Hidden Gem of Barangay San Salvador, Luisiana, Laguna

Who would've thought that there’s a place close to heaven situated in the little town of Luisiana in Laguna and you can visit for less than a thousand pesos? Brace yourselves as we will take you to Barangay San Salvador’s hidden gem.

Luisiana (pronounced as Lu-sha-na) is a 4^th class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines, which is headed by Mayor Nestor Rondilla. One of Luisiana’s Barangay, San Salvador, is where you can find the underrated waterfalls called “Hulugan Falls” with an approximate height of 90 meters.

I’ll make this review as concise as I can.

How to get there:

1.) From JAC Liner Station in Buendia, ride a bus bound to Sta. Cruz. Fare is 140.00 PhP

2.) Tell the conductor/driver to drop you off at Pagsawitan, Sta. Cruz. You can confirm if you're already in Pagsawitan when you see this junction. Travel time is 2 hours and 30 minutes (with light traffic in Pansol, Laguna)

3.) Ride a jeep bound to Lucban. Tell the conductor/driver to drop you off at Barangay San Salvador. Travel time is 30-40 minutes, fare is 25.00 PhP

4.) From Brgy. San Salvador, you can secure a tour guide. Guide fee is not mandatory, but please, be considerate :D They are WISAR and First Aid trained so getting a guide is highly recommended. After all, it's your discretion on how much are you gonna pay them.

 Chief Arnold Escobar (ang aming butihing guide)

5.) After securing a guide, it's up to you if you're gonna go straight ahead to Hulugan Falls, or you might wanna visit another underrated waterfalls in a barangay close to San Salvador, which is Brgy San Luis. A 5 minute walk from San Salvador to Mountain Hillcrest Homes, is where the Talong Aliw is situated. To avoid the confusion, Talong Aliw is inside the Mountain Hillcrest Homes, Brgy San Luis, Luisiana and is a 20-30 minute gradual trek to the falls. But before that, you will bumped to a very friendly Bibingka Vendor lady named Ate Imelda. You can buy it for 3 pcs/100 PhP. Can be consumed as trail food. :P

Ate Imelda and her delicious Bibingka :)

Spots to Explore

1.) Talong Aliw - Probably 20 meters approximate height. Not sure

Photobombing. More fun in the Philippines

2.) Talong Talay - Cascading Waterfalls. Not as tall as Talong Aliw/Talong Hulugan

3.) Butas Kabag - Not for claustrophobic. Helmet and headlamp is needed

4.) Hulugan Falls - This picture paints a thousand words :)

Tips

1.) Waterproofing by default.

2.) Leave No Trace

3.) Mind your footwear. It's muddy and slippery all seasons :P

4.) ENJOY God's creation :)

Hulugan Falls itinerary (Suggested - overnight)

Day 1

1000 - 1230 = Buendia - Sta. Cruz Laguna

1250 - 1325 = Sta. Cruz - San Salvador

1430 - 1500 = San Salvador - Talong Aliw

1600 - 1630 = Talong Aliw - San Salvador

1630 - 1645 = Register @ Kap Coco's house

1645 - 1715 = Hidden Campsite

1730 - 1800 = Explore Talong Talas

1800 -------- = Rest!

Day 2

0600 -          = Preps

0630 - 0700 = Trek to Hulugan Falls

0700 -------- = Enjoy Hulugan Falls

1000--------- = Brunch

1100--------- = Butas Kabag

1400--------- = Uwian Na!

1400 - 1500  = Log out to Kap Coco's house/Wash-Up

1500 - 1520  = Gradual walk to Luisiana-Lucban Highway

1530 - 1600  = San Salvador - Sta. Cruz

1630 - 1900  = Sta. Cruz - Buendia

It will be hard for you to ride a jeep from San Salvador going to Sta. Cruz. Punuan ang jeep. So I suggest to take a peek at Luisiana's Town Proper and ride a jeep there. Explore and Eat! :D

Expenses

140.00 = Buendia - Sta. Cruz

  25.00 = Sta. Cruz - San Salvador

  30.00 = Luisiana - Sta. Cruz

140.00 = Sta. Cruz - Buendia

-------- = Food

-------- = Tip sa guide

Pictures (Pasensya na, I'm not a professional photog. :P)

Luisiana - Lucban Highway

Group pic with Councilor Elaine Teope of Luisiana, Laguna

Gradual trek going to "Talong Aliw" or Aliw Falls

Going to Talong Aliw

Going to Hulugan Falls

Group pic w/ Kap Coco Rocreo

The Hidden Campsite

Toploading. More fun in the Philippines

My travel buddy at Talong Aliw

Good Morning, Barangay San Salvador :)

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all the people who had helped us out on this trip. To Sir Kenneth Taguilaso, Sir Buyaw Yaw, Ate Imelda, Councilor Elaine Teope, Brgy Kap Ramon "Coco" Rocreo, Chief Arnold Escobar (our guide), Kuya Raffy, Sir Renzy (Hidden Campsite), to my travel buddies/colleagues (Jona, Chad, Lou, Ricky), my family and to Lord Almighty ^_^