How to get to Splash Mountain Resort in Los Banos, Laguna

This summer is my first summer that I really just need to relax. Since I resigned from my job so I am staying at home. And now I just realized how summer is super  hot in Manila. Lol that’s crazy I knew it was super hot but not this hot that I feel it’s more than 40 degree Celsius.

My sister said there is a nice resort just near Manila. I was reluctant because I am not really a fan of swimming pools. I am not comfortable with the swimming pools because of I am not sure how they treat the water, It might have  too many bacteria.

But since it’s too hot I agreed why not try the swimming pools in Laguna. We visited the Splash Mountain Resort. Its located in  Los Banos, Laguna.

We learned from its website that we just need to ride bus that is bound to Sta. Cruz, Laguna and it will pass by the Splash Mountain resort, where we can drop off. We took bus from South Station of  Alabang, Muntinlupa. The fare was 60.00 pesos per head. We asked the doctor to drop off us to the Splash Mountain Resort. And true to what its website says, the conductor did. It’s a well-known resort then.

When we were about to return to Manila, the buses wouldn’t stop even we flagged them so we had to go to Calamba City thru Jeep since there is a Bus station in that area. The jeep fare was 13.00 pesos per passenger. We rode the bus from Calamba City and the fare was 48.00 pesos per head till Alabang, Muntinlupa.

Public Transportation

Going to Los Baños is easy even if you don't have a car with you. For those who want to commute, you can ride a bus bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna. This will pass by Los Baños, just tell the bus conductor to drop you off at Splash Mountain. The Splash, Suites and Oasis Hotels are all located at Splash Mountain resort complex.

If you are coming from Quezon City, aircon buses are available at Cubao, along EDSA corner Aurora Boulevard. HM Tranport leaves at 3:30 am daily from Cubao to Sta. Cruz via Los Baños and buses depart every 15 minutes until 10 pm. Going home from Los Baños, you can wait for buses bound for Cubao at the highway in front of Splash Mountain. The last trip for buses coming from Sta. Cruz is at 8:00 pm.

For those coming from Manila, aircon buses bound for Sta. Cruz are available at JAMand Tritran bus terminals at LRT station, Buendia. First trip is also at 3:30 am and buses also depart every 15 minutes.

Driving From Manila

We are located along the national highway at Km. 58, Brgy. Lalakay, Los Baños, Laguna approximately 10 km after the city of Calamba. It takes one hour drive to reach us from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Thru the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) take the Calamba exit and drive towards Los Baños. Watch the road signs to Los Baños that will direct you to make a right in Calamba junction and upon reaching the busy Pansol resort area drive another 4 km. Splash Mountain is located on a curve immediately after two hills sandwiching the highway (we are after these hills on the left-hand side of the road). You won't miss the billboards, the huge facade and the spacious parking area to your left. Driving another 2 km. is the town proper of Los Baños where City of Springs is located. The University of the Philippines at Los Baños and IRRI are five kilometers after our resort.

Source Splash Mountain

SPLASH MOUNTAIN
Km 58. Barangay Lalakay, Los Baños, 4030 Laguna
Splash Hotel: Tel. No.  (0917) 583-2993; (049) 536-6399
Splash Oasis: Tel. No. (049) 536-6398 

Ardent Hibok-hibok Spring Resort Tagdo, Mambajao, Camiguin

Part of our tour is the Ardent Hibok-hibok Spring Resort. It’s a hot spring one. I grew up in a place where we usually bathe in hot spring resorts; my expectation for hot spring is high. I always compare the temperatures of Mapaso Spring resort or San Benon Spring resort to any hot spring that I've been. To my surprise ardent Hibok-hibok Spring Resort matched my expectations of a hot spring. This resort is the usual jump-off point for the hikers, who want to explore Mt. Hibok-hibok.

This resort is being managed by the Local Government Unit of Mambajao, Camiguin, it has six natural hot swimming pools with different water temperature. It is nestled on the foot of Mt. Hibok-hibok, which is an active volcano that makes the water hot. The best time to go there and enjoy the water is in the morning or at night. It is open 24 hours a day. The amenities of the resort are bar and restaurant, cafeteria (canteen), cottages, picnic sheds and tables, garden, camping ground and rooms available too.

Outside the resort there are many shops selling souvenir items and comfort food.

We had a day tour so we decided to have just 20 minutes to explore and enjoy the water but since we love hot spring we stayed for another 10 minutes.

Entrance Fee:

Adult – P 30.00

Child – P 15.00

Facility and Accomodation Rates:

• Grill Station - 20Php

• Regular Size Shed/Table - 70Php (first 3hrs) ; 10Php/hr, in excess of 3hrs.

• Family Size Shed - 150Php (first 3hrs) ; 10Php/hr, in excess of 3hrs.

