Sierra Madre Resort, A Resort with a Scenic View

Dreaming of a quiet bonding moment with someone or probably a place to spend with friends? Sierra Madre Resort is a good option. Located at the top of the mountains of Tanay Rizal, it exudes a very intimate atmosphere. This is the place where the only noise you will hear is the howling of the wind. It is too serene that time seems to stop and everything becomes perfect.

When we arrived, we quickly started exploring the area. We walked along a pathway that offers a scenic view of the surrounding mountains. Well, the truth is almost all areas in the resort is scenic. We walked down the slopes until we reach the Spring valley, a part of the resort located far from the main building. It has a more private pool, one is color blue, the other is green with its water coming directly from the mountain. The pool is surrounded by a garden of manicured lawn and pine like trees. Again, needless to say, it has a picturesque view of the mountain ranges.

From the pool area is a pathway to the plight of stairs leading to  the Sto. Nino Falls. It is a waterfalls about 20 feet, spewing an ice-cold and clear water and is surrounded by moss adorned boulders. It doesn't have a pool where the water drops yet for some reason, I found myself enjoying standing under the cascade with the water pouring in me. :D The air is cooler in that part f the resort, with the thick foliage and trees trapping most of the sun's rays out and prevents it from warming the area.

We retraced our steps to get back near the spring valley pool and saw another branch of pathway leading to the prayer mountain. It is a series of stations of the cross and once we reached the top most part of it, we realized we're in another mountain. Cool! And the wind is cool too, cool enough that we didn't realize we're already being burned by the sun.

Few hours of exploring and we then decided to climb back to the main area, where the cluster of rooms and main pool area is located. It is gorgeous there. There is a platform built adjacent to the pool where tables and chairs were set up, it is overlooking the mountains and the wind is freely caressing my hair. That's where I found utmost relaxation. Nikko and I just sat there, ate pizza and chilled over Eraserheads' songs. I wanted to swim in the pool after the meal, I ain't  a good swimmer and wanted to practice more. The pool looks so inviting, however when I checked it out dirt was already noticeable on the floor of the pool and there was a frog floating in the main pool. Although Nikko removed it, I wouldn't ever swim in a pool enjoyed by a frog, not in the next million years, haha!

I checked out the shower area near the main pool and was a bit disappointed that almost no water is dripping from the faucet. I just wanted to wash my face to freshen up a bit but it was near to impossible. I'm not sure if this is how it always is, I'm thinking that maybe because it was a Wednesday and no other guests are in there but somehow, I still feel we should have been able to use those basic amenities. Sierra Madre is a very nice place, location wise and if only the main pool looked clean and there's water in the shower room, then it might have been superb.

The resort offers rooms/suites that can accommodate maximun of 12 people. They also have rooms for 2 people. The rooms I believe is devoid of television since it's the resorts aim to have their guests do nothing but to commune with nature and feel the tranquility of the place. Being a nature lover, I would agree with that except when it's night time and there's nothing else to do really. They have zip lines by the way.They also have a restaurant but was not able to try it since we brought our own food.

The resort has a Greek themed garden, highlighted by a Gazebo and Greek statues. It made sense, as the resort is in a high area, perfect with cool climate and a stunning view, no wonder it makes one feel that it is the home of the gods. There are flowery vines that made the place even lovelier and a hanging bridge  tucked near the pine trees.

Overall, I enjoyed exploring the vastness of Sierra Madre Resort. It is a refreshing treat to my senses, location wise. It is a serene place perfect for total relaxation and I would reiterate, should I have been able to use the main pool and there's water in the shower room, I'd say this place is perfect.

How to go to Sierra Madre Resort from Manila Via Commute

I found out two ways commuting there, first is the more scenic route which will involve more zigzag roads and mountain views.

Ride a jeep or FX from Cubao to Cogeo. FX fare as of this writing is Php35. From Cogeo (already a part of Antipolo), ride a jeep going to Sampaloc (a barangay of Tanay). Fare is Php52 to the resort. Sierra Madre will be on your left. Last trip of jeeps passing by the resort from  Sampaloc to Cogeo is 6 PM but depending on the volume of passengers and the weather, it is always safer to leave earlier, about 5 PM. That's according to the jeepney drivers I asked in Sampaloc.

That or the second way is when you're visiting Daranak Falls in Tanay first.

From StarMall in crossing, ride a van going to Tanay Rizal, fare is Php70. From Daranak Falls, it is always wiser to go back to the terminal in Plaza Aldea to have a guaranteed seat. From the terminal, ride a jeep going to Sampaloc. Travel time is about 30 minutes. Fare is Php26. From Sampaloc, ride a jeep to Cogeo. Fare is Php10. Sierra Madre is on your right. Last trip of vans from Tanay to Crossing is 8 PM.

