Mountain View Natures Park – Where Is It?

Mountain View Nature’s Park is a unique island vacations destination located on the mountain top in Sitio Garahe, Busay, Cebu City in Cebu Island, Philippines which is ideal for sightseeing and kid friendly vacations and fun family vacations with such amenities as campsite,  kids playground and twilight zone among others. It is accessible via a taxi ride from the city proper or you may opt to hire a passenger motorcycle called “habal-habal” in the Philippines with pick-up and drop-off points at the foot of Nivel Hills in Barangay Lahug.

Mountain View Natures Park – Why I visited The Place?

As a gift for my only daughter Aliyah Eimereen, who graduated in high school with flying colors as well as for my youngest son Edrian Nathaniel who finished on top of his Grade One Class, we decided to spend our family bonding and summer vacation in Cebu Island, Philippines. We were then discussing at the house of my brother Ben in Looc, Mandaue City on what specific tourist spot in the island province to visit and Mountain View Natures Park came out to be the best choice. Hence, the ten of us- my wife Vanjie, sons Vladimir Ilich, Edel Jovann, Edrian Nathaniel and daughter Aliyah Eimereen, nieces Hazel with kid Achilles and Liji with daughter Nijel and me hopped on my brother’s pajero and headed to the place. The family could have been complete had it not been for the summer class examination of my other son Ranjick. We climbed through the winding trans-central highways in Barangay Busay keeping a watchful eye on each and every signboard that came our way until we stopped at the signage signalling our approach to the place. The driver then lowered the car’s gear in preparation for the 60-degree accent on our left but, scared by the thought of such a climb, suddenly decided to just drop us off in the highway. Faced with no other option, we hesitantly slogged our way up the 150-meter winding paved road until we reached the guard house where we paid the  Php 50.00 per head entrance fee. We walked a few meters more until we finally reached this place . . .

Vicinity Map showing the various destinations of Mountain View Nature's Park

While I was taking a rest to slow down my faster than normal breath brought about by the hike, my son Edrian and the other two kids were running towards my direction and grabbed my hand to follow them towards a place they really liked . . .

Entrance to the Mountain View Water Park and Children's Playground

I then proceeded to a vantage point and took shots of what’s inside . . .

Mountain View Swimming Pool

After paying a PhP 150.00 per head for adults and PhP 100.00 per head for children entrance fee, we enjoyed the cool dip and a languorous swim at the turquoise pool waters. Edrian, an expert swimmer himself, performed an acrobatic swim akin to a dance sport expert. . .

Eight-year old Edrian's best acrobatic swim performance at the Mountain View Swimming Pool

With the packed-lunch over, I went back to the vicinity map to check on the destination routes and decided to proceed to the top-most part of the park via the short cut route . . .

The 420-steps leading to the nature park's View Deck fronting the comely cottages ideal for honey moon spenders . . .

More and more steps upward and I was enthralled with this comely view at the mountain top . . .

The Mountain View Millennium Cross

Candidly, the cold breeze smothering my body while standing on the view deck  enjoying the splendid overlooking view of Cebu City was really a relaxing feeling. The rest of the group opted to climb upstairs also and we regrouped at the mountain top and posed for a shot . . .

Family pose at the mountain top minus this writer-photographer of course

Luck was really on our side as fogs hovered over us as we relaxed to savor nature taking its course . . .

Fogs hovering over the View Deck of Mountain View Nature's Park

We then started to descend on a paved road and my eyes were glued on this sight on my left . . .

Mountain View Nature's Park version of "The Way of The Cross"

After saying silent prayers, we proceeded to the mini-zoo and took time to pose with miniature wild animals . . .

Edrian and Eimereen enjoying the zebra ride . . .

Me and Vanjie enjoying a hug on the giraffe's neck. . .

A few meters of walk further down and we reached the Mountain View  Christmas Park . . .

The Mountain View Twilight Zone within the Christmas Park

The path leading to the enthralling Twilight Zone View Deck . . .

The Mountain View Statue of Nativity . . .

While on our way, I chanced upon this sight at the Barn which made me remember of my Corregidor Island trip . . .

A miniature of the American-type Tranvia which used to ply major Philippine city streets during the American occupation of the country in the early 1900's. . .

After exchanging some more pleasantries, taking more pictures of nature and watching the 3 children enjoying the kids playground, we called it time to go home.

Mountain View Natures Park – Final Thoughts

Nature tripping and trekking within the city was such a very exhilarating experience. Despite a bad start caused by the hot-headed driver, the moments that I spent with my family together on such a spectacular setting was really life-fulfilling. Taking time to enjoy, chill out and walk on mountain top and get the chance to savor the city view is one of the unique vacations options that urbanites and island vacations aficionados should not miss experiencing themselves. Hence, visiting the Mountain View Nature’s Park in the booming city of Cebu is the best option for nature lovers like you.

