San Pablo in Laguna is largely made up of agricultural lands blissfully situated at the foot of Mount Banahaw and Mount Makiling, making it a great destination for ecotourism activities. San Pablo is also known for its palm-fringed lakes with mirror-like reflections. It is dubbed as the “City of Seven Lakes” composed of Lake Sampaloc, Yambo, Pandin, Bunot, Kalibato, Muhicap and Palapakin. Of the famous 7 Lakes of San Pablo, Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo are the cleanest and beckon tourists. They are dubbed as “The Twin Lakes of San Pablo”. Just roughly 3 hours away from Manila, San Pablo is a perfect weekend getaway from the harried concrete jungle.
Here’s a travel blog to guide you in planning your trip to Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo in San Pablo, Laguna.
TRAVEL BLOG CONTENTS
BY PRIVATE VEHICLE
From Manila, you can head to South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and exit to Calamba. From Calamba, head straight to San Pablo, Laguna.
BY COMMUTING
From Manila take a bus bound for San Pablo or Lucena (ask the conductor is it’s passing by San Pablo) like Jac Liner at Buendia/Kamias Bus terminal or Ali Mall Terminal in Cubao. Alight at 7/11 near the San Pablo Church. Fare is around PHP 127 / USD 2.56, travel time is around 3 hours. At San Pablo, you can choose to commute by jeep or just ride a tricycle.
(Option 1)
If you opt to go there by tricycle, fare is PHP 40- PHP 50 / USD 0.81- USD 1 per person. And it’s just a 10 minute walk to Lake Pandin. Easy breezy!
(Option 2)
If you want to do a DIY Tour because you are on a budget, get off at 7/11 near San Pablo Church and ride a tricycle to Nagcarlan jeep terminal. Ride a Nagcaralan-Liliw-bound jeep. Alternatively, you may also take a jeep bound for Ilog (Brgy.Sto.Angel). Fare is PH 20/ USD 0.41 and travel time is around 20 minutes. Tell the driver you are getting off at Lake Pandin and ask him politely to drop you at the jumping-off point. At the trailhead to Lake Pandin, walk for about 10 minutes to reach the lake.
HOW TO GO TO LAKE PANDIN AND LAKE YAMBO FROM ALABANG
If you are coming from south Manila, you can ride a bus en route to Lucena (San Pablo Highway) at the South Station in Alabang. Fare is around PHP 98/USD 1.97, travel time is about 2.5 hours. Get off at 7/11 and follow either Step 2 or Step 3 above.
If you want to go to Lake Yambo instead, ask the driver to drop you off at the jumping-off point and then ride a tricycle to take you to Lake Yambo.
HOW TO GO TO LAKE PANDIN FROM CALAMBA, CALAUAN & LOS BAÑOS
Take a jeep en route to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Then ride a jeep bound for Nagcarlan. Tell the driver you are getting off at Lake Pandin. At the jumping-off point, walk for roughly 10 minutes to the lake.
HOW TO GO TO LAKE PANDIN AND LAKE YAMBO FROM BIÑAN,
SAN PEDRO AND STA. ROSA, LAGUNA
Ride a jeep to Balibago Complex, fare depends on where you are coming from. Then at Balibago, ride a passenger van to San Pablo, fare is about PHP 75/ USD 1.51. Follow step 2 or step 3 under the directions from Manila.
WHAT TO DO IN LAKE PANDIN AND LAKE YAMBO
Once you reach Lake Pandin, aside from swimming, you also have the option to ride a bamboo raft that will take you to Lake Yambo on the other side. There is no entrance fee to Lake Pandin. See the Lake Pandin tour package rates below.
LAKE PANDIN AND LAKE YAMBO DAY TOUR PACKAGE RATES 2017
Here’s the current rates of the bamboo raft tour in Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo. The food in the tour package includes grilled tilapia, ginataang hipon, ensaladang pako, banana and 2cups of rice. If you want to add grilled pork, pay additional PHP 20 / USD 0.40 per person.
