Bulwang Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Mabinay, Negros Oriental. On Negros Island, on Highway 6, 10 km south of Mabinay, about 50 km south of Kabankalan. (9.6605109, 122.9855004)
Open:	All year Mon-Sat 7-17:30. [2025]
Fee:	Adults PHP 400. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	Panligawan Cave: L=143 m, VR=22. Pandalihan Cave: L. Crystal Cave: L=157 m, VR=12 m.
Guided tours:	D=2 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Bulwang Caves, Mabinay, Negros Oriental, Tel: +63-926-973-9386. Russel B. Baldomar, OIC Contact, Tel: +63-916-149-7616.
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

Bulwang Caves or better Bulwang Cave is one of hundreds of caves in the Mabinay area. The city of Mabinay is also dubbed Cave City, because the surrounding karst area has most caves of the archipelago. It seems that eight of them are open to the public, but actually most of them are cave trekking tours, as is unfortunately common in the Philippines. The starting point for tours is the Bulwang Caves Information Center on Highway 6 south of Mabinay. The area was first explored by Dutch and Belgian speleologists in 1989-1990. They surveyed numerous caves in the area, and the longest they found was Odloman Cave (L=8,870 m). It was the longest known cave the Philippines at that time, and many still repeat this fact stupidly. However, today the country has four caves which are listed on the official list because they are longer than 10 km. The longest is today [2025] Puerto Princesa Subterranean River with a length of 32 km.

But back to this area, which we would probably not have listed if there were only cave trekking tours. The so-called beginners caves are Panligawan Cave (Courting Cave) is a short almost horizontal cave with a karstfenster halfway. The second is Pandalihan Cave (Marriage Cave), which was once mined for its guano. And the last is Crystal Cave, which actually contains many speleothems, not crystals. But it has some gypsum minerals. All three caves are more or less almost show caves, they have no light but trails and railings, and at some section they even have elevated trail. Also, all caves are gated, so they can only be visited with a guide.

These caves are called Bulwang Caves because they are spacious, bulwang means big hole. But there is a story about the cave names. The first cave was used by the locals to meet their sweetheart, hence it was named Courting Cave. The second is called Marriage Cave because the huge main hall was used for weddings. And finally Crystal Cave is also called Honeymoon Cave, but we guess they do not spend their honeymoon there.

There are numerous animals living in the cave. Bats and birds are only visitors. But the millipedes actually live in the cave, and they are quite large, up to 25 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter. Its better not to disturb them, as they spray a purple liquid that can stain the skin. The Tailless Whip Scorpion also lives in the caves, as well as different frogs.

The helmet and lamp are provided, but we strongly recommend to bring your own. Especially the lamps are of rather poor quality. Also good wallking shoes are advisable, as part of the trails are dirt tracks. Its also advisable to bring some water and snacks.