How to go back

How to get to the Tabon Caves of Quezon, Palawan

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Below are instructions or a travel guide on how you can visit and go around the Tabon Caves Complex of Quezon, Palawan.

One of the caves of the Tabon Caves Complex in Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan

One of the caves of the Tabon Caves Complex

1. Ride a van from San Jose Terminal at Puerto Princesa to Quezon, Palawan.

  • Fare is 200 Pesos per person.
  • Estimated Travel Time is 2.5 to 3 hours.
  • Check my post on the transportation vans and their schedules on how to get to Quezon, Palawan.

2. Visit the National Museum Quezon, Palawan Branch.

  • Ride a tricycle from Quezon Transport Terminal and tell the driver to drop you off at the National Museum.
  • Fare is 10 Pesos per person.
  • Estimated Travel Time is 5 minutes.

3.  Get a permit to the Tabon Caves in the National Museum.

  • The cost of the permit is 20 Pesos per person.
  • The permit can be taken only on the day when you will visit the Tabon Caves.
  • Personal appearance for everyone is required.
  • Permit can only be applied only up to 2PM.
  • Also arrange your boat from the pier of Quezon to the Tabon Caves Complext at Lipuun Point. Boat rental is 800 Pesos per 6 pax.
  • Since you’re already at the museum, go inside and check what history lies within the Tabon Caves.

Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) in Mount Samat, Pilar, Bataan

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The cross at Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor). Mount Samat #Pilar, #Bataan #Philippines

A photo posted by Lakas ng Trip (@lakasngtrip) on

After having Spicy Pork Sinigang for breakfast at a karinderya in Balanga, Bataan and a quick visit to Balanga Church, we were no in Balanga Public Transportation Terminal and were asking around on how do we get to Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor).

I thought that we should ride the jeep to Bagac since it will be passing by Diwa, the jumpoff going up Mount Samat, but we were then pointed referred to jeepneys going to Cabog-Cabog. The reason why the jeepney drivers to Bagac refer people to Cabog-Cabog when they are going to Diwa because they can pick up passengers after they pass by the town of Cabog-Cabog. This makes both jeepney routes have significant income when they get home.

Balanga Public Transportation Terminal

Balanga Public Transportation Terminal

At around 8AM, our jeepney to Cabog-Cabog left and after 17 Pesos and 20 minutes we got down at the intersection going to Mount Samat at Diwa.

There were tricycles waiting on the intersection and they were offering 100 Pesos/person for a one-way trip to the top of Mount Samat. Unfortunately, we only had 1,000 Pesos all-in for our budget around Bataan so we kindly declined their offer.

Tricycle at the intersection to Mount Samat at Diwa, Pilar, Bataan

Tricycle at the intersection to Mount Samat at Diwa, Pilar, Bataan

According to the tricycle drivers the walk would take us about 2 to 3 hours but the locals doubtedly told us that it would only take us 1 hour. Frankly, I thought the tricycle drivers were trying to exaggerate the time so that they could convince us to pay for them. There were a lot of literature also on the internet that says it would only take 1 hour.

After drinking a bottle of softdrink just to jumpstart my blood and a brief relaxing moment inside the CR we started walking to the top of Mount Samat at around 8:45AM.

Walk to the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) at Mount Samat, Pilar, Bataan

Maui starting our walk to the top of Mount Samat

We passed by some people drying barbecue sticks on the road.

Bogyah Hot Spring in Hungduan, Ifugao

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At Hapao Rice Terraces early in the morning

I had just finished my dinner at the lodging in the middle of Hapao Rice Terraces when I saw 4 flashlights coming down from the entrance of the lodge. One was Ate Veron, the lady I met at the road in Hapao who told me directions on how to reach my lodging and 3 others who I have never met. Turns out they were travellers too and they were also from Mindanao. 🙂

We had the usual get-to-know-you and how-did-you-get-here type of conversation. They told me that they were not planning to visit Hungduan but due to a series of unfortunate events they were fortunate to have arrived in Hapao Rice Terraces.

They cooked, ate their dinner and we talked about going to Bogyah Hot Spring early in the morning as the locals told us that it is best to go there around 6 to 7 AM. We planned to start walking around 5:30 AM as the walk to the hot spring would take around 30 minutes from the lodging.

Early the next day, we asked one of the lodging staff, Kuya Dondon, to guide us to the hot springs. A guide is highly encouraged bordering to required as you may get lost going through the rice terraces. It’s like a maze with rice fields representing the walls and the pilapil as your only choice of path.

Start of the walk to Bogyah Hot Spring

The sun was not up on the sky but it has given us light to walk through the terraces without flashlights. The cool morning breeze made it conducive for a morning walk.

Waterfalls in Sabang, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

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My brother and I was going through the different lodgings at the western side of Sabang in Brgy Cabayugan when a dog stopped us from reaching Alpuerto. We then asked for help on the nearby house and a little guy helped subside the anger of the dog. He then offered to guide us to Sabang Waterfalls.

Brother suggested that since we were on this side of Sabang we might as well visit the falls to conserve our time and energy. He also encouraged me to hire the boy offering to guide us so he could have an additional money for his schooling. So we asked the boy to accompany us to the falls, which did a good favor for us as he knew a lot about the place.

The boy’s name was Marvin, he was 12 years old and still going to school. Good!

As we reached Alpuerto Resort, Kuya Marvin asked us to register before continuing to the waterfalls. According to him this is to monitor how many people are going in and out of the falls. We are also required to log-out when we get back.

We continued and not far from the resort there’s a Buddhist temple.

After taking picture inside of the temple we proceeded to walk on the rocky shore. This reminded me of the rocky walk to the lighthouse of Capones Island in Zambales.

There’s also some teachings of Buddha on the way.

Bomod-Ok Falls at Sagada, Mountain Province

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Our itinerary for the day was to eat breakfast at Bana’s Cafe & Resto then go and visit the Bomod-Ok Falls. Alternatively they call it the Big Falls.

Surprised that we were actually late for the scheduled jeepney ride to Aguid, we hurriedly ate our breakfast and ran to where the jeepneys are located in Sagada. Thankfully, it had not yet left.

We rode the jeepney bound for Aguid, where we ironically became too friendly with the passengers and found out that one of them was actually one of the weavers of the famous Sagada Weaving. That’s when I realized that it was actually hard to make the weaved products of Sagada and how much quality control they have for their precious weaving. Unfortunately, she went down a town before Bangaan but we learned a lot about what she does and we made a new friend.

The trek to Bomod-Ok Falls

When we got out of the Jeepney at Bangaan, we registered at the Tourist Information Center. This is the place where you will need to hire a guide which will cost 500 pesos/guide. This is to ensure that no unsupervised tourist/traveller goes into town. It also is a good way for them to create jobs. Don’t worry, your guide will be telling you stories about the place as you walk by.

Tourist Information Center at the Start of the Trek

Tourist Information Center at the Start of the Trek

Our guide explaining why you will not find sayote in Sagada

Our guide explaining why you will not find sayote in Sagada

At the start of the falls we did not see the Big Falls. It’s a sign that it was somehow pretty far from the starting point. And since the