SEVEN LAKES ADVENTURE
SCO MAKATI SUMMER FUN 2015
I have wanted to visit the 7
lakes of San Pablo Laguna for more than two years after I first saw it on TV, I
invited my staff to join me in the
adventure this holiday of May 01, 2015.
After checking the internet for sites and blogs, we got more excited with the pictures of the places to visit and food to eat.
Our call time was 5:00 am at the McDonalds Buendia LRT bus station, but one of the girls (Jane) woke up late thus we arrived at the station at 5:45 am.
After checking the internet for sites and blogs, we got more excited with the pictures of the places to visit and food to eat.
Our call time was 5:00 am at the McDonalds Buendia LRT bus station, but one of the girls (Jane) woke up late thus we arrived at the station at 5:45 am.
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| at the Bus Station in Buendia |
We did not anticipate that there will be many passengers at the bus station being a public holiday and it will be a long weekend. When the other girls arrived ( Monett, Cheryl, Girlie}, we split up, there’s another bus station at the other side of LRT, so Monett and I headed there while the rest were left in the long queue. At the other station the line was shorter but the buses arrived slower thus we went back to the 1st station.
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| happy bus ride |
We left at 6:45 am, we had
our breakfast inside the bus, pandesal and cheese whiz.
Regular travel time is
only 2 to 2.5 hours, but due to traffic we reached Jolibee at San Pablo near SM
San Pablo at 10:30 am. We stopped to pee at Jollibee.
Then took a tricycle
going to Sampalok lake.
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| Sampalok Lake |
After some photo session with the giant tilapia and the
view, we rented bicycle so we go around the entire lake.
I forgot to tell my
staff that we will have to go around the whole lake, they were wondering where is the end of the
road to turn back to the starting line.
I was never a good biker, most of the
time I wiggle, so the normal 20 minutes ride took more than double time. I
always ended up almost hitting anything at the side of the road, most of them
not moving like a parked car, a store, a fence, the wiggling becomes more
evident every time a car, bike, people, animals will be on the street, perhaps
due to my fear of hitting them, so I normally hit the brakes.
It was the most challenging time for me in the entire adventure, perhaps it was also the same for my companion, only it was not due to the biking but for my hardship in the bike. Though I was still lucky that I did not crashed nor fell from my bike.
It was the most challenging time for me in the entire adventure, perhaps it was also the same for my companion, only it was not due to the biking but for my hardship in the bike. Though I was still lucky that I did not crashed nor fell from my bike.
The lake is surrounded by a community thus there are houses lined up along the
road there was one big stoned house that is worth taking a photo, there are
also food stall and restaurants. We also
found a wooden furniture displayed though the person manning the area was busy
on tree but he was able to tell us the price, P35,000 for the whole set of 5
pcs.. We also stopped by the giant boy scout hand pledge.
After the hot and
hard ride, we rest for a while for photo session and rented a tricycle to take
us to the other 6 lakes. Lito, our driver, agreed to charge us for P100/head
instead of the usual P100/lake.
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| enjoying the beauty of Sampalok Lake |
We made a short stop at the
nearby municipal building which is located along the road going to Sampalok
lake to take a photo, then to the 711 to buy water.
Another stop was made at the Immaculate Concepcion church.
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| Municipal Hall |
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| New Building |
Another stop was made at the Immaculate Concepcion church.
2nd lake – BUNOT LAKE
It was a very short 5 minutes walk from the area where the tricycle can be parked, there was a shaded area with bench to view the lake. According to the locals sitted at the bench, the lake is 60 ft deep, the small area with net in front of the shade is where they place the tilapia that they catch before selling them to the market.
It was a very short 5 minutes walk from the area where the tricycle can be parked, there was a shaded area with bench to view the lake. According to the locals sitted at the bench, the lake is 60 ft deep, the small area with net in front of the shade is where they place the tilapia that they catch before selling them to the market.
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| shaded area with bench |
3rd lake- PANDIN LAKE
The most visited lake among the seven lakes, it was the only area where there’s an activity and where you can have something to eat or drink, there are also benches to sit on while waiting for the balsa.
The trail going there took 20 minutes (depending on your phase) to walk with the guide though it was not necessary to hire one as the trail is just a road leading to the lake.
There is a balsa
ride and lunch, you can also swim in this lake though you have to be wearing a
life vest to do so, the nearest area to the shore is already 50 ft deep while
in the middle part is 180 ft deep.
I asked the bangkero if there are visitors in the lake during a storm, the obvious answer was, there are no visitors when there is a storm. But you will feel safe as there are 3 bankeros with you on the balsa, the water was also very silent.
The food is very delicious, they charged P180/hea for the balsa ride and P180/hea for lunch consists of ginataang hipon, fried tilapia, ,ensaladang pako, 2 rice, bottled mineral water and banana.
