Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Camalig, 4502 Albay, Luzon island. 25 km southwest of Legazpi. (13.1207143, 123.6563101)
Open:	All year daily . [2025]
Fee:	5 Adults PHP 300, Additional Adult PHP 70. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave Blowhole
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=30-60 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave, Purok 1 Cotmon, Camalig, 4502 Albay, Tel: +63-936-231-1668.
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

Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave (Blow-Blow Cave) is named after the cool wind that blows through the cave. "Hoyop" is a Bicolano word that means "ihip" in Filipino and "blow of the wind" in English. The cave has several entrances, and as it is located on a hillside, the wind blows through the cave, cooling down in the cave. Like all other caves in this country, there are some stairs and rudimentary trails, the rest is dirt tracks. There are some narrow parts, but no climbing or crawling. At the entrance guides wait to be hired, which are in general very knowledgeable and informative. But the cave also has electric light, which is quite extraordinary, and the reason why we classified the cave as a show cave.

The reason for the rather good development of the cave is probably the fact that it was used as a dance hall by the locals during the Martial Law era. The largest chamber has a concrete floor for this purpose. Martial Law era is the term which describes the rule of Ferdinand Marcos. He placed the country under military control, so he could rule the land as a dictator. It seems that festive occasions like Fiestas were problematic at that time and so the locals went "underground" and held their festivals in the safety of the cave. No problem with curfew underground. This was also a place of refuge during the Japanese occupation, and a hideout of the "Hukbalahap" freedom fighters. And it is still used by the locals as evacuation center during strong typhoons, which is in average 5 times per year. And it is sometimes used for weddings, photo shoots, and as a cinema.

The cave was excavated and pottery dating between 200 BC to 900 AD was found. The late Franciscan priest and archaeologist Frater Cantius Kobak, OFM, found remains which are between 5,000 and 6,000 years old. At this time the cave was used to bury people. The findings are now mostly at the National Museum in Manila, but some are displayed at nearby Camalig Church. The speleothems are average, even their weird names are average. But the most spectacular thing is the view from one of the cave entrances, the spectacular stratovolcano Mayon is located to the north.

The cave is located close to the Bihol airport. From the road in the plain a side branch leads straight up to the cave entrance. There are several souvenir shops and cafés along this cul-de-sac, which ends at the cave entrance. The rules about behaviour in the cave are the same as everywhere else, except for the one which prohibits "dating" inside the cave. Also strange is that visitors have to wear helmets.