Aran Cave (formerly Tukang Cave): An Adventure-Packed Spelunking Destination

Aran Cave, formerly known as Tukang Cave, is an adventure-packed spelunking destination in Tuba, Benguet. The length of the cave is found within Camp 3 and Twin Peaks or may even extend beyond to neighboring barangays as the cave is not yet fully explored.

---

Contents

---

Location

• Camp 3, Tuba, Benguet, Philippines.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

How to get to Aran Cave

• Get to Baguio City:
  • From outside Cordillera [lowlands]: Commute going to Baguio City thru a bus, though vans and jeepneys are also available among nearby municipalities. Fare depends on your origin. There are a lot of buses going up to Baguio City such a Victory Liner, Partas, Genesis, Joybus, minibuses from Region 1, etc. If commuting and the route is thru Kennon Road, tell the driver/conductor to drop you in the junction going to Aran Cave in Camp 3.
  • Private vehicles: Directions can be easily accessed thru web mapping services and apps such as Google Map, Waze, etc.
• From Baguio City, the following are your options:
  • Jeepney. Camp 3-bound PUJ (Php35.00): terminal in front of the Shopper’s Lane (behind Magsaysay Jollibee). Regular sked starts at 8:00AM but some may park as early as 6:00AM. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on the traffic situation.
  • UV Express. UV Express traversing Kennon Road, usually bound to Pangasinan (Php65.00 or more): terminal at the gas station near SSS Building or along Sandico St. near the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Always call the local government unit before embarking because the road bound to the site is prone to closure due to slides.
  • Private vehicle. Drive along the Kennon Road and follow the GPS. The junction to the right side of the road in Camp 3 is easily visible and is searchable thru web mapping services and apps such as Google Map, Waze, etc.

Any fees, scheduled trips, routes, or facilities mentioned here are subject to change according to existing and current government, private, or association rules.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

Registration/Drop-off Point

• Upon alighting from the van/bus/jeep, follow the small road towards the river. If you have your own car, follow the road going down and park near the registration area.
• Registration Booth. In here, you need to register and pay the registration fee.
• From the registration booth, you will need to take a walk for about 10-15 minutes to the entrance of the cave.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

Contact Person/Group

• Mobile: +63 948 828 1680
• Facebook Page
• The Tour Guides when I went there were Dioni (+63 948 828 1680) and Hagard (+63 907 850 1331). There are a lot of guides for the cave and they work by schedule.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

Fees/Rental/Facilities

• Registration: As of writing, the fee amounts to Php325.00/person or Php625.00 for a group of three. This covers entrance fee (Php75.00), environmental fee (Php25.00), hard hat (Php50.00), tour guide fee (Php150.00), and maintenance fee (Php25.00). However, if you are alone and there are no other groups where you can merge with, you have to pay full the Php625.00 group fee; if you are only a couple, add Php150.00 to complete the full package. These payment schedule is tailored only until the second waterfall. If you opt to continue until the third waterfall, you need to add Php150.00/head. Take note that only second timers are allowed to go to the third waterfall.
• Slippers: Php35.00 (optional)
• Knee & elbow pads rental: None.
• Shower facility: Located at the registration area. There are 2 showers and a bath for each gender.
• Parking Space: There is a parking space in front of the registration booth.

Any fees, scheduled trips, routes, or facilities mentioned here are subject to change according to existing and current government, private, or association rules.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

Cave Characteristics

• Length: around 300 meters until the second falls. That will approximately double until the third falls.
• Spelunking duration: 2-4 hours.
• Mineral deposit formations: Not all throughout the cave.
• Underground river: Yes.There are parts that you need to wade through pools, cross a rush of water, and you can hear the rushing of water underneath the boulders.
• Bat population: Few.
• Multichamber: Yes.
• Human artefacts: None discovered yet.
• Cave floor fill (aside from stone formations): It is commonly stone; if not, its water. Other than that, there are soil, mud, and pebbles.
• DENR Cave Classification: Class II (DENR Memorandom Circular No. 2016-05). Caves with areas or portions which have hazardous conditions and contain sensitive geological, archeological, cultural, historical, and biological values or high quality ecosystem. It may be necessary to close sections of these caves seasonally or permanently. It is open to experienced cavers or guided educational tours/visits.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

