Thinking of going to the beach of Laiya, San Juan, Batangas? Herewith is the latest information and the best way to commute by bus going there.

Tutubi re-visited this once secret beach recently and is providing the information should you wish to stay at a beach resort there from the expensive Acuatico beach Resort, Estrellas de Mendoza Playa Resort, Les Caraibes Beach Resort to a private camp site to pitch tent at One Laiya Beach Resort.

the beach front of Estrellas de Mendoza PLaya Resort and One Laiya Beach Resort (Mt. Daguldul on the background)

How to Get to Laiya, San Juan, Batangas:

Click here for an online map of Laiya via OpenStreetMap or see below the street map via StarToll, and the towns of Ibaan and Rosario (the better route than via Lipa) to San Juan

route map to Laiya Beach from Startoll (blue line) via Ibaan, Rosario then San Juan

Driving directions to Laiya, San Juan, Batangas:

Follow this route to Laiya if you have a private car/vehicle:

From Manila, head to SLEx, onwards to South Toll Road 3, to Star Toll and exit at Ibaan/San Jose you don't pass by Lipa City to avoid traffic jam)
Turn left when you see a fork on the road
Turn left again at the corner where Ibaan Municipal Hall and Park stands
Turn right on the next corner (landmarks: after passing Queen Mary Hospital and Ibaan Central School)
After seeing San Juan Municipal Hall, turn right. this road takes you straight to Laiya Beach, now completely paved and concreteunlike a few years ago when it was rough road.

If you're from Bicol or Quezon Province, there's a road in Candelaria, Quezon that connects to Maharlika Highway that is just 30 minutes away from San Juan town

How to Commute to Laiya, San Juan, Batangas:

From EDSA, Cubao or Araneta Center Bus terminal in Quezon City or Alabang, Muntinlupa, the best is via Alps the Bus as it has direct daily trip schedule to San Juan, Batangas (first trip at 3am, last trip at 530pm, 12 daily trips, Fare: PhP188.00). In San Juan, just near the town hall, take another jeep to Laiya/Barangay Hugom (first trip at 6am, last trip at 5pm)

From EDSA, Cubao, Pasay/Taft/LRT Buendia, or MRT Taft/LRT EDSA Rotonda in Pasay, take buses to Lipa, Batangas (RRCG, JAM Liner, JAC Liner, Batangas Star Express, Ceres Tours, KL CNG Bus Transport, DLTBCo.). In Lipa City, take a shuttle van or jeepney to San Juan.
In San Juan near municipal hall, take the jeep to Laiya/Hugom

Via Candelaria, Quezon:
From manila, Quezon City or Pasay, take a bus to Lucena City (JAC Liner, Lucena Lines, DLTB Co., Tritran etc) and request to get off in Candelaria (Chowking) right after Candelaria town proper. Go to the road intersection and ride a jeepney to San Juan Batangas.
In San Juan, take the jeepney to Laiya

From Metro Manila, total travel time is around 3-4 hours, best to take early morning trips going there.

If you're from Laguna (Tutubi's home province), you can go first to SM Calamba, then take a jeepney to Lipa via Tanauan. In Lipa, take the van or jeepney to San Juan then another jeepney to Laiya as described above.

From Labo, Batangas, Tutubi saw jeepneys going to Laiya/Hugom, San Juan but the schedule is not regular and people sitting on the top load of the jeepney

a boat that came from...Laiya? near the mangrove forest (bakawan)

Fares/Fees/Rates:

EDSA, Cubao to San Juan bus fare: (Alps the Bus only): PhP188.00
Cubao to Lipa bus fare: PhP132.00
Buendia to Lipa bus fare: PhP124.00
Bus fare from Cubao to Lipa City: Php132.00
Lipa to San Juan van fare: PhP70.00
Lipa to San Juan jeepney fare: PhP45.00

San Juan to Laiya jeepney fare: PhP35.00
San Juan to Laiya tricycle fare: PhP60.00
(note: the return trip Laiya to San Juan town proper last trip is around 12nn, confirm this when you're there)

bamboo raft rental: PhP300.00/hour
banana boat ride: PhP1,500.00

List of Beach Resorts in Laiya Batangas:

