The Philippines, like most other destinations, has lots of scams and tourist traps. Herewith are some of them in Talisay, Batangas with people taking advantage of tourists for extra moolah not thinking that what they're doing scares tourists away and impacts future tourist arrivals

UPDATED January 2016

Here's an updated budget travel guide for Taal Volcano crater trek/hiking with fares, rates and commute/how to get there information, even tourist traps and scams for travelers/backpackers.

early morning view of Taal Volcano and Taal Lake where fishermen/boatmen wait for passengers to ferry to the volcano island

Going on a trek to Taal Volcano involves this "script"
1. Go to Talisay, Batangas either via Tagaytay or Tanauan
2. Rent a boat
3. Trek to the crater (boil eggs at steaming hot springs)
4. Go back (of course)

Rates:

Boat Rental Rate/Fee: PhP1,500.00 (standard boat rate)
Trek guide: PhP500.00 (good for 6 persons)
Horse ride: PhP450.00 (if you don't feel like trekking)

Beware of these Scams/Tourist Traps:
boat guide fee: PhP500.00
Boat "unloading fee" : PhP50.00 (just a small piece of wood to step on to get off the boat)
Drinks at the crater: PhP50.00 (vendor will tell you that you need to buy one for your guide)
Photography: PhP400.00/picture (they will take pictures but not required to avail)


Other Rates and Fees:
SLEX Toll fee: PhP214.00 (Nichols to StarToll)
SLEX to Startoll: PhP25.00
Startoll Tanauan exit: PhP7.00


Overnight Accommodations:
Balai Sofia Bed and Breakfast PhP1,399.00 (overnight stay)
Club Balai Isabel

Overall budget/cost for a Taal Volcano day tour will be low if you avoid tourist traps and scams

How to Get to Talisay, Batangas

Labels: Batangas, Calabarzon, Lakes, Travel Guides, Volcanoes

The venue of his company's planning session was held at this premier resort club located in Talisay, Batangas that's a very good jump-off point to Taal Volcano Crater Trek


Club Balai Isabel: Resort in Talisay, Batangas:

a typical balai at club balai isabel named after national heroes, particularly those from Batangas province

the hotel room where Tutubi stayed at is in Balai Malvar, with two double size beds, hot and cold shower (no bath tubs, bidet not tabo), a kitchen/mini-bar, and a 32 inch LCD TV

Tutubi saw two swimming pools, one is this large one near the lakeshore. Due to lack of time, Tutubi wasn't able to swim here, just took a few minutes to take pictures before they departed back to Manila

early morning view of Tall Volcano and Taal Lake where fishermen/boatmen rait for passengers to ferry to the island inside Taal Lake where the crater is located. Note that the crater-like feature is not actually a crater. Taal Volcano has many craters but not this one

Club Balai Isabel Review and Comments

Club balai Isabel room rates are not cheap, prices of accommodations run in to more than PhP5000/room. Buffet food served to Tutubi deserves no raves bordering on rants where they can't even serve good crispy tawilis. People are courteous too. Restaurant bar is available only up to 12mn, something Tutubi's group do not want for they usually stay way beyond 12mn.

It's best to go there via SLEX, Startoll route rather than risk the steep curves of Ligaya Drive in Tagaytay.

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Just contact Club Balai Isabel directly for promos, discounts, latest room rates and list of facilities plus inquiries on meetings, conventions, day tour rates, corporate parties, events and weddings (this is the venue of the wedding of Oyo Boy Sotto and Kristine Hermosa, gossiped some people).

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If you've visited Club Balai Isabel or visited an event where you left your business card or contact details at agents of Club Balai Isabel, expect a call text from their marketing officers that you "won" free accommodations in Club Balai Isabel or Boracay and even abroad, it's a marketing scheme to avail of club memberships plus RCI memberships for timeshares. it's not a scam but you need to attend a 90 minute presentation where they'll persuade you to sign up on the spot due to a promo valid on that day only.

Tutubi got one of these calls but turned it down for he already knows the "modus operandi" of the marketing people, besides, he has not time to attend and go to their office on Makati Avenue

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Related Posts:
Taal Volcano Crater Trek
How to get to Tagaytay

Labels: Batangas, Batangas Resorts, Calabarzon, Lakes, Volcanoes

A new facility currently enjoyed by locals of Paete, Laguna offers a ride on balsa (bamboo rafts) at the lakeshore park, called Wawa Park, where one can relax, enjoy the fresh air, eat snacks while floating on the waters of Laguna Lake.

