Dicasalarin Cove, Aurora

Dicasalarin Cove is a private island owned by the Angara Family. The entrance fee costs 100 per person. If you have a car, parking fee is free but if you only hired a tricycle, the latter is not allowed to go inside, you are forced to hire a habal - habal worth 100 Php per way.

Accordingly it used to be a resort that can be rented but when a foreigner died when tried to surf and swim in the beach, they only opened it for day tour. The under current in Dicasalarin is unpredictable so swimming and surfing are not advisable. There was a big sign that says NO SWIMMING! yes with ALL CAPS! haha.

How to go to Dicasalarin?

There are two ways of going to Dicasalarin via land or via boat. Well, the latter is not advisable since the current is really strong. If you are staying at Costa Pacifica, they will give a map going to Dicasalarin. It was an easy one. Going to Dicasalarin, you will pass through several scenic sights like, Diguisit Beach, Ermita Hill, Diguisit Falls, Ampere Beach and many others that are worth taking pictures.

Note: If you are not staying in Costa Pacifica, never buy tickets there to Dicasalarin Cove, they will charge you 300 Php. The entrance fee only costs 100 Php! Just go straight there and pay at the gates of the Cove.

Via. Land.

Getting into Dicasalarin Cove with your own private car is more convenient than renting a tricycle. The trail going to the gates of Dicasalarin was a death-defying! The road is still under construction and only one car at a time could pass. The road is very steep as in scary steep, my friends said that it is steeper than Sagada. eek! Here are some pics.

Well all the risks are worth it! I swear.

When we arrived in the area, it has different villas like a resort and it even has an artist village but we were not able to visit because we were running late. We also did not have the chance to trek the trail going to the lighthouse. We stay beach bummed in the cove.

Villas in Dicasalarin

The beach of Dicasalarin Cove was amazing or maybe I was just not expecting too much. Anyway, yea it has a powdery golden sand not white but it is enough to make my trip to Baler. I also enjoyed it because there were few people in the cove and not crowded like in Sabang. Privacy has a price, e?

Dicasalarin was featured in KrisTV, so its gaining popularity. Well, if you are rich, maybe you can afford to hire an airlift going there.

Lighthouse

So that was our Dicasalarin experience!




ANO, TARA GUMALA!

CIAO.
--
GABRIELA

Travel Guide to BALER! BALER! BALER!

Haler Baler, Baler Haler!

Dicasalarin Cove

Repeating the world Baler is very catchy. Anyway, I am sharing you my itinerary for a 48 Hour Trip to Baler. How I and my group managed to do most of the things to do and see in Baler like a piece of cake! You too can follow my itinerary or if you have further question feel free to do so! Just post a comment and I will be glad to answer it.

a not-so-perfect weather for first time surfer

Here is our itinerary for 48 Hour trip to Baler.

Baler is the Capital of Aurora Province. It is now one of the famous emerging tourist spots in the Philippines. It's flagship tourism is Surfing! Everyone who goes here must surf. The waves are strong and perfect for surfing whether you are a beginner or not. 

Well, if you are not into surfing, Baler has many to offer. Their famous Dicasalarin Cove and Ditumabo Falls are worth visiting! You must never miss the top 3 destination in Baler. SABANG BEACH, DICASALARIN COVE and DITUMABO FALLS! 

For your information we were a group of 14 including the driver. We opted to hire a van for convenience and it is much cheaper than commuting. Here is our expenses for the whole trip courtesy of Ms. +Claire Mansit, our sexy financer! haha. She is in-charge of all our budgets. 

 

 

HOW TO GET THERE:

via Private Car
 
Cabanatuan City is your drop-off point going to Baler. Cabanatuan is just a 2 - 3 hour drive from Manila.You can either pass through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and/or Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). 

