Comments on Ivan About Town: Shooting the rapids in Pagsanjan

For my next visit to the Philippines, I shall have...

2009-01-08T12:16:00.000+08:00

For my next visit to the Philippines, I shall have to review all your entries first as your experience and the comments of your readers would have been a big help during our last trip. We had two foreigners in our group of 4 which didn't help but yes.. we we were followed by a guy in a motorbike waaay before we got to the town proper. He'd knock on the windows showing some ID. We thought we were making our way to a resort but I think we ended up with some other group of bangkeros. Too late to change unfortunately. And yup, our two boats suddenly stopped in the middle of the ride to the falls and we were asked for a P500 "toll" for each bangka before proceeding. We didn't believe them of course but didn't want to be left stranded in the middle of the river so we paid up. Also coming back, there was another bangka that came up to ours trying to sell woodcarvings and other souvenirs. We really did enjoy our day but the endless haggling for money was a real downer.

The 200 pesos I was talking about was for the tips...

2008-08-12T15:36:00.000+08:00

The 200 pesos I was talking about was for the tips not the actual boat to and from Pagsanjan Falls which is 660 pesos.

I agree with the nuisance caused by the aggressive...

2008-08-12T15:34:00.000+08:00

I agree with the nuisance caused by the aggressive road-side flaggers on motorbike and the boatmen themselves! Our boatmen were requesting for 200 pesos each! It's such a high price for a local tourist.

Unfortunately, this has been happening for such a long time. I don't think this will ever be going away soon.

Though the Pagsanjan Falls trip was memorable, too bad it had to be ruined by their terrible behavior.

I don't recommend the Pagsanjan Falls for a foreig...

2008-02-09T15:23:00.000+08:00

I don't recommend the Pagsanjan Falls for a foreigner. The boatmen are way too aggressive and if you take a boatmen on the road, they will often stop the boat near a canyon half way up to the falls and demand a large sum in order to continue the trip to the falls. You either pay or swim to the shore. I've seen it happen to other foreigners on the trip.

Make sure to get a boatmen at one of the resorts away from the downtown to avoid the insanity.

I blame the mayor of Pansanjan for the chaos that tourists experience there. I would never go back and I would never recommend it to a foreigner. The falls are amazing but the chaos and scams that the locals perpetrate against foreigners is not worth the time.

I'm not sure about camping there since I haven't t...

2007-10-11T23:45:00.000+08:00

I'm not sure about camping there since I haven't tried it myself. Yes, I've heard of a campsite in Caliraya. You can also try the BSP Jamboree Camp Site in Mt. Makiling. In Pagsanjan, the best resort and hotel is La Corona de Pagsanjan Hotel.

thanks for the reply. also what good camping sites...

2007-10-11T23:26:00.000+08:00

thanks for the reply. also what good camping sites do you recommend that's safe to go on an overnight stay. how about somewhere in caliraya? also in caliraya lake, is it easy to park your car and rent a boat to tour the entire lake? thanks so much for the reply. god bless.

There are a lot of resorts in Pagsanjan. Just make...

2007-10-11T22:38:00.000+08:00

There are a lot of resorts in Pagsanjan. Just make sure they charge the standard rates. Since you'll have a foreigner with you, expect the tip hinting to be more aggressive.

hi ivan! im planning to bring my american friend i...

2007-10-11T19:30:00.000+08:00

hi ivan! im planning to bring my american friend in pagsanjan. however we will be coming from paete side are there any resorts near the area where we can leave our car and backpacks so we can go "shoot the rapids."? thanks. what's the name of the resort where u took ur package from?
thanks.

i want i want! punta ako there (sana!) sa sat! :) ...

2007-05-05T23:59:00.000+08:00

i want i want! punta ako there (sana!) sa sat! :) pero, sana naman wala na yung tip tip na sapilitan..

the way you narrate your story is very exciting in...

2007-04-03T12:35:00.000+08:00

the way you narrate your story is very exciting indeed. and very inviting :)

I grew up in Pagsanjan. The boat ride going to Pag...

2007-04-03T12:32:00.000+08:00

I grew up in Pagsanjan. The boat ride going to Pagsanjan Falls was really fun. You will be amazed how “bangkeros” were able to carry the boat through the rapids and above those huge rocks. You will be thrilled to try the bamboo boat and experienced the strong water falls just like a full body massage. Its really worth to spend the weekends.

Hey MJ! It's different this time. Before you leave...

2007-03-15T23:32:00.000+08:00

Hey MJ! It's different this time. Before you leave the resort, the resort staff or whoever will explain to you what exactly you paid for and that the tip isn't included.

Hi Ivan, did the boatmen stop in the middle of the...

2007-03-15T12:45:00.000+08:00

Hi Ivan, did the boatmen stop in the middle of the ride to negotiate a tip? This is one of the things that i don't appreciate them doing. But doing the rapids and going under the falls is really a fun experience.

Hi too all!@Lee, when will you tour us around Mari...

2007-03-14T16:46:00.000+08:00

Hi too all!

@Lee, when will you tour us around Marikina? Did Toym's float win?

@Tokayo, ok na siya ngayon since may fixed rate na. Tip nalang ang problema.

@dodongflores, it's really fun. You should try it.

That surely is fun. Thanx for sharing... :)

2007-03-12T14:33:00.000+08:00

That surely is fun. Thanx for sharing... :)

The one thing which has kept me from trying the Pa...

2007-03-11T15:51:00.000+08:00

The one thing which has kept me from trying the Pagsanjan falls are the over agressive boat men on the highway. Once, we visited a resort in the town (we werent even thinking of doing the rapids!) when one of the boatmen suddenly jumped beside our car and started tapping on our window! Such HARD sell once wonders how this kind of tourism can sustain what otherwise is one of Luzon's most popular tourist spots. I hope it improves, thats the time I will take to the falls.

Hi Ivan, Toym and I were at Pagsanjan yesterday, t...

2007-03-11T14:37:00.000+08:00

Hi Ivan, Toym and I were at Pagsanjan yesterday, took the same boat ride with the kids. It was indeed an experience. We were there to see the Anilag (Ani sa Laguna) Festival in Sta. Cruz, which featured the many products of the different Laguna towns. Toym designed the booth and float for Pagsanjan. We're expecting another win, God-willing. :-)