THE CHARM OF BUKAL FALLS IN MAJAYJAY

Location: Barangay Bukal, Majayjay, Laguna, Philippines

Bukal Falls during rainy season

Bukal Falls is just one of the water falls in Majayjay. Tour operators would normally offer a 3-Falls Day Tour plus the Kamay ni Hesus in Lukban. The first time I went there, I availed of the tour package. Yes, it was very convenient. However, on my time, where I took my friends, I organized a DIY for it.

Crop plantations along our trail to the falls

What is refreshing when you trek towards the water falls is, you see a lot of crop plantations for corn, ampalaya, cabbage, tomatoes and other crop yielding products. Thus, it follows that locals sells their produce at a lower price.

Bukal Falls during summer

The falls is more majestic during rainy season that its basin is filled with water while during hot summer, its falls gives less water. However, in both seasons, the water is still cold.

Rainy season gives the falls thicker and wider cascading falls

At a distance during summer

Still on a picture taken during summer

Taking it closer behind the raging water falls

Our group playing it cool in the falls' basin

WHAT THINGS YOU SHOULD OUGHT TO KNOW

The trekking is good for 30 – 40 minutes in a regular basis. The trail is wide and flat at the start but once you descend to the falls the trail is narrow and with sudden drops. Thus, ascending back will be cardiac assaults. There are a few stores there selling food like banana cue, coffee, cold drinks, bottled water and other snack items. Buco fruit is also available at P25 or simply the buco juice. I can even see liquor being sold there.

The depth of the basin varies during summer, it measures 2-3 meters deep and less radius of swimming area and rocks are mossy. However, during rainy season the basin has wider radius of swimming area and some rocks are submerged with its depth measuring approximately from 5 – 7 meters deep. At this time, some would even jump to the water pool basin.

HOW TO GET THERE AND RELATED CONCERNS

1. Take a bus from either Cubao (HM Transport) or Buendia LRT (DLTB) with a sign board of Sta. Cruz (Laguna) for fare of P180. with a travel time of 3 – 4 hours but will be shorter if early in the morning.

2. From Sta. Cruz drop-off area, take a tricycle to the public market but only up to the jeepney terminal of Majayjay for a fare of P28. The terminal is just near the old church of Saint Bartholomew.

3. Remind the jeepney driver on the jeepney terminal to drop you off at the tricycle terminal for Bukal Falls for a fare of P35, but sometimes you have to haggle the fare.

4. Take another tricycle for a fare of P20 going to the jump-off point where you will end at the barangay hall for registration with a fee of P20. It is also mandatory to get a tour guide with a fee of P300 per maximum of 6 persons.