Acuatico Beach Resort
Balai Laiya Resort
Blue Coral Beach Resort
Casa Dolores Beach Resort
Estrellas de Mendoza Playa Resort
Kabayan Beach Resort
La Frondosa Beach Resort
La Luz Resort
Laiya Austria Beach Resort
Laiya Cocogrove Beach Resort
Les Caraibes Beach Resort
Marulai Beach Resort
One Laiya Beach Resort
Palm Beach Resort
Playa del Sol Resort
Playa Taramindu Beach Garden Inn
Sabangan Beach Resort
Sigayan Bay Resort
Tivona Beach Resort
Triple-G Resort
Virgin Beach Resort
White Cove Beach Resort

information on review of resort, room rates, contact number and day tour/entrance fee/swimming pool/infinity pool to be published soon...

Labels: Batangas, Beaches, Calabarzon, Travel Guides

In the proud city of Makati controlled for decades by the Binay Dynasty, traffic is getting worse with no major investment to alleviate it nor improve public transportation (except for the e-jeepney), a private company comes in to picture to try to bring the level of public transportation to first world standards.

Green Frog company is bringing in hybrid buses from China to ply the route connecting the LRT on Taft Avenue to the MRT on EDSA via Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia).

In order to ride, you need prepaid cards (much like Octopus of Hong Kong and EZlink of Singapore, a system soon to be available in the Philippines, government is just taking too long to implement it but Tutubi is privy that it's happening soon) that you can use for ten (10) rides (from your conductor) at a cost of PhP150 + PhP30 (card deposit). The next card you purchase will only cost PhP150 plus the old card.



Senator Gil Puyat Bus Stops and landmarks

1. LRT (Sen. Gil Puyat Station, Taft Avenue/LBC (Start/End of Line)
2. Tramo (by E Games by the river).
3. Bautista (Big red building)
4. Filmore (by UniOil gas station)
5. PNR (near Cityland, Mayapis)
6. Roces (formerly Pasong Tamo)/CEU by Burgundy Building
7. Makati Med/Ayala (Tropical Hut)
8. FEU (One Central and The Columns)
9. Mapua (coner of Reposo (Nicanor Garcia))
10. Makati Avenue (before Pacific Star Building)
11. Paseo de Roxas (cor of Paseo de Roxas and Buendia)
12. Edsa/MRT (by the overpass, in front of Urdaneta Gate)

Via Kalayaan Avenue

13. Palawan St. (by 32nd St entrance of The Fort)
14. Yabut Circle (after pedestrian lane, Andoks)
15. Commercio (after intersection, after pedestrian lane)
16. Lawton/Gate One.
17 11th Avenue (PhilPlans building)
18. Pili (on the bus shelter after overpass)
19. C5 (at the corner of Kalayaan C5)
20. C5 Buting (below pedestrian walkway by the loading and unloading station of buses and jeeps. (Start and end of the line)

Notes:

The bus stop to MRT Buendia Station is quite far from the Urdaneta gate. This is a turn off for people averse to walking (especially when it's raining or very hot as the walkway is not covered) and would probably still take the jeepneys in front of DBP Building to get to MRT. Those people may not be the target of Green Frog though

There's an on-going negotiation to extend the route to SM Mall of Asia

Tutubi hopes LTFRB and Makati City government put a plan on phasing out the old, polluting and traffic-causing jeepneys plying the routes Washington - MRT/Bel-air and and reduce the Guadalupe - LRT/Cartimar via Buendia EDSA routes while considering the impact to livelihood of affected jeepney drivers (did you know: most jeepney operators don't pay taxes, it's the jeepney drivers sweating it out to make money through the medieval boundary system)

Now, a similar jeepney route should be in place that pass by Ayala Avenue from LRT to MRT to connect with The Fort Bus to get to Bonifacio Global City and reduce the number of buses passing by Ayala Avenue going to SM Mall of Asia, Baclaran and MIA (NAIA Terminal 1 and 2).

Unlike all other city and provincial buses, hybrid buses have CCTV cameras, thieves and robbers can be identified so beware.

Makati City and LTO/LTFRB should also rid Makati CBD of colorums depriving jeepney drivers of income from passengers but provides regular income to traffic enforcers who receive payola for letting them operate.

