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| NO FILTER/ EDIT. THE WATER IS REALLY EMERALD GREEN AND THE LIMESTONE WALLS ARE CRYSTAL WHITE. |
Minalungao National Park is one of the few established protected area of the Philippines located in the municipality of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon. The park covers an area of 2, 018 hectares along the scenic Penaranda River on both sides by up to 16 meter high limestone walls in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range.
On August 28, 2016 we went to Minalungao as our side-trip for our Mt. Sawi climb located in Nueva Ecija specifically in the municipality of Gabaldon but it turns out that our side-trip was more fun and challenging than the climb mainly because of the heavy rain shower that made it slippery and difficult.
I have to tell you first that when you arrive at the facade of the park, you will be disappointed. But its true that the view from the outside can be deceiving because as we started our adventures inside, every activity was worth it!
Activities:
- Swimming
- Cliff Diving
- Picnic at the Balsa/Cottage
- Zip Line
- Caving
- Trekking/Hiking
- 1,000 steps to Grotto
Rates:
Entrance Fee- Php 50 per person
Cottage/Balsa- Php 300 to Php 700 depending on size
Zipline- Php 100 (one way), Php 200 (two way)
C.R/Shower Fee- Php 10
Guide Fee- Tipping based. Php 300-500
Guides are optional but I suggest that you get one so that you have someone to tour you inside and make sure that you have visited all the attractions. The guides are local kids around the area.
TREKKING TO MINALUNGAO CAVE
The trek to Minalungao Cave will last for about 15-30 minutes depending on your groups pacing. It took us 30 minutes because of the slippery trail caused by the heavy rain.
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| Our only picture before going to Minalungao Cave. This is not yet the trail I'm talking about. I forgot to take pictures because I was using both of my hands for trekking and my phone was on my pocket. #reasons lol |
CAVING
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| Our group picture before entering the cave. |
It saddens me that some of the walls were vandalized by some of the tourist. Nevertheless, the cave is still wonderful.
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| Selfie!!! |
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You must bring a flashlight/headlight when entering the cave because obviously there is no light inside. The caving experience will only take 5-10 minutes of your time but with picture taking/pictorial, it took us 30 minutes inside the cave. Hey, don't judge us. After all its a once in a while experience! Might as well take a lot of pictures for souvenir, right?
ZIP LINE EXPERIENCE
It's my first zip line experience. I was supposed to save it for my Mindanao backpacking on September in Lake Sebu the highest zipline in Asia! But I considered riding it as a preparation.
I thought I was brave enough and will not shout like those who did it first. Honestly, I found them as over reacting but when it was my time and the operator pushed me, I was shouting at the top of my lungs for a minute but I stopped immediately and focused on the beautiful scenery below me. I was looking at the river and said to myself "Paano kaya kung mahulog ako dito? Jusko Lord, hindi po ako marunong lumangoy", and "Ang dami ko pang gustong gawin Lord gabayan nyo po ako". Hahahahaha. I planned on taking a video of it but changed my mind coz I might drop my phone. Overall, I was happy that I tried it because as I said earlier, its a preparation for my much awaited highest zip line in Asia adventure. Can't wait for it!
HANGING BRIDGE
After the zip line experience, we went to the hanging bridge for a photo op!
1,000 STEPS TO GROTTO
I wasn't able to do this because I had to choose between zip line and this grotto thing. Going up the grotto will take 45 minutes to 1 hour and we were running out of time because its already late. However, my co-organizer Ely and his girlfiend Joan went to grotto because they didn't try the zipline. Here's their picture! #rumerelationshipgoals #edikayona
SWIMMING & CLIFF DIVING
We were not also able to swim at Penaranda River because after our caving and went back to the river, the water was already brown because of the heavy rain that flushed the mud.
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Other pictures of our trip:
THE VERDICT:
It was really a good decision that we pushed in Minalungao National Park as our sidetrip for Mt.Sawi instead of Dingalan Beach and Lighthouse in Aurora. I'm planning to go back there (not on a rainy season) to fully enjoy the park's other activities specially swimming and cliff diving! Yay! :)
Wrote by Diaries of A Financial Traveler
