It's summer time here in the Philippines and one of the best places to go to during this season is Tagaytay. A one and a half hour ride from Manila. If you want to take a glimpse of the smallest active volcano in the world, this is the place to go.
My family and I went to Picnic grove and People's Park in the Sky, Tagaytay. It was our first time to go there together. I have been to Tagaytay once but on a retreat.
My 7 year old son was really excited to see the Taal Volcano (the smallest active volcano in the world!).
Early morning, we rode a bus going to Baclaran from Taft avenue. Then from Baclaran, we rode a bus again going to Olivarez and paid P60 each. We went off not at Olivarez but at a tricycle terminal that has a big signage ('Going to Picnic grove and People's Park in the sky') on the left side of the road. I do not know the name of the place but along the road, there were some fruit vendors selling big lankas, pineapples etc. We paid the tricycle driver P140 (4passengers) going to People's park in the sky. I'm sure that the fare is expensive for P140 compared had we rode a jeep from Olivarez, but we enjoyed that tricycle ride.
Entrance fee in the People's park is P30/ person.
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| yummy taho! 10 pesos for the small cup |
After our stroll in the park and after eating small cup noodles worth P40 each (grabe! so I suggest that you bring food and drinks with you. Water was our only baon.), we went to the Picnic grove and paid P70 tricycle fee for the 4 of us.
Entrance fee in Picnic grove is P50. We were already inside when we decided that we need to eat our early lunch. There are restaurants or eatery inside but all were too pricey for us common people LOL, so we decided to eat outside where there are lots of carinderia along the road. We asked first the guard to make sure if we could still go in if we went out to eat and he said it is ok. But we also made sure we had our ticket with us.
We ate at a carinderia in front of the Picnic grove and paid P170 (5 cups of rice, 2 viands, NO softdrinks...tipid 'no?). After lunch, we went in again.
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| If you want a much closer shot of the volcano, go to the Picnic Grove. |
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| my 7 yr old son's shot of the volcano from the terrace near the zipline area |
There were lots of men or "kuya's" along the way, inside and outside the park asking if we want a P1,500 boat ride going to the volcano or a horseback riding worth P200 for an hour (2 person allowed to ride on 1 horse). We tried the horseback riding for the kids which we availed for P150 for my 2 kids. They just rode the horse for half an hour and did not like anymore because the sun was still scorching hot. They rode at about 2pm but it was still hot. So next time we will do our horseback riding early morning when the sunshine is not that hot to be able to enjoy the whole hour of riding the horse. My son enjoyed the ride (his first time) even though the horse they were riding on always stops to eat grass. I think it was tired and hungry.
We just stayed in the park strolling around and most of the time sat on the benches there where we just enjoyed the view while eating some banana chips, sugar coated peanuts, ice drop, etc. We did not rent any cottage.
While enjoying nature, nature called me, LOL. I needed to you know what! Good thing the comfort room was ok (the one at the Payment area have lots of cubicles!) and water was available in every cubicle because there are hoses for washing.
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| a 150 peso cottage |
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| this was the place were we spent relaxing, it was under a tree |
We all enjoyed the cool breeze that Tagaytay gave us.
Next time we will try the trekking on the Taal volcano.
