Into the Belly of the Beast – Baggao Blue Water Cave and Falls
I can still vividly remember and recount every second that transpired inside the Baggao Blue Water Cave. Certainly, how can we forget the large caverns, riveting labyrinths and eerie looking speleothems.
The almost placid lake and raging water rapids of the Blue Water Cave. Being confused, blinded, fearful, and even hesitant to take on another step as we explored inside.
Darkness engulfed what little light remained as we crawled cautiously from the awning mouth of the cave. Definitely, this is spelunking and canyoneering combined into one ultimate caving experience.
Blue Water Cave
Pallagao, Baggao, Cagayan
18.1’15.52 N / 121.59’53.82 E
Length: 6,132.00 Meters
Depth: 342.00 Meters
BCRA Grade 5C
Explored by: Sierra Madre Outdoor Club, Bristol and Gaia Exploration Club (2014-2015)
The Road to Pallagao
There’s little to no information available on the internet about the Blue Water Falls and Cave. Moreover, we got even more curious as to what lies beyond the pristine natural pool and inside the cave.
Our first day in Baggao was spent swimming in the underground river of Duba Cave in Brgy. San Miguel. Despite the scary swim along 140 meter subterranean river, we arrived at the beautiful Skylight Falls.
I thought Duba Cave was more than scary enough. In fact, it was my first time to swim inside a cave with nothing but our headlamps as the source of light. But I was all wrong, really wrong.
The following day, after having a well deserved rest, we drove all the way to Pallagao. Certainly, it was a scenic drive passing through mountain sides with verdant mountains and rolling hills.
Upon arrival at the jump-off point, we parked our service vehicle and trekked down along the mountain side. Right after, Mang Gavino, our guide that day, drove his motorcycle all the way down to the registration area.
Spring Terraces
First part is a river crossing resuming into a forested trail filled with familiar species of plants What got my attention the most is the spring terraces that came into life as I heard the gushing sound of water.
Then not too far from the river there’s a dry cave. It was filled with glimmering lime stones and rock formations wherein we spent some fifteen minutes inside.
It was not high enough, but mind you there are twenty more cascades and waterfalls that we passed along the way! Hence, we spent most of the time swimming. Most of the cascades span several meters wide before reaching another natural pool.
I thought that the series of terraces were never ending since it took us an hour and a half just to reach the end.
The Mouth of the Devil
The mouth of the cave was gaping with an empty void from the inside. Apart from that, it was covered by dense foliage around as it poured a steady flow of water from its awning mouth. In addition, it flows into an emerald colored lagoon which turns to blue during the dry season.
During that time, I was having second thoughts and even hesitated to go inside. It seems a lot scarier than the Duba Cave but I followed and entered it anyway.
We walked at the side of the lagoon until we clung into tree roots beside the waterfall. Eventually managing to reach the top of the falls which is also the entrance of the cave.
There are two entrances, one is the river that feeds the waterfall and the second one is a narrow passageway filled with protruding stalactites and curious rocks. Every minute seemed like eternity as we inched closer inside.
The light from the outside dimmed gradually. While the sound of gushing water lulled the whole place, deafening our senses little by little.
The first part is through limestone terraces with pools on top of each other, which is reminiscent of that of Sumaguing Cave in Sagada. I thought it was already an adventure in itself. We reached a small entrance with a big boulder on the other side where Mang Gavino asked us to climb it up.
Lake Palos
The water, god knows where it’s coming from, at that point was roaring loud. We can barely hear each other. Then upon reaching the top of the boulder, a large cavern welcomed us.
Our eyes adjusted to the total darkness from the inside, we noticed the floor was not the same limestone pools but it was a large placid lake. Which Mang Gavino claims to be spanning around 52 meters, the depth? approximately 15 meters deep and is considered to be an Eel Sanctuary. The largest one caught in here weighed almost 20 kilos!
Our headlamp shone its beam of light inside the large cavern sizing the immensity of the place. It casted series of archaic shadows from the rocks and flowstones.
From the other side, is a waterfall about three meters tall, which happens to be where the next part of the adventure lies. I was thinking of tapping out (again). Thinking of swimming into its dark waters was a thought too far-fetched. Eventually, I found myself paddling my way across the water as fast as I can hoping to grab a hold of a rock on the other side.
That was one of the longest one minute of my life. I finally took hold of a piece of rock to cling at. Then we settled on the side before we scaled the waterfall. There’s no where to hold on to as we tried to climb it up. Our guide let loose of a piece of rope where we were pulled up one by one.
Third part was a really narrow passageway (definitely not for the claustrophobic). It is made up of a floor of raging river that feeds the waterfall. One wrong move and you’ll be dragged down back down into the lake (drowning is even possible if caught between the currents).
We approached the end of the riveting labyrinth by holding onto the rocks. Then we continued going inside while occasionally swimming at some safe parts where rocks are not dependable for support.
Time seems to slow down inside, no sunlight or sense of day or night. Left only with our heightened senses and the sound of the gushing waters.
