TOURISM

Sohoton National Park

The Sohoton Natural Bridge of Basey, Samar

The park is situated at Rawis, Brgy. Guirang, Basey, Samar covering an approximate area of 840 hectares. Fascinating geological features abound in the area of the national park such as caves, hugs, limestone boulders, rockholes, weathered formation rocks and underground rivers. The most prominent assemblage in the park is the cathedral-like caves, which are the Panhulugan I, and II, Sohoton and Bugosan. All the caves in the park are endogen caves in angular limestone cliff, which support the base of other crack system. It abounds with flowstones and dripstones. Two and a half (2½) hours motorboat ride from Tacloban City and two (2) hours ride from Basey proper can reach these tourist spots in Basey.

Sohoton Natural Bridge

A fantastic huge arch-shaped rock that connects two mountains ridges spanning the Sohoton River. It has a vertical clearance of 23 feet, about 8 meters in width and 40 meters in length. The Stone Bridge is forested at its upper portion while on its underside hang heavy karst formations of giant stalactites forming like swords and rockets. This is located within the Sohoton National Park in Basey.

Panhulugan Cave 1

This cave frames itself in an angular limestone cliff forming a letter “H” where its three (3) main cracks serve to wit its form, its two (2) parallel legs lying 50 meters apart and connected at the entrance by a perpendicular crosspiece. The cracks serve to be the hub opening for internal hallways. All portions of this cave are geologically active as evidenced by the constant drips of water from stalactites. The internal cave chambers measured some 49.2 feet high at the end of its leg. Its cathedral immensity contains a mismaze interior that branch out into many multi-leveled chambers and tunnels with an infinite variety of flowstones and rock formations resembling some familiar images of the outside world ranging from miniature of famous tourist spots. It is located within the Sohoton National Park in Basey.

Panhulugan Cave II

The Panhulugan Caves was used as burial disposition during the 13th century. The cave resembles a scar formed by a rock shelter around 164 feet (50 meters) in length and 16.4 feet (5 meters) in height. It is also topographically divided into four parts: Areas, A, B, C and D. Snow-white glittering stalactites of various symmetry hang from the cave’s ceiling, while the brownish to grayish stalagmites seem to grow endless on the cave’s floor. Also located within the Sohoton National Park in Basey.

Sohoton Cave

The Sohoton cave is a cathedral-like dome with an entrance of a parabolic arch-type for about fifty-meters high. It has a flat door area near the entrance, about twenty (20) meters in width and fifty-meters in length. On its ceiling hangs spike-shaped crystalline stalactites and rustic and cavernous walls and stalagmites on the cave’s floor. At the far end of the cave are a prince-like window and a balcony overlooking the natural swimming pool below. Also located within the Sohoton National Park.

Panhulugan Cliff

Panhulugan Cliff is a high and steep rock formation directly across Panhulugan Cave I. Down this towering cliff is a narrow curve of the Sohoton River wherein passing bancas are dragged during low tide. The name Panhulugan is from the waray-waray word “hulug” which means to drop from atop. Filipino rebels had used this cliff as an ambush area during the Filipino-American war. Also located within the Sohoton National Park.

Bugasan and Kapigtan Caves



Found also within the Sohoton National Park are the Bugasan and Kapigtan Caves. These are smaller caves compared to Sohoton and Panhulugan caves. The only difference of these caves of the that to Sohoton is the presence of concavities where ancient remains had been found dating to the Stone and Iron Age period.



Ruins of 15th Century Church



This is a landmark of the 15th century church found in the mountain of Barangay Dapdap, Tarangnan, Samar. This was also called “Tinago Church”, being a hideout of Spanish missionaries.

17th Century Church

The church stands as a historical landmark of Basey.

Bangon Falls

Bangon Falls is one of the most beautiful and spectacular scenic spots worth visiting in the province. From Brgy. San Jaoquin, Tinambacan district, where Lologayan Falls is located; it will take an additional 20 minutes ride to reach Brgy. Tinaplacan and another 30 minutes walk to the vicinity of the falls. Following the stream by ascending to the upper level, one will be amazed to see a circular pond of about 30 meters in diameter, wide enough for swimming and deep enough for diving. The water that falls from above seems to come from an endless stream which flows a swirling path around the falls resulting from the pressure of its disgorge becoming even bigger in volume and noticeable as the time of the day passes. It is not only a tourist spot but also a potential source of power to serve the city of Calbayog and its neighboring localities.