Hulugan Falls. Aliw Falls. Talay Falls. These are just some of the falls of Luisiana, Laguna that’s starting to get a lot of attraction lately. Of course we jumped into the bandwagon to see for ourselves what the craze is all about. And we finally figured out why everyone wants to see it. Here’s a complete itinerary and budget guide to Chasing Waterfalls, Luisiana, Laguna all for just Php 400
Hello Laguna, Hello Friends
This is one awesome trip. Got to travel again with the guys I met during my Mt. Balagbag-Maranat Falls Traverse trip (read my full guide here). This is the best part of traveling. You get to meet cool people who’ll became instant friends. From strangers to complete travel buddies!
We left Taft-Buendia at around 8am and rode a Jac Liner bus going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Fare is Php 140 / 112 (student). It was a 3-hour ride and we arrived at Sta. Cruz around 11am. From there, you’ll see a jeepney terminal which will take you to Brgy. San Salvador. Fare is Php 30.
Note: Go topload! You don’t want to miss the cool view.
From the barangay, you have to register and get a guide (reg fee is Php 10, guide is mandatory, no fixed rate). From the registration, you may ride a jeep going to the Kapitan’s house. This is where you’ll pay. (Jeep is optional, you can just walk but if you’re in a hurry you may take ride. Fare is Php 10. Also, Kapitan’s house offers lunch. Ulam is Php30-40.)
Hulugan Falls
We first went to Hulugan Falls. The trail is very easy and if you’ll notice they’re constructing a concrete road going to the area. We have mixed reactions regarding this one. Personally, I hope they’ll just stick with the rocky path.
If you’re fast enough, you can reach the falls in just 30 minutes. However, since it was crowded and there’s a lot of people (it was a holiday!), it took us almost an hour to reach it.
Rainbows everywhere~!
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Who did it better? LOL!
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Talay Falls
The next one is Talay Falls. It’s not that impressive but hey, it’s still falls right? This is the best place to have a picnic since there’s a table.
Aliw Falls
Going to Aliw Falls, you have to cross a small river and pass through a plantation and some rice fields. You’ll also see a horse! It will take around another hour to get back to the barangay. Unlike Hulugan and Talay Falls, Aliw Falls is part of Barangay San Jose but it’s just roughly 30 minutes away. However due to this reason and as mentioned by our guide, it’s not part of their jurisdiction so we just told him to drop us at the jump off and we’ll just carry on ourselves. To our surprise, our guide led us to the falls! How kind of him.
Out of the trio, this is the best for me. It was just fascinating. And we arrived just in time for sunset. The view was stunning and compared to Hulugan Falls, we have to place all to ourselves. Too bad we didn’t have time to swim though since we’re on a rush and besides, it’s too deep according to our guide.
Be careful! There’s a lot of limatik (leech) in the area especially when it rains. Got 3!!! And take note, that blood just came from one leech alone.
The Bad News
Updates + Hidden Falls
According to a friend, you may now visit Aliw Falls (we’re still waiting for the official confirmation). Also, there’s a Hidden Falls (also called the first layer of Talay) just above Talay Falls. We weren’t able to go here though. 🙁
Road Back Home
Overall, this trip was super worth it. It was a beautiful place and I got to hang out with the coolest people plus met new friends. Laguna, prepare! We’ll definitely come back! Adding in Pagasanjan and Cavinti to our ever-growing travel list.
Itinerary
0800 – Departure from Taft-Buendia
1100 – Arrival at Sta. Cruz Jeep Terminal / Departure to Brgy. San Salvador
1200 – Arrival at Brgy. San Salvador / Lunch
1230 – Start trek
1330 – Arrival at Hulugan Falls
1530 – Start trek to Talay Falls
1630 – Arrival at Talay Falls
1630 – Start trek to Brgy. Hall
1700 – Arrival at Brgy. Hall / Start trek to Aliw Falls
1730 – Arrival at Aliw Falls
1845 – Start trek back to Brgy. Hall
1915 – Shower / Pay fees
1930 – Ride jeep back to Sta. Cruz
2000 – Bus back to Manila
2300 – ETA to Manila
Note: Last trip of bus back to Manila (Cubao) is around 7:45pm so you might want to leave earlier. If there’s no bus available, try the Sta.Cruz to Buendia-Taft instead.
Budget Breakdown
Jac Liner bus Taft to Sta cruz Laguna – Php 112 student / 140
Jeep from Sta. Cruz to Brgy. San Salvador – Php 30
Jeep to Kapitan’s House – Php 10
Registration Fee – Php 10
Guide Fee – Php 500 (no fixed rate; Php 80 each)
Shower Fee – Php 10
Jeep back to Sta, Cruz – Php 30
Bus to Manila – Php 112 student / 140
Total Damage – Php 394
This trip wouldn’t be complete without these folks. (Clockwise from top: Er, Kier, Anton, Celest, Me and Jessamine). Thank you guys for this experience and also for the photos. 🙂 So, where shall we go next?
Life is too short to live without adventure.
Cheers~!
– Justin –
Hello require po ba ung guide? And panno po if mangagaling ng cubao? Thanks and Godbless ������
Hi June! Yes, required po ang guide. If manggagaling kayo ng Cubao, may bus dun going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. I just forgot the bus line. And note lang po na yung isang bus liner dun until around 7:30pm lang ang last trip. 🙂
Awesome falls. I will be posting "chasing waterfalls, cebu south" in my blog soon.
Cheers for more adventure. 🙂
Cool! Would love to read them and use it as a reference for my future trip in Cebu. 🙂
Very Detailed IT thanks for sharing!
Do they let a solo traveler to join a group to get a guide?
Hi again Mr Justin.. i read a lot of blogs about hulugan falls and it seems like color mad ung water from falls.. pero we will visit this place this january super ganda kac ng view at ang dami ding falls .. More power Mr. Justin
I think kaya kulay mud yung water kasi umulan. All falls naman pag maulan na season, muddy yung color. Pag nag-subside yung mga residue sa ilalim, lilinaw din naman hehe
Hi po. From Hulugan Falls, pano pong way papuntang Aliw Falls at Talay falls? Balik ba from the highway going to another falls?
Thanks
Ask ko lang if msmong humihinto yung bus sa jeep terminal?
hi kelan po ulit next lakad nyo? pasama naman hihihih
like feeling as you sit auto on. Beautiful Waterfalls. if a dip in this water to make great. Will Arrange to come here with friends … Will visit more Web của. thanks for sharing…
So helpful! Photos are fun, i love it. Thank you for shared.
WHAT CHASING WATERFALLS ACTUALLY MEAN:
When a person is so hungover they can't stop vomiting and every time they drink water it comes back out their mouth like a waterfall, because it's coming out of their mouth away from them it's like they're chasing it.
OR
A woman, particularly an older woman,who desires sex and is chasing after younger men to achieve an orgasm.
Ano gamit mong camera sir justin?
sir justin vawter. papaalam lang po sana ako na kung pwede po ay gamitin ko po yung pictures nyo ng hulugan falls for my journalism class. fineature ko po kasi yung hulugan falls, i've been there last summer but my photos are not enough so gusto ko po sana gamitin pictures nyo. lalagyan ko po ng credits na sainyo ko ppo kinuha. thank you sir! -via barrera
Wonderful place, however don't wear your favorite kicks for trekking
Wow! The place looks sooo beautiful and I can see it in your genuine smiles. Thanks for sharing your experience. I have now an idea on how to do a diy trip. Thanks that I found this blog site.
PS. I wish I had a companion(s) on going on a trip. Huhu
PPS. More powers and more travels to you guys. God bless!😊