We eventually reached the three quarters of the first pitch. There’s even more beautiful flow stones and another smaller waterfall. Mang Gavino told us that just a few hundred meters more lies a taller waterfall near the first pitch. We decided not to continue further since the next passage was way smaller and filled with raging waters.
Admit Defeat
We went back where we came from and we even have to jump down the waterfall. It was easier than to descend down the limestone which is even more riskier. I was the last one to jump without giving a damn with what happens if I surface or not.
Luckily I conquered that constant fear of drowning into this unfathomable depth of the lake. We swam back to the other part of the pool, and got back to the mouth of the cave. Exiting through the upstream of the waterfall on the outside.
Our eyes adjusted to the bright afternoon sun and rejoiced with the new adventure and celebrated that sweet ordeal by jumping down into the emerald lagoon from the top of the waterfall. It was even more easier than jumping down inside!
But Wait There’s More!
As we recounted the confusing train of emotions we felt inside the belly of the beast. We trekked back to the registration point and found out that we only did roughly the 2% of the whole cave system!
We felt so proud of our achievement not until we saw the map.
We did not paid attention to the tarpaulin banner hanging from the shed. There was the whole mapped expedition of the Blue Water Cave done by the Sierra Madre Outdoor Club and some British exploration groups.
The Bristol and Gaia Exploration Club did it last 2014 to 2015. Mapping it down into its extreme depths some 304 meters below the surface.
How To Get There
- Take any San Jose, Baggao, Cagayan bound buses of GV Florida Transport and Dalin Bus Lines with their terminals located in Sampaloc, Manila. (Fare 800-950+php), Travel Time: 11-12hrs)
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For Inquiries: (02) 781-5894 – SAMPALOC (077) 770-3645 LAOAG (078) 846-2265 TUGUEGARAO For more inquiries: (02)781-5849 / (02)743-3809 - Schedule of trip, Manila to Baggao:
- 6:45PM BAGGAO – Tuguegarao Via Ilagan (Regular)
- Schedule of trips, Baggao to Manila:
- 02:30PM and 03:30PM – Tuguegarao Via Ilagan (Regular and Deluxe)
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- Alternately, one can hop on any Tuguegarao bound buses of Five Star Bus, Victory Liner in Cubao (09:00PM and 11:00PM), and GV Florida Transport in Sampaloc and alight at Tuguegarao Rotunda. The UV Express Van Terminal is located nearby.
- There are two options to choose from if going to Blue Water Cave and Falls:
- If going directly, take the Tallang, Baggao bound vans and alight at the market where you can directly meet your service or guide. They’ll take you to Sta. Margarita which is an almost an hour away from Tallang.
- If planning to spend the night, the recommended accommodation is at Country Inn Hotel and Restaurant near the Baggao Town Hall. So take the San Jose Baggao bound vans and alight at the Town Hall and just ask the locals where the inn is located.
- Contact your guide and set the time of meet-up the following day.
- Start early, recommended is as early as 07:00am since Sta. Margarita jump-off point is more than an hour motorcycle ride from San Jose. (250php per way)
- Upon arrival at Sta. Margarita jump-off you can still ride the motorcycle to descend down to the Pallagao registration area. But if driving your own vehicle this is the last accessible road where you can park before trekking down to the registration area.
- Upon arrival at the registration area, pay for the registration fee (30php) then rent a lifevest (100php), guide fee (500php/ 3 pax) and make sure to have a waterproof headlamp with you.
- There are two trails to choose from:
- Easy Trail – you will pass by a forested trail which is accessible by motorcyles (50php/way) and will take you 30-45 minutes on foot.
- Long Trail – you will pass by the very scenic spring terraces and waterfalls along the river. There’s about twenty (20) of them and I really recommend this one. It will take you around an hour or more depending on how long you’re going to take photos and swim in the natural pools along the way.
- Contact numbers:
- Ms. Rona, Municipal Tourism Officer – 09355604463
- Gavino Macasiray (Blue Water Falls and Cave Guide) – 09161174383
- Noel Tejero (Duba Cave and Skylight Falls Guide) – 09367334463
Travel Tips
- Register first at the Municipal Tourism Office and write your names down the logbook to make sure that they know that you are visiting and they are the ones who can help you in case of emergency
- You can borrow life vests and safety helmets for free
- Wear suitable foot wears such as sandals or hydro shoes that has good grip on rocks, wear whatever works best on you.
- Wear proper attire such as trekking shorts and dri-fit shirts, since you will be subjected to swimming, scrambling and climbing waterfalls.
- Buy food and snacks at the barangay centers of San Jose or Tallang before proceeding since stores are limited once at the jump-off point.
- Bring a waterproof headlamp since you will be swimming most of the time
- Bring a dry bag to waterproof your belongings while you are swimming inside the cave. Much better if your gadgets are waterproof to lessen the your worries.
- Listen to your guide since they go in and out of the cave more than you do. Be strict with the 3 :1 guide to member ratio and add another guide if necessary.
- Do not panic, relax and listen to the guide’s instructions.
- Practice LNT Principles all the time.
- Have fun and enjoy the adventure!
Already visited the Blue Water Caves and Falls? How was the experience? Share it in the comments section below!
Updated July 31, 2018
