THE ICONIC CENOTE IN BOHOL : CABAGNOW CAVEPOOL

Hello Hivers We're back again to share another adventure of Anda Bohol's iconic cenote - the Cabagnow Cavepool. It was one of the most unique destinations we've visited.

We first heard about the location when it was featured on a popular Philippine documentary show. It blew my mind and made me think, "A pool inside a cave in Bohol?" That would be interesting! So, when we finally decided to participate in the Bohol International Marathon, we decided to take a side trip and visit this one of a kind destination a day before the event.

_{The Cavepool}

The Cabagnow Cavepool is a cenote, a natural pit formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock due some geological activities that exposes groundwater beneath according to the documentary we've watched. So the water in Cabagnow Cave Pool is a mix of fresh and saltwater. How amazing it was!

_{The View from the Inside of the Cavepool}

According to locals, the Cave Pool 25 feet deep, which is sufficient for enjoying and swimming the clear water. When you get close to it, it appears to be just a normal hole, but it conceals an enchanting cave with a natural pool into which tourists can jump into. Jumping off the cliff, which has an estimated height of 18 feet, is enough to make your knees shake with fear. Now, would you dare to take the plunge?

_{Taking the Plunge}

THE JOURNEY TO THE CAVEPOOL

The journey to Cabagnow Cave Pool is not easy. If you're commuting, you'll have to switch from one mode of public transportation to another, the last of which will be a habal-habal which take you through rough roads. In our case, however, we rented a car to avoid the hassle of commuting because we are unfamiliar with the area.

We arrived at the Cabagnow Cave Pool jump off point, where our rented car was parked. The road is a little bumpy, but it's manageable. There is a huge parking space available in area and parking fee is only 20 php ($0.4). We were told by the driver that we would walk towards a path and then trek for about 5 minutes to take to the Cave Pool. Trekking on a path with lush greenery on the side and only few coconut trees was hot because we arrived there on the mid afternoon after exploring two places.

_{Parking Area}

_{On the Trail}

OUR CABAGNOW CAVEPOOL EXPERIENCE

We arrived at the enticing and stunning and natural beauty of the Cave pool in no time. You shouldn't expect anything fancy from there. Nature, on the other hand, has her own way of aweing us with her wonders. When we inched closer to the area, we thought that it's just another piece of land, but once we entered, we saw the opening of the cave and nothing but water inside. There is plenty of shade and seating near the cave entrance. Even if you're not going to swim or jump, the view from the top is worth seeing. I remembered the entrance fee from that time was only 50 php ($1).

_{Arriving on the Cavepool}

The area was already crowded as soon as we arrived so I suggest to visit there on an early morning or late afternoon to enjoy the place with few crowds. Just a few minutes before we arrived, the crowd appeared to have begun enjoying the Cave Pool. They seemed to have had a great time cliff jumping, which appeared to be a lot of fun and very exciting. I quickly changed into my swimming attire and prepared to jump off. Before my turn, a Korean tourist trembling on her knees and filming herself like a vlogger, screaming in a crying tone, "OH MY GOD! I'm so scared! This is the first time I'm gonna do it. Please help me God," which I found very amusing. I could see how terrified she was. But she was brave enough to take the plunge. It was soon my turn, and my knees were trembling. I was in fear, but I couldn't run away from it, so I took a deep breath and began leaping off the cliff, plunging into the bluish cold water. My first jump may be a little frightening, but once you do it, you can't help but want to do more.

_{Jumping off the Cliff}

What I also like about this location is that it provides alternatives to cliff jumping so that you can enjoy the cavepool without risking your life. They've built an iron ladder to allow visitors to descend and cool off in the enticing cave pool. There's also a ring buoy or a floater, which is highly useful, particularly if you don't know how to swim. There are also lifeguards available.

_{The Iron Ladder and Ring Floaters}

We stayed in the fresh water of the pool and swam around on a ring floater. The water is truly cool enough just to keep you cool in the heat. As we drifted by, we noticed how the sun's rays reflected off the water, creating a rare beauty spectacle. We couldn't also help but be impressed by the rock formation's beauty.

_{Swimming Around the Cavepool}

We decided to depart for our next destination after thoroughly enjoying the natural beauty of Cabagnow Cave Pool. So, if you're planning a trip to Bohol, take into consideration in visiting this idyllic destination.