Revisiting Taytay Falls, Majayjay, Laguna

It was 2006 or 2007 when I first stepped at Majayjay. I could hardly remember the travel to the place but I can still remember what beauty there is waiting for us. How campers go there to enjoy the icy cold waters of its fall called Taytay falls freely flowing at the foot of Mt. Banahaw? The barangay was small and they have horses and produce before getting near the entrance where you will find a staircase down to the long walk before reaching the falls. The numbers of steps were all a blur but the experience of the walk was still clear and its view is as vivid as a dream.

I was just informed by my colleagues that our Magalawa trip was changed to Majayjay trip and I was excited to know how the place has changed. I’m still hoping that it was not.

Gearing up for the trip I packed 3 Paella in can, energy bar, 1 litre of bottle water, windbreaker, rash guard, blanket, comfy clothes, leg sleeves, socks, and bennie. I cannot find my flashlight so I let others bring those to our trip (gladly they did).

Here’s our itinerary for the overnight at Taytay Falls, Majayjay, Laguna:

Day 1

0630A Meet up in Buendia-LRT

0700A Board bus to Sta. Cruz, Laguna

1000A ETA Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Board jeepney to Majayjay Town Proper

1100A ETA Brgy. Hall

1200A Lunch (at Brgy. Hall)

0130P Pitch our tents

0200P Rest (me time)

0300P Snacks

0400P Swimming Time

0700P Dinner

Day 2

0800A Breakfast

0900A ME TIME (Swim/picture picture/etc.)

0100P Tidy Up

0230P Take a Jeepney back to Majayjay town proper.

0430P Ride Jeepney to Sta. Cruz, Laguna

0600P Ride4 bus back to Manila

0900P ETA Buendia-LRT, Manila

How to get to Taytay Falls, Majayjay, Laguna and what to expect?

-          Take a bus in Buendia-LRT going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna (this travel might take about 2-3 hours, going to Laguna may have multiple battle neck where traffic is expected to be heavy, around Calamba area and other areas) and our fare is Php153.00**

-          At the terminal you can take a tricycle or look for the jeepney terminal to Majayjay Town Proper. (We took the tricycle which we paid Php70.00 each, I would suggest you take the jeepney which cost around Php17.00 unfortunately you need to watch out for the schedule of trips because they really don’t have scheduled trips they leave as the jeepneys got filled up.)

-          You will know that you are at Majayjay Town Proper if you see an old church called St. Gregory Parish Church. The tricycle or jeepney will take you to the terminal which is in front of St. Gregory Parish Cemetery.

-          At the terminal take another jeepney going to Taytay Falls. Take note of the schedule. I would suggest you arrive at the terminal at least before 2 PM because they often say that 2PM is their last trip. Jeepney fee is Php17.00

-          Disembark at Gagalot Brgy. Hall for registration costing Php30.00.

Before and After

I added before and after in this article Lori and I were totally shocked with the changes in the area. 

Following are the changes:

1. Tents for rent are lined up.
2. There are more houses that there was before.
3. Houses are built of stones now.
4. Resorts are already available that offers comfortable place to stay.
5. There are lots of stores before the entrance that sells food, barbecue(you have selections of chicken and pork), soft drinks, water, pansit habhab, alcoholic drinks, etc.
6. Souvenir shops
7. A guard that asks for a receipt of your payment and registration.
8. Paved way to the falls.
9. Hanging bridge
10. A resort after the hanging bridge that has a man-made pool which is like a catch basin of flowing Taytay Falls icy cold water.
11. The vine swing
12. DENR posting that it is a protected area.
13. You can no longer bring glass bottles to the falls. Plastic bottles are only allowed.
14. Multitude of campers and day hikers
15. The falls is shorter now.
16. You can no longer climb to the 2^nd falls or jump on the first falls.

What to expect?

Beside from the list above we supposedly maxed out our time as you've seen in the itinerary but frankly, we did not follow our itinerary at all. We found a very far place to pitch our tent to the falls so we decided to just rent a resort which have pool in it so we can still night swim. In the afternoon we went to the falls and we swim for about 30 minutes as it is indeed cold. Ronnie who loved staying in cold place finds the water really ICY COLD. Even it is call we still enjoyed the water and had fun staying and drinking “the bum” at the pool area and worry not about our uncomfy beds and pitch dark.

The next day as planned we had another stroll to the falls and went to the hanging bridge, had some photos, checked out the building that was built after it; and lastly enjoyed a nature made swing.

We went back and had our lunch enjoying the delicious grilled pork chop which cost about Php100.00 to Php120.00 and some itlog na pula or salted egg (I’ve heard just yesterday at Eat Bulaga’s episode where they have their segment at Victoria, Laguna that salted eggs and balut are the area’s best!). They we tidied up and waited for the jeepney. We had the worst experience waiting for the jeepney as we thought it will arrive at the filling area but to our surprise it got filled before it reached the terminal. So we decided to wait for about an hour for another at the Brgy. Hall and we got lucky.

Traveling back to Manila from Sta. Cruz was the worst as we have encountered bumper to bumper traffic. It was a Sunday and most people go back to Manila for work and school.

Hope you find this article helpful.