Consocep Mountain Resort, Tigaon town, Camarines Sur

It has been a busy month of May for me. Lately, I’ve been travelling to some of Bicol Region’s tourist destination, and this time I’m travelling as a tour guide. I have a cousin from the US who took a surprise vacation for this summer and kinukulit nya ako lagi na samahan ko sya sa mga lakwatsa at i-tour ko daw sya sa Bicol. My cousin grew up in Camarines Sur but after high school she migrated to the US of A.  She’s on a 10 day vacation in the Philippines and even though she grew up here in the Philippines, she haven’t been to a lot of different places in the Philippines, especially in the Bicol Region. At dahil biglaan ang pagdating ng cousin ko dito sa Philippines, naging biglaan din ang mga gala. Our list of destination includes Camarines Sur, a road trip to Albay, and a camping trip to Burias Island in Masbate Province.

Consocep

So a day after she arrives in Bicol, we immediately went off to a travelling spree. We started off with the nearest destination, which is Consocep Mountain Resort, a 1.5 hour travel from our house. Consocep is located in Tigaon town, Camarines Sur, but it can be accessed via Hanawan, Ocampo. It was May 1 and since it was a holiday, it was a good day para maglakwatsa.  A night before our gala, I texted some of my friends if they want to join me and my cousin for a waterfalls hopping in Camarines Sur, but only 1 of my friend is available for May 1. But it doesn’t matter since 3 is considered a crowd na din.hehehe!

So ayun na, May 1 na. Me and my cousin woke up early in the morning to travel to Anayan, Pili town, Camarines Sur to meet up with my friend. The travel time from our house to Anayan is roughly about 30 minutes by bus. We were supposed to meet my friend before 10am but as usual, my friend always arrives late. While my cousin and I were waiting for my friend, it rained so hard, and according to some old tradition, the rain during May 1 is said to heal different diseases and sickness. They call it Agua de Mayo. Ayon sa mga matatanda, dapat daw maligo ka sa ulan on the first day of May. Well, since we were going for a waterfalls hopping, we were already enticed na maligo na sa ulan but we are still 1 bus ride away to our destination. As soon as my friend arrived, nagpaulan na kami ng konti ng pinsan ko so we were a little bit rain-soaked when we boarded the bus. Umasa na lang kami na sana walang tumabi sa amin kasi malamang mababasa din sila.hehehe!

After 30 minutes of bus ride from Anayan, Pili to Hanawan, Ocampo town, we then got off at the Hanawan junction and negotiated for a motorcycle ride to Consocep Mountain Resort. The Consocep is still 8 kilometers away from Hanawan junction and the motorcycle is the only mode of transportation. We negotiated for 2 motorcycles and it cost us 270 pesos, that’s for the three of us and that’s for a roundtrip ride. The motorcycle travel time is about 20 minutes and you’ll be greeted with a magnificent view of the Partido area, the 4^th district of Camarines Sur. You’ll also be able to see the Lagonoy Gulf and the Atulayan Island in Sagnay town.

Tumagiti Falls

It was raining when we were travelling on a motorcycle and that makes our travel more exciting. When we arrived at the entrance gate to Consocep Mountain Resort, we paid an entrance fee of 15 pesos and we then gleefully started our trek to the waterfalls. It wasn’t really a hard trek since most of the trail leading to the waterfalls has already been paved. There were a lot of stairs and lots of paliko-liko at paakyat-baba na mga hagdan. After walking for 10 minutes, we reached the first waterfalls which is the Kawa-kawa falls. It’s a small falls, I don’t even consider it a waterfalls since it’s only a few feet in height. I guess it was only 10 to 15 feet in height. But nevertheless, it has several pools where you can swim. They call it a Kawa-kawa since it resembles a Kawa, yun ang malaking lutuan.

Tumagiti Falls

After swimming for a few minutes, we then hiked to the next waterfalls, just a 5 minutes hike from Kawa-Kawa falls. I forgot about the name of the falls, but it was there where we spent more time swimming since we were the only people in that falls. Most of the people are just staying near Kawa-Kawa falls. After more than an hour of swimming, we then hiked to some other small waterfalls, and then we then head off sa may mataas na waterfalls. The waterfalls is called Tumagiti Falls. It’s called Tumagiti, from a Bicol word which means rain, since it resembles a rain falling down from the sky. The Tumagiti Falls is just a 10 minutes hike from Kawa-Kawa falls. You won’t get lost looking for the falls since, as I said, most of the pathways are already paved. We only enjoyed a few minutes taking a bath below the waterfalls, since we have to go home early para makifiesta pa sa mga kapamilya ko sa isang barangay sa lugar namin. Matakaw kasi kami kaya mahilig makifiesta.hehehe!