I suggest contacting them in advance to reserve the raft and the food especially if you are planning to go there on weekends.
Contact persons: Aling Tina +63 907 995 2983 / Aling Siony +63 929 978 9565
| ACTIVITIES | RATES |
| Small Bamboo Raft | PHP 180 / USD 3.63 per person |
| Big Bamboo Raft with Food | PHP 360/USD 7.25 per person minimum of 4 PHP 1,000 /USD 20.14 good for two PHP 1,200 / USD 24.17 good for 3 persons |
| Big Bamboo Raft without Food | PHP 180/ USD 3.63 per person minimum of 4 Php 500/ USD 10 per person good for 2 PHP 600/ USD 12 per person good for 3
|
If you want to wash up. There is a PHP 20/USD 0.40 fee per person. Camping overnight in Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo is allowed, there is no fixed camping rate but around PHP 100/ USD 2 or so.
LAKE PANDIN ITINERARY PLUS LAKE YAMBO
Here’s a sample itinerary to Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo, if you start early, you can include a side trip to Bunga Falls, Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery and Liliw.
| TIME | ACTIVITIES |
| 04:00 AM | ETD to San Pablo, Laguna |
| 07:00 AM | ETA San Pablo |
| 07:15 AM | Quick visit to Sampaloc Lake. Ride a tricycle. |
| 07:30 AM | Charter tricycle to Lake Pandin |
| 07:50 AM | ETA Lake Pandin jumping-off point. Walk to Lake Pandin |
| 08:00 AM | ETA Lake Pandin |
| 08:15 AM | Ride Bamboo Raft with food (your breakfast) to Lake Yambo |
| 10:00 AM | End of Bamboo raft tour. Wash up. |
| 10:30 AM | ETD to Bunga Falls |
| 11:30 AM | ETA Bunga Falls |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch |
| 01:00 PM | ETD to Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery, Taytay Falls in Majayjay and Liliw |
| 07:00 PM | Dinner. |
| 07:30 PM | ETD to Manila |
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN PABLO, LAGUNA
For tourists who want to to stay overnight in Lake Pandin or San Pablo, Laguna. There are a handful of hotels and old houses turned into lodges. Here’s a list of some of the best accommodations in San Pablo, Laguna.
G and E Garden Pavilion and La Verandah Hotel
Barangay Concepcion, Purok 4, San Pablo City, San Pablo City, Philippines
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Tahanan Ni Aling Meding Hotel
Dagatan Boulevard, Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo City, San Pablo City
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Sulyap Bed & Breakfast – Casa de Obando Boutique Hotel
Brgy Del Remedio Cocoland Compound San Pablo , San Pablo City
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Sulyap Bed & Breakfast – Casa de Alitagtag Boutique Hotel
Brgy. Del Remedio, Cocoland Compound, San Pablo City, Laguna, San Pablo City
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Auravel Grande Hotel and Resort
Barangay San Francisco, Mahabang Parang, San Pablo City, San Pablo City
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Tierra de Oro Resort-Hotel
Maharlika Hi-way Barangay San Antonio, San Pablo City, San Pablo City
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
LAKE PANDIN AND LAKE YAMBO TRAVEL TIPS
♦ If you wish to cover the 7 Lakes of San Pablo, you can charter a tricycle for about PHP 400 / USD 8.
♦ If you want to visit Bunga Falls, you can hire a tricycle for P200/ USD 4 one way. Or ride a jeep en route to Nagcarlan. Alight at Nagcarlan town proper and ride a tricycle to Bunga Falls. While you are at it, you can also visit Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery and Taytay Falls in Majayjay, Laguna.
♦ Alternatively, you can also do a side trip to Liliw. Just ride a jeep to Liliw that also passes by at the trail head to Lake Pandin. Fare is around PHP 30/ USD 0.60.
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