Visiting Bohol?
Decided to skip the massive crowds of Panglao and luxuriate in the peace and silence of Anda?
You can’t miss Cabagnow Cave Pool.
The cave pool is beautiful, crystal-clear water fluctuating between emerald green and deep navy blue, depending on the season.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, jumping from the overhanging cliff into the deep water below will give you the biggest thrill in the otherwise quiet lifestyle of Anda.
Excited to give it a visit?
Let’s go!
3 Fun Facts About Cabagnow Cave Pool
Before diving into the luscious cool waters of Cabagnow Cave Pool, let’s learn a thing or two about it.
Here are 3 fun facts to make your time there much more interesting:
#1: Cabagnow Cave Pool Isn’t That Different from Mexico’s Cenotes
Anda is mostly made of limestone.
This means water from mountain streams can seep into the porous rocks, sliding into caves.
The water then makes its way to the ocean, which surrounds most of Anda.
At times, the cave pool is a mixture of spring and salt water.
This makes it similar to Mexico’s Cenotes, which is filled with fresh water filtering into caves and sinkholes on its way to the ocean.
If Mexico is too far away from you…why not visit Anda for a mini Cenotes experience? 😅
#2: Cabagnow’s Water Changes Color Depending on Conditions
I visited Cabagnow Cave Pool in June.
It was a time of continuous rain (I remember getting soaked almost every day as I made it around town on a motorcycle). 🌧🌧🌧
I visited in the morning when the tide was in, furious and full as it is during Anda’s rainy season.
At that time, Cabagnow was a deep blue-black color.
But it’s not always that way.
Typically, seawater appears darker than fresh water because of the way it interacts with light.
So during the high tides, when Cabagnow has a larger amount of the sea in it, it appears a deep blue.
The picture above was how it was when I visited.
Just look at how deep that color is!
On the other hand, when the weather is sunnier and the tide is low…
…they say the water turns a bright emerald green.
Unfortunately, I only visited the cave pool once, so I didn’t get to see this sparkling crystal color.
Maybe next time, though!
(Anda is a MUST-VISIT place, and I plan to go there again soon.)
#3: Cabagnow Is the Deepest and Biggest Cave Pool in the Area
One thing I loved about Anda was that there seemed to be a cave pool at every turn.
Some were known only to locals, kids skipping school to play in the cold spring waters.
Others, like Cabagnow, had a couple of tourists (a tattooed yellow-haired lady with 2 kids, a dark-eyed couple from an Arab country) swimming about.
But here’s the thing: Cabagnow is the deepest and biggest of all the cave pools in the area.
I know you can’t see it from my photos, but the pool extends further under the rocky overhang, snaking its way into other mini caves.
If you’re in for a long swim or a dive and want to avoid cave pools that are only a scoop of indented earth and rock…
…go for Cabagnow.
Cabagnow Cave Pool: What To Do There
Anda is a quiet place, lush green, beautiful ocean scenery, the sound of the wind in the trees.
At night, you can hear crickets and frogs in the thick blanket of velvety dark.
Altogether, it’s a laid-back and peaceful place.
So if you’re looking for adventure, head to Cabagnow for a swim or a dive.
Here are three things you can do there:
#1: Go Diving
Cabagnow Cave Pool is deep. During the rainy season, its deeper end reaches around 25 feet.
Meaning?
Well, it makes a great spot for diving.
You can step onto one of the overhanging rocks, take a deep breath, and plunge right in.
Just like the guy above. (See how he feels like flying?)
#2: Enjoy a Cold Swim
Like I mentioned, the water from Cabagnow Cave Pool is brackish.
Which means it’s a mixture of cold spring water and salty seawater.
If you go during the summer when the heat is raw and sweltering, a dip in the refreshingly cool water of the pool is something to look forward to.
Don’t worry.
You don’t have to dive into the cave pool to enjoy its delicious waters.
There’s a steel ladder going all the way down, perfect for the faint of heart.
Disclaimer: I used this ladder (haha!) instead of jumping into the pool.
I have a bad experience with cliff diving (perforated ear drum), so I opted for the slippery rungs of the ladder…understandable, right? 😅
Be careful, though!
A thin layer of slime has grown onto the steel and paint, and you can slip and lose your balance if you go too fast.
#3: Have a Picnic
Cabagnow Cave Pool rests peacefully in a dense forest of undergrowth.
Trees, plants, rocks, the best nature has to offer.
There’s ample shade and space to unroll a blanket, unpack a picnic basket, and munch on some egg salad sandwiches and tarty lemonade.
Even if you’re not into swimming and diving, you can relax under the shade of trees, breathe in the fresh air, and simply enjoy life’s slow, simple pleasures!
How to Get to Cabagnow Cave Pool
Cabagnow Cave Pool is right in the heart of Anda, not many kilometers from town.
Here’s its exact location on Google Maps:
If you’re already in Anda, you can drive your motorcycle (or whatever vehicle you’ve rented) and follow Google OR the roadsigns (there are a couple of these – very rustic) to the entrance area.
You can’t see the cave pool directly from the road, but you’ll notice signs and a collection table near a store and a shack for roasting pigs.
The entrance fee is PHP20 per head, and you have to leave your vehicle in the area.
(Note: Visitors need to pay an environmental fee to go around Anda. If you haven’t yet paid yours, you’ll have to pay it at the entrance to the cave pool.)
From there, you’ll need to walk another 5-10 minutes to the cave pool.
Don’t worry, it’s not a hike.
It’s a quick walk over a cemented road with nothing but a gentle slope.
If you have a hat, cap, or umbrella in the car or motorcycle, make sure to bring it along!
The walk is shadeless, and if you go in hotter weather, you can get a sunburn even before you start swimming. 😎
Note: The cave pool is open to the public from 6am to 5pm.
What if you haven’t rented a motorcycle or car?
You can take a tricycle or motorcycle taxi in town and ask the driver to take you to Cabagnow Cave Pool. Then, you can tell them to wait an hour or two (for a tip) to take you back to town.
What if you’re coming from Tagbilaran?
Anda is about 100 kilometers from Tagbilaran.
You can either take a bus at Dao Terminal or rent a motorcycle and drive to Anda.
My recommendation is to rent a motorcycle.
This only costs around PHP400 per day, and the scenery on the way to Anda is worth it!
Cabagnow Cave Pool: Not Your Everyday Kind of Stop!
Let me guess.
You’re reading this blog post because you’re not the touristic type.
You don’t want to be in Panglao, chasing dolphins to the death alongside 50 other boats.
Instead, you like the path less taken.
You love experiencing what the locals do, in a quiet, peaceful place where nature still remains largely untouched.
Well, if this is you, you’ll love the Cabagnow Cave Pool experience.
Most of the people there are locals (expect for the few off-the-beaten-path travellers like you).
The crisp, cool bite of the water will melt the heat and fatigue of the journey right off your bones.
You can visit a number of times to see the waters change color.
Or plunge from a rocky outcropping, trying to match the splashes of the local boys who visit the pool almost daily.
Or sit in the shade and listen to the different songs of the hidden birds.
If you’re in for a not-so-common experience, Cabagnow Cave Pool is 100% for you.
Visiting Bohol soon? Check out my FULL Bohol travel guide here!