I was born and raised in the heart of Bacolod City where lately, life seems busy, heavy traffic, warm temperature, noise and air pollution is not impossible if people will not be careful of caring the environment compared ten or twenty years ago.
I can still remember when I was a child, our family used to come to Mambucal Hot Spring Resort, whenever we want to go swimming, especially during summer. Mambukal Resort was being considered the summer capital of Negros Occidental (the province) because of the low- temperature climate during summer. It is even more famous in schools and colleges, families, or friends for group outing and over- night camping or hold nature trip on day time.
Last October 5, 2009, I happened to get back to Mambucal resort during my vacation,
together with my sisters, brothers and other relatives after some years, for an over night stay. A treat for the whole family by our sister who just came from USA and one of our niece who just came also from Qatar.
Mambucal is a Mountain Resort that is about 31 kilometers away, East of Bacolod City, the capital city of Negros Occidental . It is also a gateway to Mt. Kanlaon National Park, one of the active volcano in the province.
It is surrounded by the therapeutic hot spring, lush valleys, mountain streams, is a breathtaking hide away from the noisy and polluted city to mention. The scenic milky flow of water cascading through some shattered rocks, makes it more refreshing and cool feeling when you dip yourself in the flowing river down the falls.
How to get there - when you are already in Bacolod city, you take or ride either by
PUJ, cars, vans or any private vehicles and other transportation facilities.
What to see/ expect?
Local and foreign Tourist attractions- market stalls of different wild and imported flowers, where you can buy the seedlings or the plants itself.
Water Falls- a trek to the famous seven wonderful falls is really a refreshing site to see. They said that the more that you hike to the next falls, the more the trek is dangerous, that they put a hand rails for the safety of the mountain climber or going to the different falls.
Bat Sanctuary/ bat watching - hundreds or maybe thousands of bats hanging on the tall trees, twigs or trunks are the added attraction too. When the bat are disturb, they are so noisy as if they have a conference, while others remain sleeping and hanging still.
Butterfly Sanctuary - there’s a butterfly sanctuary, but we didn’t go there anymore because its a little bit far from the cottage where we rented. Besides we were already exhausted walking and climbing, going to first falls.
Boating Lagoon- You can rent a Kayak good for five or six people ride. Life vest and two paddles are provided also. You can have a joy ride boating and sight seeing to the beautiful river flowing water, going to the lagoon for thirty- minutes to an hour.
Picnic Huts- near the pool there are picnic huts small and big ones, that you can rent and cook your foods, like grilled fish, chicken , pork or beef(but no food are allowed inside the pool).
Cottages- There’s small and huge cottages to rent for an over night stay for the family/group. Rental of cottages depends on the size of the cottage and facilities inside (the one we get, my sister paid 4, 000 pesos a day).
Swimming pool- there’s a big and small swimming pool for both adult and kids, which cost 30 pesos for the kids and 50 pesos for the adults entrance fee.
Therapeutic Warm Dipping Pool- it is a sulfuric hot spring where one can plunge or dip a knee high or shoulder level warm water from hot spring. It is believe to cure different skin diseases, arthritis and other joints problem.
Slide for life- during our visit, the slide for life was under renovation, so we were not able to do the trick of sliding up in the air with the help of a rope where you are left hanging up there and slide from one end to the other end of the rope.
There are other amenities like :
Camping Ground, Conference Hall, Coffee Shop: Wall Climbing; Standard Lodge, Deluxe Lodge, Suite Room but, we were not able to see it all, as we are already exhausted in our hiking adventure going to the first falls and soaking in the dipping pool.
An over night stay and another more day is not enough to cover the adventure trails, trekking and hiking back to the cottage we have rented. But the experience is worth your money, time and effort to get away from the hustles and bustles of the city life. Commuting with nature once in awhile and giving yourself a break is really a great treat for yourself.
Note : See in my picture gallery some of the pictures taken during the outing.