LUSNO FALLS : A Hidden Paradise in the Midst of Two Towns

 

♬♪Should I give up or should I keep on Chasing Waterfalls, OH DEFINITELY! ♬♪

         Well, this time I am wandering again and I’ll take you to one hidden paradise in the South, LUSNO FALLS!

           After meeting Ate Jai, my companion for this Chasing Waterfalls episode, at the South Bus Terminal early in the morning on Sunday, we took the 7 am non-airconditioned bus to Ronda for 105.00 Php. As we traveled along the southern road, the sun extended its rays on the bus window showing its radiance and majesty. I was so grateful, so grateful, that finally the weather was fine after a stormy week. Oh well, I should contain my excitement. I guess I should take a nap first because the arrival time is estimated to be after 2 – 3 hours.

     BUT…I was totally wrong! Due to an on-going road construction that caused heavy traffic, our estimated time was delayed. We arrived in Ronda Market, the drop off point, after almost four hours.

• Tip no. 1  Choose any bus of your preference.(Aircon or Non-aircon) Plan to take your bus trip early to avoid heavy traffic, save time and have a chance to  maximize your trip.     
• ♦The fare of the non-air conditioned bus is 105.00 Php
• ♦ The fare of air-conditionned bus is 110.00 Php.

         Can you imagine sitting in the bus without having a stopover and the pace of the bus is so slow because of heavy traffic? This made our stomach empty. But there was nothing to worry because upon arrival, we headed straight to the market to have lunch.

           Finally we had fueled up, and it was now time to go to Lusno Falls. We hired a motorbike or habal-habal which was just in the market area.

          Due to excitement we immediately hired a habal-habal without even negotiating the fare, but as I have searched the fare is 75.00 Php. While we were on our way, I asked around and confirmed that the fare is indeed 75.00 Php per person.  Hooray!

          We continued our trip to Lusno Falls. The nice thing about riding a habal-habal was that we had a 180-degree view of our surroundings. We witnessed first-hand the beautiful and scenic mountain top with luxuriant trees and smelled the breath of fresh air. Sorry to say, we also endured the sun’s hot rays.

• Tip no. 2 The “habal-habal” ride  will take 25 minutes to 30 minutes going to Barangay Anajao. It’s really far.  We could feel the scorching heat of the sun while riding the “habal-habal”.So it’s important :
• to use sun block to protect the skin and body
• to wear sun glasses for eye protection,
  
• to wear hat to guard the head
  

          We thought the driver knew the place, but we got lost. Fortunately , there were good people who showed us the right direction. (Thanks for that.)

• Tip No 3 Always remember to plan and negotiate with the habal-habal driver and inquire if he really knows the place before venturing out, so that you  will not experience what we went through, lol. Too many hours were wasted and lot of energy were drained.

          Anyway, the driver of habal-habal did not wait for us because he had other business to attend to. He told us that there were a number of habal-habal waiting in this locale.

          After getting off from the motorbike, we asked the locals the location of Lusno Falls which they heartily gave. They even volunteered their kids to guide us. I really appreciated their concern. Their goodness melted my heart and I forgot the delayed experience in the bus and habal-habal.

          We asked if the distance to Lusno Falls was far from the basketball court or just within walking distance. They stressed it was far, that we should ride a motorbike. We believed them and hired a habal-habal and then we went to Lusno Falls.

• Tip No. 4  Base from what I have witnessed  with  the kids who trekked  from the basketball court  to the falls, they just did it in 5 minutes more or less so basically it was just walking distance;  so renting a motorbike was optional. *Sigh! Maybe the locals did not believe that we could walk, lol!

          Finally we reached the point where the habal-habal could no longer pass through due to the narrow path, so we disembarked from our habal-habal and walked our way in going to the falls, and of course, with the company of our little guides, the kids, who led us the way.

          As we walked down the trail, we noticed the rustic scenery.It was basically a rural and agricultural community. I find this a lovely place.

• Tip  No. 5 Wear proper footwear like sandals or shoes for this activity, just like Ate Jai above, to avoid being slithered. There are parts of the trail that are muddy and slippery.

         

          One thing I couldn’t forget was, when we crossed the path,  three little cute pigs took a bath in the river to cool themselves from the heat (NOTE: This was not the water  from Lusno Falls,the falls  was on the other side.)  They were so cute but they were chained so that they would not wander off. 😦

          As we continued to walk down, the trail became wetter and muddier, the sound of gushing water from the falls became louder and more distinguishable.

          Astonishingly, In all of its honor and pride, right in front of us, the beautiful Lusno Falls with its amazing rock formation  and snow white foam that cascaded down the stream!

TAKE NOTE! There is no entrance fee. (As of this writing) This is absolutely free! How cool is that?

