Villa Escudero

Villa Escudero, a coconut plantation village in San Pablo City, was developed by its owners into a tourist destination complete with swimming pools, picnic area, fishing grounds, and modern amenities. Special packages can be arranged to include overnight stay with food and accommodation.

The village offers a glimpse of plantation living. The whole area is surrounded by coconut trees and flowering plants. The estate also houses a museum whose collection ranges from fabulous antiquities to kitsch. Bamboo cottages grid a river that flows to a dam where picnickers gather around the tables set up on the water.

How to get to Villa Escudero?
1. Rent a van or car through Villa Escudero.
Villa Escudero does not own the car or van but will connect you with rental company. The rates are as follows:

day rate for car rental, with driver, good for 4 passengers: P3,500
day rate for van rental, with driver, good for 11 passengers: P4,700

The payment for the rental can be made at the end of the trip.

My tip: If you're renting a car or van, and the rates are the same with other companies, I suggest you rent the car or van thru Villa Escudero instead because:

You won't have to worry about giving directions. The driver will surely know the directions to Villa Escudero.

You are sure of the reliability of the rental company because it comes with the seal of approval of Villa Escudero.

2. Take the public bus to Villa Escudero
Go to Jac Liner bus terminal and take the bus going to Lucena, Quezon. Travel time is 2 1/2 hours. These are the 2 terminals with bus going to Lucena:

LRT - BUENDIA STATION
2052 Donada Street corner
Buendia Street, Pasay City
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel. No: 4042073
Current bus schedule: 1st trip is 5am, last trip is at 10pm, every 30 minutes.

KAMIAS STATION
2 Mapagmahal Street
Baranggay Pinyahan, Kamias
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel. No.: 9276139
Current bus schedule: 1st trip is 2am, last trip is at 9pm, every 20 minutes.

FARE: P178.00, aircon bus from Kamias or Buendia to Lucena

Make sure to tell the driver or the conductor that you are going to Villa Escudero so they can stop right after the Quezon Arch and drop you off there. The gate of Villa Escudero is just after the Arch and at the left side of the Arch.

From the point where the bus drops you off, you cross the road to the other side to walk to the entrance. It's a very long walk. It's better to take a tricycle if you see one and ride it to the entrance of Villa Escudero.

Read More

Pagsanjan Falls

A popular tourist destination, Pagsanjan Rapids and Falls is a series of 14 rapids punctuated by mini-waterfalls on the way to the main falls. Pagsanjan is a small Laguna town which served as the setting for Fracis Ford Coppola's film "Apocalypse Now."

The terrain towards the main falls offers a lot of exitement. As one negotiates the waterway, the trips becomes wilder, with the river flanked by towering cliffs lush with vegetation. Waters from the Cavinti and Luisiana dams cascade down Pagsanjan Falls and into a segregated part of the river which is about 150 feet deep. Here, one can rent a raft and enjoy riding under the falls.

How to get to Pagsanjan Falls:
How to Commute to Pagsanjan Falls: Board a HM Transport bus, with terminal on EDSA, Cubao near Victory Liner, going to Sta. Cruz/Calamba (fare: P148.50) or Green Star Express with terminal on Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat (Buendia) and LRT Gil Puyat station (fare: P140.20)
then drop off at the Jam terminal in Pagsanjan. Board a jeepney bound for Pagsanjan, Lumban, Paete or Siniloan then alight at your destination resort or inn (or ride a tricycle).

Driving Directions to Pagsanjan from Makati: from SLEX take Calamba exit then head straight to Calamba. turn right at Calamba junction and follow this road and highway until you reach Pagsanjan (after Los Banos, Bay, Victoria, Pila, Sta Cruz towns). There's parking inside the Pagsanjan patio or inside your resort/inn of choice.

Directions by car from Quezon City, it's faster to take the Rizal route by going to Marcos Highway, turn right at the junction Masinag Wet and Dry Market, on reaching Antipolo intersection turn left going to Baras (straight ahead leads to Antipolo Church while a right turn leads to Hinulugang Taktak) where you'll pass by Teresa, Morong, Baras, Tanay, and Pililla towns of Rizal province before reaching Laguna towns of Mabitac, Siniloan, Pangil, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban then finally Pagsanjan. Follow only the highway in getting there where you'll pass the zigzag road of Manila East Road with great views of the shimmering Laguna de Bay.

From Lucena and Lucban, Quezon: there are jeepneys plying the route Lucena to Sta. Cruz that pass by Pagsanjan, Cavinti and Luisina. Jumbo jeeps that go to Lucban, Quezon terminal at Pagsanjan town plaza.

Commuting from Cavite: board the Pagsanjan or Sta. Cruz vans at Pala-pala terminal in Dasmarinas, Cavite (near Robinsons Dasmarinas and SM). Board a jeep for Pagsanjan (or Lumban, Paete, Siniloan) or a tricycle to your destination resort.

Read More