Kawasan Falls – An Introduction

Kawasan Falls is considered as the most famous waterfalls in Cebu Island with images prominently displayed among the best waterfalls pictures of the Philippines and frequently visited by island vacations enthusiasts, creationists and other tourists wanting to visit natural attractions and tourist spots for the purpose of sightseeing and taking pictures of nature. It is situated in Barangay Matutinao in the town of Badian, 105 kilometers away from Cebu City.

Kawasan Falls – Why I went There?

Upon invitation of my good friend Reynero “Tata” Escultor, Vice-Chairman of Kawasan Nature Park Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KNPMPC), I decided to include Kawasan Falls in the itinerary of the study tour of the staff of the Socorro Empowered Peoples Cooperative (SOEMCO) based in Bucas Grande Island, Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.  On board 4 hired vans, we left  the Hidden Valley Resort in Lamac, Pinamungajan, Cebu at exactly 7:00 o’clock in the morning of April 22, 2011. We passed by the towns of Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Barili, Dumanjog, Ronda, Alcantara and finally Badian. We travelled  a few more kilometres until we reached Barangay Matutinao at 10:00 o’clock. From the junction we walked towards the direction of Kawasan Falls with Annabella Esbillas, KNPMPC Treasurer serving as our guide . . .

The SOEMCO staff walking their way towards Kawasan Falls

Along the way, we stopped on a stall to pay the Php 10.00 per head entrance fee. The SOEMCO staff  also took turns buying souvenirs such as breaded necklace, bracelets and  t-shirts prominently printed with “Kawasan Falls.”

We walked on gravelled road along tributaries crossing in the process three small bridges. As we went deeper into a rainforest, some of the female employees were already starting to feel exhausted. But the roaring in the distance announcing our approach to the phenomenal natural attraction had mobilized our strength to proceed. The roaring increased and became more and more thundering as we went on. Finally, after 30-minutes of walking on a 750-meter road, we reached the First Level of Kawasan Falls. Candidly,  it seemed I was hypnotized by the close encounter with this natural spectacle . . .

The firsl level 20-meter high plunge type Kawasan Falls

Since it was a Good Friday, the spot was on a festive mood full of local and foreign tourists enjoying a swim on the turquoise plunge pool . . .

Close-up view of the plunge-type Kawasan Falls with Korean tourists on the foreground . . .

I was preparing to settle and take more pictures but our tour guide signaled that we have to proceed to the second level 250 meters away as our billeting area was situated therein. Hence, we proceeded and maneuvered on sometimes steep and narrow  but oftentimes comfortable trails. On our way, my sight was glued at the enthralling view of a fan-type mini falls . . .

A female tourist, whom I befriended later, preparing for a jump at the fan-type mini falls. . .

Our tour guide signaled that we were already about to reach our destination. I stopped for a while as I was fascinated to see this spillway . . .

The Kawasan Falls Level 2 Spillway . . .

We were warmly welcomed by Ms. Myrna Divinagracia, Ms. Milagros Batongmalaki and Mr. Iasuro Belarmino, Kawasan Nature Park Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KNPMPC) Chairman and members of the board, respectively. After taking a sumptuous dinner prepared by the cooperative, the hospitable officers oriented the group on the cooperative’s history, governance and management. Afterwards, the staff engaged in a free-for-all swim into the plunge pool. . .

Some SOEMCO staff on board a bamboo raft enjoying the plunge of level 2 Kawasan Falls . . .

With raised hands...shouting victoriously... WE Conquered Kawasan Falls!

Scared with the thundering sound of the  falls and the plunge pool’s depth, some female staff were just contented with taking pictures of nature and posing with the majestic waterfalls scenery as background . . .

Ms. Racquel Kristina T. Ocon, CPA, SOEMCO Accounting Manager on her best pose with the Kawasan Falls plunge pool at the background . . .

To satisfy my curiosity, I decided to proceed to the Kawasan Falls water source. As I climbed on a steep and sometimes slippery trail, I passed by and took shots of this  enthralling  view . . .

Kawasan Falls' plunge into the pool viewed from atop . . .

I slogged further into slippery stones for 30 minutes until I reached the 3rd level cascading Kawasan Falls . . .

Turquoise, crystal clear stream pool of the cascade-type level 3 Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Falls – Final Thoughts

The sight of a flowing water rapidly dropping in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff is truly a wonderful experience among the SOEMCO staff. The lessons learned on how to operate a cooperative-run nature park are really worth the time, money and efforts.

Finally, the view of a multi-step waterfalls, or a series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool, which characterized Kawasan Falls will surely go down as one of the most exciting trips I have had undertaken in my life.