This cave is not hot as you think. Because it's naturally ventilated and you can feel the wind inside. I would recommend watching my vlog first before going there. You can search on Youtube using this keyword "hoyop hoyopan cave"
by Juan Marko.
This cave is not hot as you think. Because it's naturally ventilated and you can feel the wind inside. I would recommend watching my vlog first before going there. You can search on Youtube using this keyword "hoyop hoyopan cave"
by Juan Marko.
We paid P300 for all of us 5 (1 child). It came with an amazong tour of the cave!
Fun facts we learned:
1. "Hoyop" is a Bicolano word that means "ihip" in Filipino and "blow of the wind" in English.
2. Filipinos hid here during the Japanese occupation.
3. Entrance was not easy to enter to compared today. They entered through hanging into vines.
4. During the Martial Law curfew, this is where Filipinos nearby would hold their dances. Yes, cave has a dance floor!
5. Some areas of the cave where used to bury people before when they lived here.
6. Rocks were naturally formed into shapes of snakes, crocodiles, a hand, a baby elephant.
I think we were really amazed because we didnt know such a cabe exists as a tourist spot haha.
We say it is a must see when you go to Albay! (It's near Legazpi so you can visit when you stay in the city.)
My grandparents have a house 1km away from this place, only yesterday (June 26, 2017) did I learned that they lived near an amazing historical site!
The cave that's up in the mountains used to be submerged underwater, it even had Corals in it!
They were then used by cavemen as a burial ground. Pieces of pottery and bones can still be found attached to the stalactites.
In Worldwar 2, it became the safe haven for the forces fighting Japanese occupation, the "Hukbalahap" freedom fighters.
Fastforward today, it's the evacuation center of the locals when there are strong typhoons because most of the villagers just lives in nipa huts. (Albay, having a minimum of 5 deadly typhoons every year, makes this practical).
On good days, it becomes a venue for parties, weddings, photoshoots and even movies. It's pretty bad for the bats and birds living there, though. I hope the local government bans events with loud activities soon.
If you're visiting Albay or are living in Albay, you should not miss the opportunity of going here and experiencing the history of this amazing cave!
We incorporated visiting this cave with the Quitinday Hills experience. Compared to many other caves I've seen eg: Jenolan Caves, Sydney and Thien Cung Cave Halong Bay, this particular cave is not all that interesting in my opinion.
A guide comes well recommended. Tells many a good story and helps you understand the history. Little-average fitness levels required (the walk up the hill from the car park area is as much out of breath as you will become).
Avoid the stall for overpriced souvenirs at the caves exit! Ensure you wear shoes with good grip as the rocks surface can become very slippery.
Allocate 45-60 minutes for this 'take it or leave it' attraction.
It is a very interesting cave with different formations. It is better to come prepared with your own flashlights, preferably head lamps. Need to have proper footwear with good traction. The guide has a good sense of humor and took really nice pictures. A guide is a must !!!
Our guide made all the difference. The cave was quite simple and not that great if you compare it to bigger caves all over the Philippines but there were plenty of cool facts from the tour guide that was insightful and made the tour quite fun. You have to use your imagination to see some of the formations inside. It seems like the cave wasn't maintained that well but it used to be or still is a popular filming location. FPJ used to film his action movies here and inside the cave is where people used to have dance parties (there are actual dancefloors and steps) and hide during the time of Marcos.