Rawis Cave


Useful Information

Location: Sitio Rawis, Barangay Guirang.
20 km from Basey, Samar. From Basey follow Highway 670 towards northeast, 250 m after the bridge turn left on road to Guirang. After Guirang and the next bridge turn right to Rawis. In Rawis meet guide, get equipment, 40 minutes walk to the cave.
Open:
Fee: Boat rental: P 900 to P 1,200 for five to seven persons.
Municipal tourism permit: Per Group (0-8) P 50.
Guide Fee: P200.
Lamp Fee: P300.
Entrance Fee: Per Person P20.
[2007]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: helmet and headlamp provided
Dimension:
Guided tours: local guides
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:
Address: Rawis Cave.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History


Description

Rawis Cave is named after Sitio Rawis, the cave entrance is said to be only about 600 m from the town. It is praised for numerous extraordinary speleothems, among them a stalagmite looking like Virgin Mary.

There are numerous fees to be paid, and for some reason they gave a fee for a boat ride. As far as we know this is not required to reach the cave, and in recent years no entrance fees were published any more. Actually there is a 40 minutes walk to the cave through tropical forest and strange rock formations. The cave is mostly dry, only with some cave lakes nor and then, rimstone pools with calcite crystals which are quite impressive. Cave visits take place rain or shine, but during rains the path to the cave might be wet, slippery, and even partly flooded. The guides are not stupid, they wear gum boots.

The cave is rather spacious, there is no crawling, and almos no stooping, but there are some rather steep sections were it is necessary to climb over rocks and boulders. At the end a huge chamber is reached which has two karstfensters. The cave is exited through the left exit and reentered through another entrance.

The cave tour is much less sportive than other cave trekking trips in the Philippines, but the high number of visitors is a serious threat to the cave. Some staircases at the steep parts and marked trails to avoid that visitors are strolling across fragile speleothems would definitely be a great improvement. They are now walking across calcite crystals, cave pearls and micro gours, using rimstone pools as staircase, using stalagmites as railings. Many show caves would be happy to have just a part of them and protect them fiercely.

Ah, and if you are still wondering, the Virgin Mary stalagmite is quite disappointing.

The provided helmets and headlamps are of rather good quality, nevertheless bring backup lamps. Sun protection and raincoat for outside, good walking shoes and appropriate clothes are much recommended. Gum boots are definitely much better than sneakers.

Rawis Cave is located south of Sohoton Natural Bridge Natural Park, but not part of the park.