The Punta Ubong Coastal Limestone Cave System

The Punta Ubong Cave System is an extensive limestone formation that forms the tip of the Sitio Ubong headland.

‘Salvacion Cave’ – photo courtesy of Paulina Garcia Espanola.

Carved-out by the sea over millions of years, the caves are a natural wonder to behold. There are a total of three caves, two of which are linked to each other by a small shaft. A cove measuring about a hundred meters in width seperates the third, smaller cave, from the other two. This smaller cave – Salvacion Cave – sits on the outer rim, its sea-facing opening so large that pump-boats frequently enter and dock within, to the delight of tourists. This cave’s high ceiling (45-50 feet) gives it a catherdral-like, expansive feel; its visible, coral-covered bottom, at about 30 to 35 feet deep, is a spectacular free-dive to those so inclined. 

 Pictured below is a northern view of a Punta Ubong headland (one of several) approaching it from sea.

Here’s an exotic, deserted, crescent-shaped white sand beach on a cove adjacent to ‘Salvacion Cave.’ This was the default picnic-ground and launching point for exploring the caves or scuba diving / snorkling the magnificent reef surrounding the entire area.

Pictured below is the southernmost Ubong headland. Around its bend, about half a mile down, stretching southward for several kilometers is the Hinobaan and Pook (Happy Valley) coastline (2nd below).

A view of Punta Ubong ( the strip of land jutting out to sea in the distance), seen from the beach at Happy Valley. As the usual launching point, it takes 15 minutes to reach the caves by pumpboat.