao and find great hotels in Cebu