Cathedral Cave

Philippines , Philippines

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Cathedral Cave is a stunning sea cavern located on Pinasil Island, a karst islet between Lagen Island and the El Nido mainland in Palawan, Philippines.

The cave is a watery tunnel carved into the limestone karst tower, accessible only by boat or by swimming inside through what appears from the outside as just a small crack that gets bigger as you approach. Inside, Cathedral Cave reveals an incredible interior with huge stalactites hanging like pillars from an extremely high ceiling, creating a cathedral-like atmosphere with natural chandeliers that inspired its name.

The cave extends more than 40 meters back and features a beautiful luminescent section of water that glows green when viewed from the very back left corner. Cathedral Cave is part of El Nido Tour B, which is considered underrated compared to the more popular Tours A and C, offering visitors fewer crowds and a more deserted paradise feeling.

The cave is directly connected to the sea and is also known as a beautiful dive spot under Coron Island, starting 6 meters deep at a hole in the bottom. Visitors can peek into its echoing chamber, spot swifts and bats, and experience the silence that echoes with millions of years of history, though during mating season of sea kraits (venomous but non-aggressive snakes), entry may be restricted to avoid disturbing the creatures.