Tumagiti Falls

We then hiked back to the main gate and then ride the motorcycle going back to Hanawan. We weren’t able to change our wet clothes since it was raining while we were travelling on a motorcycle and there isn’t any public restroom near Hanawan junction. So we just boarded the bus with water dripping from our clothes, pero buti na lang there’s not much passenger inside the bus so wala naman mababasa na katabi.hehehe! After we got off at Anayan, my friend then rode a bus bound for Naga City and nagfoodtrip muna kami ng pinsan ko. We bought and ate lumpia, okoy, maruya, and kwek-kwek. And then after eating we then boarded the bus bound for Iriga City para makauwi na. We enjoyed our trip to Consocep, it was fun, we played in the rain, we played in the waterfalls. We were like kids again. That Agua de Mayo can really make you feel so good.

How to get to Consocep Mountain Resort:

By Plane:

Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines have several daily flights to Naga Airport. From Naga Airport, located in the town of Pili, you can ride a bus bound for Lagonoy. Tell the bus conductor or driver to drop you off at Hanawan junction in Ocampo town. This is about 30 to 45 minutes ride from the airport. The bus fare to Anayan, Pili is 35 pesos. And then from Hanawan, ride a motorcycle going to Consocep Mountain Resort. The tricycle fare is 50 pesos per person, one way trip, or 100 for a round trip. The travel time is 15 to 20 minutes.

By Bus:

From Manila, there are several buses bound to Bicol region. Ride a bus that is bound for Legazpi City and then get off at Anayan, Pili town. The usual travel time from Metro Manila to Anayan, Pili is 8 to 10 hours. There are a number of bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City, that have buses bound for Legazpi or Tabaco City. There are also bus terminals in Pasay City, near Pasay Rotonda.  And then from Anayan, Pili, ride another bus bound for Lagonoy. Then tell the bus conductor or driver to drop you off at Hanawan junction in Ocampo town. This is about 30 minutes ride. The bus fare from Anayan, Pili to Hanawan junction is 23 pesos. And then from Hanawan, ride a motorcycle going to Consocep Mountain Resort. The tricycle fare is 50 pesos per person, one way trip, or 100 for a round trip. The travel time is 15 to 20 minutes. You can also ride a bus in Manila that is bound for Lagonoy or Sabang. Just tell the driver to drop you off at Hanawan junction.

By Train:

The PNR has a regular train schedule for the Manila-Ligao City route. The train departs at Tutuban Station in Manila every 6pm and arrives at Ligao City at around 6am the next day. Ride the train and get off at PNR Naga City Station. The last station is Ligao City station which is 1.5 hours away from Naga City so be sure to get off at Naga City. The usual travel time is 10 to 12 hours. From Naga City, you can ride a bus bound for Lagonoy. Tell the bus conductor or driver to drop you off at Hanawan junction in Ocampo town. The travel time is 45 minutes to 1 hour and the fare for the bus is 40 to 50 pesos. And then from Hanawan, ride a motorcycle going to Consocep Mountain Resort. The tricycle fare is 50 pesos per person, one way trip, or 100 for a round trip. The travel time is 15 to 20 minutes.

Malabsay Falls, Naga City. A falls in the city.

Naga City is the center of commerce in Camarines Sur. This is also known as the heart of Bicol. Naga city is an urban center sprawling with different businesses and different people from the nearby towns and cities. But despite its being urbanized, there is still a place in the city where you can enjoy the beauty of nature. Naga City is at the foot of Mt. Isarog and there are several waterfalls located at the Naga City side of Mt. Isarog National Park. If you’re looking for a place to relax and just feel the cold breeze, green scenery and cool mountain waters, then you’ll need not to look far, because there’s a waterfalls just one ride from the city center.

