Magdapio Falls (Laguna Waterfalls Series)

Magdapio Falls in Cavinti, Laguna is also known as Pagsanjan Falls, the one famous for shooting the rapid boat rides.  Remember? Well since the watefalls is under the territorial jurisdiction of the town of Cavinti, the falls was renamed  as Cavinti falls. Magdapio falls is the indigenous name which was derived from its legend. The most popular way to reach Magdapio falls is from Pagsanjan, Laguna through an adventurous boat ride. The other way is by hiking from El Pueblo Salvador in Cavinti.

It was my dream to see Cavinti Falls, but the boat ride adventure from Pagsanjan is a little expensive, but of course the experience is worth the price. I've read from blogs that there's an alternate and much cheaper and more adventurous way to get to it! And that is through the vertical ladders in El Pueblo Salvador del Mundo. The El Pueblo Salvador by the way is an ecotourism park named after the patron of Cavinti. It is a forested area where tourists can enjoy nature, it has picnic groves and also serves as an alternative route to the waterfalls, caves and the river through the vertical steel ladders.

The images that I saw about the place gave me a certain feeling of hesitation. Oh my I've been thinking about it for a long time until some of my friends planned about it, and that I decided to go!

The steel ladders are firmly attached onto the cliff, well it better be, while we..hold on tightly to its railings during the descent. The park guides were helpful and patient enough in assisting us especially with the rappelling part. There are two cylindrical steel where we did a short rappelling, don't worry tourists are equipped with gears.

It only took us not less than a minute so it's not really scary but tourists can use the stairs if they don't feel like doing it, but it's more fun and faster through the rappel. By the way that's the first one and the other is in the lower part of the cliff.

 I know that I am almost at the end of the course when I saw the colorful boats along the riverbank that were almost within my reach! Yay! First challenge was done and my heart started to pump again. And so we started to prepare again for the next challenge, the Devil's Cave! And my heart stopped again.

The Devil's Cave is located at the back of Magdapio Falls, it begins with a raft ride that will be pulled by the boatmen until it crosses the waterfalls and into the cave! Whew! Sounds challenging?

Second challenge was done! Still feeling the adrenaline rush!  It was a fun filled experience, everybody went on screaming and giggling as we were approaching the falls and the cave! We stayed for a while, take photos and went to the steel stairs again to go back where we started. It could be tiring but the feeling of finishing the course is more than enough to overcome our fears and weariness.

How to get there? As I've mentioned from my previous blog, we went there by a private vehicle together with our guide from the Cavinti Tourism Office. We signed a waiver before we went to Magdapio Falls via the steel ladders. If you're planning to go there, I suggest that you wear dri-fit clothes because you will get wet for sure. Waterproof your gadgets for safety. By the way it is a nice place for picnic so bring food but be sure to dispose garbage properly. For more information contact Cavinti Tourism Office through their Facebook page. Thank you for reading!

By the way, here is the link to my first waterfalls visit in Laguna: Bunga Twin Falls (Laguna Waterfalls Series).

Bukal Falls (Laguna Waterfalls Series)

Whenever I thought of lush mountains, waterfalls, caves the first thing that comes to my mind is Laguna. It is always Laguna,I have fond memories of Laguna, during my childhood where I usually spend my summer vacation. Everything I saw, heard, tasted and felt is still clear in my mind. The fried mud fish dipped in sweet sauce was a yummy treat, there was also  "cuchinta" a sweet delicacy made from rice flour was so chewy that every bite of it was truly enjoyed. The cacao fruit that we ate and seed was put out in the sun to dry and later made to cocoa was fun. The exciting passion fruit or granada with seeds that explodes in my mouth well, that's why it's called "granada". All of these memories will be forever be remembered.

Anyway, now that I'm older I still love Laguna, it's a quick getaway if you're tired and bored of the metropolis. Laguna is so gifted with natural resources, they have mountains, lakes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, you ask they have it! I have no idea how many waterfalls are there in Laguna, I only visited a few and I know there's still more, somewhere in the wilderness. Bunga twin falls in Nagcarlan was my first waterfalls to visit.

Well another waterfalls not to be missed is the Bukal Falls in Majayjay. Bukal falls is located at the foot of Mt. Banahaw in Barangay Bukal and can be reached by trekking through a narrow paved pathway along lush vegetations. It was raining when we walked along the muddy and slippery trail but it didn't matter.There was a small hut where we stopped for a while before heading to the falls. They sell coconuts and snacks, there are benches where tourists can stop and rest. Tourists can also use their comfort room for a small fee. We hired a local guide because the trail leading to the falls is steep and slippery and that the guide could guide and show us the safest route.

We started walking after some refreshments and we were greeted by these signboards, it says "Be Careful Steep", so we were very cautious!

We went down on this wet and mossy trail slowly clinging onto the railings for about some time, I wasn't sure how many minutes it was. What I know was that it's 30 feet deep.

Well anyway, I was relieved when I saw the signboard and the people walking along the clear stream.  I knew we were almost there!

It was a nice feeling as I crossed the clear and cold water carpeted with colorful stones and surrounded by mossy forest, I started to feel that I am away from the chaotic world of the metro at that moment.

There is a bamboo bridge, a typical rural scene. It was creaking as people passed by and that sound made the wandering more exciting!

Slippery boulders were along the way, so we must be very careful. Not too long, a grand  body of water were falling heavily and loudly from thick green trees, the rays of the sun peaks in between its leaves and tiny droplets of water covered our faces, the sound of water became louder as we went nearer.

That's it Bukal Falls! The Enchanted Falls as what it's also called. I don't know why, maybe it's secluded that it looks like it's inhabited by supernatural beings that protects the forest. I thought we were lucky to go there on a rainy day because the flow of water was heavy so I think it is best to go there during the wet season unlike during summer but be very cautious sometimes the current becomes erratic.

How to go there? Go to Barangay Bukal in Majayjay, Laguna and go directly to the Barangay Hall for registration. You have to pay a minimal fee of 20 pesos, hire a tour guide and you're good to go!
Enjoy!