By Christian Cabañas, Anchor, Brigada News FM Trento
A short pull-over along the Lianga–Barobo road reveals a limestone opening just wide enough for sunlight to tease turquoise water below. This is Wakat Cave, an unofficial name locals use for the spring-fed pool in Barangay Wakat, a sitio better known for coconut farms than tourist stops. Yet over the past two years the cave has become a favored waypoint for motorists, cyclists and backpackers exploring Surigao del Sur’s string of beaches and waterfalls.
A natural reset for mind and body
Health researchers at the University of the Philippines have linked brief immersion in “blue spaces” — rivers, lakes and springs — with lower stress and improved mood. Wakat Cave’s 22-degree Celsius water fits the bill. Regulars speak of the “instant cool” felt after a mid-day plunge and the surprising quiet despite the cave’s proximity to a national highway.
“Five minutes in the water clears the road fatigue,” said Rolly Mina, a delivery driver who schedules return trips between Tandag and Bislig so he can stop at the cave during siesta. Mina, like many visitors, stays long enough to nap on the limestone ledge before driving on.
Getting there
Butuan and Davao City both offer daily commercial flights. From either airport, buses bound for Mangagoy or Tandag reach Barobo in four to five hours. Hail a local habal-habal or tricycle for the remaining six kilometers to Barangay Wakat, where a hand-painted roadside sign marks the trailhead. The footpath—less than 100 meters—slopes gently to the cave mouth. Mobile reception is weak; offline maps are useful.
What to expect on site
- Entrance fee: ₱20 collected by the barangay youths’ organization.
- Facilities: Lean-to changing hut, bamboo benches, no electricity.
- Depth: First chamber averages 2 meters; deeper pockets require confident swimming.
- Safety: No life guards; visitors use the fixed rope lining one wall as support.
- Best time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. when sunlight penetrates the water for clearer visibility.
Community-managed tourism
Because Wakat Cave is not listed among the province’s formally developed attractions, maintenance falls to barangay volunteers. The youth group alternates weekly shifts sweeping leaves, guiding newcomers and enforcing a “pack-in, pack-out” waste rule. Income from entrance fees funds clean-ups and first-aid supplies.
Barangay Chairperson Analyn Salinas sees the cave as a low-impact livelihood. “We cannot compete with large resorts,” she said, “but a few pesos from each visitor help buy school modules and keep the place tidy.” Salinas’ team is drafting simple visitor caps for peak weekends to prevent overcrowding.
Linking small stops to larger circuits
Tour operators in Barobo are beginning to add Wakat Cave to day tours that include nearby Turtle Island, Pagtilaan Falls and the Britania Islets, giving travelers slower, inland interludes between coastal sites. The Department of Tourism’s Caraga office supports the plan, noting that dispersing visitors across multiple micro-destinations reduces pressure on marquee attractions and expands earnings in rural barangays.
Sustainability over scale
Environmental officers test the water’s coliform level quarterly; results remain within safe limits, attributed to the absence of commercial kitchens and overnight lodging near the pool. Residents voted against concrete picnic sheds, choosing instead to maintain portable shade tents that can be dismantled during heavy rain to reduce runoff into the cave.
A brief but memorable pause
For many, Wakat Cave is less a standalone destination than a restorative pause on a longer Mindanao loop. It offers the essential elements of mindful travel: cold water, dappled light and a few quiet minutes underground. In a province celebrated for dramatic coastlines, this modest freshwater pocket reminds visitors that some of Surigao del Sur’s richest encounters occur a few steps off the pavement.
