Balincaguin Conservancy Grotto

The cave is located in barrio Tagudin, Mabini town, Pangasinan province, Republic of the Philippines. Traveling from the town center of Alaminos follow the one road that leads to Mabini town for about fifteen minutes. As soon as you reach the town cemetery, that is located on the top of a hill overlooking the town, turn left. Travel down this rough gravel road 1.6 kilometers and then turn left on an even lesser, rough one lane road for another 1.4 kilometers. The cave’s opening is at N16 deg 03.261   E119 deg 57.464.

In the past the actual entrance zone was once a bit of a task to enter, but now the area before it has been graded and commercialized, although very few people enter the cave. The area is gated and a small fee is exacted by the landowner’s assigned representative in order to enter. There is a bathroom and even picnic tables for rent. The entrance now has a walkway, but the improvements end before the twilight zone.

To properly enjoy this wonderful, natural structure it would be advisable to carry a strong flashlight so the reaches of the chambers within the twilight and dark zones can be enjoyed. Why, you might even find a few alcoves leading you no where in particular if you look carefully. Stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstones and a few crystal formations are featured throughout.

This somewhat user friendly structure is an active cave with allogenic drainage contributing to good air exchange. Its composition is mainly limestone, otherwise known as karst, whose portents suggest a walk, crawl and swim type effort. My wife, a few good friends and I were credited with being the first to finalize the cave probably because we had submersible flashlights and the will to do so. This was 1983.

Just into the dark zone on the left hand side there is a descending shaft is easily negotiable except for the slippery guano deposits. The cave floor of this chamber is a step type flowstone with color characteristics of laterite, which seems to terminate in as aquifer housing a benthic zone not yet explored. This requires cave diving equipment and is accessible only during the dry season for reasons of safety.

During December of 1999 there was a 6.8 intensity earthquake altering certain aspects of the main cave’s geological structure. On a return visit during March of 2001 it became apparent that several large cathedral like chambers with skylights had evolved. Crawl areas demand patients and coordination between team members. Several short cenotes have vertical walls requiring swimming techniques. Unfortunately, other changes include the harvesting of stalactites and stalagmite for resale as souvenirs.

The hydrology of the cave has been altered. Less water than before lows at any given time of year. This is probably due to deforestation, which continues unabated. Life within the cave as noted contains insect eating bats, cave crickets, blind fish, blind eels, toads, shrimp, beetles, false scorpions and even a few snakes. The snakes will not harm you if you do not threaten or hurt them. The upper reaches of the recently formed chambers or cathedrals with skylights might contain swallows nesting, but at present it is only a supposition. Be aware that unless you know this cave well it might be wise to travel during the dry season watching for signs of an off season shower. Debris and current marking have been noted fifteen or more above the cave floor’s low point.

Midway through the cave structure there is an opening adjacent to a field containing a farmer’s crops. This is a good place to rest and take note of what has transpired before continuing. You will now be at the Binmatya Entrance, N16 deg 03.147   E119 deg 57.940.

Entering and continuing there will be a nice, little waterfall to enjoy. At about an equal distance as the first leg of your subterranean journey you emerge in a farming delta within barrio Villacorta. Now, the cave did continue if you really look hard for the opening. A medium size man can enter the crawl space without a backpack for another 100 meters or so, unless the earthquake have precluded this. A boulder chokes seals off the passage stopping further travel. A safe and enjoyable pace will take you between three and four hour one way.

Returning inside the cave from barrio Villacorta to the Binmatya Entrance will be easier because technically you will be going down hill a bit. Once you reach the opening at Binmatya you can take an above ground short cut back to your starting point enjoying local star apple, mango, papaya trees and banana plants. Since you entered traveling in an Easterly direction the reciprocal reading would be Westerly. The trail you entered several of the skylights you saw previously when within the bowels of Mother Earth. There are different spurs on the trail so know your route before you proceed, lest to end up wandering the country wondering, “Now where did I park our vehicle”? Most of the local farmers know this trail.