Mabinay Crystal Cave - Spelunking for the first time

Mabinay is a 1st class municipalities situated in the central part of province of Negros Oriental. From Dumaguete City, the capital of the province, it would take 1.5 hours drive. Another means of getting there is by bus. From Ceres Terminal (Vallacar transportation company), the bus bound for Bacolod City via Mabinay would take you for only Php 60.00 to Mabinay, Negros Oriental. The estimated travel by bus is only 2 hours.

Crystal Cave

 

Crystal Cave at Bulwang, Mabinay

One of the best tourist attractions in the place is spelunking or caving. Locals reported that there are more than 100 caves they have discovered in the place. This gives the name of Mabinay as "Cave Town of Negros Oriental." The second longest cave in the entire country is named Odlomon (8,870 meters), and it can be found in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, Philippines.

The cold weather and the frequent typhoons coming into the place did not keep us from visiting Mabinay, Negros Oriental.

Bulwang, Mabinay

 

Bulwang, Mabinay Information Center.

We ask for a tourist assistance in the Information Center of Bulwang, Mabinay. The decors in the lobby attracted me. Our guide - Kuya Rodel - provided us with a brief orientation about the beginners' cave before we started to hike.

Bulwang Information Center lobby

Rodel - our guide with Vonaliza and Ors

We're so ready!

Cave tour packages are available HERE. It's usually paid per group with one tour guide. Crystal Cave is one of the caves for beginners.

Entrance

The hiking started here. It was a quick hike, not even an exciting and adventurous trek. But then again, beginners like us find it amazing.

hiking

Our friend Randy (the one wearing in blue in the above photo) find it easy to walk. He had a meningitis when he was young, so he has difficulty in walking. He's so brave to try spelunking and hiking. 

Crystal Cave opening

The cave looked so dark, and we were really wondering how could we see the crystal-like stones. 

Stalactites in Crystal Cave

If only I have a beautiful camera, I could have captured the glistening crystals on both stalactites and stalagmites.

Stalagmites in Crystal Cave

The photo above captures some of the glistening crystals. Our guide offered us to bring a head lamp, but we declined. We thought light would not be a problem, but we should have listened.

Inside Crystal Cave

Chandelier formation in Crystal Cave

Chandelier formation

Coral Formation

Bacon Formation

Teeth Formation

Temple of Zeus Formation

Lover Formation

Breast Formation

Dirty Finger formation

guess what formation this is?!

Crystal Cave is a living cave. Living because it is an active type of caverns. According to Kuya Rodel, our guide, it would take thousand years for a stalagmite or stalactite grows an inch.

Disrupted stalagmites

The photo above shows what damage a tourist coulddo to a growing stalagmite. A cavern is considered dead when it's stalagmites and stalactites are no longer growing. If the formations on stalagmites and stalactites still have water, they would likely to grow. The rainwater coming from the surface would seep to the ground. Along with the calcium carbonate, the mixture drips from ceiling and hardens - forming stalactites, and those that sprout-like formations are stalagmites.

New formation of Stalactites in Crystal Cave

When a Stalactite and a Stalagmite meet, they formed Column. If there is an earthquake, and you happen to be on a cave, just look for the nearest column, and you'll be safe. It's the most strongest solid structure inside the cave.

A column found in Crystal Cave

The local government of Mabinay, Negros Oriental has develop the area for tourist attraction. They set up a walkway for a easy passage.

walkway inside Crystal Cave

Bat inside Crystal Cave

My first spelunking adventure was truly memorable. Crystal Cave may be for beginners, but it was beautiful. If you guys happen to visit Negros Oriental, never miss Mabinay the Cave Town in your itinerary. Thank you so much for visiting my blog today.



Just me,
Phioxee