 

          After putting down our  things, changed to swimming attire, it was now time to drench ourselves in this refreshing and revitalizing waterfalls!

• Tip  No. 6 This maybe shallow but it’s quite slippery so please be extra careful as you wade into the streams.

                   Notice on the right side where we put our things. (as of this writing) There’s no cottage here,no comfort room, no stores and no establishment. 

         On the brighter side, there was no human modification in the environment. The beauty of the place was purely natural. Lusno Falls will retain its beauty if it will stay forever like this.

          So brace yourselves because I will show you my selfies with this wonderful Lusno Falls. 😛

           If you want harder massage you can soak under the falls. This is nature’s way of healing your frustrations in life and make you forget the things that hurt you.

And Ate Jai’s…

          At the falls frontage there is a pool where you can plunge yourself in. I guess it’s 5ft t0 6ft deep. You can even dive or jump there.

Tip no. 7 Diving or jumping is at your own risk. Please be cautious in doing so.

          Lusno Falls has two or more caverns which make this a distinct and unique falls because of rock formations.

• Tip No. 8 Yes, you can climb the (slippery) boulder to the cavern behind the waterfall’s curtain. The falls have a strong current that may push you down so manage yourself well if you want to pursue this feat.

          After that, we went up the falls. There were no stairs in going up. On the positive note, there was no alteration in the environment leaving it in its the original phase. We just held on to some branch or boulder so that we can go up!

• Tip No. 9 As you climb up, make sure you hold a strong branch or boulder that can carry your weight.

         This was the scene above the falls. There was a small tier and a pool of greenish water. The kids did not want us to swim there because the pool was very deep. The cute kids did not trust us in swimming deep waters. Lol! How cuuuute!

 

         Looking from the other side, we saw mystical surroundings, heard only the gushing water, observed the picturesque scene of trees and river as the water continuously flowed wherever it would go! Just look at the picture below, isn’t it remarkable?

          We swam in the shallow part near the falls. It was like swimming in an infinity pool. Nature never ceases to mesmerize me.

• Tip No. 10 This is where the water goes down. The current is very strong. And if you mismanage to go swimming in there, you may fall down, get injured or even drown.

          The clock ticked and it was time to bid farewell to Lusno Falls. We ate the food that we brought and shared it with the kids.

• Tip No. 11  Bring food and water just in case you will be hungry and get dehydrated. Remember there are no stores in the vicinity.

 

• Tip No. 12 Let’s be responsible and eco-friendly by not littering the area. Respect Mother Nature. Keep voices at low tone and observe proper behavior.
  

 

• Tip No. 13 Tipping the kiddie guides is not necessary but encouraged. They were so hospitable and very fun playmates anyway 🙂

 

           We bade goodbye to this paradise, Lusno Falls and gave thanks to the good folks of Argao or Ronda, lol,(because they reside in the boundary of Argao and Ronda). Then we rode on a habal-habal again but our destination this time was the highway of Argao where we would wait for a bus to go back to Cebu City. We did not negotiate for we assumed that the fare would still be the same. We stopped to refuel and we paid for the fuel. We continued; unluckily, the motor vehicle did not function well. We even stopped a lot of times. Argh, what a waste of time! It was almost two hours when we arrived in the highway of Argao.

          And when it was time to pay, the habal-habal driver told us our fare was 400.oo Php and the gasoline was 100.oo Php. It was really an overpayment but we did not complain because we didn’t like to argue. I hope Karma will do the justice for the overpayment, and for the unnecessary stopovers and delays. What a waste of time and money!

        This is the reason why we should negotiate first with the habal-habal driver. Oh well, at least the drivers were good. Exacting an overpayment was the only harm they did. Anyway, we were the ones at fault because we did not inquire about the fare before the trip.

          Good thing we still had luck. All buses that passed by were full but there was a van for hire. We rode a v-hire for only 80.oo Php going back Cebu City. YIPEEE!!

 

            Shown below the estimated expenses in  going to Lusno Falls

• 105.00 Php/pax – (non-aircon) Bus Fare from South  Bus Terminal to the Municipality of Ronda
• 75.00 Php/pax – Habal-habal fare from Ronda Proper to Barangay Anajao, Argao
• 75 Php/pax – Habal habal from Brgy. Anajao to Ronda Proper/or if you want to go to Argao Proper, make sure you have negotiated with the habal-habal for the fare
• 105.00 Php/pax – (non-aircon) Bus Fare from Municipality of Argao to South  Bus Terminal
  

A total of 360.00 Php/pax

*food, souvenirs, tour guide tips and miscellaneous fees are not included 

* base on my post, our total expenses including the kiddie guide tips,  over-payment, gasoline and the v-hire is 610.00 Php.