Tucked deep within the quiet Sitio Puti of Brgy. San Isidro in Santa Cruz lies Bagumbungan Cave, a protected natural wonder whose beauty has earned it a place among the Philippines’ most captivating underground adventures. Locals once knew it simply as San Isidro Cave, but today it is safeguarded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources—its mysterious depths spared from exploitation and preserved for generations to come.
The journey begins the moment you step into its cool, echoing entrance. Bagumbungan is an underground river cave, stretching nearly two kilometers, with portions still unexplored—an irresistible invitation for thrill-seekers. Inside, a world hidden for thousands of years reveals itself: breathtaking stalactite and stalagmite formations, shimmering pools, narrow passages you must squeeze through, and sudden caverns that open into stunning underground waterfalls.
The cave teems with life. Guides point out tiny blue worms glowing faintly in the dark, crabs clinging to rocks, shy eels sliding through the current, and bats fluttering overhead. Shrimps dart through the crystal water, completing the underground ecosystem that thrives beneath San Isidro’s soil.
Long before adventurers discovered its splendor, locals ventured into Bagumbungan in search of edible swiftlet nests—an early clue to the cave’s hidden chambers. Its geological and ecological significance soon caught national attention, prompting its designation as a protected site.
Today, a three-hour trek with local guides transforms visitors into explorers—swimming, climbing, wading, and marveling at the underground river system carved by time. Every turn reveals another wonder, each step a reminder of nature’s quiet artistry.
Bagumbungan Cave is more than an attraction—it is an experience, an unforgettable descent into Marinduque’s ancient heart, where mystery and beauty flow together in the darkness beneath the earth.
SPECIAL THANKS
Credit to the Original Photographer
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