To Boton Falls
After going to Boracay, my guests wanted to experience a little adventure in a place not too far away from our vicinity so I brought them to Subic, Zambales. Subic is now very accessible from Apalit, Pampanga, and because of the SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) what used to be a 2-hour drive is now shortened to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Just after exiting from NLEX Dau is an entrance to the highway straight to Subic.
Here was our itinerary:
800 – ETD Apalit, Pampanga
1000 – Registration, JEST Camp
1015 – Demonstration, Starting fire using bamboo
1030 – Short Briefing, Trek to Boton Falls
1040 – Start Trek
1120 – Reach Boton Falls
1200 – Lunch, Luto sa Buho (cooked in bamboo stalks)
1220 – Swim at the falls
1400 -back to the jump-off point
1410 – Try TreeTop Adventures
1500 – Proceed to Zoobic Safari
1800 – Finish Safari tour
Originally we planned to leave at 7 in the morning but due to some changes in plans, we left at 8 o’clock in the morning. Like I’ve said, it was a quick drive and the next thing we knew, we are there at the adventure park.
First destination – Boton Falls
Jungle Environmental Survival Training Camp (JEST Camp) is the only tour operator in the vicinity offering this tour, Treetop is offer a trekking adventure but they did not have this particular offering.
Before going to Boton falls, we were given a short training on how to light a fire without any mechanical use of any sort. Our guide even encouraged us to try lighting the stuff, we weren’t really as good as him but then, we still made it in the end, we managed to light the fire.
One of the guides giving demonstration on starting a fire using bamboo only
Then starts the trek, it was an around 20-30 minute short trek going to Boton falls, it was an easy trek. Easy because all the way going down to the falls. We were aware though that going back would be the challenge. We were full have our lunch taken, making us a few pounds heavier, a little tired due to the trek, and a little losing the excitement having been to the place.
Anyways, the falls wasn’t really the kind of great great amazing enchanting falls as it is in other forests, but really the water was refreshing and having our lunch cooked in bamboo stalks is one thing others don’t have. Also, if we only wanted to try, they are offering an overnight version of it wherein we will have to hunt for our lunch. That sounded great but we weren’t really prepared for it, maybe I could consider that some other time. 
Lunch ala JEST Camp. Interesting huh?!
Rice cooked in bamboo stalks
Sinigang cooked in bamboo stalks
Boton falls is not really the kind of a stunning, breath-taking view but it’s worth giving a visit. This photo is taken from the top view making the place look a little smaller than of the actual.
Boton Falls, nothing great but it’s worth it
Watch your heads and your every step, the trail wasn’t a neat one. There were lots of tree branches along the way, careful hitting them, they are all over the place.
The trail
2nd Destination – TREETOP Adventure
This is already my second in TREETOP so I chose to simply watch them enjoy and take photos for them. TREETOP offers the following:
- Canopy Walk
- Canopy Ride
- Jungle Survival Demo
- Superman Ride
- Tree Drop Adventure
- Interactive Free Fall
- Silver Surfer
If you are into the rides, then this is the place for you. Price ranges from 150-650 pesos per person, depending on the rides that you wish to try. TREETOP by the way, has a branch in Baguio as well.
TIP: Mangrove park is on an introductory promo as of now, you can grab a ticket for only P50 per person. Cheap isn’t it?
Tree Top Adventure
Subic Branch:
JEST Area, Upper Mau Cubi Point Subic Bay Freeport Zone 2222
Telefax Number: +047.252.9425
Mobile: +63.920.628.8740 /
+63.932.171.5729
Last destination – ZOOBIC Safari
This, I would say was the most exciting part of our tour, ZOOBIC Safari. This too, I do believe, had the most influx of tourists, and so I must say it’s a “MUST-SEE”.
Here’s what you to see in the safari:
- Zoobic Park is a two-hectare forest wherein guests will have a mini-trekking experience to see exotic, wild and semi-domesticated animals in their simulated natural habitat. Have the wonderful chance to pet and feed these wonderful animals – parakeets, bearcats, camels to name a few.
- Aetas’ Trail Have a glimpse of the beauty of our Native Aeta Brothers’ culture as they perform some of their traditional dances.
- Croco loco Have the chance to feed our crocodiles! Just dangle a chicken tied to a bamboo pole and see how high they can jump to get your treat!
- Savannah a sanctuary of the wild that features a wide range of ostriches, potbellies, wild boars, and guinea fowls.
- Close Encounter A facility that allows one to take a close look at our Siberian-Bengal tigers only 2 feet away!
- Tiger Safari a Hold on to your seats as you enter a two-hectare enclosed area aboard our customized Safari Jeep and experience the thrill of being chased by full-grown tigers on the loose!
- Animal MuZOOeum A rare collection of real stuffed animals, bone collections and preserved animal skin.
- Serpentarium Get inside an old ammunition bunker where you will see a showcase of various species of reptiles like snakes, lizards and turtles.
- Rodent World Features an amazing collection of rodents. Be amazed in Mice Surprise area and you may even see some guinea pigs being groomed in the Rodent Salon.
- Bird Walk Experience feeding the parakeets/love birds on the palm of your hand. Lovely!
Day Tour Entrance Rate
Php 495 – Adult
Php 395 – Kids 4 ft. and below
Free – Kids 3 ft. and below
Tease me, come on, tease me!
Tour guide giving orientation to guests
An Aeta performing tribal dance to guests
I would like to thank my guests in this event. It was a pleasurable experience hanging around with them. I would love to get into action with them again some time in the future and I’m so glad that they enjoyed the tour.
Kevin Fast
Joy Fast
Shine Uclaray
Jayson Tacuboy
