Overview

The Philippines' biggest karst formations and one of the largest in Asia, the 2,968-hectare cave system is composed of 12 caves with wide underground spaces, unique rock formations, and subterranean watercourse. The surface area of Calbiga Caves has a "mid-mountain" forest which is the habitat of some threatened wild species like bats, cave crickets, eyeless shell fishes.

It was first scientifically explored in 1987 by an eight-man team of Italian speleologists who believed there are still several hundreds of kilometers of galleries waiting to be explored. The karst has an estimated total surface area of 900 sq. km. The main cave, Langun, has a chamber that could easily fit in three football fields. The two other big caves are Gobingob and Bitong Mahangin.

Location

Calbiga, Samar, 52 kms. from Tacloban City; the cave is 6 kilometers away from the townproper, accessible by land transport and by foot.

Accommodations

• Eduardo's Tourist Hotel

Location: Pajarito Street, Calbayog City, 6710, Samar‎

• Ciriaco Hotel

Location: Pan-Philippine Highway Calbayog City‎

• Jasmin Beach Resort

Location: Barangay Amambucale, Marabut, Samar

• Almira Garden Hotel

Location: Gelera Street, Calbayog City

• GV Hotels Catarman, Northern Samar

Location: Marcos St., Brgy. Narra

• GV Hotels Borongan, Eastern Samar

Location: National Highway cor. Circumferential Road, Borongan, Eastern Samar,  Philippines

Accessibility

The favored route to this part of the island is through the 2.16 kilometer long San Juanico Bridge from Leyte Island following a plane trip via Manila-Tacloban. From the south or west, Calbayog City and its capital town of Catbalogan are accessible both by plane and sea, with the Pan Philippine Highway connecting the coastal towns.