Pagsanjan "Magdapio" Falls

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Lumban-Caliraya-Cavinti Road
Pagsanjan, Laguna
CALABARZON, Region IV-A
29 January 2012
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One month prior, I contacted a college friend who does part-time work as a nature trip guide regarding his tour of Pagsanjan Falls. A week before, I found out that they had moved the trip to 12 February as a pre-Valentine's day event, and told me that he'd keep me posted if we're still good to go on the 29th. Four days before the trip, he sent me an SMS saying that we're good to go even though it's just the two of us; implying, if I was crazy enough to take the land route.


'If I was crazy enough,' he says...

Thus, a few hours after that north-bound trip to Pampanga, I'm already up on my toes rolling down south to Laguna.


From Buendia, we had to take a bus ride to Sta. Ana then ride a jeep bound for Cavinti since we're taking the land route to the falls. The jeep dropped us off at the junction that would lead us to Brgy. Tibatib where Pueblo El Salvador Nature Park was located. From there, it was just one, brief tricycle ride away.

The Fork on the Road: refreshments available at the quaint convenient store. :D

The Tricycle Ride

Within.

Bridge over the Damned Dam: Til we meet again.

On the way to Pueblo El Salvador, we happen to pass over a bridge that roofed a dam of some sort. I had wanted so much to halt the tricycle driver for a quick few snapshots, but shyness got the best of me. Yes, believe it or not, friends-- shyness. I, myself, wondered where the hell did THAT came from but, anyway, I merely contented myself with the thought of taking pictures of the scenery when the opportunity presented itself again. Nothing would stop me. I was determined to hope it would. S'matter of fact, I was already contemplating on coming back if ever I didn't get the chance to take pictures.

 So, anyway, a good few minutes later, we finally arrived at our destination. 

The lack of civilization and loads of green trees will give you that Tarzan-like feeling.

After paying the park and ladder maintenance fees (150 bucks per head, I think?), we hiked down the paved road for a few minutes until we saw what was the start of the descent. There wasn't much to see, but the feeling of anticipation will get to you once the trekking guide showcases his set of harnesses that you would use. Initially, it gave me the impression of having to work your way down the mountain slopes via rappelling-- and I was extremely psyched by its mere possibility-- but much to my dismay, it was only precautionary for our descent, down the vertical ladder. But I got over my initial dismay a few seconds later. To be honest, I was having too much fun prancing around that I hadn't even contemplated on the harrowing task of going up again on these same (and, might I add, dauntingly tall) steps. 

This is potable water. Tried it. It tasted like those purified drinking
water that we buy in water stations.

Reminiscent of Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue, yes?

View from above: The Water Route

The closest that I could get using my digicam. :D

On sunny days, water isn't usually muddy-looking. It just happened that it rained the day before we went there so naturally, all the mud slid down the stream. To be honest though, it didn't matter to me anymore; and, while I had expressed my desire to go back and see it on better weather conditions, the knowledge that such a place still existed awed me to bits. I was just glad to see that such a place --which was only a few hours away from the hustle and bustle of Manila-- still existed. 


Not to mention, expectantly unforgiving too. 

Not much challenge going down. Going up, however... @_@

Good site for camouflaging, dontchathink? :D

Keepers of the Nature Park. Wonderful folks, they are. :D

I see it! :D

Final Leg of the down-hill trek: fiberglass boats. :D

Nature: I'd definitely return when the water's clear.

More than thirty minutes of walking later, we finally reached our destination: Magdapio Falls. For photog-junkies, I'd have to advise you to bring water-proof cameras or a water-proof casing for your DSLRs if you want to go behind the falls. It's the only activity that you can do on-site. I'd hate to burst anyone's bubble but the whole Magdapio Falls thing is the perfect moment in which a person says, "happiness is the journey, not the destination". So, land or water-- whichever route you prefer, make sure that you enjoy each and every moment thoroughly because you can't expect anything more once you reach the destination.

The Destination

AND make sure that you come at a time when water isn't high, or you won't be able to do this:

Nor this.

Foreign tourists awaiting their turn on the rafts.

Didn't get to take pictures of the cave behind the falls but that's okay since there wasn't much to see anyway. It's actually kind of creepy. The rafter-folks would allow you to swim within the cave though. For those who do not know how to swim, never fear. I don't know how to either, yet I survived. Other than the life vest for safety measures, the water's barely chest-deep and I'm only 5-feet 3-inches tall. It was amusing though. Our foreign counterparts didn't want to jump out of the rafters even though the man who was pulling the raft already jumped out in an effort to convince them that it was okay if they wanted to try the water. When my friend and I jumped out of the raft however, they all started to follow.


Shame we didn't get to take any pictures. :(

Returning from the falls: The friendly raft-guys. 

Anyway, after that drenchy-cave experience, my friend and I stretched our legs for a while and talked to those who were in-charge of the rafts and the mountain trail. When the man reminded us to inform him if we were ready to return to the ladders, I got promptly reminded of how daunting that climb would be.


It was inevitable. So we rolled our sleeves and braved the odds.

The ultimate test of fitness

... especially when you reach the vertical ladder.

Let me tell you, if anyone was looking forward to a good dose of muscle-numbing pain, this trail --despite its modified 500++ steel steps-- won't disappoint even the most experienced of trekkers.

2/2 Vertical Steps: CONQUERED. :D

After that long and arduous climb up, we had to walk further up the paved road to get back at the place where we started. The man in-charge of Pueblo El Salvador Nature Park guided us towards a shower area where we could freshen up. Now, for girls: water's clean, but it's definitely not a comfort zone so you'd do better not to expect an enclosed space.

When we reached the  Nature Park's office, we were given our receipt and we waited for the tricycle driver whom we had "contracted" to pick us up once we were done with our adventure (or sort of). Our route was practically the same, but I was surprised when we suddenly took a detour on our way back to the junction where the jeep dropped us off earlier.

The Dam.

As it turned out, people use the stream/dam for various things: laundry, taking a bath, strolling, and some were even having a picnic on the side. It wasn't much, actually; it's just that I was merely fond of taking pictures of places everywhere. 

Post-Prod: Creating photo miracles since 2000 AD.

Mini-Niagara Falls?

Photo-Subject

Verdict: Won't blame anyone if they utter, "that's it?" :)


I have no doubt in my mind that some people would find this trip boring so, whenever someone asks if it's fun, I always tell them that nature is in my element so it is fun for me, at least. More or less, I find the hike tiring but definitely worth all that effort-- plus, you get to do it all in one day. :D