Sohoton Visitor's Center & Eco-Lodge

This is your jump-off point if you were going to see the Sohoton Caves. Here arounds, would you also park your (land) vehicles because it's at this point where you hop onto motorboats goin to the caves.

If you are wondering why the 'familiar' logos, this is one of those places supported by Ms. Gina Lopez.

Let's describe where this place is, starting with this thing they call Wespal Bridge..,

"Wespal" is (I think) a sitio in Brgy. Guirang, Basey Samar. Look at the orange arrow. A few steps down is this visitor's center (all pics below), where you register going Sohoton Caves & Natural Bridge Park.

But let us describe the rest of the arrows first:
The green downward arrow points back to Basey town proper -where most visitors usually come from. Note though, there's another green arrow pointing to the right. That's going to Basey too, via the river!

There is such a way! The 'original way' actually! Somewhere along the national road after the bridge in Brgy. Binongtu-an, is a tourism hut where you can hire boats to Sohoton. No need to drive to Guirang!

Purple arrow points to where you may park vehicles when visiting this area. Beyond that is where you hire (pakyaw) boats to Mabini. Yellow arrow is the direction to Sohoton Caves and onwards to Mabini (an upriver cruise); blue arrow is to Brgy. Guirang proper; and the red arrow is going to Balantak Falls.

You can get all those informations at this visitor center or at Binongtu-an.

Aw, don't be alarmed if you don't see the many banderitas during your visit. It just so happened that when I dropped by, the place was just newly inaugurated (after Gina's ABS-CBN group refurbished it)!

That's the visitor's center, where you register for rides and visits to the caves and natural bridge park. I observed they were somhow reluctant, but just the same, entertained my questions about Balantak Falls. Well, if you see those little cottages at the back, they are the "eco-lodge" portion of this facility.


The eco-lodge is really nothing much, but lodge enough if you really need to sleep in this area..,

The rooms, bare as they are, do have air-conditioners (if you need them)..,

The toilets and bathrooms are good enough, though showers (if available) may falter at times..,

Did you see that in the collage? The one at left has no shower (yet), while the one at right already has.

The gardens are gardens enough, but what they grow are more useful (they're mostly edible)..,

Rustic.., even crude here and there.., but definitely a notch better than how the community thrives..,

Don't get me wrong. I didn't stay there (because Tacloban is just near, and I had the luxury of having a vehicle for the two-hour leisurely drive), but I won't hesitate staying at any of those rooms if need be!

Why so, you may ask? Because I'm sure those who man this place will give me the care and attention I may need! That is just my hunch! Why so? Because they are themselves the officials of this barangay!

Anyway, if at all this may help you.., I saw this at their reception area - but not easy to find..,

It's pasted on the underside of a closeable countertop (or is it called divider?) of their reception desk!

Look here.., the staff was passing, so he opened that counter, that's when I saw those numbers haha!

Those shirts are for sale. They also sell other products from this town like mats (banig). In fact, there is a beautiful colorful bag in front of the black shirt. Natabunan nung desk kasi lumabas sya eh hehe!

Okay okay, that's the visitor's center and eco-lodge. I'll go to the caves soon.

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