Kutawato Caves, Cave network beneath Pedro Colina Hill in Cotabato City, Philippines.
Kutawato Caves is a limestone cave network beneath Pedro Colina Hill accessed through four main entrances named Provincial Capitol Cave, Bagua Cave, Caverna Espanol, and Kuweba ni Satur. The system stretches across several kilometers with natural rock formations and underground streams running through its passages.
The cave system formed naturally through geological processes in limestone beneath the city over thousands of years. During World War II, local resistance forces used the chambers as an armory and garrison base while fighting against Japanese occupation.
The name comes from local words meaning fort and stone, which later shaped the name of Cotabato itself. People in the region still use these caves as reference points when talking about the city's identity.
The four entrances are spread across different sections of the hill, giving visitors options for where to begin their exploration. Wear sturdy shoes and prepare for slippery surfaces, especially in the wetter sections where water flows through the passages.
This is the only known underground cave network located within the proper city boundaries of any Philippine city. This unusual location makes it a rare geological feature that visitors can explore without leaving the urban area.
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