How much is the bus fare? Flat fare of PhP20 for single bus ride one way or P15 if you purchase the prepaid card (PhP150 load, good for 10 rides + PhP30 card deposit)

Trip Schedule: 5am to 9pm Monday to Friday; Saturday: 5am - 9am and 4pm - 8pm, no trips on Sunday with trip frequency 30-40 minutes apart

Green Frog Bus
Contact Number: +63.2.511.7973

Labels: Buses, Public Transportation

Ten years, one month and a few days ago during the glory days of Yahoogroups, Tutubi, together with Ferdz (of Ironwulf and Barok (adikkk Holy Week travelers and now the blogger behind Byaheng Barok) and Manny Gaerlan formed the explore-philippines Yahoogroups that served as a group to share travel stories, tips and information.

It was only three years later, a few months after the Palawan tragedy where he almost died, quit traveling yet decided to blog about his travel experiences through the first incarnation of this blog: Tutubi Flight Chronicles

About two years later, the present domain was registered, a premium domain still available that's testament to the unpopularity of the Philippines to backpackers: Backpacking Philippines was born

This day marks the day this blog graduates from a baby/toddler to a child as it celebrates the seven years in the blogosphere.

Now, what happened during those seven years?

First, blog traffic increased from zero to a few daily visits to more than 2 million pageviews/year (see 2012 web analytics and media kit

Google Analytics for 2012 with 2.4 million pageviews for 2012

Blog revenue increased from months of zero earnings to several hundred dollars per month, peak time on the days before Holy Week. (Refer to to this Travel Blogging Business to see the income statement)

Facebook page and Twitter accounts started only in September 2011, very late to adopt social media, and had just optimized it, the reason why you only see a still paltry 3,400+ followers on Facebook, 40+ on Google+ and 600+ on Twitter. (Tutubi also do not like to follow another Twitter user just to add to his numbers like that you see on other profiles where the number of followers and following are almost the same). Facebook followers though continue to increase daily but do not contribute much to blog traffic compared to organic search on Google.

One of the best comments received came from from Gael on the blog's 4th anniversary:

i've been an avid reader for God knows when, ur page and ferdz' & lagalog's too has served as my travel guide, but i only started traveling solo 2 yrs ago and started blogging (w/ a lot of backlogs coz i'm too lazy! hehe) back in December.

i'm a freak of ur blog bec of it's helpful posts (directions) and unbiased reviews, true,i've seen some blogs turn into some kind of a money-making site w/ posts slowly deteriorating but you have adhered to your disclosure. your blog helped me a lot in some of my trips. as far as i cn rmmbr though,ive never left a mark on ur site. so when I stumbled on this post, i knw this is the best post & time to leave my mark at and. :)

congrats tutubi on your 4th yr! i knw,i'm a bit late but i jst wanna let u knw ur blog hs been a gr8 inspiration! thnx for sharing ur adventures! keep the posts coming and keep on exploring! :)

ur fan,
Gael
thepinaysolobackpacker"

The worst comments? they're those visitors who asked questions without reading the post, when the information is already posted had they bothered to read.

What's in Tutubi's bucket list?

Visit all 81 provinces of the Philippines: still have about a dozen or more to go
All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ph: Churches of Miag-ao and Paoay; Tubbataha
All countries of South East Asia: Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, Timor Leste
Set foot on 6 continents: four continents unvisited

When's the deadline? There's no deadline, it happens only when Tutubi's dead :(

Lastly, do you really want to know the secret behind the blog's success? it in this message:

"Try to be the BIG FISH in a small pond and not the small fish in the big, big OCEAN"

If you get the message, get to know your audience, publish informative articles (even with not so good pictures), then use a little SEO.

In time, you'll see visitors to your blog. Be patient though as it won't happen overnight.

Do you know the reason why Filipinos celebrate 7th birthday?

If it's something special, what's your wish for Tutubi? for this blog? for the Philippines?

Don't mention for the whole world, Tutubi knows it's always the beauty-pageant winning wish: World Peace!

Lastly, success in travel blogging is not really defined in terms of pageviews, blog visitors, Facebook page likes, Twitter followers but it's in being able to do what you like to do and share your passion for travel and explorations.

