Karlo Pacana
Mainit Hot Spring in Malabuyoc, Cebu
Fresh from Kawasan Falls in Badian, I proceeded to the next town and arrived at Alegria municipal hall, where my cousin Desmond was working. Unbeknownst to him, a co-worker of his, Claue, was celebrating her birthday. Arriving just in time for a surprise lunch treat from her boss, Mae, the celebration was held in a restaurant by the sea just a kilometer away.
During lunch, we discussed the things the town has to offer. Alegria is famous for its Downstream Canyoneering, hidden waterfalls, and caving spots. Since this was an impromptu side trip and I needed to be back in the city by evening, I didn’t have time to fully indulge in these popular destinations. For a good, cheap alternative, they told me to check out Lepanto, the highest point in Alegria, and the sought-after Mainit Spring in Malabuyoc.
Proceeding to the Alegria Tabo, I rode a motorcycle toward my first destination. Along the way, there was an overlooking chill spot on the left side of the road. I instantly fell in love with the wooden bench between two tree trunks; it was, for me, the perfect spot to relax while playing the ukulele on a cloudy afternoon. It would have also been very romantic with the sunset on the horizon if I were traveling with a special someone. I just told the driver to drop me off and pick me up an hour later.
An hour has passed, and yet RJ has not come back. Feeling thirsty and with my water running out, I had no choice but to politely ask for water. Though I was in a secluded spot, there was a house a few meters away. As we approached the house, the coconut trees in their backyard came into view.
Changing my mind, I asked for a coconut. It was only worth five pesos! I handed a twenty-peso bill to the ‘manananggot’ for his Spider-Man efforts, had a quick chat with his family, and asked to take a couple of pictures of their humble lifestyle.
A few minutes later, RJ arrived, and off we went to Mainit Spring, located twenty minutes away in the next town of Malabuyoc. The entrance fee was only twenty pesos. The tourist spot consists of multiple springs of naturally heated water from underground sulfuric rock. One mini-spring had the highest temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius. Dipping my finger to test the temperature, the water was indeed very hot.
With hesitation, I finally decided to try and slowly submerge my entire body one part at a time. It felt like a natural thermos. Sweating as my pores opened, I was able to detoxify naturally. The source of the flowing water was Mainit Falls, which was ironically cool. Sadly, I couldn’t check it out due to management’s safety precautions, as the access path was full of debris from the strong Typhoon Haiyan that struck the area a few months back.
After my perfect afternoon detoxification, I called it a day and rode the bus back to the city. I’ll be back to explore the caves, waterfalls, and downstream canyoneering next time! For more of my adventures, check out my blog at kingofsinulog.wordpress.com. Cheers!
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Read:
- Natural Hot Spring Resorts in the Philippines for a Relaxing Soak
- Where to Stay: List of Resorts in Tayabas City
- Why I want to visit Guam?
- Where to Eat in Alegria Cebu: Cosina Organica
- Where to Stay in Alegria Cebu: De Alegre Travelers Inn