• 4 units - Duplex Cottage (AC w/ CR) - 1,200Php/room/day (good for 2 pax)

• additional bed - 175Php/head/day

• 4 units - Dormitory Rooms (w/ AC) - 3,080Php/room/day (good for 7 pax)

• Family Room - 2,750Php/room/day (good for 5 pax)

The swimming pools at Ardent Hibok-hibok Spring Resort contain fresh and hot sulfuric flowing water. Temperature in every pool varies from thirty three degrees centigrade (33ºC) to thirty eight degrees centigrade (38ºC) to answer to individual needs and desire. Skin pores tend to open when expose to warm or hot water and close to cold water exposure. Thus, one is advised to have a cold shower after a dip at the swimming pool.

Sulfuric dioxide gas smells like “rotten eggs.” The higher the sulfuric content the more likely one smells it. The sulfuric content in the water varies from pool to pool at a PH of 6.4 to 7.2. Sulfur in water offers several therapeutic effect on skin disease, asthma (steam from pools provide bronchodilation effect), neuralgia (nerve pain) and rheumatism (joint pains on the shoulder, neck and wrist). Swimming, soaking or having a dip at the hot springs will soothe, relieve or ease the pain of your body.

Pool Guidelines

1. The pool opens 24/7

2. Pool cleaning schedule: every Wednesday  from 7:00am to 12:00noon.

3. Swimmers are encouraged to wear proper swimming attire:

women - bathing suitsor short pants

men – swimming trunk or shorts

4. Children without guardians are not allowed to use the pool.

5. Use of any soap or shampoo at the pool is strictly prohibited.

6. Indecent behavior/act, indecent exposure is strictly prohibited. It is punishable by law.

7. Do not leave your valuable things unattended. The resort will not assume responsibility for any losses.

8. Everybody is enjoined to help make the resort a clean and green place to stay.

            Avoid eating, drinking and smoking at the pool.

            Use garbage can for your waste

9. Violators will be evicted.

Source: Ardent Hibok-hibok Spring Resort

Ardent Hibok-hibok Spring Resort

Tagdo, Mambajao, Camiguin

Tele fax no. (088) 3870508

Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao Province- a living cultural landscape of unparalleled beauty.

Hapao Rice Terraces


with my sister

Even when I was a child, I dreamed of visiting the well known rice terraces. My sister and I took time to visit this place, more than 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao Province by the indigenous people. We Filipinos referred this as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe.
The Banaue terraces is a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old.



I was really amazed by the site of the terraces, really thankful. Although locals to this day still tend to the rice and vegetables on the terraces, but more younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing, often opting for the more lucrative hospitality industry generated by the Rice Terraces. The result is the gradual erosion of the characteristic "steps", which need constant reconstruction and care. The high rice fields of the Ifugao have followed the contours of the mountains. The knowledge handed down from one generation to the next, and the expression of sacred traditions and a delicate social balance, they have helped to create a landscape of great beauty that expresses the harmony between humankind and the environment.
The trip itself is an adventure. The road is literally long, rocky and winding road. I thought it was just a joke that the jeeps in Banaue can carry the passenger on the top load; and it’s true. I was scared and at the same time amazed. There were foreigners chose to ride on the top load instead of inside the jeep. The view is really fabulous and picturesque.





According to the locals the most beautiful and maintain rice terraces is the Batad Rice Terraces, but we were lack of time so we opted to trek to Hapao Rice Terraces, Hapao, Hungduan instead. We visited the hot spring natural pool there; it is not big as much as that of Hot Spring in Bicol. Our tour guide was really accommodating and very patient to guide and guard us as we trail the terraces.

Hot Spring

My sister with our Tour Guide


Hanging Bridge in Banaue

Mapaso Hot Spring Resort, Monbon, Irosin, Sorsogon

We used to picnic here when we were young, together with our cousins and other relatives. The resort is less than a kilometer away from the barangay proper and more or less three kilometers away from the town proper. Vehicles can now pass through the rough road. Sometimes I like to walk in going to the resort because I love to see and watch colorful butterflies, dragon flies and other things. Nice to meet familiar faces too.

This natural hot spring resort is nestled on the foot of Bulusan Volcano. The pools are natural Jacuzzi. It’s a free resort; everyone is welcome, no entrance fee, and no cottage though. What I love about this spring resort is that the water has a therapeutic effect to the aching muscles. There are six not so big natural pools. The third pool is the biggest. The locals wash their clothes here. If you want to see the old style of washing the clothes you could come here and talk to the women doing it while swimming with the suds. You could not swim and dive like in the other resort. The pools are natural surrounded by trees and plants. The vegetation is really nice. Sometimes you could smell sulfuric gas. Swimming and soaking here is fun while relaxing.