Officially called Wawa Bayshore and Refreshment Park, it's a project of the local club of mandaragat (fishermen, fisherfolks and lakeshore community) and supported by the local government of Paete.

the entrance sign of the fishing wharf cum refreshment park

house on stilts with bamboo footpath

A small canteen, made of bamboo, serves sandwiches and refreshments (at mass market prices), but no fresh buko juice, something Tutubi suggested to the people manning the store, as well as other Paete delicacies and specialties like minani.



Alcoholic drinks are not allowed there, just family-oriented fun, a step in the right direction, actually.

Life vests, for safety, are available for free to boat riders and rafters. Note: Laguna Lake is actually shallow, only about a meter deep, and murky but does not stink like most people think.




Rates:

Entrance fee to enter the wharf (house on stilts) is a measly PhP5.00 while another PhP5.00 needed to board the bamboo rafts for 30 minutes.

To rent out the wharf either to just stay, eat or belt out songs on the videoke, you need to pay PhP20.00 for the first 3 hours plus PhP10.00 for every hour thereafter (rate per person).

To get a boat ride to tour you around Laguna Lake, it's PhP50.00 for the first 3 hours and PhP15.00 for every hour thereafter (per person rate).

Note, these rates do not distinguish between locals, tourists and even foreigners, and are actually cheap, so next time you drop by Paete, particularly early morning and late afternoon, you will find many people hanging out there.

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Lakes, Paete

Tutubi visited The City of Seven Lakes that is San Pablo in Laguna twice but on both occasions he was not able to to do a sidetrip to the still pristine lake due to, first, usual busy Tutubi, and, second, sudden rain spoiled the day.

On the third take, he was able to finish work early and while waiting for his peers to to finish theirs, "sneaked" out to tour the cleanest and greenest of San Pablo City's Seven Lakes: Pandin Lake.

After about 15 minutes on Schetellig Avenue from San Pablo Cathedral, Tutubi saw the Lake Pandin sign on the left side of the road (just near another sign of Lake lanot), he stopped to park his car at the "parking lot" then asked around for Mang Tano, the leader of the caretakers of the lake.

Another 10 minutes of slow trekking, Tutubi spotted Lake Pandin before descending to the lake shore. He was greeted by a large group of tourists going home with smiles on their faces and even told him it's going to be dark soon but he didn't mind.

the first sighting of Pandin Lake

the foot trail markers with banners of Laguna's governor

Several bamboo rafts with huts and benches were waiting for passengers. When he inquired how much was the cost to board the rafts and tour the lake, he got P180/person (even if you're alone or with a group) which takes about 3 to four hours that includes. He begged off from the long tour due to limited time and just opted for the one hour crossing the lake on the bamboo rafts guided by a rope to the other side of the lake where a grotto and spring water was fetched before going back.


several bamboo rafts moored waiting for visitors and tourists

an oarswoman of green pandin lake

fresh buco juice prepared on board Lake Pandin "Cruise." Tutubi paid for two persons at the standard rate of P180.00/person even if there were only two of them on board

The ones steering the raft were women, call them the oarswomen of Lake Pandin, while the barangay captain joined the fun. They were mostly game with joking around and telling stories and legend of the origins of the seven lakes of San Pablo to the joking Tutubi.

Lake Pandin is quite deep, claimed as the deepest besides the cleanest and best preserved of the seven lakes. Thanks to the efforts of some citizens of the city and cooperation of lake side dwellers. Several sources of "mineral" water can be found on the lake shore with various species of trees and shrubs. Fish pens can also be found but regulated to occupy only a small portion of the lake (as expected, people claimed their tilapia and ayungin taste better than those caught or raised elsewhere)

the oarswomen of Lake Pandin

the grotto at the end of the guide rope. There's a "saluno" where locals fetch natural mineral water for drinking

Once back to the "docking" area of the lake, the women suggested a tour of Lake Yambo, Pandin's twin lake via a small water link between the two and is inclusive of the P180 Lake Pandin tour price but he declined due to his very limited time.

Complimentary buco juice was served and enjoyed "lips-to-lips" style due to the absence of straw (it's really better since plastic straw may just end up polluting the lake).

After the abbreviated "green water" rafting tour, he went back to the city center, near CARD Bank on Quezon St., only to find out his peers still were not ready to go home.

What Tutubi did next to while away time? A tour of Sampaloc Lake!

...to be continued.

