Batangas Beach, Punta Fuego Batangas

A pristine beach just only over 2 hours drive from Manila, Terrazas Punta Fuego is a premiere membership resort club where one can enjoy some privacy, a serene and relaxing time away from the city's hustle and bustle.

Nasugbu Batangas is where you will see mountain ranges and the coastline both at the same time.

Arriving the resort, you will be welcomed with drinks and wet towels to freshen up.

After which, you are free to enjoy either the the swimming pools or the sandy beach, or even just lounge in your privately assigned cabana.

If you are ready for some activities and action, try the variety of watersport activities available.

The food is especially prepared by their chef, a sumptous lunch with morning and afternoon meriendas. If this is not enough, their bar and restaurant accepts short orders too.

Indeed a relaxing getaway that one would keep coming back to.

Contributed by Grace Vergara 2015.

To book Punta Fuego Batangas, Batangas Beach package,

please contact
Shore 2 Shore Travel Services
Reach them during office hours -
Tel (63-2) 5796603-04
Mobile (63) globe 906 9003019, smart 999 6040017, sun 923 2880661
Email shore2shore.mlaofc@gmail.com
google shore 2 shore travel or visit
http://www.shore2shore-travel-services.com/

Mt Pinatubo tour, the view is all worth it

Mt. Pinatubo is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines.

Its latest eruption last June 1991 is considered the 2nd most intense eruption of the 20th century.

Nowadays, Mt. Pinatubo offers a scenic sight of what the eruption did couple of years ago. After the moderate dis-ease of getting there -

- the early start before it gets too hot travelling on open skies and barren land
- the rugged ride on a 4-wheel-drive jeep which can be sandy, rocky, dusty, bumpy, shaky, and watery all at the same time
- the trek to possible induce some muscle pain to first time hikers

The final stop at the volcano summit offers a majestic vista of the crater-lake.

The fresh air, the majestic vista of the crater lake.

It's all worth it.

Contributed by Grace Vergara 2015.

To book Mt Pinatubo tour, please contact
Shore 2 Shore Travel Services
Reach them during office hours -
Tel (63-2) 5796603-04
Mobile (63) globe 906 9003019, smart 999 6040017, sun 923 2880661
Email shore2shore.mlaofc@gmail.com
google shore 2 shore travel or visit
http://www.shore2shore-travel-services.com/

Taal volcano tour, smallest volcano yet most active

Considered the smallest and the lowest volcano in the world is Philippine's Taal Volcano. It is only 1050 feet above sea level. It may be small but also the 2nd most active volcano in the country.

Over an hour away from Manila, depending on traffic, Talisay Batangas is the gateway to Taal Volcano.

A motorized boat boarded to cross the lake. An island in the middle of the lake is the Taal Island where local villages live.

There are 2 ways to climb and see the crater.

1. Horse ride

2. Hiking

Hiking Taal Volcano is easy even for a non-experienced hiker. It is only 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your pace. The best time to hike is early morning because the trail is directly facing the sun, expect to sun bathe.

Notoriously dusty and hot, it’s by far one of the most popular active volcanoes known worldwide.

What makes Taal Volcano unique is the fact that the volcano itself has a lake of its own inside its crater which is called the "Crater Lake."

Surrounding the volcano and the lake is the magnificent view of the mountains circling the island, it’s a feast to the eyes and great for photography.

A simplified way to understand this wonder is to pay Taal Volcano a visit.

Contributed by Grace Vergara 2015.

To book Taal Volcano tour, please contact
Shore 2 Shore Travel Services
Reach them during office hours -
Tel (63-2) 5796603-04
Mobile (63) globe 906 9003019, smart 999 6040017, sun 923 2880661
Email shore2shore.mlaofc@gmail.com
google shore 2 shore travel or visit
http://www.shore2shore-travel-services.com/

Experience to be remembered, Swimming with the whale shark in Oslob

In Cebu, Oslob has gained popularity in tourism since 2011 and continuously growing yearly. Thanks to these World's Largest fish known as Whale Sharks, also named Tuki or Butanding by the locals. These juvenile gentle giants size starting from 20 feet in length!

For the first time, seeing these big whales with mouth opened as big as 5 meters did not fail to give chills to the bones!

Yet Butandings are harmless sea creatures feeding on plankton and small fishes. Swimming, snorkeling and observing them under water is fascinating and exciting!

We had a short briefing on precaution and safety before "the encounter" with these gentle giants.

Small boat paddled by boatman brough us to the crystal clear blue water where glimpse of these friendly mammals are remarklable visible.

Whale watching is only 20 to 30 meters away from the shoreline.

Life jackets and snorkeling gear is provided for our sake.

For the fearful swimmer, just hang on to your boat's bamboo floater. A safe position will allow u to see and get close to the whalesharks with no worries

It's now more than news or imagination for me. I was there! I experienced it first hand! And proud to have seen and swam with one of the most fascinating ocean creatures in my homeland, The Butanding or The Whale Sharks.

Contributed by Grace Vergara 2016.

