Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour
After lunch at Balay Buhay sa Uma Farm, we proceeded to the nearby Zoe’s Resort & Eco-Adventure Park driving across a long rough road before getting to the resort. This eco-tourism site, a 10-min. drive from Lake Bulusan, offers outdoor activities for adventure-seekers and laid-back facilities for visiting families and children.
Check out “Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm”
Here, we were to trek two (Kambal Busay and Hidden Falls) of their three waterfalls (the other is Hulugan Falls). A tour guide was assigned to us as we can get lost in the vast space inside Zoe’s Resort and the waterfalls are quite far from each other.
At the main entrance, we were given the option to get to the jump-off point for the trek to Kambal Busay via tractor. Most of the ladies chose this option while the rest (including me) just walked for about 5 mins..
We soon reached Scad Kapehan, the resort’s al fresco cafeteria, where we were treated to fresh buko (coconut) juice. From the cafeteria, we could already hear the sound of and see, from up the stairs, Kambal Busay Falls.
After this refreshing treat, I proceeded down the 119-step stairway (this would be Calvary on my return) that lead to Kambal Busay Falls.
At the base of the stairway, I espied the beautiful, 30-ft. high Kambal Busay Falls in all its glory. Its basin was quite safe to swim and some of us did so. There was a rope that you can hold onto so you can stand directly under the falls.
To get to Hidden Falls, I had to hike much further (about 10-15 mins.), traversing cascades of water and slippery rocks and boulders.
Literally hidden inside a cave-like entrance, the fall’s current is strong and pools into what looks like a deep basin.
A short set of wooden stairs and walkways with bamboo handrails led up to a huge boulder where I can take a peek of the waterfall.
The 23-ft. high Hulugan Falls, the last one and the farthest, is 1 km. (a 30-45-min. hike) away from the main entrance. In Irosin (where the falls is located), it called Naglahaw Falls (from the word naglalahao meaning “to fall down”) and its entry point is coming from Danao Irosin lake, a 10-15 min. hike. It is fed by several rivers and tributaries from nearby localities and even water from the crevices of Bulusan Volcano.
For those who want to stay longer in the resort, Zoe’s Resort has different varieties of cottages: umbrella (Php250), casa (Php500) and hall. The halls are two casas combined cost between Php1, 500 – Php2, 000. The resort also has two swimming pools (the Cold Spring and the Bloody Pool). The one for the adults has a depth of 7 ft. and one for the kids has a depth of 3 ft.
Aside from the tractor ride (Php50 per pax), you can also try ATV (Php150 per 15 mins.) to the 3 waterfalls and bamboo rafting in their manmade lake (Php20 per pax).
Zoe’s Resort & Eco-Adventure Park: Brgy. San Roque, Bulusan 4704, Sorsogon. E-mail: zoesresort@gmail.com. Mobile number: (0948) 620-7196 and (0919) 578- 4079. Open daily, 6 AM – 6 PM. Entrance fee: Php150/pax. Tour guide fee: Php150 (for 2 pax) and Php350 (up to 10 pax).
How to Get There: Bulusan is located 557.3 kms. (a 13-hr. drive via Pan Philippine Highway/AH26) from Manila and 44.5 kms. (a 55-min. drive) via the Junction Abuyog-Gubat-Ariman Rd., from Sorsogon City.
Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office: Ground Floor, Capitol Building, 4700 Sorsogon City. Mobile number: (0968) 624-6279. E-mail: tourism@sorsogon.gov.ph. Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorsogonprovincialtourismoffice.
Bulusan Municipal Tourism Office: www.facebook.com/ExploreBulusan.
Ur Place Travel & Tours: OLV Pangpang, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon. Mobile number (Viber): (0927) 950-3927 (Ms. Annie Gueb). Facebook: www.facebook.com/urplacetravel.