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Lake Pandin tour
Contact: Mang Tano
contact number: +63.929.978.9565
Tour rate per person: P180.00
Note: inconsistent reply on tour cost for children
additional P180 per person for lunch (pre-ordered in advance) composed
mainly of locally caught fish
Safety: mandatory wearing of life vests. rafts don't tip over and will only slightly submerge if overloaded but not completely sink unless the bamboo poles are unbound.

Seven Lakes of San Pablo City:
Lake Bunot, Lake Calibato (Lake Kalibato), the twin lakes of Yambo and Pandin, Lake Palakpakin (Palacpaquin or Palacpaquen), Lake Muhikap (as Lake Mojicap or Lake Mohicap) and Lake Sampaloc (or Sampalok Lake, the largest of the seven lakes)

How to get there:

GPS Coordinate of jump-off point/parking area: (to follow)

Commuting from San Pablo City center near San Pablo Cathedral, ride a jeepney with signboard "Ilog" or those plying the San Pablo - Nagcarlan -Liliw route and request the driver to drop you off at the Pandin Lake sign along the road of barangay Sto. Angel. There's another five minutes or so walk to Pandin lake shore.

If you're from Laguna, you can ride the jeepney to the capital town of Sta. Cruz and transfer to a jeepney going to San Pablo City.

Driving directions: from San Pablo city center Schettelig Avenue all the way to barangay Sto. Angel. You may park your vehicle near the Lake Pandin sign (you can see this to your left) with approximate travel time of twenty minutes. They have someone to watch your car while you're away and the guide will fetch you from the parking space.

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Lakes, San Pablo, Southern Tagalog

For those looking for a tour of the twin lakes of Caliraya and Lumot, there are boat rentals offered near the road side where Caliraya Lake Resort (Caliraya Recreation Center) can be seen.



Boat rental rate is P1,200/hour; price is P1,800.00/hour if you rent it from Caliraya Recreation Center (Caliraya Lake Resort). There's a sign there saying it's Caliraya Country Club but it didn't seem to be a formal country club, no website nor contact number and email address information for reservations.

a fisherman in Lake Lumot

Why are there only two pictures? Tutubi didn't join his family on the boat ride and remained instead with Tutubi, Jr. in the car. If you're looking for more pictures, you can check out THIS post.

Related Posts:
Pagsanjan Falls Tour
Japanese Garden
Caliraya Lake Tour
Green Star Express
Exotic Restaurant

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Lakes, Southern Tagalog

Tutubi's trip to Gubat, Sorsogon turned out unexpectedly fun-filled with yet again another unplanned trip to Lake Bulusan high up the mountains that enabled him see with his own eyes the green water of the lake formed out of a giant caldera with the still active Bulusan Volcano in the background.

Bulusan Lake turned out to be very accesible from the town of Bulusan, Sorosogon via a relatively well-paved winding road that took about 30 minutes to navigate from the Bulusan town proper.



Tutubi spent just a few minutes on the lakeshore after taking a few pictures of the lake itself and people frolicking, swimming and rafting on balsa made of bamboo (no kayaks or other water-sports here).




There is a marked trail that invites adventurers, mountain bikers and curious tourists to trek around the lake with a circumference of about five kilometers where you'll encounter old growth forest, tall, possibly centuries-old trees, giant ferns, orchids, wildflowers and other endemic flora and fauna that'll surely delight biologists.

Due to the usual lack of time, Tutubi wasn't able to walk around the lake and instead hopped back to their transport and return to Gubat via Irosin town.

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Note: another lake that Tutubi wants to visit someday is Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur, home of the endemic sinarapan (Scientific Name: Mistichthys luzonensis) which is the world's smallest commercial fish

How to get there:

Bulusan Lake can be reached by trekking up the winding road, mountain bike, motorbike or just hire a tricycle in Bulusan town proper to take you there (fare is around PhP150.00 negotiable)

Labels: Bicol Region, Lakes, Sorsogon

Lake Caliraya evokes memories of Tutubi's childhood particularly the nearby Japanese Garden. It's a man-made lake created by the Americans by flooding a valley of the Sierra Madre mountains to generate hydroelectric power. It's populated with largemouth bass.

A recent free tour of Caliraya was arranged with a jeepney owner from Paete with pictures of the nameless island in Caliraya:

Banca (native outrigger boats) of the lake

Boat boarding time

washing clothes: a typical scene of rural life in the Philippines near rivers and lakes (that contribute to water pollution, btw)

bahay kubo on the lake shore
the ever loyal guard dog at the boat bow

the basic bahay kubo accomodation on the small island owned by the Anonuevo family (Tutubi even offered to buy the property if it's for sale...but that's just a joke). You may also pitch tents for camping fun


Kids playing on the beach...watch out children, folks here still think water of the lake sucks people forunknown reasons...mainly superstition still persisting!

