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Laguna: seeing an old province in a whole new light
People usually think they’ve seen the best of what Laguna has to offer but wait until you see what “Biyahe Ni Drew” has discovered in various towns of this province.
Laguna is known for its glorious Pagsanjan falls, relaxing hot springs or as the birthplace of our national hero, Jose Rizal. But would you believe that there are more beautiful places here waiting to be discovered? Talaga namang ma-LAGUNA ang tourism dito!
En route to Laguna
From Manila
You can ride the buses in Taft, Manila with trips going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna for around P150. The first trip from Taft usually leaves around three in the morning and the last trip leaves at 9:30 PM. From there, you may ride a jeep going to Siniloan to get to Lumban, Laguna.
From Rizal
From EDSA, you may take a bus going to Tanay, Rizal. From there, you may ride a bus going to Siniloan, Laguna (around P60). From there, you may ride a jeep going to Sta. Cruz. These jeeps will pass by the towns of Kalayaan and Lumban. From these towns, it is very easy to reach the towns of Cavinti and Luisiana.
Where to stay
Caliraya Mountain Lake Resort
Brgy. East Talaongan, Cavinti, Laguna
You’ve heard of houses on stilts but have you heard of a floating boat house?
For P7,000, you can enjoy a floating boat house where you can actually fish right outside your cottage! This includes breakfast for four, air conditioning, flat screen TV, and your own bathroom!
They also have other options like their deluxe room that has one single bed and one double bed which is good for 2-3 persons, and a family room that has two double beds and one single bed which is good for five people
Know more about them here!
Lago Fishing Village
Barangay West Talaongan, Cavinti, Laguna
Another resort located near the Caliraya Lake!
Their superior rooms have air conditioning, queen sized bed and flat screen TV for P5,900 per night, while their premium rooms have two queen sized beds and a very spacious bathroom for P4,900 per night.
Know more about them here!
Porta Verde Resort
Cavinti, Laguna
Want to take your vacation to another level?
In this resort, you can rent not just a room but a whole villa! Their Rambutan Villa 1 & 2 is a two-storey villa with two sofa beds, a bath and a complete kitchen at the ground floor and two queen-sized beds, another bathroom and a balcony. All these for P13,000!
They also have an infinity pool and several cabanas (P5,500) here near the lake.
For more information about them, check them out here!
Biyahero tip! If you want cheaper deals with their accommodations, try going during the month of November.
Places and activities waiting to be explored
Bumbungan Eco-park
Brgy. Tibatib, Cavinti, Laguna
The water flowing here is a spillway from the Bumbungan River. There used to be a pathway along this river but when the water started rising, the locals decided to just build a bridge over it where it’s safer for people to pass.
When you go here, you’ll have to pay an environmental fee of P10-20. If you want to go on a picnic with your loved ones, then you may rent a cottage for P150-200. And if you want to swim in its waters, you may also rent a ‘timbulan’ or a floater for P10-20. (Price depends on the time you go to the eco-park)
This is also the place where the briefing is done if you plan to go Cavinti Underground River and Caves Complex.
Remember! Enjoy in this area with caution as the current in the river may get pretty unpredictable.
Cavinti Underground River and Caves Complex
Did you think Palawan’s the only one with an underground river? Think again, Biyaheros!
There are three chambers in this cave. The third one has two pathways that you may take, either take the narrow but dry part or its opposite side where the water can go up to your waist! There’s also a mini-waterfalls inside where you can take a dip in or even drink from. Yes, it’s that clean!
It is advisable to ride a 4x4 when you go to Cavinti Underground River and Caves Complex because you’ll have to pass a river and the road leading to the caves can get bumpy and muddy.
Remember! Wear the helmet that your tourist guides will provide at all times because there are a lot of tight spaces, pointy rock formations and bats inside so you would want to keep your head bukol and poop-free!
Also, remember to wear proper footgear (No slippers!) as the pathways inside the cave can get really slippery.
Lago Fishing Village
Brgy. West Talaongan, Cavinti, Laguna
Not feeling that adventurous or you want to go for something more chill? Then this is the place for you!
This fishing village boasts of its five hectare fishing lagoon wherein some of the fishes that you will find are red tilapia, pangea fish, giant kanduli, pacu fish and the alligator gar fish.
Here, you may rent a nipa hut by the lake, course through Caliraya Lake by riding their swan boats and of course, fish! Chill life, indeed!
Japanese Garden
Brgy. Kanluran Talaongan, Cavinti, Laguna
This is a memorial park that the Japanese government built to pay homage to their soldiers who died during World War II. It is also said that this is where the famous General Yamashita was buried.
Tourists have to pay P20 upon entrance. It is advisable that you bring your own food too if you plan to go on a picnic here.
There is also a 100-step stairs here where upon reaching the top, you can see the entire Caliraya Lake. Get your selfie sticks ready for that view!
