by: MARIA MONICA B. PADILLO It seems as though that we are running out of vacation destinations—Palawan, Boracay, Batanes, and more—because we’re tired of seeing the same things. But a new tourist attraction has recently been popular in social media sites and news programs and it is called Minalungao National Park which is located at General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Just a mere three to four hours away from Metro Manila, this hidden paradise is sure to lure locals and tourists into appreciating the treasures of nature. The park covers 2,018 hectares and its main attraction is the clean and clear Peñaranda River lined with limestone walls on both sides. The place can be explored either by foot or by a bamboo raft which can be rented and stirred by requesting the services of one of the locals who are familiar with the place and people are allowed to swim in the river. |
While furnished bathrooms, gift shops, or other things that visitors usually look for in tourist destinations are still unavailable in the area, some locals have established their sari-sari stores and carenderia’s to accommodate to the people who need food or amenities, though bringing of food and other personal things are allowed.
The fees covered when visiting the place are: entrance fee (20 pesos per person), parking fee (50 pesos for cars and 10 pesos for tricycles), rental fee for the bamboo raft or the balsa (800 pesos but this is still negotiable as it depends on the person who will provide the service), and cottage fee (300 pesos but also negotiable).
While it’s difficult to get there because of its distance from the city proper and the unpaved road, it’s definitely one of the best places to go to during summer or just when people need to time away from work, stress, and the city life.
The fees covered when visiting the place are: entrance fee (20 pesos per person), parking fee (50 pesos for cars and 10 pesos for tricycles), rental fee for the bamboo raft or the balsa (800 pesos but this is still negotiable as it depends on the person who will provide the service), and cottage fee (300 pesos but also negotiable).
While it’s difficult to get there because of its distance from the city proper and the unpaved road, it’s definitely one of the best places to go to during summer or just when people need to time away from work, stress, and the city life.