Bukilat Cave

Bukilat Cave sits on Camotes, an island group in Cebu province that takes its name, by most local accounts, from the camote — the sweet potato once cultivated widely across the interior before tourism took hold. Sunlight drops through openings in the cave ceiling and lands on limestone formations and pools inside, turning the interior into a lit chamber rather than a dark tunnel.

The cave is one entry point into an island economy still built mostly on fishing and copra farming, with cave and beach tourism a newer, smaller addition to household income.

• The sunlight through the ceiling openings creates strong natural light for photography around midday.
• A natural pool on the cavern floor stays cool enough for a swim.
• The path inside is uneven and often damp — footwear matters more here than at open-air sites.

Explore More in San Francisco (Camotes)

• Lake Danao Camotes
• Cebu Safari & Adventure Park
• Virgen de Regla Lapu-Lapu City