At a glance
| Cantabon Cave | Sambulawan Underground River | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Siquijor municipality | Hills of Lazi |
| Length | about 800 m, three main chambers | about 200 m, three chambers |
| Cost | ₱20 entrance + ₱500 guide (up to 3 people) | ₱250, including life jacket, headlamp and mandatory guide |
| Duration | 2 to 3 hours with the hike in | 1 to 2 hours guided |
| Style | Moderately challenging cave walk, underground river | Wading, ladders and short swims in waist- to chest-deep water |
Cantabon Cave
A limestone cave of roughly 800 metres, known for stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and a year-round underground river through three main chambers, some with ceilings up to 20 metres high. The most striking spot is the "Cathedral Chamber", where guides sometimes switch off the lights for a moment of total darkness. The standard municipal rate is ₱20 plus ₱500 for a guide, good for up to 3 people. Booking through a private tour operator as part of a day trip usually costs more because it bundles transport and other stops.
Wear water shoes or old sneakers with good grip and quick-dry clothing, bring a headlamp or flashlight and a dry change of clothes, and leave jewellery behind because it catches on the rocks. It is a fun, moderately challenging adventure, not a stroll.
Sambulawan Underground River
Hidden in the hills of Lazi, discovered and mapped by local residents and officially opened to visitors in 2018. A hidden freshwater river runs about 200 metres through three chambers of limestone formations, stalactites, stalagmites and resident bat colonies. The ₱250 entrance includes a life jacket, a headlamp and a mandatory local guide, often one of the people who first explored the cave.
The guided tour mixes wading and walking with short ladder climbs and a few swims through waist- to chest-deep water, so come ready to get wet. Life jackets mean no swimming skills are required, but the narrow, dark passages suit older children and anyone comfortable in enclosed spaces. A tip of ₱100 to ₱300 per group for your guide is customary.
Which one should you pick?
Want a longer, classic cave with big chambers and a dramatic "Cathedral" moment: Cantabon. Want a shorter, wetter adventure with swims, ladders and everything provided: Sambulawan. Both fit in a half day, and both combine well with waterfalls such as Lagaan in Lazi. We can organise it with transport and a guide: see our private island tours.
Fees and durations are those shown on each place page, October 2026. Confirm on site.
Keep planning: our full guides to things to do in Siquijor and where to stay in Siquijor, with every address on the island sorted by area.