Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park Travel Guide

On the last leg of our Eastern Visayas road trip and backpacking adventure, Krystinn and I left Eastern Samar early for another cave expedition, this time in the province of Samar. I’ve heard so much about the province being a haven for spelunking because of its extensive cave systems, so if there’s one great way to spend my time there, it’s definitely by exploring a cave. Among the most famous caves in the province and in the region is Sohoton Cave, one that can conveniently be explored in a day. Since I was flying back to Manila later that afternoon, we decided to visit it. If you’re curious about what it has to offer and are planning a trip soon, here’s a Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park travel guide to help you make the most of your visit.

About Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park

Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge Park is a protected-eco tourism site in Basey Samar. It covers about 840 hectares within Samar Island Natural Park. Shaped by rivers and limestone over thousands of years, the area is known for its dense forests, towering cliffs, cave systems, and a massive natural limestone bridge arching over the Kadak-an River. Inside the park are caves like Panhulugan Cave, believed to have been used from the Stone Age to the colonial period as shelter, burial ground, and wartime hideout, as well as Sohoton Cave, which opens into a clear natural pool illuminated by sunlight from above, one of the park’s most memorable features.

The area began gaining attention as a tourist destination in the late 1990s to early 2000s, when the local government of Basey, together with surrounding communities, formally developed it as a community-managed eco-tourism site. Since then, all visits have followed a guided tour system, with local boatmen and trained guides leading guests through the river, caves, and cliffs. This approach was established to protect the fragile limestone formations, ensure visitor safety, and provide sustainable livelihoods for residents. Today, Sohoton, under the care and management of Sohoton Service Cooperative, remains deliberately low-impact and regulated, offering an experience that balances conservation, history, and quiet immersion in nature rather than mass tourism.

Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park Fees

The Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park Adventure

Our trip began shortly after noon with registration and a briefing. The guide explained the series of experiences included in our package.

We then hopped on a scenic 15-minute boat ride to the cave, where locals welcomed us with cheerful songs. At the cave, our guide introduced us to a local assistant who would help navigate inside. With helmets securely on, we carefully made our way to the cave’s entrance, ready for the adventure ahead.

The tour around the well-maintained cave reminded me of the Puerto Princesa Underground River adventure except we went by foot. However, they have installed lights inside but on the floor shedding light to the important formations and pathway.

The moment we stepped in, our imaginations were activated. Our guide pointed her torch to some of the notable formations that she amazingly relate to the others in difference chambers through a weaved story. We also got to experience how dark it could get in a cave with no source of light at all. She also explained why the locals named the cave system ‘Sohoton’ as this word literally means to pass through. She made us duck and pass through some formations.

The moment we stepped inside, our imaginations sprang to life. Our guide shone her torch on striking formations, weaving a story that connected the wonders across the different chambers. We experienced firsthand how pitch-black a cave can be without any light. She also shared the origin of the cave’s name, Sohoton, which literally means “to pass through.” Following her lead, we ducked and carefully maneuvered through narrow passages, feeling fully immersed in the cave’s hidden world.

After exploring the main chambers of the cave system, we hopped on a kayak for about a 20-minute guided ride to the natural bridge. Our kayak glided through the calm river. It was quiet—the peaceful kind. We could hear the distant chirping of birds, the water flowing through the rocks, and the gentle rhythm of our paddles against the surface. When I asked about the footbridges perched along the limestone walls, our guide explained that some visitors choose to trek to the natural bridge instead.

The currents grew stronger as we approached a natural arch that slowly revealed our next destination. Once again, nature left us in awe of what stood before us. Our guide stowed the kayak and gave us time to swim or simply dip into the cool, refreshing river.

Since it’s starting to get late, we then headed back to the where we departed then hopped on the boat back to the jump off.

How to Get There

The easiest gateway to visit Sohoton is via Tacloban City (Leyte). From Cebu or Manila, take the flight to Tacloban or Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport.

Option A: by Land

1. From Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, take a short tricycle ride to the Tacloban New Transport Terminal. Here, vans and jeepneys bound for Basey, Samar depart frequently throughout the day — expect a 45–60 min ride across the iconic San Juanico Bridge with fares around Php 25.00 to Php 70.00.
2. Once in Basey, head to the Municipal Tourism Office (ABC Hall Building) to register, pay park fees, and arrange your tour. From there, hire a short tricycle or habal-habal ride (Php 100.00 to Php 150.00) to the Sohoton Visitor Center in Brgy. Wespal. 

Option B: by Ferry

If you prefer a scenic sea crossing instead of traveling by land, you can reach Basey via ferry from Tacloban. While most travelers now take the road route via San Juanico Bridge, ferries still operate between Tacloban Port and Basey though schedules may vary depending on demand and weather conditions.

1. From Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, take a tricycle to Tacloban Port. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes depending on the traffic with fare ranging from Php 30.00 to Php 60.00. Tell the driver that you are heading to the port for the Basey ferry.
2. Ferries dock at Amandayehan Port in Basey. Operators that traditionally serve this route include ALD Sea Transport, Roble Shipping, and GT Express Shipping. The trip may take about 1 hour and 30 at Php 50.00 per way. It usually departs in the morning at around 9:00 AM and early afternoon around 1:00 PM. Schedules are subject to change, and some operators reduce trips when road access is fully operational, so it’s best to confirm at the port ticketing booth on the day of travel.
3. Once you arrive at Amandayehan Port in Basey, head toward the town proper or directly arrange a ride to Brgy. Wespal, the jump-off point to Sohoton.You can arrange a habal ride which ranges from Php 100.00 to Php 150.00 per way. This trip may take about 30 minutes. Agree on the fare before riding. Roads become more rural as you approach Wespal, and the ride itself already feels like part of the adventure.

Practical Tips from this Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park Travel Guide

1. Wear proper and comfortable gear and clothing for walking and swimming.
2. Bring dry bag. The chances of getting your stuff soaked is high unless you’d leave them at the registration area.
3. Be there at least on or before 12:00 NN so you’d be able to enjoy the place with ample time.
4. Allot at least a day. While the tour lasts for about 3 hours, you still need to consider the travel time to the park. The registration area, hence, the activity, is open only up to 5:00 PM.
5. Bring enough cash. There are no ATMs in the area. They are also limited around the town proper.
6. You may opt not to bring food for lunch or breakfast as they may cook for you. You can bring light snacks and water, however. Just make sure you don’t leave the trash in the park.
7. They also have bathrooms in the registration area where you can wash up after the adventure.
8. Follow the guides strictly. Refrain from touching the formations inside the cave.