The Somyot Cave was hands down the greatest adventure we experienced in Siargao. We were crawling on all fours, getting muddy, and navigating through tight passageways, all while seeing beautiful cave rock formations.
By the time we emerged from the cave, we were covered in mud but filled with memories. The challenge pushed my mental strength in the best possible way, and although I was exhausted when we finished, I have no regrets.
Somyot Cave Complete Guide
Exploring the Somyot Cave is an adrenaline-filled adventure on the island of Siargao in the Philippines.
The tour starts by getting fitted with a helmet and headlamp. After that, it’s a short 5-minute walk through the forest to reach the cave entrance.
Once you enter the cave, the adventure begins as you go through narrow passageways and climb over rough and slippery terrain.
Be prepared to get dirty while exploring Somyot Cave, as there are sections where you’ll need to crawl and use your hands to grab onto stalagmites. I recommend wearing water shoes because the cave has uneven surfaces that can be tricky to walk over.
During the cave adventure, you’ll get the chance to jump into a cave pool and see bats in their natural habitat. There’s even a spot where you can drum on the stalactites to create your own music!
The Somyot Cave is a relatively new attraction in Siargao, having opened in March 2023. The total cost to explore the Somyot Cave is 410 pesos per person.
How to Get to the Somyot Cave in Siargao
The Marvelous Somyot Cave is located along the Siargao Circumferential Road on the north side of Siargao, about a 1 hour and 15-minute motorbike ride from General Luna.
As you head up the road, keep an eye out for a tent with a sign for the Marvelous Somyot Cave. This is the sign-in booth for the Somyot Cave. It’s right along the main road, so it’s easy to spot.
Marvelous Somyot Cave: What to Expect
When you arrive at Somyot Cave, parking is available right next to the check-in tent by the road. Head over to the small booth to sign in, where you’ll sign a waiver.
After signing in, you’ll be assigned a guide and equipped with gear, including a helmet, headlamp, and gloves. Make sure to wear closed-toe shoes, as the cave’s terrain is rough and slippery. In some of the steeper areas of the cave, your guide will help you climb up and down if needed.
From the check-in booth, it’s a short 5-minute walk through the jungle to reach the cave. The initial descent into the cave is steep, but there are ropes to guide you in. Once inside the cave, you’ll enter a large chamber filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
The cave is made up of several large rooms, connected by narrow passageways. Navigating these narrow passageways is the most challenging part of the adventure. Be sure to keep your helmet on, as you’re likely to bump your head while squeezing through these narrow sections.
One of the rooms in the cave has a pool of water where you can take a swim. The water level in the pool changes with the tides—it’s clear during high tide but tends to get murky at low tide.
Next is the cave’s “music room,” where you can tap on the stalactites to create different sounds, almost like playing a xylophone
Just beyond the music room is the bat area, where you’ll find tons of tiny bats hanging out in the cave. This is the turnaround point of the cave adventure.
The way out of the cave is the same as the way in, but there’s one passage that’s much tougher to get through on the way out. The passage is very narrow, and it’s common for people to take a bit of time to squeeze through.
When we first entered the cave, we had to wait for another group to pass because they were struggling to get through that tight spot. On our way out, we had the same challenge—it took us a few minutes to figure out how to navigate it. Don’t worry, though—your guide will be there to help you through. It just takes a bit of patience!
Somyot Cave: Our Experience
When we first arrived at Somyot Cave, the check-in stand was empty, but we noticed a few motorbikes, so we assumed the guides were out on a tour. We waited about 10 minutes until a guide named Ricardo returned, and he ended up being our tour guide.
Ricardo helped us get geared up with headlamps, helmets, and gloves, and then had us sign a liability waiver. Looking back, we should have realized we were in for a crazy experience, but at the time, we thought it was just standard procedure, so we went along with it.
The walk to the cave’s entrance took about 5 minutes and led us straight into the jungle, where we passed a comfort station that was under construction. Once we reached the cave, we climbed down some rocks using ropes and arrived at the cave entrance.
The cave opening is small, so we had to navigate carefully as we climbed down inside. Once we stepped into the cave, the floor was moist and slippery. Our guide closely monitored our movements as we grabbed onto the rope and climbed down. The steep descent honestly reminded me of the cave in Aladdin!
Once we reached the floor of the cave, we looked up in awe at the large stalactites surrounding us. The room was enormous, and it was amazing to see how that small entrance opened up into such a vast space.
I spotted a small opening we needed to pass through to reach the next area. We waited for a few minutes as another group was navigating the tight space, and a tall guy took quite a while to get through. Sometimes, it pays off to be shorter!
Trey pointed out that the other group looked like they were sweating. We asked them about it, and they explained that they had just swum in the cave water, which was why they were so wet.
It was our turn to squeeze through the tight opening, and we both ended up bumping our heads on the stalactites above, but that’s what helmets are for! We made it through without any issues and discovered a cave pool with incredibly clear water below us. Ricardo confirmed it was fresh water, which made me excited about the swim we were about to have. The water was crystal clear—I could see the stalagmites clearly beneath the surface!
