Siniloan Beyond Buruwisan: Tulay na Bato Falls, Hagdang Bato Falls, Asul na Talon and Kalawang Falls

Siniloan

Siniloan, the northeastern most town of the province of Laguna, is home to numerous waterfalls that lie along its different river systems. In fact, among their official tourism slogans is “Waterfalls Sanctuary of Eastern Laguna.” This is without a doubt as it is nested at the foot of Sierra Madre, the longest mountain range in the country.

Its most popular attraction – the waterfalls of Mount Romelo, specifically Buruwisan Falls. There are at least eight known waterfalls in Mount Romelo alone, some say that there are more unnamed ones that are yet to be exposed to public. Aside from Buruwisan Falls, there’s Lanzones Falls, Batya-Batya Falls, Sampaloc Falls, Diwata Falls, Sebakon Falls, Sapang Labo Falls and the very daring Twin Falls!

But beyond Mount Romelo’s group of waterfalls are others that are equally enchanting and easier to reach like those in the lowland Barangays of Magsaysay, Kapatalan and Llavac.

Siniloan
A small cave at the back of Asul na Talon

Tulay na Bato Falls

One of, if not, the most stunning waterfalls in Siniloan is Tulay na Bato, which is in the boundary of Barangay Magsaysay and Kapatalan. Surprisingly, not much tourists or even locals go here, and only few know the spot.

Ma’am Luz Saldivia, a retired lawyer and now an advocate in improving the lives of the people in the community, owns the land where Tulay na Bato Falls is located. She now resides in her humble house at Kilometer 17 of Siniloan-Famy-Infanta Road, in a site known as Trekkers’, the nearest and easiest approach to this waterfalls.

Tulay Na Bato Falls is approximately forty feet drop to a deep circular basin surrounded by a huge wall and boulders. The name basically came from huge rocks that serve as bridge to get to the falls if you are coming from Kilometer 17. Literally, you will cross boulders! There’s no harness in place so careful with the huge rocks. The falls is just a short downhill trek, approximately 10 to 15 minutes from Trekker’s. It can also be reached via Kilometer 18 but it is quite a long uphill river trekking from there.

Siniloan
You will be crossing boulders to get here thus “Tulay na Bato”.

To get here from Manila, catch a Raymond bus going to Infanta from Legarda and ask to be dropped at Trekkers’ at Kilometer 17 of Barangay Magsaysay, Siniloan. Fare is approximately P140 per person, one-way. Travel time is approximately three (3) hours. Entrance fee is P10 per person for a day trip and P50 per person for overnight campers.

Hagdang Bato Falls

Approximately one kilometer downstream from Tulay na Bato is a series of smaller cascades that resembles a staircase, thus Hagdang Bato Falls, another amazing natural wonder of Barangay Magsaysay.

Siniloan
A series of cascades that resembles a staircase.

Prepare to be amazed as you will be walking along and across the river with waterfalls of various heights and forms all around you. The most remarkable is the wide curtain type, approximately five feet high. There are numerous natural pools for those who want to take a dip, careful as some are quite deep.

To get here, you can trek along the river downstream from Tulay na Bato Falls. It is approximately one kilometer away or roughly 20 minutes trek on an average pacing. Alternatively, you can take the trail along the main road, beside a waiting shed at Kilometer 18. It is around 20 to 30 minutes downhill trek to the river, passing by a school and cooperative buildings. Expect “limatik” specially on rainy season.

Siniloan
Hagdang Bato can be reached by river trekking dow stream from Tulay na Bato.

Asul na Talon

Not far from Hagdang Bato and also in Kilometer 18 is another waterfalls, a hidden one in fact. No one even knows the official name of it, locals simply call it as Falls, but others call it Asul na Talon. Possibly for two reason: one, because the gushing water reflects a shadow of blue; and the deep and bubbling natural pools near the falls is reflecting a blue hue.

Siniloan
Locals just call it “Falls”.

The water falls from a height of fifteen feet into a small yet deep basin. At the back of the gushing water is a small cave, but going inside requires your Spiderman skill on crawling against a nearly vertical wall.

The trek here takes around half-an-hour downhill from the main highway, passing several rivers, and muddy and grassy trails. Expect “limatik” on rainy season.

Siniloan
A blue soda tub?

To get here, you can walk along the main road from the jumpoff of Hagdang Bato to the basketball court near Councilman Serrano’s home. You can ask the kids or the locals there to guide you to the falls above “bangkaan“.

Kalawang Falls

Another surprising waterfalls of Siniloan is Kalawang Falls which is hidden in the green slopes of Barangay Llavac. The village is tucked in between Real, Quezon on the east and Barangay Magsaysay on the west.

Kalawang Falls is made up of four layers of cascades that range from five to thirty feet, arranged like huge staircase, majestic on its own right. It has a deep natural basin ideal for swimming. Surprisingly, despite its grandeur, the falls is rarely visited by tourists.

Siniloan
Wow for Kalawang Falls!

There are numerous trails that lead to Kalawang Falls from Kilometer 18 but the nearest is from the main road in Kilometer 19, near a basketball court. It is an uphill trek that leads to a grassland, passing a river where the waterfalls lie downstream.

To get here, you can walk for approximately twenty (20) minutes along the main road from the jumpoff of Asul na Talon onward to the Kilometer 19, after the Bible School and Cemetery on the left side of the road and before the basketball court at the right side. You can flag a jeepney or a tricycle if you see one and ask the driver to drop you at the trail to Kalawang Falls in Kilometer 19 with the landmarks listed above.

And More Unnamed Waterfalls!?

But wait, there’s more!