After all, Tutubi's primary purpose for starting this travel blog is to provide updated information and independent reviews for travelers when there were only a few Pinoy travel bloggers around, when the Department of Tourism people were lacking in zeal in promoting Ph and even the DOT website lacking in information.

That goal is being realized now...Kudos too to all Pinoy travel bloggers!

Here's to more travel blogging years!

Labels: Blogging

Taipei recently released satellite records that their fishermen were fishing at these coordinates "122° 55' E 19° 59 N" when they were chased by the Philippine Coast Guard and killed one of them.

But where exactly is the area? Google Maps to the rescue: Tutubi plotted the coordinates on Google Maps and look at the resulting image map:


The scene of the crime happened southeast of Batanes Group of Islands. You can see Basco, Batanes there and Luzon Island. Now, is this Taiwan's territory or just proves further that the fishermen were poaching in Philippine waters?

Do the Taiwanese know how to plot coordinates on the map or they're claiming Batanes as part of their territory?

Now, if it's true that Taiwan's fishing vessel tried to ram the Philippine Coast guard ship, the shooting may be justified (I said maybe). In time, the video footage and results of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be made known.

Let the TRUTH COME OUT, no BULLYING!


Note:

The Filipino people regrets the loss of life, also waiting for justice. If there's a crime committed, bring the perpetrators to justice.

What we cannot tolerate are the attacks of Taiwanese mob on Filipinos working in Taiwan who have nothing to do with the incident.

Filipinos are not barbarians, lots of Filipinos killed in foreign soil and yet we do not harm citizens of the country where they died/got killed.

To the Taiwanese, please behave like civilized citizens and not bring justice into your own hands. What if you're proven wrong?

It's probable too that your president is using the incident to drum up support for his hugely unpopular government. The dirty hand of politics at work :(

Labels: Floobydust

Bato is a small town in Leyte, on the western side of Leyte island facing Bohol and Cebu. There are no big hotels
there but there several lodges and pension houses.

Here's Tutubi's simple accommodation in Bato, Leyte at Holy Child Pensionne where he spent a night and served as his base for exploring in Canigao Island Matalom and the so called Cuatro Islas of Hindang

Review: Holy Child Pensionne

Holy Child Pensionne has three types of rooms, all with private bath, hot and cold shower, cable TV (though the
TV are small 14 inch CRT, not the modern LCD but what do you expect at that price point. The rooms are spartan, clean; meals not included in the bill. You can just walk to the nearby market and eat at small restaurants and eateries.

Tutubi's standard room where you can see his laptop on one of the two single beds

Room Rates:
Standard PhP700.00/day, good for two persons, 2 single beds (already cheap at PhP350.00/head)
Deluxe PhP800.00/day, 2 persons, 1 queen size bed
Family Room PhP1,000.00/day, good for 4 persons

additional bed: PhP200.00/day
Internet access at the lobby (sort of Internet Cafe):PhP20.00/hour

Check In time: 2pm
Check Out Time: 12nn

Address:
620 Tomas Claudio St., Kalanggaman, Bato, Leyte
Remarks: walking distance from Port of Bato where you can take ferries Bato to Cebu/Bohol

Contact numbers:
Telephone Number: +63.53.568.0034; +63.53.568.0042 (Globe); +63.53.336.2273 (bayantel)
Mobile Number: +63.999.162.8893

Please call Holy Child Pensionne contact numbers for inquiries, reservations, meetings, conferences, parties (birthdays, weddings, debut et al)

There's an ATM beside the pension house as it's owned by a cooperative. Service charge applies though

Labels: Accommodations, Leyte Accommodations

On the rush to SM Aura Premier opening on May 17 and catch Carrie Bradshaw i.e. Sarah Jessica Parker gracing the event? Here are the various routes to take to SM Aura Premier at the Fort for you information

How to get How to Get to SM Aura Premier at the Fort:

For starters, here's an online street map of SM Aura Premier at the Fort, click here

For driving directions, just follow the route indicate on the map of SM Aura showing C5, 26th Street and McKinley Parkway and just beside Market! Market! mall, Serendra and other Bonifacio Global City landmarks. No information yet on parking fee and rates.

