Medellin’s horror cave attracts more visitors

CEBU, Philippines - The Municipality of Medellin has offered another attraction to its visitors during the All Saints and All Souls Days aside from its existing eco-tourism destinations.

Now on its second year, the “Horror Cave” is seen to attract thousands of visitors including those from other towns just like last year.

With stalactites and stalagmites resembling monsters’ fangs, and natural darkness coupled by the sound of real bats, the cave in Barangay Caputatan Norte, Medellin turned into a horror cave.

The Municipal Government of Medellin which in recent years has transformed the sugar bowl of Cebu into being the eco-tourism adventure of the north, has conceptualized the Horror Cave as an added attraction to highlight the town’s natural wonders.

Mayor Ricardo Ramirez, Barangay Caputatan Norte Captain Agnes Yaun and Tourism Officer Giles Anthony Villamor tapped the youth from the areas surrounding the cave to play as ghouls, zombies and other characters usually present during the Halloween celebration to interact with the visitors.

Medellin’s Halloween treat for visitors is unique compared to other horror booths. With venue like a cave, the natural darkness, the water dripping from the stalactites, the real spiders and bats, and the natural echoes of screams provide props for the scary but fun treat for everyone. Plus, visitors would have to go down 122 steps to arrive at the cave’s entrance and must wear a helmet before tackling the “horrors” inside the cave.

Also, the Horror Cave is only one of the many attractions that the Municipal Government has established to entertain visitors at the Barangay Caputatan Norte.

One hill away from the Horror Cave is the municipality’s zip line and cable car which is the only one of its kind in Cebu, and the Tarzan Jump which is a giant swing placed on top of a hill.

With the success of last year’s staging of the Horror Cave with visitors from as far as Dumaguete City, the Municipal Government decided to hold it again this year to reinforce the town’s position as an exciting eco-adventure destination, even during Halloween.

The Horror Cave is open from October 31 to Nov. 4, from 1 pm to 5 pm.

The Municipal government also has a booth in all three cemeteries in the town offering free water, coffee, blood pressure monitoring and other stuff to the public as its way of giving back to the people.

They have been doing this every Halloween since Mayor Ramirez assumed office in 2007.—(FREEMAN)