Lake Pandin: A boon or a bane?

You probably read a lot about Lake Pandin in San Pablo, Laguna. I have heard so much about it too. Seeing great pictures online and positive reviews from different travel bloggers, I guess it's worth a try. So last Black Saturday, I decided to go to Lake Pandin tagging my friend along for company.

On how to get there click here.

I will not write about the background or history of the place since you will find it anywhere in google. I prefer to write something that will describe my experience.

Four days before Saturday which is Tuesday, I texted Ate Siony and Ate Tina as some other travel blogs say for raft reservation. Ate Siony wasn't able to beep me back but fortunately Ate Tina did the reservation. To my surprise, she told me that they will charge us 500php each instead of 360php because we were only two in the raft. In the end, I caved in. I just want to experience it and the 140php difference will be alright plus they will add inihaw na liempo to our food.

Then here comes Black Saturday and we go. We hired a guide to take us to the lake which was a kid and his name is Justin. He was entertaining. Giving us snippets of what awaits us in the raft ride. There is no fix price for guides during the trek so you're free to give them any amount you deem fit. For us, we gave him 20php. You have to trek for 10-15 minutes.

Contact Numbers:
Ate Tina: 0907 995 2983
Ate Siony: 0929 978 9565

with my guide Justin. (blurry picture as my friend is trying to figure out my camera)

Bamboo raft waiting to board

As we arrived, we were greeted by a lot of tourist docking on their rafts. We were approached also by some residents selling halo-halo and leche flan. As we were directed to our bamboo raft, I took the opportunity to take some pictures while waiting for the person in-charge to take us to somewhere.

About 20 minutes, a girl approached me and asked me if it's okay to have a family consist of 5 adults join us. They were walk ins and don't have any reservation. I said it's not okay, they should've contacted someone before coming right? And we were charge 500 pesos because the raft will be for 2 adults. (call me a bitch but I really am sometimes haha)

After another 10 minutes of waiting, a guy approached me again and asked if a family of four can tag along. He pointed to a mother smiling to me and a cute little boy staring at the bamboo raft. They were walk ins too. This time I said okay.

The man told them the price. I'm surprise again because they were charged 360 per head without the inihaw na liempo as an add on. So I think this Ate Tina tricked me, I don't know what's the real deal though.

Anyways, we started the tour and we ate a sumptuous meal plus Enzo, the cute kid is our entertainment.

No spoon and fork folks. Eat like a local.

What are you thinking little lad?

There's nothing really special about the tour. You get to ride a bamboo raft, eat like a local, see the view it is. For me though, I like the quite and serenity of the place with only the chirping of the birds as your music. The water is not as clean as it used to be because of fish kill incidents to the seven lakes. According to Justin, the water became cold. Its apparent that the change of water temperature affected the lake.

So to speak, is it a boon or a bane? It is both. You get to see how difficult it is to pull the raft through the ropes and how these women manage to pull it off without hurting there hands. Much to my experience, I enjoyed it mostly because of the locals. Watching them chat and make fun of one another is a boon and seeing their simple yet extraordinary duties. I'd consider it a bane to witness how climate change affected the community. There's a fish pen with tilapias in the lake. If the changes in water temperature continues and people wouldn't do something about it, this once beautiful lake that we still experience now will soon live in our memories.

How To Go To Lake Pandin and Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

View from the trek

Lake Pandin is one of the seven lakes in San Pablo, Laguna. You have probably read and stumbled to other travel blogs about it. You might be reading this because you also want to go there and would want to gather insights about the place. When I started doing DIY travels since 2012, this place was in my list. A lot of blogs had written well said things about their experiences and last Holy Saturday I was able to experience mine as well.

Side tripping to Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery is a bonus but for me, it's what I came for. Unfortunately, it was close when I get there, the caretakers opted to close it on a Black Saturday. Seems like a reason to go back then.

I came to see what's under this gem but it was close when I visited. :(

Getting there is easy and here's a guide on how to get to Lake Pandin and Nagcarlan underground cemetery:

From anywhere in Manila, go to Buendia Bus terminal in Gil Puyat and ask for buses bound for Lucena. Get off at San Pablo City 7-Eleven and get a tricycle to San Pablo Cathedral. There you can find a jeepney with the sign Liliw Nagcarlan near the fire station. Tell the driver to drop you at the underground cemetery. Fare is 25 pesos each. During your trip, you will see signs of the lakes including Lake Pandin from the left side of the road so try to be reminded of it's location.

This kid says we can climb the fence to get inside. I might have accepted the challenge but there's a lot of tourist in the area. What a shame. LOL!

I should be back soon Nagcarlan, solely for this reason.

You can find the Underground Cemetery at the left side of the road in front of Shell Gasoline Station. It's not easy to miss.

Ride a jeepney going back to San Pablo and get off at Lake Pandin. Fare is 18 pesos. There you have to trek for 10-15 minutes. You can get a guide going there and for us, we have this kid Justin Fortuna. He was entertaining us during the walk. You can give them any amount.

Bamboo Raft

To read my review about my experience in Lake Pandin click here.