Caliraya Lake's fun, isn't it?

The best thing about this trip was that it's free, just a sidetrip offered by the jeepney owner after visiting Paete's Tatlong Krus (Three Crosses) :P

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Other Interesting Places to See near Caliraya:

Japanese Garden

Magnetic Hill, so called due to apparent downward road yet actually sloping upward. Location: near the curve of kilometer 98 marker

If you have the money, unlike Tutubi, you may contact any place on this list of resorts in Caliraya Lake for queries:

Caliraya Re-creation Center
Caliraya Resort Club

Lagos Del Resort
Brgy. West Talaongan, Cavinti Laguna
Tel No: +63.2.526.8088 ext. 152 & 133

Calirana
Brgy. West Talaongan, Cavinti Laguna
Tel No.: +63.2.426.4130; +63.2.426.4130

Porta Verde Resort
Brgy. Mahipon, Cavinti
Tel No: +63.2.807.8414

Caliraya Springs Golf & Country Club
Brgy. East Talaongan, Cavinti Laguna
Mobile: +63.918.941.7689

Caliraya Hilltop Resort
Brgy. West Talaongan, Cavinti Laguna
Cel: +63.917.536.1166; +63.918.921.5248
Tel. No: +63.2.242-5969; +63.2.242.5979

Kaliraya Surf Kamp
Brgy. West Talaongan, Cavinti Laguna
Cel: +63.918.562.0002; +63.920.822.1312

call the published resort contact number, telephone number or visit resort's official website for inquiries, reservations, parties, events, weddings, room rates, entrance fee/day tour rates and other questions

Activities in Caliraya Lake:

wind surfing, jet skiing, fishing, angling, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, team building activities, large mouth bass fishing, water skiing, boating, golf, camping, and other sporting adventure activities.

How to get to Lake Caliraya, Laguna:

Commute: Board the Sta Cruz-bound bus of HM Transport on EDSA Cubao (near Victory Liner), DLTB or Green Star on Taft Ave near corner Gil Puyat/Buendia (LRT). The bus will pass through SLEX Calamba exit then turn right on the national highway in Calamba City, Los Banos, Bay, Victoria, Pila, Sta Cruz. At the terminal in Pagsawitan, Pagsanjan, wait for a jeepney with signboard Lumot or ask a tricycle to bring you to the jeepney terminal in Sta.Cruz to avail of "sure seats."

The Lumot-bound jeepney will pass Pagsanjan, turn left at the "pinagsangahan" (branch off at Pagsanjan church and Municipal Hall) pass by Lumban (barong land), then choose the right road of the fork up to Caliraya Lake. The fork is at the kilometer 95 post. The lake is about 7 kilometers from there. Note the presence of the so called Magnetic Hill at the blind curve of kilometer 98 post. Also near the lake are Caliraya Dam, Japanese Garden, Hilltop Resort, Surfkamp, Lagos del Sol, and Caliraya Recreation Center.

Commute: Board a HM Transport bus, with terminal on EDSA, Cubao near Victory Liner, going to Sta. Cruz/Calamba (fare: P148.50) or Green Star Express with terminal on Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat (Buendia) and LRT Gil Puyat station (fare: P140.50) then drop off at the terminal in Pagsanjan. Board a jeepney bound for Pagsanjan, Lumban, Paete or Siniloan then alight at your destination resort or inn.

By private car: from SLEX take Calamba exit then head straight to Calamba. turn right at Calamba junction and follow this road and highway until you reach Pagsanjan (after Los Banos, Bay, Victoria, Pila, Sta Cruz towns) where you turn left. Choose the right road at the fork near kilometer 95 post.

Directions by car from Quezon City, it's faster to take the Rizal route by going to Marcos Highway, turn right at the junction Masinag Wet and Dry Market (Sumulong Highway), on reaching Antipolo intersection turn left going to Baras (straight ahead leads to Antipolo Church while a right turn leads to Hinulugang Taktak) where you'll pass by Teresa, Morong, Baras, Tanay, and Pililla towns of Rizal province before reaching Laguna towns of Mabitac, Siniloan, Pangil, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, then make a U-turn on seeing kilometer 95 post on the highway. Lake Caliraya is about 7 kilometers from there.

