Hello, Hive!
How’s the first few days of April going for you so far? Lenten season has just concluded last Saturday while Ramadan has recently just began for some of us here. After a week of solemnity, we are back to “regular programming” with the hustle and bustle of the work week and our own choice of self-care routine on weekends.
And speaking of self-care routines, I guess most of my friends have been getting their dose of Vitamin SEA these past few days. My social media feed is continuously flooded with photos of them going to the beach with their families, friends, workmates, or loved ones. Why not? As I’ve shared in my last post, summer has just officially started in the Philippines.
But not all of us have the time and money to spare for a weekend trip to the beach. Especially those living and working in Metro Cebu like me. The best beaches in Cebu are approximately three to four hours away from the city — and that’s just one way. The closest beach resorts are those in Mactan. The downside, however, is that they are either pebbled public/semi-private beaches or costly and artificial beaches (such as Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort, Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, and Plantation Bay Resort and Spa).
Still, it's a great thing that the beach does not always have to be the answer when it comes to beating the heat. Sometimes, a dip to the spring will do the trick. And that’s what this post is all about.
Finding a summer getaway near the city
Carmen is a third class municipality just two hours away (or less) from Cebu City. Despite being a costal town, Carmen is actually not known for its beaches. Instead, it is popular for its mountains and mountain resorts. One of which is the Durano Eco Farm and Spring Resort.
In less than a 30-minute drive from Carmen public market lies a quiet place that escapists from the big city will truly enjoy. Durano Eco Farm and Spring Resort easily rings a bell for most Cebuanos. It is one of Carmen’s quadruple treat when it comes to cold spring waters, alongside Middle Earth Mountain Resort, Mt. Uragay Spring Resort, and Alhibe Farm.
A natural retreat
This mountain resort is situated in Barangay Corte — a spot that is not too far from the main road, but far enough to be considered remote. Staying true to being an eco farm, the place is teeming with lots of trees and plants that will captivate the eyes. Their pocket rainforest garden flaunts various fruit and flowering trees, as well as dozens of plant species grown in different bonsai styles that plantitas and plantitos will surely love.
What I appreciate the most in this mountain resort is how the management tries to preserve its natural ecology by limiting the number of structural changes in the area. Aside from the cemented paths, pools, accomodations, and grill areas, the rest are purely nature.
Another interesting thing about Durano Eco Farm are their home stays. In this day of skyscraper buildings, the sight of treehouses and nipa huts is a breath of fresh air. They have an option for visitors to pitch their own tents too, but I personally would not recommend it. Not the best camping spot. Instead, guests staying for the night can choose from their available eco rooms and treehouses that range from ₱950 per night (2 pax) to ₱1,500 per night (6 pax).
They have two treehouses (a two-level house and a three-level house) situated closer to the pools. Both are ideal for families with its air-conditioned room, furnished living room, and balcony.
As for James and I, we opted to stay at Olivia’s ─ yes, they come with names (though I should have asked why the use of maiden names only haha). The nipa huts are also air-conditioned, have their own bathrooms, and mini porch for you to chill and eat.
Meanwhile, day-time users only have to pay the ₱100 entrance fee per person. They can also rent a picnic table set for ₱300 (4 pax) and are free to use the grill areas and shared bathroom.
Beating the heat with a dip in the spring
Fresh water continuously running from mountain spring fills up the eight pools of Durano Eco Farm. The pools of various depths are made with rocks on the side and tiles on the flooring. It is often crowded during weekends, but luckily James and I went on a Thursday. There were only two or three small groups before us so we got to enjoy the cold waters to ourselves.
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At first, I was cautious of my hair because I just recently had it permed and colored, but ladies need not worry since the resort got non-chlorinated, free-flowing, cold water.
As it is a mountain resort, there will be mosquitoes and insects hovering around, especially starting at dusk. There will also be leaves falling down the pool though these are not really much of a big issue, right?
What we hope the owners can improve in the future is the management of non-biodegradable wastes. During our visit, we found plenty of plastics and even a glass bottle of a hard drink stuck in the river bed. We hope that the resort will implement a strict no littering policy — and for visitors, just please throw you trashes properly or BRING THEM WITH YOU.
A quick hike to a hidden paradise
Beside the deepest pool area is an adjacent riverbed which guests can opt to swim into on a good weather. We found a small trail leading to the other side of the riverbank, and knowing James, he would not be content with a trip without an adventure.
So off the beaten path we went.
We walked deeper into the forest, following an old, shabby footpath. The descending trail was quite steep and, upon reaching the bank, we were welcomed by strong current.
We had to “kiss the wall” to get to the other side ─ an act of flattening yourself against the wall to avoid falling off the edge. While it was a short section, we still did not underestimate the challenge since one wrong move could mean a serious injury.
What followed after that was a scenic reward. We were treated to a picturesque view of a huge natural pool of water surrounded by thick green foliage. Two cascades run up ahead and I’m sure we’d find far bigger waterfall/s had we moved farther.
There was nothing but silence and the occasional sound birds, cicadas and frogs. This immersive feeling cleansed, not just our bodies, but our minds and souls from the toxicities of the world. After a few minutes of taking in the serenity of the place, we traced our way back to the pools.
This trip may not be as vibrant as a day on the beach with all the sound of the waves and the sea breeze, but it has a charm of its own. There's beauty in stillness and quietness and in being closer to nature. It’s indeed a well-deserve treat to the wary and tired.
I guess that's all for now. Thanks for reading this far. Until next time! 😊
Maria is a hopeless romantic who travels in pages and places. She is an INFP who loves sunrises and moonlight nights and reading books in between. On weekdays, she works for a self-publishing company as a copywriter. On weekends, she lives for life as a poet or hiker. She hopes to share her love for words and the world with you here on HIVE.
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