nature

Utod River and Falls in Magallanes, Cavite Perfect for a Solitude Get-Away

Posted on by shellan

​One of the things I like about traveling is that it surprises you with more. I never thought that there are still plenty of places here in Cavite that are not known to the majority, which is I think is good. I am actually against nature exploitation, and sometimes I wonder if posting information about a certain place in exchange will only harm the place. Because, most of the time, tourism sucks. Not all tourist is a responsible tourist. And sometimes, this will attract greedy businessmen that take advantage of the place and the locals. So I sometimes battle with myself if I really should make a blog about unknown nature get-aways.

But if you read the about section of this website, it is mentioned that this serves as my online travel journal which contains my personal insights. Besides, nature should be enjoyed by the people. I just plead, really-really plead, that my readers will be responsible tourists and/or humane businessmen.

Anyway, if you are looking for a solitude place this summer and ypu are on a budget, Utod River and Falls is one of the perfect places for you.

You can find it here (zoom in for the address):

To be able to get there, you will need to ride a private vehicle because public transportation is very seldom going there but yes, it’s available.

Upon reaching this signage. You will be trekking for around 10 minutes, depending on your pacing. (By the way, parking area is available at side street).

The trail is easy and some of it is concrete staircase with hand rails so it is okay for our parents and titos and titas to experience. This will only get hard back to the parking lot because then, the trail will be mostly ascending.

There is a small community at the riverfront. They are the ones you need to speak or contact for the cottages but it is not required although maybe you’ll need it if it’s a group outing. There is no entrance fee and parking fee. Public CR are available. Overnight is also allowed.

Here are the photos at Utod Falls. We went there on weekend and the place is not that crowded, The very reason why I mentioned it’s perfect for a solitude moment.

To further visualize the place, because not all spots were photographed, here is the link : Utod River and Falls in Magallanes, Cavite

By the way, you will come across these pathways, choose the right side, that’s the one leading to the falls:

God bless on your trip and please be a responsible tourist. Do not disrespect the nature.

by the way here’s a contact number just in case you need a reservation for the cottage: 09350595639 Ruel Rivera

buhay forest top

Buhay Forest: Underrated Nature Get-away (and some update on Pico De Loro, Pantihan Falls, and Mt. Buntis)

Posted on by shellan

Before we head on the details about Buhay Forest let us talk about first Pico De Loro. Yes, dearest bundokeros and bundokeras! Pico De Loro is now open. The bad news is, you are reading this along the way, all prepped and ready going to Pico De Loro. Because here you will know, as you keep on reading, that they are only accepting advance booking and walk-ins are strictly prohibited. But since you have already planned this day for an unwinding get-away, allow me to introduce you to Magallane’s Buhay Forest. Don’t worry it is only 30 minutes away from Pico De Loro.

Buhay Forest is located at Magallanes, Cavite and can found on google map. If you are following our blog, you knew that we already went there but it was close. They are close every Monday and Tuesday. Actually, prior going here, we tried Mt. Buntis, but it was close so we headed on to Buhay Forest for our last resort. You can see our trip here for a motion documentation of what I’m talking about: Buhay Forest in Magallanes (and update on Pico de Loro + other tour in Cavite), rest assured, contacts and the link for Pico De Loro’s booking are also posted below.

So, what should you expect at Buhay Forest?

First, there is a trek that almost all ages can partake and reach the top. Actually, it has Stations of the Cross, to which elders are mostly the ones participating. So I believe, even seniors can do this trek.

We trekked unto the top for around 10 minutes, I guess, with casual rest once we need and also to savor the beauty of the scenery as we head on to the top.

Actually, the place isn’t that crowded, which is very okay, but that made me realize that this is an underrated nature get-away. Maybe because the trail is so easy for the hikers or because there is not much post online about Buhay Forest. But really, if you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy the nature, this is a perfect place for you. Especially, if you are on a budget.

The views at the top will show you a set of mountain range from the nearest places: Mt. Marami (Wet and Mildly Wild Adventure at Mt. Marami), and Pico De Loro (Pico de Loro (Mt. Palay-Palay, Pico De Loro, Second Time Around).

