After two weeks of keeping myself away from my laptop (blame Mobile Legends for that HUEHUE), I’m finally back to finish this long overdue blog post about our recent adventure at one of the most instagrammable spots in the country: the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal.
The Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area and a rustic rock garden tucked in the rainforests of Rizal. Masungi’s name is derived from the word “masungki” which translates to “spiked” – an apt description for the sprawling limestone landscape found within. (Lifted from Masungi Georeserve’s website)
The giant spiderweb, giant hammock, lots of rope climbing and bridge crossing immediately caught the attention of the sleeping wanderers of GQNSL. As natural thrill-seekers, we immediately booked our reservation to this rocky paradise. I have to tell you guys, even the reservation for a visit is not a smooth one. It was in January when we decided to go to Masungi, but their schedule is already fully-booked until June. Good thing we were able to take a spot last March 31. Thank you Kars for patiently coordinating with Masungi! ❤
We were scheduled to start our 4-hour adventure at 6 AM, so we began our day three hours earlier. Our group decided to rent a van so that we can sleep and rest along the way. And since we are from Los Banos, Laguna, we decided to take the Sta. Cruz route going to Rizal. Of course, it was also not a smooth drive. It was stressful to be exact, haha!
Eventually, we arrived at Masungi just in time. We were briefed shortly at the Silungan and were introduced to our Park Ranger, Kuya Ryan. We were given the chance to choose our helmets and reminded us about the few policies of the georeserve (which can also be accessed here) before finally setting off.
Here are some of the amazing treasures inside Masungi Georeserve that will surely tap the inner Dora (The Explorer) in you:
Lambat is the first rope course that we encountered. You have to climb this net to get on top of the trail. I think there is an alternate route for those people who can’t do this, but I highly suggest that you take the lambat route for practice since there are many rope climbing ahead. The fun starts here~
Pictures in between:
Sapot is just the beginning of the many more surprises inside the georeserve. It is made of steel wires formed in the shape of a giant web. While there are a lot of picturesque landscapes worthy of your instagram feeds, I think Sapot is the most photogenic as it offers not just a creative platform, but also a breathtaking view of Sierra Madre and Laguna de Bay.
A short bridge near the Sapot:
Patak is a drop-shaped structure hanging in the middle of a bridge which serves as a resting haven for tired visitors even for a short while.
Pictures in between:
Giant hammock. The way to the giant hammock sure is a thrilling one: you need to descend from another lambat which is longer than the previous one since the peak is a bit higher and slope is steeper.
Yungib ni Ruben. So, sino si Ruben? Well, he’s the one who discovered this majestic cave. How great it must be to discover this nature’s wonderful creation, right? The cave’s interior is perfect for meditating and it looks like a filming set for fantasy series. You can also smell flowery fragrance which comes from either scented candles or aroma burners which also gives light to the pathway towards the cave.
Unfortunately, we don’t have good pictures inside due to lack of lighting. I’ll just forever treasure them in my memory chos.
Tatay and Nanay are the tallest peaks among the rock formations in Masungi. Obviously, they offer the best view of the vast conservation area. The spectacular view might urge you to shout “I’m the king of the woooooorld!!” but remember, it’s not allowed. HEHE.
From Tatay’s peak:
Nanay and the view from its peak:
Pictures in between:
We had a few-minute rest at another giant hammock after descending from the tremendous rope trail called Bayawak. I gathered all the energy left from my legs and thunder thighs to get off and finally had our complimentary snacks served at the nearby shelter.
The momentum must’ve been lost after a short while of resting as I feel like I’ve lost my strength to walk and climb the trail back to Silungan. It was a struggle and I feel like I have no more energy left even after having the light snacks. If only I could crawl back to Silungan, I think I definitely would. Haha! Only then did I realize the good effects of all those cardio training at our company’s gym. Thank you Kuya Ronald lol.
I think we picked the perfect schedule: it was a bright and sunny day plus the temperature from 6-10 AM is perfect for hiking. I highly suggest that you book the 6AM schedule if you’re also planning to go to Masungi. The sun is actually starting to heat up when we reached Silungan. As expected, we had to rest and sleep for a short while upon reaching the last point of our Masungi adventure. Lahat tulala. Galit-galit muna. Walang nag-uusap. HAHA!!
Our experience was definitely energy-draining and buwis-buhay but super worth it. I can’t say that it’s a good breather from work, but it’s a good way to somehow reconnect and immerse yourself with nature. It’s good to hear the sound of birds chirping in the morning, feel the relaxing morning mist, breathe some fresh forestry air, and see a combination of the greeny trees and grayish rock formations every once in a while.
So for thrill-seekers and nature lovers out there, you might want to book an adventure at Masungi Georeserve. ❤
Btw, they don’t accept walk-ins. You have to make a reservation through their website. Good luck!
thefrustratedmangaka 