This tour is one of those spontaneous travels I've been. Two days before the Tanay tour, I saw this random post from Affordable Travel and Tour agenc y on Facebook regarding their Tanay tour. Since it's affordable, a day tour only and I don't have any plans yet on that day, I sent them a message and asked if there's still an available slot. Fortunately enough, they replied right away and said there is. I deposited the full payment, and booked my slot.
Exploring Rizal: A Great Place within the City to UnwindIt was 4:30am when we left our meeting place in Quezon Ave. We're a total of 12 persons in the van and since I was booked on my own, I don't know anyone in the van which is fine with me because I consider this as a preparation for my ultimate goal to be a solo traveler.
Around 6am, we've reached our first destination, which is the Saint Ildephonsus of Toledo Parish Church. Since it's Sunday, there's an ongoing mass in the Church and we're given 20 minutes if we want to listen to the mass. But, since I'm not a Roman Catholic, I decided to use my time to take some breakfast.
Five minutes away from the Church, we visited the Lighthouse of Tanay. Located in the lakeshore of Barangay San Isidro, the lighthouse was once the guide for fishermen during moonless nights. However, it stopped operating in 2012 and got a new life as a tourist attraction.
By 7:30 in the morning, we've reached our third destination, which is the "Our Lady of Regina RICA (Regina Rosarii). This is a 71-foot high statue that stands on top of the hill. It was made by a sculptor named Jose Barcena Jr.
Half an hour of traveling from regina rica, we've reached our fourth destination, which is the Pililla Wind Farm. This wind farm consists of 27 wind turbine generators grouped into three clusters with a total capacity of 37.5 megawatts. You'll definitely be amazed of these machineries with a beautiful nature backdrop.
Right after our lunch, we went directly to Calinawan Cave. Situated in Barangay Tandang Kutyo of Tanay, Rizal, this cave is an enormous cave system composed of multiple levels and various chambers and openings. This cave was used as a hideout by Filipino revolutionaries during the Spanish-American War and a shelter during World War II. Because of its natural beauty, Calinawan Cave has been used for many film and television productions as a shooting location.
For our final destination, we went on swimming to Daranak Falls. This falls is one of the flagship destinations of Tanay and is a popular summer getaway for locals and tourists from in and out of the country. A favorite location shooting area for most local and international movies and advertising companies in the country, Daranak Falls nestles calmly at the foot of the Tanay mountains, preserved with the natural vegetation, complemented with enchanting waterfalls, ponds, and rivers cascading through elaborate tropical trees and plants. This 14-meter high falls is truly a refreshing location.
Top Pick: If you're going to visit Tanay, Rizal, you shouldn't miss out both the Calinawan Cave and Daranak Falls in your itinerary. Aside from being rich in historical backgrounds, these two offer a relaxation of spirit and mind with its natural beauty.
Do you agree with the top pick? Share your thoughts below.
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