Backpacking Philippines: Trek to Mt. Romelo and Sampaloc Falls in Famy/Siniloan, Laguna

Trek to Mt. Romelo and Sampaloc Falls in Famy/Siniloan, Laguna

An easy trek on Mt. Romelo in Famy, Laguna which is a favorite of neophyte mountaineers and daytrippers due to accessibility.

Another unplanned trip when I received a text message from a friend on a Saturday evening planning to trek the nearby falls the morrow. I agreed to take the challenge since I haven't been to the place.

The area abounds with blood-sucking leeches that's why i have traces of blood when I took a picture of my muddied feet.

We rested our tired feet for a while at a stream crossing

What made the trip more visually enjoyable was the presence of various creatures around us like this paro-paro (butterfly), various species of ferns, trees, flowers, vines and dragonflies-- my long lost cousins!

on reaching Sampaloc Falls, we took a refreshing dip then doze off for a few minutes before going back.

Note that Sampaloc Falls is the farthest of the several waterfalls of Famy specifically Buruwisan, Batya-batya, and Lanzones. Note that the jump-off point may be in Famy but the mountain and falls are part of Siniloan town.

Wanna know what I had after the trip? Click here.

Backpacking Famy:

Famy is a small town in north eastern Laguna province bordered by Siniloan, Mabitac and Real, Quezon and lies at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountain range. It is named after the mother of the Philippine general that i don't like-- Gen. Emilio Famy Aguinaldo.

How to get to Famy, Laguna (commute)

Commuting to Famy via Rizal province: take the jeep at Crossing EDSA central bound for Tanay, then tranfer to the Siniloan-bound jeep. Drop off at the junction of the national highway leading to Real and Infanta Quezon then hire a tricycle to take you to the jump-off point (TROIS restaurant).

The easiest way, however, is to board the Real/Infanta, Quezon-bound bus at Raymond Transportation Terminal on Sta. Teresita St. in Manila near Legarda/Nagtahan. FX and vans are also available there. Those buses will pass by the drop off point of Famy where Trois Restaurant on the left side of the road marks the spot where you have to alight and proceed to the jump-off point.

Before proceeding to the trail, register first with the barangay for a minimal fee.

As always and anywhere, please do not leave anything on the trail and at the waterfalls to preserve its natural beauty!

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Mountains, Waterfalls

posted by GingGoy @ 9:14 PM,

27 Comments:

At Apr 27, 2007, 4:32:00 PM, Anonymous said...: i have been to famy once at maganda talaga doon kasi moderate lang ang level of difficulty tapos maganda ang view lalo na kung mahilig ka sa falls. perod i ko pa napuntahan yung Sampaloc Falls. Ang ganda!
At Apr 27, 2007, 9:59:00 PM, Photo Cache said...: this is a very beautiful place. i wonder if camping is permitted. i wish i was there having the same experience...nature and hiking/walking is right up my alley.
At Apr 27, 2007, 11:15:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I love the last photo! Really relaxing na!

[:
At Apr 28, 2007, 4:10:00 AM, Anonymous said...: wow! sarap my dive... splash!!!

refreshing ang mga pics. worth it ang trekking.
At Apr 28, 2007, 7:33:00 AM, jhenny said...: pangarap kong maakyat ang mt.romelo sa famy kasi tamang-tama lang yan sa mga gaya ko na fun climber lang :) kaya lang up to now ndi ko pa nagagawang umakyat.... everytime na may magyaya wrong timing kasi ndi ako pwede... at medyo matagal na din ako ndi nakaka-akyat ng bundok :(

ok sana dyan no.. kasi may falls... pero ayaw ko ng leeches :(
At Apr 28, 2007, 7:59:00 AM, - said...: gaganda ng photos..miss ko na pinas e.besides frustrated trekker ako ng pinasyou might want to post sa www.myislandphilippines.net..mga phil photos xclusive din..just discvered urs thru jhenny.salamat sir.
At Apr 28, 2007, 8:10:00 AM, carlotta1924 said...: sobrang relaxing naman ang scenery!

di ba masyado masakit kagat ng mga linta? =)
At Apr 29, 2007, 12:33:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I love the lush green sceneries and also the water falls.
At Apr 29, 2007, 3:54:00 PM, Sidney said...: Your companions look exhausted!
At Apr 29, 2007, 4:08:00 PM, Anonymous said...: iskoo, minsan daytrip tayo ng superkitlens gang ko. plan din namin yung viaje del sol

photo cache, camping is permitted lalo na raw sa buruwisan kung saan madami tao saka pwede pa rappelling :)

kyels, loved the feel of the cold rock on my back

mousey, sarap trekking talaga. next time yung mga talong nearby sa laguna puntahan ko

jhenny, yung leeches wala sa falls...nasa trail ko nakuha saka maliit lang sila di kaagaya ng linta na usually ko nakikita dati malalaki

germs, I used to post pictures at MIP before the server crashed. I used a different handle/alias :)

will try to post there again

carlotta, napansin ko lang na maan linta sandals ko ng alisin ko sandals at maghugas ng paa. don't fear leeches

niceheart...really relaxin there :)

sidney, as exhausted as you while climbing Mt. Humarap in Paete's 3 Krus? :)
At Apr 29, 2007, 4:24:00 PM, -= dave =- said...: Ahh, sarap talaga ng falls. Had my experience sa Mt. Isarog, malapit sa Naga City. May napuntahan na akong dalawang sites with road access, no need to hike. Of course there's more if you hike, since Isarog is full of water, pero medyo mahirap ang hike e.