To book Cebu tour package with Oslob whale shark watching, please contact:
Shore 2 Shore Travel Services
Reach them during office hours -
Tel (63-2) 5796603-04
Mobile (63) globe 906 9003019, smart 999 6040017, sun 923 2880661
Email shore2shore.mlaofc@gmail.com
google shore 2 shore travel or visit
http://www.shore2shore-travel-services.com/

Choosing Trekking or Boat ride, Pagsanjan falls tour

The magnificent falls is reached the usual way by boat ride from Pagsanjan known as Shooting the Rapids. Boatmen skillfully manueveres the canoe along rocky river and strong current.

An option available to save a little cost from the boatride is by trekking and some rappeling through Cavinti.

Trekking is about an hour or so depending on one's pace. The trail is surrounded by virgin forest. Tall trees and various plants abound. Sound of birds chirping, bugs and insects echoing their tunes, rain drops and wind sweeping through the leaves.

The road can be muddy when wet, some rooted trails, and concrete steps with safety railings are all along the way.

The starting point is where the view of the river and the forest meets.

There's 586 steps down, and 2 sets of 90 degree steep vertical metal ladder and 2 enclosed spiral way to the bottom to make you think twice if you want to proceed. But the idea is a challenge to beat.

Once you reach the river, colorful canoe boats, rocky cliffs and the falls awaits.

Finally, the adventure of boarding the bamboo raft taking us directly below the waterfalls. There goes a strong nature massage. And the mystery of goin inside Devil's Cave which turned out fun and not scarry.

Some of us took the boat back, and I'd say it's more fun than rafting in CDO. The boat ride is a thrill worth spending.

Contributed by Grace Vergara 2016.

To book Pagsanjan falls tour, please contact
Shore 2 Shore Travel Services
Reach them during office hours -
Tel (63-2) 5796603-04
Mobile (63) globe 906 9003019, smart 999 6040017, sun 923 2880661
Email shore2shore.mlaofc@gmail.com
google shore 2 shore travel or visit
http://www.shore2shore-travel-services.com/

A challenging route, the Taal Volcano tour

Taal is one of the popular, if not the most popular and most visited active volcanoes in the Philippines. It is also known as the smallest and lowest volcano in the world standing 1020 feet above sea level only.

There are 3 trails to hike to the volcano, but only trail leading to the crater lake and that is the Calauit Secret Trail at the southern part of the island. The boat ride from Talisay Batangas takes 40 minutes. Passing by the panoramic view of Taal Lake on the right and dominated by Mt. Maculot on the left.

The jump off point is through a small village. Horses are available but the price higher than the regular trail since the route is twice far.

The climb is slippery, longer, steeper, and more dusty. That is why balancing on a horse is an added challenge.

On the first half of the trail, you will bask under the warmth of the sun. The trail area is wide open with few grasses and cassave plants until you reach the view deck, where a 360 degree view of the inner crater where the "caldera" of the volcano, its Vulcan Point Island in the middle welcomes you with a rewarding view.

From there, the hike is cooler yet more slippery due to the mix of dust and rocks. Tall trees surrounds the hiking trails until the summit point, called The Inner Crater.

A green and warm inviting lake would entice you for an irresistible quick dip. The inner lake is surrounded by volcanic rocks of different colors, like black, gray, orange, yellow, red.

A few meters away, a strong sulfuric scent will immediately steal your attention. Evidence of steaming hot sulfuric fumes and boiling liquid can be seen. This can actually cook an egg,  and sizzling sound would be heard. Signs that the volano is alive!

Contributed by Grace Vergara 2016.

For Trekking the Calauit Secret Trail, and Taal Volcano tour, please contact:
Shore 2 Shore Travel Services
Reach them during office hours -
Tel (63-2) 5796603-04
Mobile (63) globe 906 9003019, smart 999 6040017, sun 923 2880661
Email shore2shore.mlaofc@gmail.com
google shore 2 shore travel or visit
http://www.shore2shore-travel-services.com/

Anawangin Cove, Popular in Zambales

In Zambales, apart from Subic and Olongapo, Anawangin is the next popular beach.

The place is laid back with open skies, visible mountains and the nearby sea. Reached through Pundaquit, a fishing village, with clean and fine sands.

Nearby is Capones Island, a huge shoe-shaped rock with limestone cliffs forming the island perimeters. It has a Lighthouse that once guided vessels coming from the North.

A climb to the lighthouse is easy. The rocky trail is composed of concrete and stone steps. Its viewdeck offers a wide range view of the West Philippine Sea.

Camara Twin Island is a few minutes away from Capones. Its twin island seems to be connected by a sand bar or rather rocks.

Anawangin Cove being the highlight, offers cool sea breeze through its large forest of Pine Trees in a secluded.

The place is a break from city life, stores, television, electricity and even cell phone signal.

Anawangin is ideal for swimming, mountain trekking and camping.

Contributed by Grace Vergara 2016.

To book Anawangin package, please contact:
Shore 2 Shore Travel Services
Reach them during office hours -
Tel (63-2) 5796603-04
Mobile (63) globe 906 9003019, smart 999 6040017, sun 923 2880661
Email shore2shore.mlaofc@gmail.com
google shore 2 shore travel or visit
http://www.shore2shore-travel-services.com/