Next, we crossed a thin wooden bridge over the clear water. The bridge was quite slippery, so be careful if you’re not wearing the right shoes. At the end of the bridge was the NARROWEST passageway we would encounter on this hike. Somehow, Trey and I both managed to get through it without trouble, but the return trip was a different story. I’ll touch on that in a bit.
After we made it through the passageway, we walked over a couple of steep declines and inclines. This is where having an experienced guide really helped, as the rocks were steep and slippery, with no solid footholds. Ricardo anchored his feet on the slippery surface so we could step on them to help us climb up and down the cave. Without these makeshift anchor points, you’d need to have long legs to get through comfortably!
Finally, we reached the water portion of the cave, but the water was quite murky and didn’t look appealing for swimming. Our guide mentioned that it was low tide, and if we had come during high tide, the water would have been clearer and better for swimming. Ultimately, we decided not to go in, as we didn’t feel it was necessary.
Even though we didn’t swim, this part of the cave was beautiful. The stalagmites and stalactites were incredible, with some having a sparkly, crystal-like appearance that glistened in the light of our headlamps.
After we finished exploring the large room with water, Ricardo began leading us to another area. I thought we were done, but it turns out there was more to explore!
We made our way to the next room, and Ricardo helped me climb up to the next level since this cave is quite complex. Then he began tapping on a group of stalactites, creating a melody. The thin stalactites produced a nice sound, and he showed Trey which ones to hit, allowing him to create some sweet cave music. And of course, we’re in the cave that keeps on giving so that is not all we are here for.
Ricardo led us deeper into the cave, where we entered a room filled with tiny bats. There were literally hundreds of them hanging from the ceiling, and some were even flying around! They were so tiny that one could fit in the palm of your hand.
The area itself wasn’t the prettiest, with small black smudges everywhere, which we assumed were bat droppings or dirt they had dragged in. But it was still SO COOL to see all these little bats. If they had been bigger, I might have felt a bit intimidated, but their small size made them so cute!
Finally, it was time to make our way out of the cave. As we made our exit, Ricardo helped us navigate through the cave once more, using his foot as an anchor several times. We took the opportunity to snap photos of the cave—it truly is a marvel.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the adrenaline-pumping fear I felt throughout the entire experience—everywhere I looked, there were broken stalactites scattered on the ground. It definitely didn’t make me feel safe. I couldn’t help but think that having a stalactite fall on your head would be way worse than a coconut!
Then we reached the toughest, narrowest part again. Ricardo went through the passageway first and instructed me to put my right foot forward, then do the splits and push my body through. I got my right foot in, but when I tried to move my left, it bumped against a stalagmite, leaving me stuck. We struggled with this for about three minutes until Ricardo suggested I remove my shoes. He told me to take a break and relax, which I desperately needed, as getting out of the cave was a bit more complicated than I had anticipated!
Finally, I managed to get through the hole but landed on the wet wooden bridge, which was incredibly slippery. Before I moved my other foot, Ricardo helped me put my shoe back on for better grip. Trey got through the passageway without any issues—he really can slide through anything!
The hardest part was finally over! We all celebrated as we slowly but surely made our way out of the cave in one piece.
Where to Stay in Siargao
Choosing where to stay in Siargao is pretty straightforward. General Luna is the island’s main tourism hub. Most of the accommodations, restaurants, and shops are located in General Luna, and it’s also where all the tours and activities depart from. If you want to be close to everything, General Luna is the place to be.
Here are our recommendations on where to stay in Siargao:
- Luxury: If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Siargao, Las Palmas Villas is hard to beat. It has everything you would expect from a resort, including a swimming pool, a garden, and a full-service restaurant and bar.
- Mid-range: Camanolo Homestay is located right in the heart of General Luna, but down a quiet side street. The rooms are clean and all have their own private bathrooms and AC.
- Budget: We enjoyed our stay at Hostel Bajala so much that we ended up extending it a few times. The place is clean, cozy, and comfortable. We couldn’t ask for more.
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Siargao.
What to Pack for Siargao
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Siargao.
- Crocs: During our time in Siargao, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring caves and islands. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Earplugs: If you’re planning to do any island hopping while in Siargao, I recommend bringing a set of earplugs for the boat rides. Most boats in Siargao have super loud diesel engines that will make your ears ring!
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Siargao.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures out to Siargao’s islands, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Siargao! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Our Siargao Google Maps Locations
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Can’t get enough of Siargao?
We spent 16 days in Siargao and found so many things to do there—from caves to beaches, mangroves, and lagoons. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Siargao Travel Guide
- Our ultimate guide to Siargao: 26 Awesome Things to Do in Siargao
- Our Siargao accomodation/area guide: Where to Stay in Siargao
- How to plan your Siargao vacation: Siargao 3 Day Itinerary
- Our Siargao Beach Guide: 15 Best Beaches in Siargao
- Our favorite place to swim in Siargao: Beto Cold Spring
- Our most intense adventure in Siargao: Exploring the Marvelous Somyot Cave
- Our favorite day tour in Siargao: Sohoton Cove
- Our favorite beach in Siargao: Pacifico Beach
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope our experience exploring the Marvelous Somyot Cave in Siargao helps you out in your adventure!