The Blogger Would Like to Share: Tips on Creating Your Do-It-Yourself Travel

Mambukal Resort: Home of the Seven Waterfalls

Nestled in the foot of a volcano and the sleepy town of Murcia, Negros Occidental, Mambukal Resort boasts of a wide tropical forest area, cool humid climate and a unique encounter with nature.

We left Pension Bacolod early that morning then rode a jeepney going to Libertad Public Market where mini buses plying Mambukal are parked. During the trip, I met Charles, a young mini bus conductor who amazed me with his sincerity and friendliness. After passing several towns and sugarcane plantations, we reached the resort in an hour. Before the bus left, Charles and I exchanged numbers, he and his uncle driver offered to fetch us after lunch. I was thankful because it seemed that there are no fixed time for buses to pass and leave the resort, after all, it's the low season for tourists.

There is a Php30.00 entrance fee for adults and we paid Php10.00 each for the kids we're traveling with. I was just a bit disappointed upon learning that the hotspring dipping pool was closed. We went there Tuesday which is maintenance day. Never the less, we can still opt to use the swimming pool but we didn't bother paying the Php50 for that, we decided to do the trek instead that led us to the series of seven waterfalls created by a long stream coming from the top of the mountain.

I started walking and noticed that there are accommodation facilities in the resort. Should we have longer time and were not bound to leave for Manila that afternoon, we might have opted to stay even just for a night to truly experience everything the resort has to offer. Checking on the rates, it ranges from Php600 with an ordinary lodge to Php 4000 with a luxurious family cottage with 2 bedrooms, a living room, dining and kitchen area.

Even at the start of the trek, I'm almost certain that I will love the place and I was not mistaken. What surrounded me is lush vegetation, everywhere is green. The trails are established and friendly except that it's sometimes slippery and uphill but otherwise, it's like a walk in the park. The two kids easily maneuvered their way up to the sixth falls, even on our trek back when we opted to take a different trail. It was also drizzling which added to the communing with nature experience.

Some of the falls are just small cascades. Reaching the sixth falls, we're all euphoric. Swimming isn't allowed in the previous falls we've passed by and we we're allowed to do so in the sixth falls.

There is a deep gorge filled with water coming from the falls where one can jump, that is if you've found enough courage to do so. :D for it would mean jumping from the top of a 15 feet boulder then dropping into another 15 feet deep pool.

Nikko and his siblings enjoyed doing that over and over after overcoming their fear on the first jump. I on the other hand was satisfied playing in the shallow waters, capturing their pictures and taking videos.



The seventh falls wasn't available for viewing when we visited. There had been a landslide blocking the path on the way there so we spent most of our time in the sixth falls. Few hours had passed and we know time is running out so we had our group picture taken before heading back to the resort. We took the trail crossing the stream near the sixth falls.

We continued on an ascending trail until we reach a ridge where we were rewarded with a picturesque view of the lowlands. It was slippery and muddy on that trail and I'm thankful my Ipanema slippers had been dependable enough. :) There's also a tree occupied by hundred of fruit bats. Some flew after I clicked my camera and it flashed, my bad. But it was a site seeing some of them fly in unison. We continued trekking until we've passed by a local village where Nico, the local kid who tagged along in our trek is residing. He also showed us the narrow path leading to their school.

On our way, I happened to see a marang tree, with its succulent fruit I tasted for the first time on our way to Murcia. It looked like a jackfruit, only smaller. The tree only grows in the southern regions of the Philippines.

After passing the last local house, Nico told us he won't be coming with us anymore. When asked why, he told us, kids like him aren't permitted inside the resort, the guard will be furious if he sees him. That's when we understood that maybe, Mambukal isn't allowing guides especially kids inside their property, something we didn't know upon arriving. He pointed us the way back to the resort and we gave him money, something he didn't really ask but we thought he needed especially only his father is earning a living for their whole family. We told him to use it in his schooling. He thanked us by his wide smile.

We continued walking then reached the boating area. The water is cold, it was coming from the stream. Nearby, I saw some parts of the soil smoking and sometimes bubbling, a proof that the resort lies at the foot of a volcano. Few more minutes and we passed by a cemented pathway with lots of trees planted on both sides, then an area where guests who prefer to camp can pitch their tents.

Upon reaching the parking area, I sent Charles a message and was told they are on their way to fetch us. That's perfect giving us time to take a quick shower at the bathroom near the pool area. The water is ice cold which made my quick shower even quicker. The mini bus then arrived and few minutes had passed, we were travelling back to Bacolod City where we had our lunch then dropped by the pension house to get our things before heading to the airport.

Mambukal Resort is a grand finale to our Western Visayas backpacking trip. It isn't anything fancy but it surely is worth a visit especially for nature lovers and adventurers like me. :)