Dapat pants at closed shoes ang suot nyo para di ma-attract ang mga linta at limatik.
At Apr 30, 2007, 8:40:00 AM, jhenny said...: "jhenny, yung leeches wala sa falls...nasa trail ko nakuha saka maliit lang sila di kaagaya ng linta na usually ko nakikita dati malalaki"

talaga?? ok ah.. sige pipilitin ko maka-akyat dyan :)
At Apr 30, 2007, 6:09:00 PM, Any given madness said...: ang ganda nung fall. sobrang waorth the wall, leeaches and sugat. Ive always wanted to trek, but do now know any group who does. ayoko naman matulad kay julia campbell (may she rest in peace). I used to live in the "foot" of makiling for more than a year, did nothing but stare at her grandeur.
At May 1, 2007, 2:12:00 AM, Anonymous said...: beautiful shot of waterfall:-)
At May 7, 2007, 3:50:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I tried being a mountaineer and my first climb was Famy. OMG! I was such a klutz and such a liability to the group so I quit after that. :) But I remember the falls... it was so beautiful! :)
At Jun 3, 2008, 8:45:00 AM, weirdo said...: its a very nice place if you want to escape the polluted atmosphere of manila..

sa hike pag first tym nyo(like my classmates) youll find it very hard since di kayo sanay..

pero madali lang talaga..

there in the place mas masarap maligo sa lanzonesan falls.. xe iilan lang napunta dun..

malinis ang tubig at malamig..

hope makapunta ulit me.. try kuh naman puntahan ang batya-batya at sampalocan..

di na xe kaya ng ibang kasama ko na magpunta pah sa ibang lugar.. haays.. such a wonderful experience lalo na kasama niu mga treasured friends niu at love ones.. maganda rin maging reunion un.,.,

hehehe.,.
At Feb 6, 2009, 5:24:00 PM, Anonymous said...: i remember this place, it's also my first trek way back to 1993. kakamiss nman it makes me think on bring my kids there.
At May 14, 2009, 7:39:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Wow! have seen Buruwisan, Batya-batya and Lanzones falls... Looking forward to see the Sampaloc falls next time... Can't wait!
At Jun 3, 2009, 9:53:00 PM, Fe Gilbey said...: Tutubi, my dear,
Why did you not include the historical walks around a heritage town named Pila before Sta.Cruz, Laguna. About 32 heritage houses built during the Spanish era can be seen. Pila-nians are friendly and people there do need some tourists to improve the living conditions of those who were left behind by overseas workers. Do recommend my hometown where you can eat puto, suman and biko!
At Jun 5, 2009, 4:46:00 PM, GingGoy said...: Fe Gilbey, yeah I intend to tour Pila someday, i only admire the old houses from inside the bus or car but didn't actually explore...i;m from Paete btw
At Aug 24, 2009, 2:53:00 PM, Anonymous said...: wanna go back der ulet, such a great experience, as a first timer maxxbe co nakakapagod peo sulit pg nakita mo na un mga falls, anlamig pa nan water, :)))
At Sep 17, 2009, 7:00:00 PM, Anonymous said...: nid po nmn ng mgaivang info po dyan hehehe nif po nmn ng mountaineer pls help us yan po ang subjct ng case study nmn eh 09287111351 plz hlp us tnxxxxxx
At Sep 17, 2009, 10:34:00 PM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, i don't understand your comment. please don't use text speak here you're already using a qwerty keyboard :(
At Nov 9, 2009, 3:39:00 AM, Anonymous said...: any update on mt romelo? i mean after typhoon ondoy? kung may mga damages ba?
At Nov 26, 2009, 11:46:00 AM, Anonymous said...: meron pu ba pupunta this weekedn blak po namin sana punta jan bka pwedeng sumabay..tyaka panu po pumunta sa pila? salamat
At Jan 30, 2010, 9:55:00 AM, Anonymous said...: wew... kakababa lng namin galing dyan.. although its my first time, medyo nahirapan kami umakyat and umuulan ng umakyat kami.. so muddy madulas ung daan pero nandun ung adventure.. 3 hrs bago kmi nakarating sa camp... pero pagdating mo sa summit mawawala pagod mo sa ganda ng view.. and angaganda ng falls.. 4 falls ung napuntahan namin... batya, sampalok, buruwisan, amd lansones falls.. pero i dont know if ung ambon ambon is a falls... love it.. love that mountain...
At Mar 20, 2010, 12:40:00 AM, Anonymous said...: super ganda talaga dyan...so excited na makabalik me dyan ulet...super ganda talaga dyan yung sampalok falls...hayyyyyy

Trek to Mt. Romelo and Sampaloc Falls in Famy/Siniloan, Laguna

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