TUKANG / ARAN CAVE

Photo from: https://adventureratheart.wordpress.com/tag/tukang-cave/

Unsure and unflattered of the sight, I thought of backing out but all the other girls had no hesitations and without any words, they slipped into the cave. So I thought to myself, “Alright, I can do that!”.

Inside, flashlight is a necessity something that I truly regret forgetting for I didn’t pay much of attention when I was packing up my stuff! I thought, ” I can die here without a light”. Good thing, a guide got one extra for me- a penlight! So, I checked what’s inside the cave. There were huge brown rocks as if intentionally carved asymmetrically with chisels and mallets. At 1st I thought “this cave could be a tunnel made by the Japanese way back world war II”. But as I looked closer, the boulders and the walls are authentically created by nature. Read More: https://travelnature.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/tukang-cave/

Spoiler: there is no giant, but there is something even better to be discovered inside Aran Cave — a hidden waterfall, clear waters, and breathtaking stalactite formations. It’s a 10-minute trek to reach the mouth of the cave. Entering and exiting the cave are an incredible challenge due to the tiny openings, the low dips, and the high rises. Guests will have to crawl, climb, wade through chest-deep icy waters, and even rappel. But the beauty of it is well worth making the trip for. Read More: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/651515/discovering-the-secrets-of-aran-cave/story/

The town of Tuba in Benguet is home to several caves, only a few of which are open for the public. Among those developed and opened for visitors is Aran Cave (formerly Tukang Cave) which is located in the borders of Camp 3 and Twin Peaks. The entrance to the cave is just a 15-minute walk from the highway (Kennon Road). According to the locals, “aran” is an Ibaloi term for “giant”. There’s an interesting story surrounding the cave’s name but I’m not going to tell you as it would spoil the experience. I’ll leave it to your guide inside the cave to tell you the story. Read More: http://www.cordilleransun.com/2016/05/a-guide-for-those-who-want-to-explore_3.html