Daranak Falls is just a short hike away from the parking area and entrance. After paying the P50 entrance fee per person, we headed off to the falls, passing by a stream feeding from Daranak and observing several fascinating pieces of rock balancing art along its banks. The stream itself flowed serenely through massive ochre-colored rocks, creating pools of turquoise waters here and there before ending up in the deep catch basin of the waterfalls.
There is a hidden cascade veiled by the forest just to the left of Daranak’s catch basin and where people can swim in if the catch basin is too deep for them. We did not swim on our two visits to the falls though. We simply took in the view around us. The 14 meter-high main falls, the lush green forest, the ochre-colored rocks and the gently flowing stream interrupted by jade green pools along its length all created a sense of tranquility that we savored during both times we were here.
t was a pleasant surprise to see Daranak Falls this clean and well-maintained (it might be a different story in the summer or dry season when crowds flock here though). The falls and its surrounding area are now being managed by the Tanay local government and judging by what we saw it seems they are doing a good job. There are picnic tables and sheds, souvenir shops and dining places plus a parking lot outside but all constructed in such a way as to blend with the surrounding environment
We were somewhat apprehensive at first about Daranak, which is quite popular these days and sure to attract huge crowds during weekends. The drive to the falls took us along a quiet roadway and straight into a hilly section of Barangay Tandang Kudyo in Tanay – part of the Sierra Madre foothills.
No comments:
Post a Comment