El Nido Makinit Hotspring
My head kept hitting the steel bar frames of the tricycle whenever we pass by large pieces of stone or when we encounter the humps along the road. I already had my back bent just to sit at the back seat of the motorcycle behind the driver. It was rough road all throughout just after Lio Airport in El Nido. We were heading north of Palawan from El Nido to see some inland attractions at barangay Pasadeña.
The Rough and Dusty road up El Nido
It was third day of our stay in El Nido and it was our “me” time when we can do which ever we want for that day. The guys staying at Marina Resort decided to stay in town, some to attend to urgent business matters and other to roam around in town. Melo and I decided to go beyond and check out the nearby towns and what they have to offer.
Makeshift foot bridge leading to the hotspring
We decided to go with Islanen Outdoors Tours this time for the guided tour. We had a tricycle to take us up north. Going by the dusty rough road under the unrelenting sun, we traveled 19km from El Nido town passing by wide areas of farms along the way. At least an hour on the road we stopped and our tricycle driver who’s also serving as our guide told us we’re there on our first stop was the Makinit Hot Spring. I swear the place has no signage and if we’re going by our own, there would be a big chance I’ll miss it.
El Nido Undeveloped Makinit Hot Spring
There was a 10-15 minutes walk along the rice fields and a few minutes more on a stream leading to the hot spring. The water was getting hotter as we got closer while traversing the muddy trail and makeshift bridges mad of branches and wooden planks. When we got there, we found an untouched and unadulterated hot spring. It’s not ideal for swimming and the ground there was really soft. Better be careful. I was walking around to take pictures when my foot got caught knee deep underground. I could feel the heat from under so I tried pulling at fast as I could. Now I somehow know how sinking in a quicksand feels like.
Makinit Hot Spring Stream
We didn’t stay long as the heat from the sun and the ground was already too much to bear and there was no cover. We drove back down south about 8km and stopped on a hut along the road. Now here there’s a sign that it’s the jump-off point to the Nagkalit-kalit Falls. We left our tricycle and started a trek which I’m expecting to be an hour long.
The Stagnant Pool of Nagkalit-Kalit Falls
We crossed 7 rivers along a forest cover in an hour’s trek only to disappointingly find Nagkalit-kalit falls with barely a drop of water falling. Our guide said that usually, even on February, waters would gush through the falls but now with El Niño, the river have dried up. There’s stagnant water on the falls pool and the river path is filled with dried leaves. It was a bit disappointing as I was looking forward to jumping into a pool of fresh water. No wonder those foreigners we crossed paths with halfway were smirking, they could have told us there was no water there. We stayed there to rest and recharge instead before we headed back.
El Niño Drying up Nagkalit-kalit falls and river
When we got into town I gave the 800 pesos fee for the tour. I didn’t bother to tip since I wasn’t all that satisfied with the tour but did enjoy the treks. I told Mavic of Islanen that there was no water there at the falls. They didn’t know so I can’t blame them. Time has changed and El Nino is definitely affecting us. So I told them that if people want to go there, they should tell them that the falls is dry at the time.
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Imagine if you hiked for 6 hours only to find dry falls, now that could have been worse.
still nice pictures pa rin.
wow nice
Wow, dried up waterfalls in the Philippines, that’s unheard of right? That stagnant water is breeding ground for mosquitoes, hope you didn’t get bitten.
19 km on tricycle on rough road? Ang tapang mo
There may have been a time in my life when I would have done the same thing. Especially since the view is spectacular.
ferdz, sorry to hear about your misfortune.
our adventure to the falls in 2008 was one of the most exciting things we did there. we rented motorbikes and hiked our way to the falls. we got lost while hiking and it was a good thing we have gps to track ourselves back. after a tiring trek, we just dipped to the waters with just our undies. lol!
Haha! That would be a nightmare Claire! But if the trail is really goof, I wouldn’t mind
Thanks Miss Lemnabol
Thank god there were no mosquitos that time. I think it’s fairly safe with the tricycle ride Photo Cache!
Glad you were able to see the falls in all its splendors Jeff. I was really looking forward dipping on its cool waters.
Wow. You were there April? I was there this April too. From April 21-25.
Posted about it here: http://www.onetravelstory.com/2010/05/el-nido-after-two-years/ but the blog posts are incomplete because I am way too busy with the other personal site to properly do my travel site. I lived in El Nido for a year from 2005-2006 and regularly come back to visit.
Its funny that you went to see the hot spring. I have forgotten about it! I’ve never been to Nagkalit-kalit but I went to Bulalacao and that falls was fantastic! If only it weren’t so hard to get to. Hahaha. An hour trek through forest and another hour upstream..
I’m sad that the falls all dried up, but I was told it didn’t rain there at all from August til April! Mavic and Loy of Islanen Tours are my friends.
Anyway, I just happened to drop by because I’m on my way to Batanes and I thought you made an entire new post on Babat Homestay, but I can’t seem to find it. Is there? My mom and her 8 friends, as well as me, my 13 month old daughter and my husband are going to Batanes from Sept 27-Oct 2 and I’m looking for a big house that can accomodate all 11 adults and an infant.
Great site! Thanks!