Road map to SM Aura Premier in Taguig with directions

How to commute to SM Aura Premier at the Fort:

Expanding this post How to Get to Bonifacio Global City, you have

From Pasay or Quezon City via MRT, get off at MRT Ayala then choose between taking the Market! Market! jeepney (fare: minimum) or the airconditioned BGC Bus.

From Eastwood City via C5 or Resorts World Manila and Airport (NAIA Terminal 3), you can take Citylink bus to get you there directly. Fare is around PhP20.00 from each end

There are also transport terminals with shuttle service/Fx/vans to SM Aura at these locations: Pateros Ayala, Taguig Tipas, Taguig Bicutan, Rosario, Pasig, Crossing, SM Marikina, SM Masinag, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia (MOA), SM Bicutan, Antipolo, FTI and Guadalupe.

SM Aura Mall Hours: open from 10am to 10pm daily

Labels: Malls

The 300 meter long tunnel along Ternate-Nasugbu Road, bored through Mt. Pico de Loro at the boundary of Nasugbu, Batangas and Ternate, Cavite will soon be open to motorists. Besides connecting the two neighboring provinces plus the resort towns of Nasugbu and Ternate, it will also lessen travel time to Nasugbu and Western batangas by about an hour and decongest Tagaytay City and spur tourism growth in the area.

The Cavite side of Kaybiang Tunnel almost ready for the grand opening

For an online map of Ternate-Nasugbu Tunnel, click here. Herewith is the map of Kaybiang Tunnel as mapped by the cool guys of OpenStreetMap

Kaybiang Tunnel Map (shown along the green road map) Ternate - Nasugbu Tunnel

How to get there:

Just follow these directions to Ternate-Nasugbu by taking Roxas Boulevard, Coastal Road, CavitEx, exit at Kawit, take Centennial Road, Antero Soriano Highway, Governor's Drive, Caylabne road and Ternate-Nasugbu Road. You will pass by the Cavite tows of Kawit, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon and Ternate while after the tunnel you will reach the southwestern towns of Batangas: Nasugbu, Lian, Calatagan, Balayan, Calaca and onwards.

You will also pass by beach resorts in Ternate (Caylabne, Puerto Azul, Tali Beach) and faster travel to famous resorts in Nasugbu, Batangas (Pico de Loro, Club Punta Fuego, Terrazas de Punta Fuego, Munting Buhangin, Canyon Cove Beach Resort)

Ternate - natugbu Tunnel will open on July 1, 2013 (unless further delays in construction occurs. This tunnel was conceptualized during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos)

Labels: Roads and Highways

Canigao Island is a small island with fish sanctuary, surrounded by white sand beach and beach resort run by the local government of Matalom, Leyte. The island was visited by Tutubi as a sidetrip, where his friends from nearby town of Bato took him just to have lunch.

The island can be reached from the town of Bato by short southbound jeepney ride from Bato transport terminal then a short boat ride to the island.

The "welcome arch" and lifeguard station on Canigao Island where you can also see the resort telephone numbers

the main beach with Matalom locals, facing the seashore of Matalom Town of Leyte Island

The small island, surrounded by white sand beach (with a small segment rocky coral stones), can be circled on foot for about fifteen minutes. there's also a nearby fish sanctuary where you can snorkel, freedive, if not SCUBA dive at the site

Canigao Island Review:

The island is worth the visit by backpackers for a cheap place to stay, meet locals and eat seafood at low prices. The beach has fine white sand (though not as fine as you other famous beaches) it's actually good enough to stay a day or camp out overnight. There is barangay tanod (security) at the place, the beachfront is clean, even crystal clear water without any sign of pollution.

From Canigao Island, you can also do some sort of Leyte Island-Hopping by visiting Calanggaman Island in Palompon or the Quatro Islas (four islands) of Inopacan town: Digyo Island, Apid Island, Mahaba Island, and Himokilan Island


Canigao Island Resort:
Contact Number: +63.949.913.7893; +63.908.682.5781
Telephone Number: +63.53.569.9077
For reservation: +63.919.495.8961

The are no private rooms on Canigao Island, you can only find a camp site and a tent rental facility if you want an overnight camping stay. There's a small canteen serving snacks and softdrinks, water, juices but most of your food like fresh seafood, fishes can be ordered at the nearby pier (like the fish locally called mulmul and balyong sea shell, and bolinao fish)

