Alibuag Cold Spring

About 15 kilometers from the heart of the Municipality of Medina in Misamis Oriental at the northern part of the Mindanao Island in the Philippines, you can find the natural beauty of Alibuag Cold Spring. The place boasts of natural, chilly-cold and crystal clear water. From the highway, you will need to take about 200 meter uphill climb to reach the area. An entrance fee of P10 (less than $0.50) is charged and another P20 for the parking fee. Cottages are pegged at P100 (a little over $2). The source of the serene water is natural coming from the mountain which was contained in a 100 square meter pool. Its depth ranges from 4 feet to a deep of 7 feet. The area is developed by the local government and offers a perfect haven for total rest and recreation. Comfort rooms and dressing rooms are ably provided. Bringing of food is free of charge. No reservation is needed as you can just pack your stuff and head to the area.

My Personal Review

Having gone to the place twice, I can fairly say that the place is very nice. It is very conducive to relaxation and rest. Cleanliness is well maintained. The freezing water adds to the scenic beauty of nature. One good thing about the water is that you don’t immerse with an itchy body unlike the cold spring I experience in Camiguin Island. My honest rating from a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest: 4.

Capistrano Beach Resort

When you trek the road from Butuan City going to Cagayan de Oro City or vise versa, it would be an exciting travel if you drop by a beach resort somewhere down the road and find a simple yet awesome Capistrano Beach Resort. Situated about 15 kilometers from the heart of the Municipality of Medina in Misamis Oriental at the northern part of Mindanao in the Philippines, it is just beside the more popular Duka Bay Resort. The resort boasts of about a 100 meter off-white sand shore line that would make the water so inviting to dip. An entrance fee of P20 (less than $0.50) is charged per person. If you bring your own ride, an additional P20 for parking fee would just be fair. Cottages are pegged from P150 to P300 (a little over $3 and $6, respectively). Bringing of food and beverages are free of charge.

From the shoreline, you can view the majestic “Hibok-hibok” ranges of Camiguin Island. The resort offers snorkeling and fish feeding adventure at a rate of P250.00 (a little over $5) which already includes the gears to be used as well as some instructional lectures that goes with it. However, if you would want to go for a more cheaper adventure, some kids in the area offer fish feeding and snorkeling adventures at a low price of only P25/head (a little over $0.50). You just need to bring your own feeds. It also offers bottom-glass viewing of the seabed at the same rate of P500.00 (about $10) per hour. No reservations needed as you just go to the place and enjoy its beauty.

My Personal Review

Being a beach lover my visit to the place was reminiscent of my travel to Boracay (the most popular white sand beach in the Philippines) some years back. Although incomparable with Boracay’s party fancies, the white sand shore line was almost the same. The resort crew was just accommodating and insightful. Though my stay in the place was just brief, it was fulfilling though with its scenic beauty and serene waters. My rating of the place from a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest: 4.

Tiklas Falls

Beneath the silence of Gingoog City in the Province of Misamis Oriental lies the majestic Tiklas Falls located at the northern part of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is situated in Barangay Santiago about 8 kilometers from the City proper. For commuters, one can take the “habal-habal” (a single motorcycle that could accommodate as much as 5 passengers J) in going to the place for a fair fare of around P20.00 (less than $.50). An entrance fee of P20.00 per person is charged. Once inside, one can rent a cottage at P100.00 (a little over $2) or you can just be contented with a mere table for P50 (a little over $1)where you can place your stuff.

What is more exciting in going to Tiklas Falls is the beauty of its scenery where one can observe the virginity of its forest notwithstanding the little development done by the local government to provide a little comfort to the visitors. The falls is a staggering 50 feet wide drop of water with a massive fall of about 200 feet from atop. You can take a dip or a dive right through where the water drops or just cool yourself at the pool sourced naturally from water coming from the mountains. It has a knee-length deep swimming pool for kids and one for adults that is about 6 feet deep. Visitors can bring in food, and the good news is no corkage fees J. There are no reservations to make, all you need to do is just go right away to the place and enjoy its awesome beauty.

My Personal Review

Going to Tiklas Falls is pretty much comfortable. The road leading to the area from the National Highway up to the base parking lots is fully concretized. The falls boasts of its astounding beauty where nature is at its best. However, there are downsides to this beautiful place as the comfort rooms and dressing rooms will still take you about 50-meter walk from the cottages. Not too many stores, though, but it was good enough not to pollute the place further. You just have to bring all the stuff you will need in going there. My honest rating from a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest: 4.

Amontay Beach Resort

If you happen to visit Butuan City in the Caraga Region and would look for a beach resort you can hang out, try visit Amontay Beach Resort. Located at the Municipality of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte in the north eastern part of Mindanao in the Philippines about 30 kilometers from Butuan City, the capital city of the region. Here are some details you need to know if you visit the place:

            Entrance Fee (per person)                  -           P     40.00

            Bay View Room

            Standard Room                                   -           P 2,200.00

            (1 queen size bed & 1 single bed)

           

            Family Room                                      -           P 2,600.00

            (1 king size bed & 1 single bed)

            Rear View

            Standard Room                                   -           P 2,000.00

            (1 queen size bed & 1 single bed)

           

            Family Room                                      -           P 2,300.00

            (1 king size bed & 1 single bed)

            Beach House Room                            -           P1,800.00

            (1 queen size bed & 1 single bed)

            Beach Cottage

            Bali Inspired Cabana                          -           P   800.00

            (Good for 3 persons w/ set beddings)

            Dining Cottage                                   -           P   800.00

           

The resort also offers jet ski, banana boat ride and many others. It also has videoke amenity that is pegged at P150.00/hour usage. It also has function rooms for seminars and trainings. While at the resort, you can also browse the internet since the place is also a Wifi zone. It also charges P200.00 for corkage for whatever food you would bring in.

My Personal review

The place is nice to stay especially if you want to veer away from the hassles and noise of urban living. Having been to the place twice, I can observe how the management has maintained its cleanliness. It is fairly one of the nicest resorts to stay in Agusan del Norte with its new facitlities. During our stay, we rented a Cabana and the good thing is that the foam they provided is quite thick. One can get a comfortable sleep at night. However, budget wise it is quite heavy. For example, if you would go for a 15minute banana boat ride, it charges P1,500.00 or a hefty P100.00/minute joy ride. Their wifi service also is not good enough. During our entire stay, wifi was unavailable. Thanks to its very poor internet provider, Bayantel. No wonder that it took me almost 2 hours to confirm our reservation because the telephone service is down. The quality of their videoke is also bad. Since the resort if fairly new, the management could have set-up a newer and upgraded version of its sound system. In a rating of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest my honest rating: 3.

Contact Information:

Website: www.amontaybeach.com

Phone: (+6385) 343-7288

Mobile: (+63921) 362-2423, (+63918) 888-8860