river trekking

Liloan, Cebu: Hiking the Cotcot River in Barangay Mulao

Posted on February 27, 2022

What comes to mind when you hear of the Cebu town of Liloan? To most people, it’s rosquillos cookies and the historic Bagacay Point Lighthouse. But this town has so much more to offer if you venture farther inland. The Cotcot River, for example, which separates Liloan from the municipality of Compostela to the north, is a river trekking destination. It is one of the major rivers on Cebu island, running for around 40 km from the highlands of CebuRead More→

Caramoan, Camarines Sur: Swimming Up Manapot River to Umang Cave

Posted on June 2, 2015

The peninsula of Caramoan in Camarines Sur and its offshore islands have been established as a popular island-hopping destination in the Philippines, owing largely to the tourism-inclined governance of the province and its inclusion as one of the locations for the hit reality TV show, Survivor. In 2012, I had an incredible time celebrating my birthday weekend here with a large group of friends. Besides its pristine limestone islands and beach coves, however, this tropical paradise still has a lot upRead More→

Madalag, Aklan: Trekking the Timbaban River to Liktinon White Rocks

Posted on May 27, 2015

Upon the recommendation of the Kalibo Tourism Office, I was invited to go river trekking to the Liktinon White Rocks, a natural rock formation along the Timbaban River that’s been officially declared an eco-tourism site by the municipal government of Madalag, Aklan last April 27, just two days before my visit. “You’re officially the first tourist to visit Liktinon White Rocks!” Francisco “Escot” Intela, the enthusiastic municipal tourism officer, told me as soon as I arrived in his quaint andRead More→

Ilagan Sanctuary: An Easy Nature Escape in Ilagan City, Isabela

Posted on February 6, 2014

Part of the 819-hectare Fuyot Springs National Park, bordering the town of Tumauini, Ilagan Sanctuary is a nature park located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Barangay Santa Victoria, Ilagan City in the province of Isabela. This accessible reserve makes for a quick nature escape, if you happen to pass by Ilagan City on a roadtrip to or from Tuguegarao, for example. Among the natural attractions are limestone caves, waterfall hikes, and viewing endemic and exotic animalsRead More→

Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental: River Trekking at Mapawa Adventure Park! [SP]

Posted on July 26, 2012

Rappelling down a 65-foot waterfall at Mapawa Adventure Park! Just when I thought my Mindanao adventure was winding down to an end after after a night’s partying in Cagayan de Oro, a friend invited me to her family’s 2,500 hectare Mapawa Adventure Park for some awesome river trekking.   Assisted by two friendly and knowledgeable guides, we took a horseback ride to the jump-off point of the river trek, where an enormous century-old dao tree stood. My horse was extremelyRead More→