A Day in Tanay, Rizal - Calinawan Cave and Daranak Falls

If you are nature lover and adventure seeker, then this is the place for you. It’s my first time to visit a cave that’s why I really want to go here. Most people don’t realize that being one with nature is one effective way to remove all the stress and refresh your mind. This also gives you the chance to think positive thoughts and recall your happiest moments.

Since I didn’t get to Tanay, Rizal Day tour last January because I got sick, I decided to go to Calinawan Cave and Daranak Falls with my friend.. My plan is to have a Mountain Climbing at Daraitan then Jump to Tinipak River but since we only left by 12 noon, we decided to go in Calinawan Cave and Daranak Falls instead. 

Calinawan Cave

The tour to Calinawan cave takes only an hour or less. It’s not a difficult activity for level 1 and 2  and guests aren’t expected to crawl or do something extreme unless you are going to level 3, 4 and up which is you need to be more careful and you need to crawl up already. You just have to be careful walking because it is dark inside and watch your head at times. Tour guide will let you borrow helmet and small flashlight for the whole tour.

Encantadia and Immortal Series Used this Place for this set. Apparently, some spots here are not natural anymore because they put some effects here like props, glitters which cannot be remove, said the tour guide.

The history of Calinawan Cave dates back during the World War 2 as this was said to have been used by the Guerrilla warriors as hideout against their enemy, the Japanese. Here became clear the aspirations and hopes of our ancestors and here dawned to them the realization to fight for freedom against the oppression of the foreign conqueror, hence the name “Kalinawan” or “Linaw”. Nowadays, Calinawan cave is famous for being a filming spot for both local and international movies.

Glittering Natural Minerals of Stalagmites

A stalagmite (UK: /ˈstæləɡmaɪt/ or US: /stəˈlæɡmaɪt/; from the Greek σταλαγμίτης - stalagmitês, from σταλαγμίας - stalagmias, "dropping, trickling")^[1] is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalagmites may be composed of lava, minerals, mud, peat, pitch, sand, sinter and amberat (crystallized urine of pack rats).

The most common stalagmites are speleothems, which usually form in limestone caves.^[5] This stalagmite formation occurs only under certain pH conditions within the underground cavern. They form through deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which is precipitated from mineralized water solutions. Limestone is the chief form of calcium carbonate rock, which is dissolved by water that contains carbon dioxide, forming a calcium bicarbonate solution in underground caverns. Wikipedia.

Very Narrow Way here

Be careful not to touch the stalagmites (natural glittering stone) Asa human we have a natural acidic skin that can make the stone die because those stones are a living stone.

Buti pa ang kweba may puso

Bat Holes inside Calinawan Cave (Level 2)

Outside of Calinawan Cave

Finally!

Calinawan Cave and Rawang Pass: Stronghold of the Filipinos in the Revolution against Spain and in the Filipino-American War in April–May 1900. It also housed the towns people during the Second World War, beginning the Invasion of Tanay in March, 1945 from the Filipino soldiers and recognized guerrillas against the Japanese Imperial forces.

We only explored levels 1 and 2. Levels 3-5 are open during summer and are more difficult, with some parts requiring the guest to crawl and such. Tour Guide said that Levels 6-7 are permanently inaccessible, from when the tunnels were bombed by Japanese soldiers. Once upon a time though, one can go through this tunnels and travel for 9 days to go to Montalban, Rizal! I really wanted to go there again until level 7!

Expenses:

100/ head - tour guide

20/ head - entrance

60/ vehicle - parking

Reminders: Just bring helmet, flashlight, camera phone inside. Do not bring anything unless you don't want a comfortable tour inside. My friend bring a very big bag and he got suffer from crawling and bending because he is big too. Haha.

Daranak Falls

The 14-meter high waterfalls that cascades into a deep natural pool. See it's beauty and mesmerize the natural attraction with picture perfect view.

Daranak Falls

Be careful in this area near the falls because it is very deep.

Unfortunately, we only had limited time to swim in Daranak because falls is until 5:00 pm only, so we couldn't go to Batlag falls anymore. I hope I can visit Batlag falls soon.

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