Most of the tourists goes to Dalaguete to climb the popular and picturesque Osmena Peak. However, unknown to many, the place has also caves waiting to be visited. One of these is the Dingayop Cave in Brgy. Obo, also known as the Eagle's Cave.
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| On our way to the cave |
For me, the challenging part was the long walk to the cave. My advice is to wear comfy, non-slip foot wear since the pathway was not paved and in some parts, there were no defined footpaths. We had to hold on to the roots and barks of the trees to prevent from slipping down. Upon nearing the cave, our guide had to tie a rope from one tree to another so we can have something to hold on to since the pathway was really narrow and on the other side was a cliff leading to the waterfalls.
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| Cave Entrance |
At long last, Dingayop Cave!
Our two guides have only one flashlight each so it is recommended that you should also bring your own flashlights since the cave is really dark and the cave floor is uneven, and some are even so steep that we need to be assisted by our guides in going up and down.
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| "Living" stalactites and stalagmites which are still continually forming. Thus, visitors are advised not to touch them else, they will "die" or stop growing. |
Dingayop Cave is really worth it. It is one of the most beautiful caves that I've been into due to its numerous and large stalactites & stalagmites. Most of its rock formations are still intact since it is not yet often visited and exploited. My advice is to go there before it becomes popular and while it is still in its raw beauty, not yet much touched by careless tourists. Just bring with you a lot of air especially in the lengthy walk to and from the cave. Whew!
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| Posing with our guides |
P.S. If you want a guide and it is highly suggested that you should get one, contact Erwin Zamora at 09486468129. In our case, we paid him and his other companion a total of 600 pesos for guiding the three of us. But if there are more members in your group, it is greatly advised that you pay them higher than that because assisting a bigger group is no easy task. We personally experienced the exhaustive walking to and from the caves which is really quite a distance. Some parts are really steep and slippery and our guides have to tie ropes around the trees so we can have something to hold on to and to hoist ourselves up the slope. Plus the cave was not yet developed by the Department of Tourism, so it could really be dangerous inside due to the presence of snakes. In fact, when we went there, our face almost got hit by bats who got surprised by the light from the flashlights.
For transportation via habal-habal, you may also contact Arnel Puzo at 09072242256. He was our driver during our visit there, and we liked his disposition. He was cheerful, easy-to-get along with, and agreeable. :)
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