You can istambay and enjoy the nature, take a pose to whichever spot you like, eat your own baon, enjoy seesaw and swing, with no time limit or until they close for the day, for only P30. They open at 6AM and closes at 5PM. They do not accept overnight camping.

There is no parking fee, or perhaps it is already included on the amount you paid for ecological fee/entrance fee.

Here are the additional photos, which were taken at the bottom part of the forest:

Meanwhile, here are some photos we took at Pantihan Falls, also in Magallanes, and which is also already closed for tourist but some part is still open for public viewing:

Please be good to the nature and leave no garbage. Enjoy!

Here are the details for Pico De Loro and Mt. Buntis:

Island Tour at Patungan Beach in Maragondon, Cavite

Posted on by shellan

We’ve been planning to hike a mountain before the year ends. But because we also want to spend quality time with our furr babies, we decided to spend the holiday on a beach instead. Thus, we booked at Patungan Beach in Maragondon, primarily because they offer island hopping too.

But let me clarify this early that we have not experienced island hopping due to heavy waves. That’s what your get when you scheduled a beach adventure during Ber months. Instead, it was replaced with an island tour (watch our adventure here: Maragondon Island Tour), which happened to be the wildest ride we had on an ocean so far. Well, as what I’ve said, that’s what you get when you scheduled a beach adventure during ber months.

The main highlight of our stay here at Patungan Beach is the Island tour and the swimming on the fish sanctuary. The island tour takes more than 2 hour-boat ride (back and forth). We stay at fish sanctuary less than an hour and head back to Patungan Beach. It costs us 2,500 but it’s so worth it, especially when the boat driver masters the art of riding big waves. We were terrified by the waves and thought that the boat would flip. And thank God it didn’t. I think we also passed by the island which we stayed during a trip where we own an island for a day, it was our trip to Carabao Island, but I couldn’t distinguish the island anymore.

 

The stay at the beach cottage is also a first hand nature experience. If being close to the nature is what you are looking for, then Patungan Cottages is right for you. Toilets are available too. We spend a night at the cottage and went home before lunchtime the next day. To proper guide you with the itinerary, here’s ours:

Itinerary:
5AM – departure
6:30AM – Arrived at Patungan Beach
7:00AM – settled at the cottage
8:00AM – finished Breakfast
9:00AM – cooking lunch
10:00AM – Lunch time
10:45AM – board the boat for island tour
10:45AM – 12NN – island tour
12NN – arrived at fish sactuary
12:50PM – board the boat back to the beach
12:50PM – 1:50PM – boat ride back to Patungan Beach
2:00PM – 5:00PM – Siesta
5:00PM – 5:30PM – Preparing Dinner
7:00PM – Dinner
8:00PM onward – free time until sleep time
6:00AM – Preparing breakfast
7:00AM – Breakfast
8:00AM – Pack Up
9:00AM – 10:00AM – Free time
10:30AM – Board tricycle back to pick up point back home

Things to bring:
Uling
Flash light
Mineral Water
Toiletries
Under water cam
Power bank
Garbage bag

Note: The community doesn’t have electricity yet, they only rely on solar panel that provides them energy so there will be times that all the can provide you is light at the cottage. However, some locals offer generator for rent if you badly need electricity.

Budget:
2,500 – island hopping / island tour
2,000 – overnight cottage with 1 room
50/pax – tricycle going to the beach

We recommend Sir Allan Agustine for island hopping / island tour boat ride. Simply look for him. I can also give you our contact for the cottage accommodations, they will provide things for you that you forgot to bring, (e.g kawali). If you are wondering if there are stores at the community, there are. But I suggest, that you bring your own things because we do not guarantee that all items you need are available at the stores.

Here are the instagrammable photos we took at the beach:

Enjoy your stay and escapade!

Tagaytay Picnic Grove is Now Open for Tourist of All Ages

Posted on by shellan

The world is slowly going back to normal after the widespread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 or CoVid 19 as we know it. Now, I don’t think it will ever be the same normal as it was before and I believe we would adapt more of the new system brought to us by the new normal but one thing is for sure, tourism is one that would definitely be back to normal — the very reason why we have this blog now.