Aside from these four waterfalls, there are others in the highlands of Barangay Magsaysay and Llavac. A local gave me a tip that there exist numerous waterfalls along Lalawinan River, some towering 100 feet high. I asked for its name but he only said Lalawinan. It is quite a long trek going there, so camping is advised.

How to go to Siniloan, Laguna

From Manila, catch a Raymond bus going to Infanta from Legarda and ask to be dropped at Trekkers’ at Kilometer 17 of Barangay Magsaysay, Siniloan. Fare is approximately P140 per person, one-way. Travel time is approximately three (3) hours.

From Rizal area, take the Siniloan jeep at their terminal in front of Robinsons Cainta/Big R/Junction, fare is P83 and travel time is around two (2) hours. From Siniloan town proper, catch a Llavac jeep in Tulay Pari which is just five (5) minutes walk from the public market. The Llavac bound jeeps traverse the Siniloan-Famy-Infanta road up to Kilometer 21. Fare to Kilometer 18 is around P25, travel time is approximately 30 minutes.

Siniloan Day Trip Itinerary

Budget: ~P600
Difficulty Level: Moderate

0400H: Assembly at Raymond Bus Terminal in Legarda
0430H: Departure from Legarda to Siniloan
0730H: Arrival in Trekkers’ / Registration / Briefing
0800H: Trek to Tulay na Bato Falls
0820H: ETA in Tulay na Bato
0930H: River trekking to Hagdang Bato
1000H: ETA in Hagdang Bato
1130H: At Asul na Talon Jumpoff / Start trekking to Asul na Talon
1200H: ETA in Asul na Talon
1300H: Back in main road / Lunch / Proceed to Kilometer 19
1400H: Start trekking to Kalawang Falls
1430H: ETA in Kalawang Falls
1600H: Back in main road / Jeep to Siniloan
1630H: ETA in Siniloan Junction / Take a bus or van to Manila
2000H: ETA in Manila

Trip Expenses

P140 – Manila to Kilometer 17 / Siniloan
P10 – Entrance Fee in Tulay na Bato
P50 – Tip to the kid guide in Tulay na Bato (Optional)
P100 – Tips to the kid guides in Hagdang Bato (Optional)
P60 – Tips to the kid guides in Asul na Talon (Optional)
P35 – Jeep from Kilometer 19 to Siniloan Town Proper
P120 – Van from Siniloan to Legarda
P150 – Expenses on food, water, miscellaneous

Comments

  1. Gab Nacional

    Hi! Where exactly is the registration venue? The Brgy. Macatad? From Siniloan town proper, where should I go next to reach Brgy. Macatad, its mode of transpo, transpo fee and the possible landmarks I could see there to know that im already in brgy. macatad? 🙂 you said we could ask the locals, esp kids, to guide us for a cheaper and safe tour, can you recommend someone from the locals we could ask to guide us? Bcos I find the guide fee too expensive, its like 600 pesos in total 🙁 And lastly, do you know what time is the last trip of jeepneys from Siniloan to Sta cruz? Im planning to go there this coming Monday, May 16, I hope you could help me and have your answers by tomorrow. Thank you so muuuch! 🙂 It would be a great help

  2. […] from Manila will take you to Real, a coastal town of Quezon Province fronting Pacific Ocean. Like Siniloan in Laguna, it is also nested at the foot Sierra Madre, the longest mountain range in the […]

  3. Ralph

    Hello,

    Posible po bang mag bike camp sa mga falls na ito? San po marerekomenda ninyo?
    Salamat

  4. Era

    Hello! Your blog is great. Nakakahikayat puntahan. ☺ I hope you can help me. Sorry for being ignorant. I just want to seek for some advise. Tanung ko lang if may tour guide sa place o may mapang binibigay? Gusto sana namin puntahan kaso wla kaming experience sa ganyan. 1st time trekker here! 🙂 Appreciate any response! Thank you!

    1. joel

      may tourguide po. 300 papunta and 300 pbalik. its up to you kung magpapa guide ka pa pabalik.

  5. To add alternatives, travelers from the eastern part of Manila can take the Siniloan jeepney at their terminal right in front of Robinsons Cainta/Big R/Junction. Fare is P83 and travel time is 1hr45mins.

    From Siniloan town proper, walk towards Tulay Pari (please ask any friendly Siloanon or you may look for my father Peter Go right in front of the church, for directions), which is just 5mins walk from the public market. There you will find the Llavac jeepney terminal that transports passengers to Km 21.

    This jeepney also take the Siniloan-Famy-Infanta road and literally can drop you every kilometer of the way. Fare to Km 18 is around P25 and may take 30mins. Ask to be alighted at Trekkers’ Stop and look for Tita Luz. She will be more than happy to accommodate you provided she is not busy with her numerous community projects 😉

    Thank you Lakwatsero for the mention! I know I said I wouldn’t dare go back to the buwis-buhay trek to Twin Falls again, but, why not? And let’s find those hidden gems of Siniloan, the Waterfalls Capital of Eastern Laguna!

  6. RJ

    Any other mode of transport po to Siniloan aside from Raymund Bus? Somewhere along Edsa?

    1. Lakwatsero

      Raymond Buses and vans to Infanta pass at the Edsa/Ortigas flyover, you may try to catch the ride after the overpass but seats may not be guaranteed although the earliest bus usually has lots of vacant ones. Alternatively, you may go to Antipolo from EDSA (Ortigas or Cubao) then catch the van or bus there.

  7. Hi Angel! 🙂 Just want to ask if you can swim in these waterfalls? 🙂

    1. Lakwatsero

      Yes Estell, ingat lang some basins are quite deep 🙂

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