There is a balete vine that can be used as swing located near the area to go the other lake
there’s also a small grotto with pipe of running water from a “bukal”.
The most visited lake among the seven lakes, it was the only area where there’s an activity and where you can have something to eat or drink, there are also benches to sit on while waiting for the balsa.
The trail going there took 20 minutes (depending on your phase) to walk with the guide though it was not necessary to hire one as the trail is just a road leading to the lake.
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| with a very interesting signage |
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| going down trail |
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| going up trail |
There is a farm on both side of the road thus there were cemented walls, but the rancho of horses can be seen on the right side of the road.
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| the ranch |
I asked the bangkero if there are visitors in the lake during a storm, the obvious answer was, there are no visitors when there is a storm. But you will feel safe as there are 3 bankeros with you on the balsa, the water was also very silent.
The food is very delicious, they charged P180/hea for the balsa ride and P180/hea for lunch consists of ginataang hipon, fried tilapia, ,ensaladang pako, 2 rice, bottled mineral water and banana.
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| ginataang fresh shrimps (catch from the lake) |
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| ensaladang pako |
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| fried tilapia (catch from the lake)a and rice in banana leaves |
There is a balete vine that can be used as swing located near the area to go the other lake
there’s also a small grotto with pipe of running water from a “bukal”.
4th lake- YAMBO LAKE
it is situated next to Pandin Lake seperated only by a portion of a mountain,
We did not ask the barangay tanod what activity can
be done in that lake and we also did not descend to the lake, we just took
photos from the top where we can see the view of the lake. One of the kids in
the earlier big group commented that it was just a waste of time to go up since
he only saw a view of the lake (not a nature lover kid)
The 3 minute climb is a little bit stiff but descending is much trickier though there is a kawayan rail where we can hold on.
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| the ascend |
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| the descend |
5th lake- CALIBATO LAKE
This one is the most tiring trail, it was very hot when we walk the trail,
from the road, you will walk the dirt road, passed by a quarried mountain, you’ll go down the trail of stones w/ a nearby batis, this is the most adventurous among the trails to the seven lakes, ,
go through a trail of bushes, cross a small coconut tree bridge, there were also kambing and chicken along the trail
We saw a couple of men fishing on the right side of the lake,
there were a few small houses at the landing area of the lake.
This one is the most tiring trail, it was very hot when we walk the trail,
from the road, you will walk the dirt road, passed by a quarried mountain, you’ll go down the trail of stones w/ a nearby batis, this is the most adventurous among the trails to the seven lakes, ,
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| the quarried mountain |
go through a trail of bushes, cross a small coconut tree bridge, there were also kambing and chicken along the trail
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| small coconut bridge at the right side |
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| flowing batis |
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| goats about to jump from the hillside |
We saw a couple of men fishing on the right side of the lake,
there were a few small houses at the landing area of the lake.
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| cute wooden house |
6th lake – PALAKPAKIN LAKE
I’m not sure if our driver was just tired that he only stopped at the bridge for us to view the lake
the other side of the bridge
I’m not sure if our driver was just tired that he only stopped at the bridge for us to view the lake
the other side of the bridge
7th lake- MOHICAP LAKE
steep cemented stairs lead us to the lake,
there is a house at the side of the lake down the stairs
a family offered us to see the cave at the other side of the lake at P50, using a balsa, but we were already tired to check it out.
steep cemented stairs lead us to the lake,
there is a house at the side of the lake down the stairs
a family offered us to see the cave at the other side of the lake at P50, using a balsa, but we were already tired to check it out.
We were tired, dirty,sweaty and smelly so the chance to get to shower was most welcome.
8th lake—STAR LAKE RESORT
Just a few steps away from our 7th lake.
We paid P70 entrance, we rested at the cottage and bathed, we did not swim in the pool since not all of us brought swimming attires.
Dinner was at SUKI BAR –
we asked the assistance of our colleague from the province to look for a place near the bus station where we can have a good affordable meal.
We were expecting that SUKI is a restaurant that serves famous San Pablo dishes, but we are happy that the venue was cozy and nice, food also is affordable and tasty. P70 for katsu meal (pork,chicken,tuna).
we asked the assistance of our colleague from the province to look for a place near the bus station where we can have a good affordable meal.
We were expecting that SUKI is a restaurant that serves famous San Pablo dishes, but we are happy that the venue was cozy and nice, food also is affordable and tasty. P70 for katsu meal (pork,chicken,tuna).
We rode the bus at 8:30 pm
and we were at Pasay Rd by 10:30 pm, the two hour ride is courtesy of the bus
driver’s fast and furious driving, maybe
he’s a fan of Vin Diesel.