Canigao Island Rates:

Canigao Island Resort rates/entrance fee/price for cottage/overnight, chair/table rental, camping tent posted This is also where you pay your entrance fee

How to get to Canigao Island, Matalom, Leyte:

For a map of Canigao Island via OpenStreetMap, please click here (map was updated by Tutubi when he visited the place, do help out in updating the best online map of the Philippines)

1. Book a flight to Tacloban (either ZestAir, Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines/PAL Express) or a ferry (2Go Travel) or an overnight ferry to Bato, Leyte (from Cebu or Ubay Bohol)
2. At Tacbloban Airport, ride the San Jose jeepney to Tacloban Transport terminal
3. At the terminal, take the shuttle/van/fx to Bato
4. at Bato terminal, ride the jeepney that goes to Matalom town and request the driver to drop you off to the road of Canigao Island (fare: minimum), travel time is about fifteen minutes
5. Walk to the pier or take a tricycle (minimum fare)
6. Take the short banca ride to Can Island

Labels: Beaches, Eastern Visayas, Islands, Leyte, Leyte Resorts

for those looking for the latest information on sea travel by boat to/from Bato Leyte to Cebu City or Ubay, Bohol, herewith are the latest shipping/ferry companies serving the route to Bato, Leyte from the nearby islands of Cebu and Bohol for you backpacking itinerary.

Overnight ferry trips saves on accommodations cost as you spend the night at sea while only paying the ferry fare.

ticket reservations the seaport/pier of Bato, Leyte

Bato Leyte to Ubay, Bohol Ferry:

Shipping Company: Medallion Transport
Trip Schedule: daily trip at 9pm
Travel Time to Ubay Bohol: 6 hours
Terminal: Pier 3 in Ubay, Bohol
Ferry Fare: PhP270.00 (economy), PhP290.00 (tourist)

Our lady of Angels and Oour Lady of Guadalupe
Fare: PhP245.00, PhP265.00; PhP280.00, PhP350.00, PhP500.00
(sitting, economy a, economy b, tourist, cabin)


Bato, Leyte to Cebu Ferry:

Ship: Fiji2
Trip Schedule: daily at 9pm
Fare: PhP265.00 (2nd Class), PhP220.00 (3rd Class)

Super Shuttle Ferry also serves the following ferry routes:
Ubay, Bohol to Maasin Leyte;
Cebu to Ormoc, Leyte;
Bogo, Cebu to Palompon, Leyte (Office contact number: +63.916.905.2348)
Lipata, Surigao to Liloan, Leyte

Labels: Ferries, Public Transportation

Going to the mall on Election day after voting? Herewith is the SM Mall schedule on May 13 (Monday)

Please make your vote count where it matters most for the benefit of our country and all, not your own pocket for just a day yet suffer for three years or longer. You probably know what I mean

If you didn't vote, you have no right to complain about elected officials, except if you were in extraordinary circumstances


From the official SM Supermalls Facebook Page:
"Please be guided that on Election Day, May 13, our malls will open at 12NN except for SM Mall of Asia Official / Podium (12NN-10PM), SM Center Pasig (12NN-11PM), SM by the Bay (4PM-12MN) and SM Marketmall Dasmariñas (12NN-9PM, Wet & Dry Market – Normal Operating Hours / Bagsakan – Normal Operating Hours)"


Ayala Malls Schedule on May 13, 2013:
Malls open at 10am to 9pm

Trinoma Mall, Abreeza Mall (Davao), Ayala Center Cebu, Marquee Mall (Angeles City Pampanga), Greenbelt Mall, Glorietta, Market! Market!

No information yet on WalterMart and Robinsons Malls (Galleria, Forum Robinsons, Robinsons Place), Eastwood Mall, The Podium, Sta Lucia, 168 Mall, Lucky Chinatown Mall, 999 Mall, Victory Mall, Gaisano Mall, Power Plant Mall,

SM City Manila, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Baguio, SM Calamba, SM Novaliches, SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Bicutan, SM SouthMall, SM
City North EDSA, SM Cebu, SM Davao, SM Bacolod, SM Iloilo, SM Batangas, SM Lipa

related post:
May 13, 2013 is a Special Non-working Holiday

Labels: Floobydust

Probably the second most famous waterfall in Laguna is Taytay Falls in Majayjay, next only to the world-famous Pagsanjan Falls. This falls was visited by Tutubi thrice in the past, when digital cameras were not yet the "in" thing, including a birthday treat to his now departed mother, giving it some sort of nostalgic value to the sentimental Tutubi.

