Bucas Grande: Lagoon, Lake, and Caves

Our sole purpose of going to Bucas Grande Island was to see Sohoton Cove and its neighboring lake and caves.

The first stop of our tour was Sohoton Cove. It was almost noon on a Saturday when we got to the Sohoton Cove Visitor's Center to register and pay some fees:

There were already about half a dozen groups and we had to wait our turn for the tour. Pumpboats have to wait at the Visitor's Center and guests have to transfer to a smaller pumpboat for the tour. Only small pumpboats can get into the cove because the entrance to it is through a low–ceilinged cave. Sohot is a Visayan word meaning to pass through a small opening, thus Sohoton Cove.

It is a short walk to get inside dark Magkukuob Cave (not to worry, your guide is a Boy Scout, he'll have a flashlight with him), then a bit of climbing to get to the exit. It is also known as Diving Cave because you have to jump off a platform to exit. You can actually trace your way back to the entrance but it's easier to just jump off than navigate your way down the slippery cave.

After visiting these two caves, we were taken back to the Visitor's Center to transfer to a paddleboat for the Jellyfish Sanctuary. Only one guest per paddleboat and paddler/guide. I asked for an extra paddle from my guide and started paddling. My paddling was taking us anywhere but the jellyfish lagoon. I eventually just hummed a tune and pretended to paddle.



The jellyfish are stingless. One can touch them but not take them out of the water for more than a minute or they die. The jellyfish appear from March to July and are abundant around April. It is best to go to the sanctuary when the sun isn't too high up—the jellyfish hide when it's hot, at least that's what my guide said. Swimming is strictly prohibited at the sanctuary.

After Sohoton Cove and the Jellyfish Sanctuary, we proceeded to Tiktikan Lake, Bolitas Cave, Crystal Cave, and a newly explored cave, Tundan Cave (thanks Glen for the info). All three caves are in the same area.

An entrance fee of Php20 is collected at Tiktikan Lake. To go to the lake, we had to follow a path that ascends then descends. Cottages for overnight stay and open cottages for picnics dot the area around the lake. It was too quiet at the lake, I don't think I'd want to stay the night there. :-)



After the lake, we boarded our boat and were taken to another area where Bolitas, Crystal, and Tundan Caves are. To explore the caves a guide and flashlights are required. No guide fees but tips are always welcome. Flashlights can be rented for Php20.

The first cave we went into was Tundan Cave. It took us almost an hour in and out of it. There were portions where we had to crawl, tuck our stomachs in, and wriggle our way through. After this exploration we were drenched in sweat and covered in mud.


Crystal Cave was easy to explore. No wriggling and shrinking yourself required. After the two caves, where we saw shiny, sparkly formations inside, we didn't bother going into Bolitas Cave (the entrance to Bolitas is a narrow passage by the mouth of Crystal Cave). It was already dusk when we emerged from Crystal Cave. We were grimy, muddy, stinky, and exhausted.

For Php3000 we were picked up from Socorro, taken on a six-hour tour of caves and lakes, and, the next day, taken to the mainland (Brgy. Hayanggabon, Claver, Surigao del Norte) to catch a van (1.5 hours, Php120) going to Surigao City.

Boat transfers/tour was arranged thru:
Balanghai Kanlunes / Fredie Rosillo
0935 418 3244 / 0946 696 3120