Weekend chill at Batis ng Kalikasan, Sta. Maria, Laguna
Finally, an overnight trip since the start of pandemic and community quarantine! Okay, I’m not proud. I was not even thinking of sharing this because it’s easier to lay low on social media and the internet than explain how much careful you were on your trip. But I gotta update the blog, hoomans, so I am grateful for the safe weekend getaway we had. But seriously, do not travel yet if it’s not essential. Travel bans are slowly lifted, but it doesn’t mean we actually have to go outside.
Anyway, I’ve also tried editing some video clips I’ve taken during the trip (yeah, I wasn’t thinking of sharing this online but HAHAHA). I’m also yet to announce my Youtube channel anywhere. They say you should have at least five videos before the launch so people have something to view when you finally promote the link but I’m sharing some on the blog, nobody follows me there yet anyways. -.-
Hey there! My name’s May and you can view more about me here. I travel a lot for both work and leisure. Thanks to being an auditor and a content creator and, of course, to my love for travel, I barely feel I’m actually at work when traveling. And if I’m actually off work, I usually am with friends or family, discovering places and trying out new food. I’m juggling three jobs – the two mentioned + being a single mom. You think it’s easy? Of course not! But what glues me together is my passion and love for these three. More about my story here.
I love sharing what I know and how I do things, so if you haven’t read these yet, visit the following pages to view:
- how I take and edit my blog photos + what devices and apps I use;
- how I plan my travels;
- how I treat my sunburns (from the mildest to the wildest!); and
- what do I get from traveling, by the way?
In case you’re interested how fun my Romblon trip was, read more of my stories here! >> The BIGG Adventure
About Batis ng Kalikasan
Batis ng Kalikasan is a camping ground located in Sta. Maria, Laguna. This hidden gem waiting to be discovered by even more people is offering all-natural view for camping enthusiasts, and can be reached 2-3 hours from Manila. For motorcycle and bicycle riders, it will not be an easy trip, but it’s worth the drive!
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Pre-travel Guide
How to get there?
If you’re coming from Manila, there are more than one way to get to Batis ng Kalikasan. From C6, I’d recommend the route via Tanay or Pililia, Rizal which is the shortest and easiest way to Sta. Maria. I can’t tell how to go there via public transport as they’re still very limited for now, but I sure will update this article once I get more information. Â
How much budget to prepare?
Accommodation costs range from 200php to 4,000php depending of the number of persons. Pitching a personal tent would cost 200 for day tour, and 300 for an overnight stay. You can also rent tent from them at 1,150php at the minimum. Or if you are traveling with a group, they have two nipa huts available for rental at 3,000php for day tour, and 4,000php for overnight stay. All-in rates include entrance fee, bedding/sleeping mattress, table, chairs, rechargeable fan, camping stove, butane, use of common grill and other facilities.
It’s best to just bring your own food and drinks (no corkage fee!), but just in case you need more, they offer samgyupsal at 500php per pack and some variants of canned drinks.
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*rates are as of January 2021
My Batis ng Kalikasan Experience
I wasn’t able to prep my stuff the night before because #workandmomlife. I slept maybe 2-ish am on Saturday, and literally had to get up at 3 to pack my thing because we were leaving at 4. We’re going there on a motorbike and as suggested by Waze, we had to pass through C6, Angono-Taytay, Morong, Tanay-Sampaloc Road, Marilaque, to finally Sta. Maria. However, when we got to Tanay, one checkpoint asked for medical certificate which we don’t have so we had to reroute and thankfully, there’s a way via Pililia.Â
I don’t know why, but Waze gave us a very adventurous route that day. We left Manila at between 4-4:30 and got to our destination at 10am. Yeah, that long. We were almost hiking rough-sloped mountains and I almost cried because I wanted to climb, but not today, Waze.
Finally, we arrived at Batis ng Kalikasan. We are welcomed by the staff and they seemed very nice. We waited for more than 30 minutes I think for our reserved tents, that we almost lost because other guests wanted to take the spot. Thanks to the guys who cleared that up, btw.
My friends arrived late(r than everrrr~) because they had to run to the groceries and grab lunch for the group. We had some binalot na adobo at liempo. But my most favorite part was our early dinner, thanks to JR. Also shout out to the yummy fish cake from Romantic Baboy. #Salute. We also had fun playing games that evening and capped the day early because we are respectful of the quiet time that way. UHUH.
Nah, we’re just soooo tired.
Camping Tips and Reminders
- Batis ng Kalikasan accepts guests at any age and medical certificates or RT-PCR tests are not required, which would usually cause medium to large number of checked-in guests in a day. Make sure to still practice physical distancing, and avoid staying too long in the batis.
- Restrooms and charging stations are located in the two nipa huts. So if your tent is pitched across the batis, I know you’ll love crossing the running water too often. 🙂
- Respect other campers. Quiet time is at 10pm, and quiet time means quiet time. During our stay, tents were just one meter apart, some are less. Other than physical distancing, we should be mindful of the noise we’re making. -.-
- Do not forget your camping lamp or flashlights. They have post lights across the area but it’s not bright enough to light your camping tables.
- Bring your own sleeping bag or camping pillows and blankets.
- Bring a bottle of Lysol or any ~trusted~ disinfectant so you can feel at ease and comfy anywhere you go.
- ~ALWAYS~ practice CLAYGO.
- Be a responsible camper. Protect and respect nature.
Wrap-up
I super missed camping. And this trip made me miss hiking even more. If you have safe places in mind, let me know. By the way, did I mention I am launching my Youtube channel soon? Here’s a LINK to my practice videos and maybe you can suggest stuff that could help me improve.Â
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2 Comments
Manish Ambaliya
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.
themhayonnaise
Though it’s not very ideal right now, traveling really helps people on their mental health. Maybe when it’s already safer you can go here too! Stay safe!