Baler is one of those places that holds a bit of mysticism, thanks in part to advertising and hype (although I have yet to see the film Baler, which I don’t really plan to). But the good thing is that it’s not purely hype, because this place is truly a must-see for anyone wanting a break from too much action (or inaction, as the case may be) in the urban jungle. It’s a place that has something to offer for those who are looking for a complete “getaway package”. Nature? Check. City scenes? Check. Adventure? Check. A healing sojourn? Another check.
It has been exactly a year since I was able to visit Baler with my officemates. We only had less than 3 days for the trip, and it didn’t exactly help that, on the second day, rain kept pouring down. It was a good thing, then, that we decided to put our visit to the Ditumabo Mother Falls on the afternoon of our first day.
Ditumabo Mother Falls, or simply Ditumabo Falls, is one of the several waterfalls in the nearby town of San Luis in Aurora. From the town proper in Baler, I’d say it’s about a 30- to 45-minute drive.
We had a private vehicle going there, and we also had someone from our counterpart office in Dipaculao leading the way, so that made it easier. The usual way for tourists (without their own ride) to get there is by hiring a tricycle or a motorcycle that will take them to the jump-off point (or beside the river). It’s quite a bumpy ride, though, which we felt whilst inside the SUV we were on. But I daresay that the bumpy ride makes any motorcycle or tricycle ride more exciting!
It was 2:30pm when we arrived at the jump-off point, and had to pay Php30.00 per vehicle as parking fee.
From the jump-off point, there were already several stalls selling food and snack items. So if you come here and haven’t had anything to eat yet, no worries, you’ll find something to tide you over. Mind the rules, though.
Visiting hours to the Falls is only until 4pm. That day, we were told that there weren’t a lot of people, because it was already quite late in the afternoon, and it looked like it was going to rain later.
I actually think this is a good thing, especially after seeing photos by friends who visited the Mother Falls several months later, and seeing how much “human traffic” there is along the way.
Since this is a waterfalls we’re visiting, expect to get wet. Sure, there are makeshift wooden and bamboo bridges, but there are parts where you’d have to get your feet wet. (Duh. Waterfalls…?)
Five minutes into the hike, we came across this shed, where we had to pay Php10.00 per person as environmental fee.
We met with other people who were already heading back from the falls.
I’m not really sure about this drinking water part but… ok.
And spot those huuuuuuuuuugge pipes along the way? They lead to the hydroelectric power plant, which you will also pass along the way.
The hike to the falls is not without its challenges (but I’ve had harder ones, so.). Some minor river crossing, navigating some slippery rocks and muddy paths… It’s a good thing the water isn’t so strong.
From the jump-off point to the falls, it’s around 2.5 km. That could take you anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. For us, we managed it in 30 minutes. Which I’m proud of, because most of my companions aren’t really keen walkers or hikers. I suppose I should just chalk that up to the fact that we ARE from the mountains. 🙂
And we finally arrived at the falls at exactly 3:01 pm!
So… what was I expecting?
This is called the Mother Falls, supposedly because it is the largest waterfalls in the province of Aurora. It’s around 140 feet high, and falls into a circular basin where you can swim (provided you can. Which I can’t.) and frolic in.
Having seen other, taller, and more majestic waterfalls before this, it did not impress me as much as Tappiyah Falls (~230ft) in Batad did. Or Pinagjan Falls in Ambuklao, Bokod. Or even Tinuy-an Falls in Surigao. And don’t even get me started on Jeju’s Jeongbang and Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls..
But Ditumabo is not without its charms. See, that’s the thing with waterfalls that strike me. They still manage to reel me in even if they “fall short” in comparison with others. This one, in particular, I found to be quite serene, maybe because there it somehow manages to come across as secluded when it is, in truth, one of the most visited sites in the area.
Here’s Marshee, wanting to join these other visitors but could not because… well, swimming skills aren’t something we’re blessed with.
And it was coldddd. Only a few of us actually got into the water because it was close to freezing.
But we were already here, and I felt it’d be something close to sacrilege to NOT get in the water. We even manage to make our way towards the rock on the other side of the basin.
Here’s Kuya Bong, scratching his head because, despite the fact that he’s a good swimmer, he does not relish the idea of shivering in that cold water.
We stayed there for around 45 minutes, finally deciding to head back before the rain DOES come.
Now, I have been to several other waterfalls since then, and I cannot wait to post about them in the succeeding weeks. Yep, looks like November will be largely waterfalls-centric in this blog. 🙂
Baler is known as a surfing haven, but if you are looking for variety in your Baler trip, and you love nature, and you don’t mind a bit of a walk. And maybe some crowd, (a friend even described the “human traffic” as “box-office”, because it looked like a queue) then you should definitely devote one morning, or one afternoon, to visiting Ditumabo Falls. If you don’t care much for the actual falls, the walk will do you good.