Pandin Lake
Pandin Lake
Laguna,
Philippines is one of the most popular weekend getaways of the Filipinos. It is
not only blessed with beautiful mountains and waterfalls but it also has the 7
lakes which are ideal for fishing, swimming and rafting. The most popular among
the lakes are the Pandin and Yambo Lake.
These are considered as the twin lakes.
Pandin Lake is approximately 180 ft. deep and the Yambo Lake is much
deeper.
How
to get to Pandin
To get to Pandin you have to get to
Alabang Junction where the terminal to Laguna is found. Board a bus that is going to San Pablo /
Lucena. The bus fare would be 180 pesos
($4.20).
There are
sign boards along the way so travelling would be easy. The moment you see the Alaminos signs, be
alert and tell the driver ahead of time that you are getting off at the San
Pablo Medical Center. From the medical
center u may take a tricycle going to the Cathedral. This trip will cost you
8-10 pesos ($0.18-$0.20), depending on the number of people who are getting on
the tryke. From the Cathedral, look for
711 where the jeepneys that are labeled "ILOG" can be found. The jeepney ride would cost you 12 pesos
($0.28). Make sure that you inform the
jeepney driver that you are going to Pandin Lake because most of the drivers
don't drive the visitors to the exact place.
From the entrance to the lake is a 10-minute hike. The trip from Alabang to Pandin lake takes
less than 2.5 hours.
What
makes Pandin different from other places
Pandin is
not a crowded place like others. It is a
serene-romantic sanctuary. The water is
very relaxing and cool. The lake is
surrounded by land which is covered by lush trees and plants. As you get nearer
the lake you will be welcomed by the cool breeze of air that you can never
experience in the city. Getting on the
raft, you will be greeted by 4 locals (women)who will serve as guides. They maneuver the raft around the lake and
lead you to the other lake which is the Yambo.
Yambo has clearer water compared with Pandin but due to its
unpredictable depth and current, visitors are not allowed to take a dip into
it. The Pandin Lake rafting is very
safe. The guides are always making sure
that the visitors are taking the necessary precaution to avoid any
accident. The folks of Pandin are
friendly and very accommodating. Not to
mention that this rafting and swimming experience will just cost you 180
pesos($4.20).
Food
The Pandin
Lake experience will be incomplete without the sumptuous meals that they serve (for only 180
pesos/$4.20). They serve enseladang pako
(ferns in vinegar with salted eggs), ginataang hipon (shrimp in coconut milk)
and inihaw na tilapya (grilled tilapya). For dessert - banana. The food that they serve are usually
harvested or gathered fresh from the lake and the areas surrounding it. The ferns were from the mountain nearby and
the shrimps and tilapya came from the fish cages in the lake. This might not
sound as the most delicious food that you have ever tasted but they sure taste
great when you are eating while your feet are touching the water.
There's no
other place more relaxing and affordable like Pandin Lake. People always come home invigorated and
relaxed after hiking, swimming and rafting in this alluring gift of nature.
