Some go to Naga for a pilgrimage, some for a food trip. Some just stay at the Hotel (I actually did this yesterday- at the posh Avenue Plaza Hotel), some get their adrenaline fix and ride that badass ATV up to the foothills of Mt. Isarog National Park. Ohhh yeah!
Mt. Isarog majestically standing. The bushes and dirt make me closer to nature. Ohhhhh.. breath that fresh air!
Naga City has been close to my heart. I still remember the first time I went here- with friends onboard a non-AC bus form Quezon 10 years ago. Yep, I was d0-it-yourself-ing already year 2003. We went to a waterfalls which I actually forgot. Later did I know that we will visit it again this time- Malabsay Falls.
You want adventure? Hop on an ATV with friends! Pump the gas and ride until you reach the sun. How cool is that?
But before that we have to navigate more than 15 kilometers of serious rough road up until we reach the jump-off point to Mt. Isarog National Park. Of course, with patches of paved roads in Pacol and Carolina. If Mt. Mayon is for Legazpi, Mt. Isarog rules the sky of Naga City- a home to endemic flora and fauna. The ride was really pumping adrenaline into my bloodstream especially during those steep climbs rocky portions of the road.
Downhills are crazy fun but make sure you treat your brakes well. Or no brakes at all for an epic ride. haha (Photo credits: JVillareal)
Now I don’t know who has a more badass ride? The kids or journeyingjames? You decide!
Fun? NO! It’s super-fun! Don’t know how to drive? It’s okay, its very easy to ride- one of our companions, Apple, is a first-timer. She doesn’t even know how to drive a car or motorbike. Afraid? Please no, its safe as long as you follow the directions made by the ATV marshalls that lead an tail the way.
This doesn’t happened everytime. But maybe it would again when you try to visit with a badass ride like mine. Hello girls! (Photo credits: JVillareal)
After more than an hour of riding these All-Terrain Vehicles we reached the entrance gate to Mt. Isarog’s nearest falls- Malabsay Waterfalls. As I said earlier, I have been here 10 years ago and I can remember that the water here is really cold.
About the falls- nothing changed- its still amazing and refreshing. About me, a lot of things changed and I have more confidence to jump into the water. That was a follow-through of the ATV ride. You see, I’m an adrenaline-junkie. And I did jump not once, not twice but thrice- 20 feet of fear-conquering leap straight into the ice-cold water of Malabsay falls.
It’s like jumping to a falls’ natural basin full of ice-cold water. Yep, that’s me on my first jump. (Photo credits: JVillareal)
Why is it called Malabsay? Malabsay in their local language means, “tasteless” and the water here is tasteless. But come to think of it, isn’t that all waters are malabsay?
After some more swimming and late breakfast we went back to the city. It was a great half-day spent in Naga. So if you are going to Naga anytime soon, please do try this adventure.
Useful Informations:
How? Connect with NagaX– a fusion of Naga City tourism stakeholders who wants to promote Naga City and the surrounding areas as a prime tourism destination in the country. Website: http://nagax.com
ATV Ride Naga is located at Crossroad Shell Station, Magsaysay Ave.
Contact numbers: (054) 472-2215 / 0919-582-1236
They have 3 tour packages: Haciendas Tour- Php1,800; Hotspring Tour- Php1,650; and Malabsay Tour- Php1,500.
Looking for a Hotel?
You will not go wrong with Avenue Plaza Hotel. They have welcoming staff and A+ guest service relations plus its in Magsaysay Ave. where all the best restaurants in town is just a stone’s throw away.
How to get to Naga City?
There are nightly buses that goes to Naga from Cubao Bus Terminal and Pasay Terminal. Don’t want to waste time on the road? Book a plane ticket! Cebu Pacific flies daily to Naga City from Manila. For bookings and inquiries, go to www.cebupacificair.com or call (02)7020-888. The latest seat sales and promos can be found on Cebu Pacific Air’s official Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) and Facebook pages (/cebupacificair).
That waterfall looks beautiful
That looks like so much fun! I’ve never been on an ATV but it doesn’t look that hard, I’ll have to give that a try
Haha such a ladies man
Oh James i thought you were an Eco traveller…… why are you even riding those polluting ATV’s and promoting them…. i thought you had seen the destruction they have caused in Boracay. You are ruining nature by using them…… return to promoting the simple way of travel like hiking or cycling.
I am sorry to say but it seems the more well-known you have become you seem to be losing track of the ideals you started out with……
@ Dave: Isang malaking check! 🙂