Aran: The Adventure-Packed Cave

Aran Cave, formerly known as Tukang Cave, is a new spelunking destination situated in Tuba, Benguet. The length of the cave is found within Camp 3 and Twin Peaks or may even extend beyond to neighboring barangays as the cave is not yet fully explored.

As claimed by the locals, the name of the cave is coined from “aran”, an Ibaloi term for “giant.” Accordingly, the cave had been a dwelling place of a giant. The mystery behind this story and of how a giant can live inside a cave, where a normal human needs to crawl through crevices to get in, is also a part of the adventure your guide will speak of. On the other hand, its former name, Tukang Cave, is derived from the sitio where the cave is located.

Aran cave is a multi-chambered cave and subterranean river system. The adventure is generally punctuated by the succession of waterfalls. Accordingly, the full length of the Aran Cave had not been fully explored yet, a feat that the local guides are trying to do without inviting outsider explorers. As of 2018, first time tourists can only go as far as to the second falls, measuring around 300 meters. This decision is actually reached in order to safeguard the well-being of the spelunkers. However, you can SCHEDULE for a spelunking extending until the third falls ONLY if you have been to the cave before and the guide deemed that you are fit for the endeavor. As stated by the local guide, the route to the third falls is rigorously treacherous.

Of all caves I have been to, Aran Cave offers one of the most challenging spelunking journeys. Though not as fully dotted with stone formations as Capisaan Cave, the waterfalls, swimming pools, and thrill of crawl-rappel-swim-squeeze through-slide-climb combination are its greatest allure as a spelunking magnet. Reaching each waterfalls requires crawling through crevices—some requires you to slide [not just crawl] in tight passageways, wade along icy still or rapid waters, and rappel along stone walls. You will need every ounce of agility and energy you have. The guides, however, are very helpful throughout the adventure.

The hard journey is often easily forgotten because of the marvelous sights inside the cave. Further, swimming is allowed along swimming pools. Moreover, like in a typical cave with subterranean river, Aran also offers a myriad of stalagmites and stalactites, crystal clear water, swimming pools, waterfalls, bats, and dank and cold caverns. Interestingly, a chamber near the entrance is dotted with traces of gold and silver.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

Gallery

When I first went to Aran Cave in 2016, I had to pass through the beautiful metal foot bridge. Unfortunately, the bridge had been destroyed during the Typhoon Ondoy onslaught. Until this will be repaired, spelunkers would cross the river on foot. This is the reason why the cave is closed during heavy downpour as you cannot cross the river when it is swollen, aside from the fact that the water level inside the cave will also be dangerous.

• 

• 

• 

• 

After crossing the river, you will be greeted with a paved pathway which is connected to the end of the damaged foot bridge. The pathway will end in marker posts near a waiting shed .

A few meters uphill walk will bring you to a metal stair which marks the entrance of the cave. The entrance is a tight squeeze-and-crawl test. This alone should prompt would-be spelunkers to wear long pants and long sleeved uppers. Elbow and knee pads are also highly suggested to be worn if you have them.

The ceiling of the chamber at the entrance of the cave has some glittery patches. The locals commonly refer to it as “takki ti balitok” or even cave molds.

The video below shows one of the passageways that you need to squeeze through. A certain level of agility is needed in exploring this cave. Take note of the instructions of the guide like where to step or grab some leverage.

Rappelling and crawling are two of some of the basics inside the cave. Rappelling is easy since it only involves a few meters and your guide will be with you all the time. Do not engage without the instructions and demo of the guide.

Inside, the water is crystal clear. There is also a part wherein you can drink water dripping from the roof of the cavern.