We went to Tagaytay Picnic Grove days ago to check how tourism is going there because we heard that it is now operating. The good thing is, although many people crave to go out after being restricted, the place wasn’t that crowded. Or maybe because we went there on a weekday; we cannot tell the magnitude of people at the place on weekends.

To visualize what I’m talking about, visit this link: https://youtu.be/m9DVukjNRk8

We weren’t ask for a vaccination card but yeah, face mask is a must. Well that’s quite impressive because most of the establishments requires fully vaccination card in order to get their full service and that’s a blatant discrimination, which, should be a big NO.

I don’t know how much the entrance was before the pandemic but now it cost P50 / head. Additional fee applies depending on your type of vehicle.

And still, the cinematic view of the whole Taal Lake and the volcano within is such an eye candy. The one that would make you praise God for such aesthetic creation — and my camera failed to capture what my eyes are exactly seeing. I think, you just have to go there to experience what I’m talking about.

Here’s some of our intagrammable shots we had at the place. Truly an amazing place.

 

Thank you God for your wonderful creation.

Mt. Kulis Overnight Escapade With Sea Of Clouds

Posted on by shellan

After not being able to climb a mountain for more than a year already due to the pandemic, finally I and my fiance got the chance to climb a mountain that is just perfect for those who are just regaining stamina for climbing again. Not being active in hiking for more than a year can weaken our stamina for climbing, thus, doing a minor climb just like our Mt. Kulis overnight escapade slowly helps us awaken our active outdoor lifestyle.

If you are following our website, you already know that we haven’t got the chance to see Pililla Windmill due to the restrictions implemented as part of the new normal. And because of that we decided to spend an overnight escapade at Mt. Kulis instead.

We arrived at the registration area of Mt. Kulis, specifically located at Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal (Fresno Agro Forestry and Eco Tourist Campsite) around 5PM. We had a minor difficulty in locating the area because the locals are still not familiar with the name of the mountain but will definitely know once you mention “bahay ni Cardo” since the location was used as that in ABS-CBN’s teleserye “Ang Probinsyano”. Having said that, yes, the trail to Mt. Kulis is accessible by any vehicle. Here’s the link to see how our motorcycle climbed uphill and down hill: Witness Sea of Clouds at Mt. Kulis But if you’d like to hike it the traditional way (by feet) you may do so.

As of now, they are accepting both pre-scheduled and walk-ins. Overnight camping is now allowed too.

At the registration area, you will be given the choices where to trek. Camp A or B or both. Each Camp is amounting 300 per head and a tour guide (1 is to 5) is a must at certain location that if you want to trek to, you are obliged to have amounting P500. And since Noah’s Arc requires to have a tour guide, we got one. We didn’t include Camp B on our list. So what you’re going to see here are those included in Camp A. All in all we spent 1520 for two, including a P400 rent for a tent (you can bring your own). The expenses is listed below this blog if you’re looking for a break down.

This is the view that awaits you in the morning, yes, finally, a sea of clouds:

Here are the beautiful spots at the top of Mt. Kulis (btw, rice meal and refreshments are available at the top):

A little trek again for less than 20 mins. to reach Nipa Campsite (you can choose to stay for only 1,500 good for 2 pax or a family size for 3,000):

And then the famous heart peak at Sambong Peak:

Another trek for around 30mins. and then the famous Noah’s Arc:

And our last attraction, the spider web:

Again, to fully visualize our adventure here, visit this link: Witness Sea Of Clouds at Mt. Kulis | Travel Philippines

BUDGET BREAKDOWN:
Camp A Fee – 300/pax
Tent Rent (good for 2) – 400
Tour guide (1 is to 5) – 500
(Since we are on a motorbike ride, I cannot give you a transpo budget but you can visit our other trip in Tanay which has a budget info: New Things You Need to Know Before Hiking Tungtong Falls and Nagpatong Rock Formation, Treasure Mountain, Calinawan Cave (Tanay Tour Highlights), 3 in 1 Adventure at Mt. Daraitan)

Meanwhile, here are additional photos along thw trail that we found perfectly awesome:

We left the place around 10AM with a fulfilled spirit and a merry heart.

By the way, if you are planning to book a tour, you may contact Ate Leni at 09070646745. She will gladly assist you, also, she took most of our photos posted here.

God bless on your trip.