If you're here in Philippines having vacation. You should experience hot weather. Summer is here at Philippines, it is hot to go outside. Maybe beach is not bad to visit but I would suggest that you should go on a spring, a cold spring.
BANAHAW SPRING is located at San Joaquin, Macrohon, Southern Leyte. Before when I was just 14 years old this place wasn't yet develop. This place was gift from nature. It has a strong flows of fresh water under on it. In fact this spring is the source of their water here. But not in this swimming area. It's on the top far from this swimming pool like. Before you can see at the side of the river are sharpened rocks. The water under was pure sand that sometimes it gets dirty if many will jump from the stone.
Because it wasn't develop yet, the entrance fee that time was only 2 pesos or 0.04 dollars. The cottage was just 50 pesos or 1 dollar. Even though it wasn't develop yet before the environment here is friendly. Many tress surround it and also it is near in the rice fields. The place is shade of the tree's above on it. There are also coconuts that help the place not expose by the sun.
As time passes by, the owner of this land interest on it. They make a case to get it from the one who holds it. Well, they are the real owner so they got the land back. The owner has a luxury life, have money to support. They began to develop the place.
First, they widened the road and flat it. They did it because many cars going inside the spring.
Second, they put small gravel under the water. To avoid the water gets dirty if many people will swim. For you to know, many swimmers love to jump above. But because small gravel placed under, the water won't be dirty.
Third, they remove the rocks that round the river. They concreted it and some parts were placed tiles of it.
Fourth, they accept order's like food, liquors. We knew that if you want to go swimming there should be a food and a piece of beer. But expect it that it will be more expensive than the prize of a normal store. They even have fish in the river that you can grilled it if you'll order. They will just catch with an expensive prize.
Fifth, you can check in here if you're a traveler and don't know where to place. They built hotel here for those who wants to stay at night.
It will be nice for your children to play because they have a wide area with no water. This grass was planted to make the area more beautiful. Maybe you'll see the nice place with a beautiful nature around.
If you'll bring food, no worries because they have cottage to place your food. There will be fee's for every food you'll bring. No nees to worry, it will be negotiable if you brought many foods.
So if you want to go this place, here's the direction.
If you started on Maasin City or Padre Burgos Leyte. Just tell the driver to stop at Banahaw spring. This place is popular in our town.
Assuming you arrived at the Banahaw spring's entrance near at the national road. There's a guide for you there, to reach the spring you'll walk for approximately 1.5 km. It easy to go here because there are no different road that will make you lots. And also it's easy to find it because no trees that covered on it. You only see rice fields and coconut tree.
Now you arrived at the spring, there will be a person that will approach you and ask you.
Just to make you ready before you'll get here.
ENTRANCE FEE: 20 pesos or 0.50 dollars per head.
That will be package already, entrance ans at the same time you can go swimming.
COTTAGE: 500 pesos or 10 dollars.
The cottage was made of bamboo and nila hut.
Just a reminder, this spring is so freaking cold. Maybe it will just 5 minutes that I will stay in the water. haha