Is inside teeming with colors? Yup, especially if you bring another source of light aside from that provided by the guide.

A lot times, you will be crossing bodies of water. There are lifeline ropes in areas where it is quite deep, thus the fear of getting drowned is quite nil.

My second time of scaling the chambers of this cave proved to be challenging in terms of taking pictures as the moisture is quite heavy, added to the continuous dripping in areas where stone formations are abundant. I did not risk damaging my camera and lens in these areas. Fortunately, it is evident that there were no major changes in the subterranean landscape of the cave since 2016. Thus, the following images are taken two years ago.

You need to pass through this body of water. It looks scary to first timers, but once you are at it, you’ll get to enjoy the experience. Again, do not engage without the instructions and demonstration of your guide.

Here, you can take a dip or swim. The water is crystal clear. You will also pass through this pool to get to the next chamber.

This painted date, May 05, 1972, could be the day a cave explorer reached this point.

And here we are at the first waterfall. You need to be far from the raging water to have a good shot. The moisture is quite heavy in this area so I had to risk only one fast shot two years ago. I never even tried this time [I love my camera, hehe].

Though not as filled with rock formations as other caves (e.g. Capisaan Cave in Nueva Vizcaya, Bengaongao Cave in Tublay, etc.), there are still amazing formations and colors. Notice the inclined block of stone. According to the guide, that had been a part of the ceiling of the chamber. It was knocked to the ground during the 1990s earthquake.

Before, I was easily confused between stalactite and stalagmite. So, here’s what Encyclopedia Britannica has to say: “A stalactite hangs like an icicle from the ceiling or sides of a cavern” (“Stalactite and Stalagmite”, 2016).

Stalactite has a “c” in it, as in “c” for “ceiling,” and stalagmite has a “g” in it, as in “g” for “ground” (Fuller, 2008). It takes decades and decades for stalactites and stalagmites to form. Don’t disturb its growth by not touching it.

As mentioned earlier, the adventure usually punctuates in the second waterfall. Before reaching that part, you need to scale through solid rock wall of the the first waterfall. As seen in the video below, a tourist is being guided after a demonstration was made. Footholds are also instructed if you are not sure where to secure your feet.

I consider the second waterfall as the best area of the journey because of the massive intricate rock formations as well as the waterfall cascading to a natural pool.

On your way out, you’ll still get to see rock formations such as these. There is a part of the way, the ‘womb’ chamber when going out of the cave where the guide will ask you to stop and have a breath. While resting, they’ll give historical as well as mythical accounts related to the cave.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

Reminders

• Always practice leave-no-trace principle. I have to highlight to please not leave anything inside, do not vandalize, and do not take any physical memento from the cave. Always treat nature with respect.
• The activity is arduous, thus bring enough water to quench your thirst.
• It is highly advisable to check if the road is closed or if the cave is temporarily closed.
• Wear a comfortable non-slip rubber foot wear.
• Get a complete extra set of clothes to change to after you get out of the cave.
• Since there is a subterranean river inside, bring zip bags for your gadgets. Also, consider re-scheduling your activity if there had been a continuous heavy rain in the area.

BACK TO CONTENTS

---

References

DENR Memorandom Circular No. 2016-05. Additional list of classified caves [pdf file]. Retrieved on 2019 January 20 from https://server2.denr.gov.ph/uploads/rmdd/dmc-2016-05.pdf

Stalactite and Stalagmite. (2016). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 2019 January from https://www.britannica.com/science/stalactite

Fuller, J. (2008, April 14). What’s the difference between stalactites and stalagmites? Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/stalactite-stalagmite.htm

BACK TO CONTENTS

Disclaimer: As much as we want to give the most accurate information for the readers, change will always occur (e.g., contact number, transportation, fees, etc.). With this, please do comment below any updates as well as corrections on the content, anything amiss, or any information that you think is crucial to the readers. Iyaman!