Pagsanjan Falls Adventure from Manila

Evened the trip upriver. Beautiful day, views and people. Everyone was a joy and enhanced the experience.

This is an incredible experience however it is a long drive from Manila, you need to have cash because everyone is expecting a tip and you don't spend that long at the waterfall. The tour guide was friendly and had lots of facts about manila on the way there. On arrival you can get changed and then get on the boat. Don't let the lady take your picture if you're not going to buy it as a souvenir at the end (400 pesos for two photos). The boatmen are incredible and carry the boat with you in it upstream at some points. It is hard work while you enjoy incredible views of the river. The seating position in the boat is not the most comfortable for 2 hours but it's important for boat balance. At half way the boatmen take a break and you're asked if you want to buy food and drinks for your boatmen (400 pesos for two cokes and some chicken). It's hard to say no when you've just watched them drag you upstream but I'm not convinced they have time to eat it as after pictures they then get you back on the boat. Once you get to the waterfall you have chance for pictures then there is a bamboo raft that takes you behind the waterfall. The raftmen want a tip. Then you get back on the boat and shoot the rapids downstream back. There is not time to relax and just take in the waterfall and we felt a bit rushed. You have to wear a lifejacket and helmet and we didn't get chance to take these off for our photos. Once you're back you tip your boatmen, then you can shower, get changed and then have lunch. The food was OK but we felt the vibe shifted when we didn't buy extra drinks or the souvenir photos. Overall the nature and views are incredible but it's a little ruined by the pressure to tip everyone individually (3 raftmen, 2 boatmen, driver, tour guide, cooks and host).

First, the positive. Great view of the river and the waterfall. It took about 30 minutes each way, with a motor boat assist. The staff, especially the driver, did a good job navigating through all the traffic. Not so positive: This tour company should start hotel pick up by 6:30 AM. You might think this is early, but it’s not when you have to pick up at 4 different hotels in the city. A later pick up makes for a very long 3 hours in traffic each way. The boatmen: Yes, they do work hard for tips. Some boatmen are more aggressive than others, ours kept asking for a good tip and telling us unfortunate stories all the way up and back. Finally, I just ignored him and stopped answering his questions. The couple ahead of us gave each boatmen 500 Peso each and they were good with it, however, ours wanted 1000 Pesos each, I said no and walked away. Not all boatmen are that aggressive. Over all a good tour, nice views of the river and waterfall.

I didn't go to the top because the water was muddy. Somehow, it wasn't satisfying, but it looked like it was going to be hard to get upstream.

The whole canoe experience was memorable. From the beautiful scenery to the ride on the raft at the waterfalls. The trip back with rapids was great too. We had fantastic tour guides for the drive up and back from the location and with their local expertise, we got some great duck at a local store and a Buko pie at the original pie shop for this delicacy.

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!

+1

This was a great relaxing trip not high energy. Transport was on time and comfortable. The guide was very knowledgeable and great to talk to. The trip is pricey but they made the whole process painless so I think it was good. The lunch was good they offered fish, fried pork, or chicken. You do have to tip the boat people but they deserve it very hard work pushing and padding us up river towards the falls. Overall beautiful views and great experience.

Nature surroundings, effort of canoe men applied to the trip on the water. I didn like the food. I dudn like the harasement offering pictures. Tour leader and driver were excellent

Great day trip. We had hotel pickup from Manila. Lunch included after trip to the falls. Definitely recommend weekday trip to avoid crowds. We went on Monday. Only one other canoe there. All guides and boat drivers highly respectable and we had great time.

Be careful of boatmen in Kawanobori, if you are traveling on your own, you will be in trouble for paying for the boat and tipping the boatman a lot. Or, quite a few people find Flippin a scary place because they feel bad about drinks and food prices at rest stops.