A scenic angle of Mayon Volcano in Quitinday Greenhills
This tour was wayback July 26, 2022, when my son was just 2 years old. We did this trip after attending a wedding as major sponsor in one of the islands of Rapu-rapu district, Albay province. From Rapu-rapu, we boarded a boat heading to Tabaco City and to Legazpi City where we stayed in a hotel for overnight.
Destination 1: Sumlang Lake
With my family while at Sumlang Lake
Sumlang Lake, located in Purok 1 of Barangay Sumlang in Camalig, is a 14-hectare, man-made freshwater lagoon. Once choked by water lilies, it has been transformed into an eco-tourism hotspot offering bamboo rafting (balsa), kayaking, and go-karts, with a stunning, unobstructed backdrop of the majestic Mayon Volcano.
A bonding while rafting
This tourist spot operates daily from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. It charges an entrance fee of P100 or US$1.63 for adults; P60 or US$0.98 (Children 8-12 years old) and P84 or US$1.37 for Seniors/PWD.
My family enjoying the place
There are water activities in the lake, such the Balsa (bamboo raft) tour for P80 or US$1.30 per person; Kayaking and Aqua Bikes for P100 or US$1.63 per person; and Go-Kart Rides for P100 to P150 or US$1.63 to US$2.44 per person.
A green park to enjoy nature
The place itself is like a green park with lots of spaces grown with shady trees and ornamental trees and plants. It is well-maintained and oftentimes, its decoration is thematic depending on the season or event like Christmas day or Valentine's Day.
The shy backdrop of Mayon Volcano
Usually, when skies are clear, Mayon Volcano showcases its beauty with all its glory mesmerizing the tourists of its magnificent form.
Food stalls are available inside the place
The event stage with historical icon objects
How to Get There
From Legazpi City, you can catch a jeepney with a signboard of either Guinobatan, Oas, Ligao or Polangui and tell the driver to drop you off near Sumlang Lake with a landmark of Albay Provincial Agricultural Office (APAO). Just cross the street and there is a while building there and there is a tricycle which will give you a ride to Sumlang Lake. You can see these jeepneys routes parked either fronting the Ayala Mall, Gaisano Mall and SM Legazpi. The fare is just around P30 or P35 (US$0.49 or US$0.57). The tricycle fare is around P25 (US$0.41) per head
Albay Provincial Agricultural Office (APAO)
Suggestion/Recommendation
By the time I went here, I was not yet a resident of Albay. So, what I did, I rode a jeepney from SM Legazpi City. Then, when I was at APAO, I contracted a tricycle driver to pay for his services for three tourist spots: Sumlang Lake, Quituinan Hills and Quitinday Greenhills for P800 or US$13.01 That was the price that I haggled in the year 2022. But since I found the three tourist spots so distant from each other with no public utility vehicles going there, I paid him P1,000 or US$16.27. We started the trip at 1:00 P.M. and ended at 7:00 P.M. After the Quitinday Greenhills trip, I instructed the driver to drove us back to APAO, but I treated him first with dinner before we parted. From there, I took a jeepney going back to Legazpi City.
Destination 2: Quituinan Ranch
Enjoying a late afternoon visit at Quituinan Ranch
I have a recent post of Quituinan Ranch
here. This ranch is located in Quituinan hills, that is way, it is called as such. The distance from Sumlang Lake to Quituinan Ranch is around 4 kilometers. But as I mentioned in my post about Quituinan Ranch, there is no public transport that will directly drive you there. So, if you are a backpacker, just do the suggestion and recommendation I mentioned above.
The magic "kawa" at the ranch
Late afternoon visit is better as the place is an open space, though there is a pavilion visitors can take cover. Regarding the fees in this spot, refer to this
link.
The tables and benches for the guests
The children's park at Quituinan Ranch
My family spent longer at the Sumlang Lake from 1:20 P.M. to 4:15 P.M. While we reached Quituinan Ranch at 4:26 P.M. and stayed there until 5:06 P.M.
Destination 3: Quitinday Greenhills
Arriving at Quitinday Greenhills
We arrived at Quitinday Greenhills at 5:37 P.M. It is 11.7 kilometers from Quituinan Ranch via Baligang -Caguiba Road. The place is so remote that there are no regular public transport plying to this point.
Quitinday hills are just like chocolate hills in Bohol, but this one in all seasons are all green hills, but what makes it even special is its backdrop of the Mayon Volcano. There is an entrance fee of: Adult - P70 or US$1.14 per person ; Children (8 years - 12 years old) - P40 or US$0.65 per person; and Senior Citizens/PWD - P60 or US$0.98.
Parking Fees are: P20 or US$0.33 for 4-wheel vehicles like cars, vans and SUVs, while P10 or US$0.16 for 2 & 3-wheel vehicles like motorcycles and tricycles.
Truly magnificent greenhills at the backdrop
The majestic Mayon Volcano at the backdrop
A 6:09 P.M. photo of my son with the backdrop of Mayon Volcano
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