Malabsay Falls

Malabsay Falls is located in the upper barangay of Naga City. It is located in Barangay Panicuason. This barangay is at the foot of Mt. Isarog National Park. It is about 30 minute jeepney ride from the city center. Barangay Panicuason has several waterfalls but the more famous is Malabsay Falls. There’s also Yabu falls, and Nabuntulan falls. There is also a hotspring near Malabsay Falls. So if you’re tired of swimming from the cold water of Malabsay Falls, then you can go to the hotspring and enjoy its warm water.

Malabsay falls resident

So how do you go to Malabsay Falls? If you don’t have a car then you can ride a jeepney bound for Barangay Panicuason. The jeepney terminal is located near the Naga public market. It is near Metrobank and BPI at Padian Street. The jeepney ride from the city center to Barangay Panicuason is 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Tell the driver that you’re heading to Malabsay Falls and they will drop you off at the Girl Scout camp. If there are only few passengers going to Malabsay Falls, then they will just drop you off at the Mt. Isarog Welcome signage which is a 30 minute walk to the Girl Scout camp. From the Girl Scout Camp you’ll need to hike for about an hour to reach the gate of Mt. Isarog National Park. Of course this will also depend on your phase. Kung mabagal kayo at madalas kayo magpahinga kagaya ko, then more than an hour ang paglalakad nyo.hehehe! There are no guides going to Malabsay Falls, but at the Girl Scout camp there are kids who are more than willing to serve as your guide. They don’t have a rate for their service, so it’s up to you how much you will pay for those kids’ service.

the pool at Malabsay Falls

Anyway, upon reaching the gate of Mt. Isarog National Park, you will need to register and pay an entrance fee of 10 pesos. Sometimes, the gatekeeper is staying at a house near the GSP camp so you’ll be ask to pay even before reaching the gate. You might sometimes think that they are extorting you kasi tatawagin ka lang nila at sasabihin na magbayad ka ng 10 pesos. But don’t worry, they are legal, and to make sure that they are also the legal collector ask for a receipt, usually they will give you this small stamp-like paper with the face amount of 10 pesos with the naga city seal. You can also ask for their ID’s since they always wear there IDs.

Malabsay Falls

So after paying the fee at the gate, you turn right to go to Malabsay Falls. If you go left, that’s the trail to the summit and to Nabuntulan Falls. There are concrete staircase leading to Malabsay Falls but most of it are already damaged. The walk from the gate to Malabsay falls is about 15 to 20 minutes. Again, it depends on your phase. Siempre kasama na jan ang pagpapapicture at sightseeing so malamang aabutin kayo ng more than 30 minute sa paglalakad.heheh! The waters at Malabsay Falls is ice-cold. It’s very cold that if you’re not used to swimming in a cold water, you’ll be experiencing muscle cramps. Please be also aware that the pool in Malabsay Falls are deep so if you’re not a good swimmer, better stay at the shallow part of the pool or better cling like a monkey to that mossy rock.hahaha! There are no facilities at Malabsay Falls, no cottages and no store to buy foods so better bring your own food before going to the falls.

Santan flower

After swimming at the falls, if you still have time, how about go to the hotspring nearby. The hotspring is about 2 hours of walk from Malabsay Falls. This is located near the Mt. Isarog welcome signage. Jeepneys pass at the entrance gate when you’re going to the GSP camp and Malabsay Falls. Oh, by the way, on your way to Malabsay Falls, you’ll also pass a resort near the GSP camp. It’s called the Stonehouse Resort. You will mistakenly identify that as a resthouse but it is a resort, however, you’ll need to call and make a reservation at the resort before going there.  The last trip of jeepney going to downtown Naga City is 4pm so better leave Malabsay Falls before 3 pm so that you’ll be able to make it to the last trip of the jeepney. So this summer season, may you enjoy the beauty and coolness of Naga City’s Malabsay Falls.

If you’re coming from Manila:

There are daily flights from Manila to Naga. The plane lands at Naga Airport which is located at the Municipality of Pili. The airport is about 30 minutes bus ride to Naga City. There are also regular bus trip from Manila to Naga City. The travel time for bus is 8 to 10 hours. The PNR train also serve the Manila-Naga City route. The travel time is 12 hours. Upon arrival at Naga City, just tell the driver that you’re going to the Panicuason jeepney terminal. The minimum tricycle fare is 8 pesos.  If you’re coming from Naga City Bus terminal or SM Naga, the fare is also 8 pesos.