Inside Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave

I was looking for a place to visit in Albay to include to our 5-days trip to Bicol when I suddenly remember a post from a friend about his visit to Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave. Upon reading his story about this cave, I make it to myself not to miss this place the next time I’ll be visiting Legazpi. At first, I thought this is a new place for me to explore when suddenly something reminded me of. The pictures of this cave which I saw online resembles a place me and my Bicolano relatives visited sometime ago, when I was still a kid. Then it happens that this cave was the cave we had visited before which is eventually the first cave I’ve been to. Well it’s a pleasure for me to explore the cave once more and bring back the memory I had here.

Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave is a natural tunnel-like structure situated in Camalig, Albay. It has been said that these caves were the primitive habitats of the natives in the area. It has been discovered during the Japanese occupation and has been one of the most popular attractions in Albay. The name Hoyop-Hoyopan was derived from the local word “Hoyop” which means to blow.

How to go to Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave?

The cave could be reached by any type of motor vehicles. From our accommodation in Legazpi Tourist Inn, we rode a jeepney bound to Camalig. The fare costs about PHP 20.00 with more or less an hour travel time. We alighted at the Camalig Market and from there we hailed a tricycle to take us on a special trip to the Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave in Cotmon, Camalig. Since there were no regular public vehicles coming from the cave we asked the tricycle driver to wait for us. The special back and forth trip costs more or less PHP 300.00 with 30 minutes travel time per way.

Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave

Entrance fee and guide fee should be paid when you wish to get inside the cave. Prepare more or less PHP 100.00 per person for those fee.
The earlier batch who visited the cave had left the area already thus during our time we had solely explored the cave.
Hoyop-hoyopan cave is a multi-level cavern. It’ll take 8 hours to explore the entirety of the cave but only its two or three levels are open for tourists. But don’t be taken aback, this cave isn’t that hard to explore compared to the cave connection in Sagada.

As we get inside the cave, a cool breeze coming from the inside welcomed us. A guide accompanied us throughout our exploration. Listen closely to your assigned guide as he tells exciting and informative details about caves and the cave itself.

I always get confused between stalagmites and stalactites. Stalagmites is the corresponding formation on the floor of the cave while stalactites is the corresponding formation on the ceiling of a cave.
Shining shimmering crystals could also be seen in some areas in the cave.
There are lights inside the cave as well as paved path. The way is kind of slippery due to water drippings so one must be cautious enough with his / her steps.
Our guide pointed us some corals which was unbelievably apparent in the cave.

We then went up to the next level and explored more of the cave.
A big chamber greeted us as we entered the upper level.

There’s a hall inside which was used to be a dance hall.

Not only crystals, corals and mineral deposits could be seen inside the Hoyop-Hoyopan cave. Our guide showed us few of the strange images and resemblance inside the cave.

Our guide was so learned on discussing as much details about the cave as well as on answering all our queries. In fact we asked him if there’s some weird or out-of-this-world elements residing inside the cave. There’s a hearsay that there’s once who looks after the cave, a spirit or something. Anyway, I already forgot the details but he showed us something at the end of our activity.

We went back to the entrance and he asked us to take a picture of this specific cave formation without flash. We followed curiously and took a picture of it and we felt terrified on what we saw from the image.

Spot it from this image.

It’s inexplicable how this image has been formed but there’s a mere talk that this is the one who looks after the cave.

Today, the cave is now owned privately by a family. The entrance fee goes to the maintenance of this cave. Anyone who visits this place should be responsible enough to strictly follow the rules.

The memories on my first visit here might have been somehow relieved. It may be forgotten in some point but it was eventually replaced by new and exciting one. As what I’ve told before when I just had my first cave connection experience in Sagada way back 2009, this is the culprit why I wasn’t prepared for that hardcore spelunking. Never thought that my first experience of spelunking will be subsequently followed by variable adventures.

You may also like...

20 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

    Hello… Nabasa ko yung article mo. Kasi I was looking for tourist spots to go to this coming holy week. Pwede ba malaman kung ano yung nakikita sa last pix? Hehe.. Hindi ko mapicture out eh.. Thanks!

  2. Katakot naman yung last pic! Spotted agad at kakatindig balahibo talaga! Ang layo nga lang ng cave na 'to around 1.30hr travel time from Legazpi City.

  3. Katakot naman yung last pic! Spotted agad at kakatindig balahibo talaga! Ang layo nga lang ng cave na 'to around 1.30hr travel time from Legazpi City.

  4. marxtermind says:

    Tingnan mo mabuti! Hehehe!

    Yup pede na 1 hour dito.

  5. marxtermind says:

    Tingnan mo mabuti! Hehehe!

    Yup pede na 1 hour dito.

  6. Kura says:

    wla ang makitang creepy. hahah! kailangan ba mag duling? =) pwede na ba ang 1 hour dyan marx?

  7. marxtermind says:

    May mas maganda pa na cave jan na malapit lang din. Ahm… Calabidongan cave, you need to be submerged in water to explore it.

  8. marxtermind says:

    May mas maganda pa na cave jan na malapit lang din. Ahm… Calabidongan cave, you need to be submerged in water to explore it.

  9. marxtermind says:

    Excited for our next year's trip! 😀

  10. marxtermind says:

    Excited for our next year's trip! 😀

  11. marxtermind says:

    Ano bang tinitignan nyo doon? Hehehe!

  12. marxtermind says:

    Ano bang tinitignan nyo doon? Hehehe!

  13. Robbie says:

    Hoyop so gondo! Hohohoho!

  14. Robbie says:

    Hoyop so gondo! Hohohoho!

  15. Paula O says:

    Long overdue Marx! hehehe! See you next year! hahaha! joke!

  16. Paula O says:

    Long overdue Marx! hehehe! See you next year! hahaha! joke!

  17. KULAPITOT says:

    ganda na cave .. nice shots!

  18. KULAPITOT says:

    ganda na cave .. nice shots!

  19. ano yung ginagawa namin ni elal? At nakanino yung photo with kuya guide?

  20. ano yung ginagawa namin ni elal? At nakanino yung photo with kuya guide?

Leave a Reply

Close