Cavinti Church
Cailles Street, Cavinti, Laguna
This is also known as the Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish Church. Locals say this was built after two siblings saw the image of El Salvador Del Mundo or the Divine Savior of the World in the area where it was built.
The first part of this church was built back in 1619 but was heavily damaged by the Chinese uprising, while the present church was built in the year 1834.
Caliraya Mountain Lake Resort
Brgy. East Talaongan, Cavinti, Laguna
Looking for a perfect place to hold your team building? This resort’s got you covered!
Aside from their accommodations, they also offer a 10-course obstacle track that will bring out the team spirit and camaraderie of your group! Some of the challenges here include slide and drop, wall climb slide, cable balance, tarzan swing and horseback course!
But if you’re going solo, they also have ziplining and kayaking. You can also hang out with their ducks during sunset!
Making products out of Pandan
Locals from Laguna not only use Pandan as an ingredient for their dishes but as a raw material for their products as well!
Cavinti, Laguna is teeming with Pandan trees that’s why the women in the province make a living out of it. They color dried Pandan leaves and mold them until they form a the shape of the product desired.
They usually make hats they call “sambalilo” and bags in different sizes and designs. Perfect for pasalubong!
Hulugan Falls
Brgy. San Salvador, Luisiana, Laguna
Aside from their Pandan products, locals from Brgy. San Salvador are also proud of their beautiful waterfalls.
Hulugan Falls stands at 70-meters tall which means that the water pressure here is very strong. They say that you’ll surely get wet no matter where you place yourself here!
Wondering what’s on top of this falls? Only two more other falls that has calmer currents.
#BeAHero alert! When you visit Hulugan Falls, help keep maintain its beauty by not littering or taking anything from the place.
Kalayaan Twin Falls
Kalayaan, Laguna
When you go to Kalayaan Twin Falls, a fresh cold breeze of air will welcome you. Do not be fooled, you will see other waterfalls on your way up to the said tourist spot but the Twin Falls is located at the top part of the mountain. The water flowing from the twin falls flows all the way to the swimming pool of Kalayaan Twin Falls Resort.
You’ll have to pay an entrance fee when you go here, P40 for adults and P20 for children. There are tables here that you can rent for the whole day or cottages that you can rent overnight (around P100).
#BeAHero alert! The resort is able to maintain the simple beauty of Kalayaan Twin Falls because they constantly remind their visitors to take care of the said tourist spot.
Burdahan sa Laguna
Did you know that Lumban, Laguna is the Embroidery Capital of the Philippines?
If you want to know why they were given such title, you may look for the bordaderas in their town to witness first hand how they make their products. In the case of “Biyahe Ni Drew,” the team searched for 85 year-old Monica De Ramos or known as Anda Manik who is said to be the best bordadera in Lumban.
According to Anda, if you request early, they can finish a barong within one to two months but if it requires a lot of details then it will take up to three to four months. Barongs with more details can cost as much as P12,000 while a simple one costs P3,500. They also sell ready to wear pieces like Terno, Kimonos and Barongs.
Biyahero tip! We suggest you buy embroidered fabrics from locals like Anda because they are cheaper compared to the ones you can find in Manila or the ones you can buy from popular designers.
Happy tummy, happy biyahero!
Afripaya
Cavinti, Laguna
Afri… paya? Ever heard of this dish, Biyaheros?
Locals say that they got this recipe from their ancestors. It’s called as such because it’s basically afritada mixed with papaya! It has the same ingredients with the normal afritada but what makes this different is that they use carabao’s meat! Sounds like it’s worth a try, right?
La Cucina De Caliraya
Caliraya Mountain Lake Resort
Tired from all the activities you did in this resort? Time to re-energize with their scrumptious dishes!
Aside from their accommodations and activities they offer, they also offer a wide array of food for their guests. They usually cook Filipino and Korean dishes because a lot of Koreans go here to golf.
Some of their signature comfort food here are their crispy pata, pinakbet and pork sisig! And since they’re located beside the Caliraya Lake, they also serve fresh tilapia and dory that can be cooked in six different ways!
Kamoteng kahoy dishes
Kalayaan, Laguna
Dishes with kamoteng kahoy are so popular in Kalayaan that they hold a fiesta just for it!
Every month of March, they encourage people to come up with new dishes made of kamoteng kahoy which they serve during the day of the fiesta.
Some of the kamote dishes that you must try when you go to Kalayaan are their ‘kapunya’ (kamoteng kahoy-puto- pinya), pichi-pichi and cassava roll made of kamote, and casalonia salad!
Now, don’t you want to reconsider passing off Laguna in your go-to list? You never know what other things you’ll discover when you go here. *wink*--- Via Gonzales/ BMS, GMA Public Affairs
