Serenity isn’t always about silence. Sometimes, it’s about the screaming tranquillity of nature and its incessant uproar that speaks about unperturbed stillness of the earth.
The Twin Lakes of Balinsasayaw and Danao in Negros Oriental is no exception. It greets everyone who comes to visit it with its quiet and pristine waters. It can be accessed through Balinsasayaw Twin Lakes Natural Park located in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
Lake Balinsasayao derived its name from the native birds Balinsasayaw which have inhabited the lake and its surrounding forest for a very long time in the past. These birds’ nest woven using their saliva is the source to the main ingredient of a world famous soup. On the other hand, Lake Danao was named after the native Danao people who settled near the lake during the early times.
These lakes are two small crater lakes separated by a narrow mountain ridge. There’s a viewing deck few kilometres up the mountains from the registration point. The viewing deck is a two-floor concrete structure built in between trees and on an elevated area that’ll give you a glimpse of the two lakes.
From there, be mesmerized by the view of the lakes’ basin of turquoise waters surrounded by mountains that are cloaked with thick forest and lavish display of green flora.
To get to the mouth of the lake, you will have to use the manmade stairway at the other side of the road adjacent to the viewing deck. This is made of huge limestones and can be very slippery so be extra careful. You can reach Lake Danao by trekking on a rugged terrain trail or by renting a boat that charges per hour. The trail to Lake Danao might take an hour of trekking. Though it is smaller than Lake Balinsasayaw, it can still capture your nature-lover hearts with its equally attractive view.
Aside from dipping and diving all day in its cool waters, there are also other exciting activities that can be done to maximize the visit such as mountain trekking, bird watching, sightseeing and the paddle boating.
The two lakes are also teeming with life underwater. Various species of small to medium size fishes will come swimming towards your bare foot once you dip it into the water. These fishes will feed on your foot’s dead skin cells and callouses. This is nature giving you a wonderful foot spa experience.
As a general rule, be mindful of your trash. There are several boards at the base of the Twin Lakes’ entrance and near the parking lot for the Dos and Don’ts. Please take the time to read them.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
Fees:
- Opening hours: 8AM – 5PM
- Entrance Fee: P50 (local); P100 (Non-Filipino)
- Camping Fee: P50
- Parking Fee: P10 (motorcycle), P25 (car), P50 (vans/SUV)
- Cottage: P50
- Paddle Boat: P350/hour for 6-7 people
- Kayak: P150/hour
Note: Overnight stay isn’t allowed.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Contact number: 09351475318
- Email address: N/A
- Facebook Page: NA
HOW TO GET THERE?
Exact location: Town of Sibulan, Negros Oriental, Visayas
BY PLANE/ FERRY: First, you need to be in Negros and you can take Dumaguete as your entry point if you’re coming from Manila or Cebu.
BY BUS/ PUJ: From Dumaguete, you can also ride a bus or a jeepney going to Amlan and get off at the juncture in La-laan in San Jose. Fare is P10-P15 per person. From there, hire a motorcycle taxi (habal-habal) going to the Twin Lake Natural Park. You can haggle for the price. Estimated fare is 400 pesos for 2 pax (roundtrip).
BY CAR: From Dumaguete or from your starting point, drive to the juncture in La-laan in San Jose and follow through the road up to the highlands of Sibulan. You can also navigate your way up by setting “Balinsasayaw Twin Lakes Natural Park” as your destination point.
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