From Lucena and Lucban, Quezon: there are jeepneys plying the route Lucena to Sta. Cruz that pass by Pagsanjan, Cavinti and Luisina. Board the Lumot jeep in Pagsanjan

Commuting from Cavite: board the Pagsanjan or Sta. Cruz vans at Pala-pala terminal in Dasmarinas, Cavite (near Robinsons Dasmarinas and SM). Board a jeep for Pagsanjan (or Lumban, Paete, Siniloan) then a Lumot jeep in Pagsanjan or Sta. Cruz.

Related Posts:

Pagsanjan Falls
Liliw Tsinelas Festival

Labels: Calabarzon, Hotels and Resorts, Laguna, Lakes

Let me share some pictures of Paete I took during the Christmas break, mostly taken in Wawa Park which is presently submerged due to the rising water of Laguna de Bay:

(click on the images for a larger view)


Wawa Park submerged


Bird Watching mode (wish I could zoom in). Chinese egrets can be seen from a distance but my lens can't zoom in


The boat by the lake. You can also see the long tube that connects Laguna de Bay to Caliraya lake

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Lakes, Paete, Southern Tagalog

I'll let the pictures do much of the talking

Dateline: Ma7 27-30 2004

Calamianes group of island aerial view


Dive Link Resort




Limestone cliffs: Palawan's geography is like that of mainland Asia and unlike the rest of the archipelago


House of a Tagbanua, the indigenous people of Palawan


Kayangan Lake: the cleanest freshwater lake in RP. Part of Tagbanua people's ancestral domain


belle vue de la mer


Imagine this: woke up at 5am, Coral Bay, much earlier than the usual and caught sight of this spectacular sunrise before my eyes. I tried to take pictures but couldn't capture the fleeting moment I'm seeing using automatic settings of my P&S camera. I scrambled to experiment with manual settings which is still unfamiliar to me then. Luckily, I was able to get the setting to capture the vivid color of the scene.

I nearly wasn't able to capture this one!


fools on the hill...early morning trek


water fun

more water


sunset seen on top of mt Tapyas


last look of Coron town


dragging our feet back to Manila


That's 4D/3N in paradise with wonderful people one of whom I sorely miss!

Pictures taken with Canon Ixus IIs, my first digicam that I gave away. Cropping/contrast adjustments only. I can no longer do anything to improve focusing of other photos.

How to get to Coron, Palawan

Superferry Our Lady of Good Voyage goes to Coron every Friday at 5:45pm and arrives there at 6am the Saturday morning. Return trip to Manila is every Sunday at 10:45pm and arrives in Manila Pier 15 (South Harbor near Manila Hotel) at 12nn. One way fare costs P750.

SeaAir flies to Coron via Busuanga Airport daily and ZestAir has flights to Busuanga Airport

For backpackers with no airport transfers, from Francisco Reyes Airport in Busuanga, you need to take a jeepney or tricycle to take you to Coron town.

Suggested Itinerary for a Coron Weekend Getaway:

Friday

02:45 pm - Check in at Super Ferry terminal, Pier 15, SOuth Harbor
05:45 pm - E.T.D. to Coron, Dinner on board

Saturday

06:45 am - E.T.A. Coron pier
07:10 am - Check in
07:30 am - Breakfast
08:30 am - Island-hopping tour (Kayangan lake, Barracuda lake, Twin lagoon, Siete Pecados marine park)
12:00 nn - Lunch (packed, on board)
01:00 pm - other activities e.g. swimming, snorkeling, diving, eating, sleeping :)
05:30 pm - Proceed to Makinit Hot Spring (swimming)
06:30 pm - Return to Resort
07:15 pm - Dinner

Sunday

05:00 am - sunrise viewing atop Mt. Tapyas, Coron town walking tour and church visit
08:30 am - Breakfast
09:30 am - Island hopping, swimming, snorkeling, or visit former Leper colony of Culion or Calauit island safari
2:00 nn - Lunch (on board)
04:00 pm - Return to Resort
07:00 pm - Dinner
08:00 pm - E.T.D. to Coron Pier, Super Ferry check in
10:45 pm - E.T.D. to Manila

Monday

06:00 am - Breakfast on board Super Ferry
11:00 am - Lunch on board Super Ferry
11:59 am - E.T.A. Pier 15, Manila

How to get to Coron, Palawan; Ferry to Coron, Coron from El Nido by boat,
Palawan, Sabang, Port Barton, El Nido, Coron

UPDATED: April 2013

Labels: Beaches, Islands, Lakes, Mimaropa, Palawan, Travel Guides