• NLEX-Bulacan-Nueva Ecija Route. Go to NLEX. Take the Sta. Rita exit. Take the road passing through Plaridel, Baliuag, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Gapan, Sta. Rosa to Cabanatuan.This is the Maharlika Highway.
• NLEX-SCTEX-Tarlac-Sta.Rosa Route. NLEX up to Clark Logistics Interchange. Enter SCTEX going to Tarlac. Exit at Amucao, Tarlac (End of SCTEX). Turn right to La Paz up to Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija. Turn left going to Cabanatuan when you see a stop light right after crossing a big bridge.

From Cabanatuan City there are two routes going to Baler. First is the Baler - Bongabon Road and the other is Canili-Pantabangan Road. I highly recommend that you take the Canili-Pantabangan Road because the road is smoother and less dangerous than Baler - Bongabon. 

• Canili - Pantabangan Road
• From Cabanatuan take the Maharlika Highway going to Pinagpanaan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija. Turn right to the road going to Rizal, Nueva Ecija then turn right going to Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija (landmark: both have a Y-road with a small park/waiting shed in the middle). The road will take you to Canili, Maria Aurora, Aurora. The road will pass through the Sierra Madre until you reach the Poblacion of Maria Aurora. From Maria, Aurora you can then go straight to Baler.
• Baler-Bongabon Route 
• From Cabanatuan take the Maharlika Hiway and turn right to the Nueva Ecija – Aurora Road (landmark: crossing with Shell Gas Station and NE Restaurant). The road will pass through Palayan City and Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. From Bongabon turn right to the road going to the Sierra Madre mountains. After two or three hours of winding road you will reach the municipality of San Luis and then Baler.

I got these info through batangbaler.net. We took the longest way but the safest way going to Baler which is the  NLEX-SCTEX-Tarlac-Sta.Rosa Routo to Canili - Pantabangan Road. It took us 6 hours going to Baler from Manila.

 TRAVEL TIPS:

He said I should take a photo of him! HAHA

1. It is better to travel with groups when you're going to Baler. My group hired a Van. You can contact them with this number 0923-862-9922 and look for Kuya Efren. It can save you a lot of time and money going to places and avoid hiring tricycles from time to time. The tricycle drivers/tour guide do not have a fix or standard rate. It varies from one to another. They say you can hire one tricycle for only 800 per day of tour.
2. It is better to just buy your food or bring your own rather than buying in the market and cook your food there. I know it is overrated but yea, try the Gerry Shan Restaurant and Rolling Store near the Museum. When time is of the essence, cooking your food there is not an option. There are times that there are not enough seafood in the public market. Ooohh! You must try their famous Pako (stress on the last syllable). I don't know what it is but I think it is a baby fern. 
3. There are lots of Surfing instructors in the area, or you can ask your lodge or hotel if they can provide you one. The average amount for surfing is 300 - 350 per hour, surf boards and rash guards included. We tried the Happy Feet! Kuya Amang is my instructor, he is just so funny and kind. He patiently dragged me back and forth to the waves. Imagine that battling all the waves just to teach me how to surf. HAHA.

   

   Haggardness after Surfing

4. It would be best if you visit Ditumabo Falls early in the morning because there are fewer people and you can get a cottage to rest. It is forbidden to bring food. O, there are lots of donation in this place! Ahh, the water is so cold as in chilling cold!  

   

   Look up! We are near the Falls! :) Was not able to take photos because my camera got moist. :(
   
   

   
5. The road going to Dicasalarin Cove is hard! The way is under construction and very steep! You need a professional driver going there or be a very cautious. It is steeper that the trail going to Benguet. They only allow one car traveling at a time to prevent any collision. After the unending winding road to Dicasalarin the view is worth all the risk! I swear! You're gonna love it there. 

   

   Can you see how narrow the road is?!

   
   

   

   View of Dicasalarin, the only white sand in Baler! 

   
   

   

   am I in Palawan? Naaa. This is Baler! 

 I am going to post another entry to further share my experience in Baler, Baler, Baler! HAHA!

Ano, TARA GUMALA!

CIAO.
--
GABRIELA