After our heritage tour of Malolos, we bussed for an hour and a half to San Rafael River Adventure, a resort in San Rafael town located along the Angat River, one of the major rivers in Luzon that originates from a forest watershed in the Sierra Madre mountains and meanders across the province of Bulacan. An idyllic getaway that’s just a couple of hours from Metro Manila, the sprawling resort consists of glass cottages and an infinity pool overlooking the river, as well as riverside amenities where visitors may experience a variety of water sports. The place reminded me of Aquascape, a small resort at Lake Caliraya in Cavinti, Laguna, with house boats and different water activities.
San Rafael River Adventure is located along Angat River, an important waterway in Bulacan.
Explore the river with a variety of water sports.
As soon as we got the resort, I made my way to riverside area to change into swimwear and take out a paddle board on the river. It was a hot day, so I didn’t mind getting wet at all. The current of the river wasn’t strong so I quickly found my balance and paddled confidently standing up on the board down the river towards a field of water hyacinths. It was a clear and sunny day; we could see as far as the Sierra Madre mountains in the distance – the upland source of the Angat River. Afterwards, I also went kayaking and – to increase the thrill factor – gave a jetski a spin around the reservoir.
After spending most of the afternoon enjoying the river, the entire group boarded a motorized floating hut for a cruise down the Angat River as dusk approached. It was a relaxing way to end the day, stuffing our faces with food and singing karaoke (yes, there’s a karaoke system onboard!) while taking it in the languid atmosphere of the Angat River.
Enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise down the Angat River.
Other water sports and activities offered at the resort are wake boarding, banana boat ride, kubo (hut) rafting, fishing, boating and kayaking. There’s also an inflatable slide along the riverbank and obstacle course over a nearby pond, suited for team building activities. If you wanna stay dry, you can explore the resort on ATV or horseback.
Rates of Activities
Jetski: PHP 1,750 per 30 mins
Paddle Board: PHP 250 per hour
Sit-down Ski: PHP 1,250 per 15 mins
Wake Boarding: PHP 1,250 per15 mins
Knee Boarding: PHP 1,250 per 15 mins
Banana Boat: PHP 300 per person per 15 mins
Pedal Boat: PHP 150 per person
Speed Boat: PHP 2,500 per 30 minutes
Speed Boat Ride: PHP 300 per person per 15 mins
Marine Boat: PHP 1,200 per hour
Fishing Rod: PHP 50 per hour
Bicycle: PHP 100 per hour
ATV: PHP 400 per half hour
Horseback Riding: PHP 350 per hours
Lunch Cruise: PHP 750 per person
River Cruise Rental (1.5 hours): PHP 7,500 for 20 persons or less, or PHP 10,000 for 21-40 persons
Where to Stay
The resort offers accommodations for limited-time use and overnight stays in glass cottages, villas and treehouses. Overnight accommodation starts at PHP 10,000 for their glass cottage for four persons, inclusive of breakfast, 1-hour use of kayak or paddle board, and access to the infinity and floating pools. There are also clamping packages starting at PHP 3,500 for two persons. For the complete rates, visit their website.
Contact Details
San Rafael River Adventure
Address: Barangay Talacsan, San Rafael, Bulacan Philippines
Contact Numbers: +63 2 5131569
Email: reservation@sanrafaelriveradventure.com
Website: www.sanrafaelriveradventure.com
How to Get There
From Cubao, Quezon City, take a Baliwag Transit to Baliuag town proper, then charter a tricycle to take you to San Rafael River Adventure. Total travel time is two to three hours.
Location Map
This trip was made possible through Lakbay Norte 7, a media tour held from January 30 to February 5, 2018, and organized by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB), a non-stock, non-profit organization spearheaded by the Manila North Tollways Corporation, builder and concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway.