This travel guide to Taytay falls is for those souls looking at fresh information how to get there, what to expect and the usual entrance fee/environmental fee, overnight camping and parking rates.

Updated: March 2019


Travel Guide: Taytay Falls in Majayjay, Laguna:

Taytay Falls, Majayjay, Laguna with a person swimming on the pool to add scale and estimate the height of the waterfalls, popular for camping and day trip (picture courtesy of Tutubi's cousin who recently went there)

Taytay falls entrance fee: PhP30.00 (some call this environmental fee)
Car parking fee: PhP40.00
Camping: you can pitch your own tent on the best place you can see near the falls

Notes and reviews:
1. The water here is too cold, too cold even for the cold-resistant Tutubi 10 years ago that he wasn't able to swim too long in the ice-cold water from Mt. Banahaw.
2. There are too many people on weekends, much more during Holy Week. It's sad that people leave their garbage instead of bringing them back and personally throw at trash cans.
3. There are toilets available but not for the squeamish, with running water of course.
4. Information and picture of Taytay Falls provided by Tutubi's cousin who recently camped out overnight at the place.
5. You may combine this place with Pagsanjan Falls, Cavinti Underground River and Caves Complex and Panguil River Eco-park for your Laguna tour itinerary.

How to get to Majayjay, Laguna:

The street map of Taytay Falls in barangay Gagalot, please click here. You can trace back to Majayjay town proper or from Lucban. If you have a GPS navigator (or even an iPhone/iPad/Ipod or Android device with GPS app), you can point it to these coordinates: 14° 6.618N 121° 30.45E and get there without asking questions.

On Commuting to Majayjay, Laguna, please click this link on How to Get to Laguna to reach Majayjay town.

In Majayjay town proper, you need to take another jeep with signboard Gagalot to take you to Barangay Gagalot where the jump-off point to Taytay falls can be found.

On reaching Gagalot, you need to pay the entrance fee then walk (on concrete pathway and steps) for a few hundred meters to get to the waterfall.

Driving Directions to Majayjay, Laguna:

from Quezon City, it's recommended to take the scenic Rizal route via Marcos Highway, Sumulong passing through the city of Antipolo, the Rizal towns of Teresa, Baras, Morong, Tanay, Pililla, and the Laguna towns of Mabitac, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Pagsanjan then you turn left on reaching Pagsanjan Public Market (landmark: Jollibee), pass by the town of Magdalena before reaching Majayjay town proper.

From Makati or southern cities of Manila, take SLEx and exit at Calamba (toll fee: PhP218.00 class 1 vehicle), head towards SM City Calamba then turn right. Follow the highway passing through the towns of Los Banos, Bay, Calauan, Victoria, Pila, Sta. Cruz, then turn left when you see GSIS Pagsanjan and Jollibee, pass by the town of Magdalena before reaching Majayjay town proper.

In Majayjay town proper, follow this map to get there.

On reaching Gagalot, park your vehicle and pay the entrance fee (PhP30.00) and parking fee (PhP40.00) then walk (on concrete pathway and steps) for a few hundred meters to get to the waterfall.

If you noticed, Tutubi is trying to finish all travel guides to interesting places in Laguna :P



Related Posts:
Hulugan Falls
Bunga Twin Falls
Laguna Waterfalls
Kalayaan Twin Falls
Pagsanjan Falls Travel Guide
Taytay Falls, Majayjay

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Travel Guides, Waterfalls

Just a seat sale alert from Cebu Pacific on May 1, 2013

Add caption

Cebu Pacific Piso Fare/Seat Sale Fares

Dubbed May Juan is Labor Day!

Seat Sale Fares:

P1 on all Philippine Destinations

P100 on all international destinations

Sale period: May 1 - May 3, 2013

No Information on travel period

Book your flights early to get the Cebu Pacific Piso fare promo and fly almost for free to your destination.

Tutubi is not joining though, he can fly but his schedule won't always permit him to :(