Affordable Weekend Getaway to Tabon Cave, Quezon, Palawan

Written By: Jan Angelica Severa

Photos By: Lourdez May Cruz

Tabon cave is located at Lipuun Point, North of Quezon municipality. Just recently, the Tabon cave had opened again for the public after almost a year of lock down due to Covid-19 and it can be accessible through a 1.3 km boardwalk, unlike the past years where you need to ride a boat. There are 215 caves known, 29 caves have been explored and only 7-9 caves are open to public. I will only talk about the two caves which are Tabon Cave and Manunggul Cave.

The ride from Puerto Princesa City will take about 2-3 hours. Don’t remove your facemasks and face shield and maintain social distancing during the tour. And do not leave trash and don’t take something from the destination. But you can take pictures. Persons aged 15-65 years old including those with disabilities are allowed.

Welcome to Tabon cave!

Tabon Cave is the of the biggest caves in the Lipuun Point Reservation. Its name was derived from the local bird known as tabon. The chamber is 41 meters long, dry and bathed by sunlight throughout the day. These features explain why ancient man chose Tabon cave as a dwelling place for at least the past 50,000 years. The earliest human remains in the Philippines known as Tabon Man were recovered in this cave.

Manunggul Cave is 114.3 meter above sea level. It comprises four chambers with three opening. Two chamber were used for burials because of the majestic setting that must have been seen as an ideal permanent resting place for the dead. The most significant find in this cave is the Manunggul Jar, a secondary burial jar with a cover featuring two human figures representing two souls on a voyage to the afterlife. The jar has been dated to the Late Neolithis Period, About 890-710 B.C.

What to bring:

*Bring your own food and drinks there are no store there

To Visit:

1. Pay the environmental fee and register at the Quezon Palawan Tourism Office. (free for Quezonians, 50 pesos for Palawenos, !00 pesos for Philippine residents, and 200 pesos for foreigners).

2. Proceed to Quezon Museum Office to get a permit.

Visiting hours: 9am – 3pm.

From my own experience, Tabon Cave is unforgettable.

I’m a person who wants to have a weekend gateway but with an affordable price.

And I want to relax, that’s why I’m grateful that my friends brought me there.

I’d like to travel to the places where the people are friendly and very accommodating.

If you and your friends are planning to have a weekend getaway you should go to Tabon cave, you can swim and hike there!

Thank you and have fun!