CHASING WATERFALLS: Daranak Falls

I have the city at my doorstep and the mountains at my backyard. 

I love living at the Junction!

For a public park, Daranak Falls can surprising exceed one's expectations. The pool under the waterfall alone is bluer than I expected (the water of course is not blue after the rains -- video below).

 

The place is so beautiful on a sunny day that the pool below will call on you to dive. Opposite the waterfall (facing this picture) is deep enough that you can somersault from the ledge and never hit the bottom of the pool. Ever since I learned how to swim, I've fallen for jumping off ledges and cliffs. I tried it first in a tubing trip with friends in Cotabato, back in college -- the feeling of being caught in the middle of an irrevocable decision to leave solid ground, yet still be too far from hitting the water and swimming . . . that suspended moment mid-air that always recall Wile E. Coyote in my mind, had been incomparable. It's liberating!

the water will call on you to dive -- I swear!

After your first plunge, you can either take the long route back up to the ledge via the steps for a second jump, or climb the rock-face directly from the water -- which is faster and shorter -- to increase the frequency of your jump; just watch out because the rocks are sharp and will cause injury to soles and toes softened by the water.

Since this is a public park, the best time to go here is on weekdays, when there are hardly any people. I recommend this because these days make it feel like the waterfall is your private place. Weekends and holidays though are a different story.

the small waterfall opposite the picture above

climbing a little of the rock-face of the waterfall

That's how you chase Daranak Falls!
Easy does it.

GETTING THERE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
* Jeep to Tanay, Rizal @ Crossing & get off the public market terminal.  Take a tricycle to Daranak Falls.

TRAVEL TIME:
* About 1.5 hours by jeep
* Additional 30-minutes or less by tricycle

DAMAGE TO THE POCKET: 
* PhP53/head jeepney fare (terminal to terminal)
* PhP50/head one-way tricycle will get you as far as the turning to the access road from Sampaloc Rd (an additional PhP50/tricycle when you ask the driver to pick you back up will get you all the way to the entrance of the falls)
* Park entrance is PhP20/head




Chasing Waterfalls Series:
Pagsanjan Falls
Ambon-ambon Falls