Pagsanjan Falls Adventure from Manila

What a great adventure! My tour guide, Fernando, was a wealth of information on the road trip to Laguna from Makati! Once I got to Casa del Rio resort, I was outfitted with a life vest and a safety hat. Then I met my heroes, Dennis and Toto, my boatsmen. THAT was the most unique part of this amazing adventure! The boatsmen don't just row the boat UP river, but they literally climb down on the rocks along the rapids and navigate and push/pull the boat UP the river... 16 rapids, some more fierce than others, some where the water level was too low, and the men literally pulled and lifted the boat UP and onto the rolling pins set up at certain low water passages! I was the only passenger on this canoe, and I can't believe that these men do this every day with up to 3 adult passengers PLUS themselves to go UP the river! We finally made it to the first fall (mid-April, before the rainy season) at the midpoint of the tour and the men took a break. At the stop, there are folks offering you drinks and food, not only for yourself but for your boatsmen too. After seeing how hard Dennis and Toto worked, I felt no hesitation in saying, "Yes!" even tho I was warned by my guide about this venture. Again, the fact that these men were literally carrying me and the boat UP the friggin river, was worth the PH$500 tho I could probably have haggled them down. Aintnobodygotimeforthat! Off we went, continuing UP the river, more rapids, more pulling/pushing/carrying, and I was in awe of how these men maneuvered us UP the river until we finally got to the big falls. Then it was off the canoe, and a short walk on a man-made rock walkway to the other side for the Fall. There, a flat bamboo raft takes the tourists to the actual Fall, UNDER the Fall to the cave behind it and they drop you off so you can swim and play in the water. It was quite surreal for me to be in there, listening to the cascading water and bobbing up and down in my life vest. Later, they come back to pick you up, and they take you UNDER the rushing water and out again to the landing. Yes, they will ask for a tip as well. Be prepared with cash and smaller bills are best. Then it was back on my canoe with Dennis and Toto and the ride DOWN the river was a lot less harried nor stressful for my boatsmen, tho at a few of the low-water spots, they did have to get out, and push the boat down the rolling pins and back on the river to head back to Casa del Rio. What an amazing ride! But the tour wasn't over. At Casa del Rio, I was met with a huge plate of food for lunch and a cold San Miguel beer! You'd think I was the one that had done all the hard work! But nope, I enjoyed my rice (#riceislife), noodles, chicken, a delicious mushroom soup, spring rolls! It was good and most filling! Then we headed back to the city; no lie, I took a nap on the ride back! I highly recommend this! And I did it solo and just so happened that I was the only guest on my particular tour, so I had undivided attention!