Rafting and Hiking at Lake Pandin

The most unforgettable stop for me from our Laguna trip was visiting Lake Pandin. Lake Pandin is one of the seven magnificent lakes in San Pablo, Laguna. I particularly love the place because we got to experience uphill and downhill trekking and riding bamboo rafts. So for those who wants to get a bit of adventure and adores nature, Lake Pandin is the place to be. I’m pretty sure you’ll all fall in love with it because the sights and the people there are really amazing.

Before we got to Lake Pandin, we contacted Mr. Mandy who helped us book a tour. By the time we arrived at its roadside entrance, our tour guide gleefully greeted us and then the trekking began. It was a quite an enjoyable walk. With a view that is so rustic and the steep trail carefully carved by countless back and forth walks, you’ll simply be entranced by the brief journey that would leave you wordless moments later. Just a few steps and I felt like I’ve been running a mile because of exhaustion. But trust me, it’s still worth it! Make sure to watch out for some cautionary detour, too. (i.e., horse dung from time to time) After that 15-minute trek we finally saw the breathtaking view of the lake embraced by mountains, towering coconut trees and wild flora.

What’s best about our trip was that we didn’t only admire the lake’s beauty from a far, we actually got to paddle through its smooth current. A ride on the bamboo raft just costed us 180 pesos per person and that was equivalent to thirty minutes or so of serenity and astonishment. We were aboard with some locals who actually did the paddling for us and amusingly, they are packed with exciting stories and legends about the place. They took us to the opposite side of the lake where a freshwater spring and a mini-grotto of Our Lady awaited us. We all took a drink of the water that was so refreshingly cold and even tasted better than mineral water! On the other side of the lake was an uphill trail that led us to another pleasant surprise—the view of Lake Yambo and this was where we experience real hiking. This time it wasn’t an easy walk! We reached the top of the mountain and the view of Lake Yambo was really breathtaking. As we were going down the mountain on the same trail, I suddenly slipped and fell on my butt! (Another reason why this stop was unforgettable for me! Haha!) Thank God that I didn’t slide down the mountain. Lesson number 1: wear rubber shoes when hiking! Moment later, all of us were able to come down safely and go back to the raft. Going back to where we came from, the locals told us that we can swim in the lake if we want. Too bad that we didn’t bring any extra clothes and swim wear. Overall, the trip to Lake Pandin was a one of a kind experience for me. The place is really wonderful and its natural beauty truly struck me like I have never experienced before.

Here’s a friendly tip: Swimming is actually allowed in the lake and if you intend to do so, you’d probably want to make it your last stop because they actually don’t have shower rooms there. They do have some make-shift restrooms and cubicles where you can change clothes though. Now, that’s what you call a nature-bound experience!

For directions and reservations, please contact Mr. Mandy Marino.
Contact number: 0917-501-6694