Esoy Hot Spring Pool / Credit: Dimpsy via ErlinYenYu's FB page
Right after Cebu's Wonderful Falls are Cebu's Therapeutic Haven. This trip happened a long time in 2012. Bear with some of the photo attachments that are quite blurry. Still, I want to make a blog for two of my hot spring trips as a keepsake of my adventure. I call this a therapeutic haven because there are various kinds of minerals in natural hot spring water; inclusions are calcium and sodium bicarbonate. These minerals are absorbed in a person's body and reported to gain therapeutic benefits. Even on Ancient Era's people practiced the use of bathing natural hot spring water for the treatment and cure of some diseases. This practice is carried over specifically in Europe and Japan where medically supervised spas are in operation for both treatment and prevention.
One of the inactive volcanoes recorded in the country is Mt. Tabayag where its dormancy explains the presence of Esoy Hot Spring. By nature, the source of hot water in Esoy is not volcanic but came from the heat underneath the ground. Esoy Hot Spring is said to be the only hot spring in the north. It's a privately owned by Celso Bustamante whose byname is Esoy. To preserve the naturality of the environment a No Booking No Entry policy is implemented to manage the crowd as well. For this blog, I will be sharing Esoy Hot Spring situated in the northern part of Cebu -- Catmon Cebu.
NO BOOKING NO ENTRY POLICY
No booking no entry is set to manage the crowd for an enjoyable exploration of the environment for the satisfaction of the guests.
THE JOURNEY
►HOW WE GET THERE?
From the North Bus Terminal, We took a bus bound to Maya Daanbantayan and alighted at JM Poultry. From the highway, we hailed a 2-wheeled single motorcycle (habal-habal) good for two passengers and arrived at Esoy in less than half an hour.
►ARRIVAL
At the gate of Esoy Hot Spring, a lady welcomed us and told us to sign the guest book. A fee of P350 pesos for each guest collected for cottage use, life vest, and a tour guide.
►THE 150 STEPS
150 Steps / Dimpsy via Erlinyenyu's FB page
After the registration, a woman then told us to take the 150-steps to our cottage. Anticipation was not in our vocabulary at that time. As you go through the 150 steps, you will pass by a sari-sari store that is so pricey for the commodity goods. Might as well bring your provisions to prevent excessive spending and there's no corkage in bringing of foodstuffs. We still managed to go through the 150 steps by taking a break after break while catching our breath. It was quite exhausting but therapeutic in some way.
Esoy Hot Spring / Credit: Floyd Jan Dico via Youtube
Here's a video from Floyd Jan Dico from the 150 steps down to the small and big hot pool. You can see here how guests cross the hanging bridge and some parts of the river near Katinggo Falls that are deep that you need to cross it by swimming. Somehow it answered my question, why is there a life vest? That's because of the sudden depth upon reaching the falls. You can also see how the videographer glides through the raging water letting himself go with the water flow.
►LIFE VEST
Life Vest / Credit: Dimpsy via Erlinyenyu's FB page
After our brunch, we saw life vests on the other cottage. We asked the caretaker what's the use of life vests. She replied it's for the river trekking to the falls. We never knew that there were other activities aside from the hot pool. Our eagerness and enthusiasm rose up upon hearing it from the caretaker. Without any waste of time, we grabbed one life vest each. The life vest is one of the inclusions of the P350 fee.
WHAT TO DO IN ESOY HOT SPRING?
►Cross the hanging bridge.
Hanging Bridge / Credit: Esoy FB page
Our first adventure after munching our brunch is to do a river trek to Katinggo Falls. This trip is like hitting two birds with one stone. We only knew about Katinggo Falls on the day we arrived at Esoy Hot Spring upon registration.
The rope bridge is tied in the iron rods that stick out from the concrete flooring from one end to the two concrete poles of the parallel side. Both sides of the bridge have nets for protection from falling. Rectangular wooden pathways are tied up to the ropes as footpaths.
►Wall Climbing
Wall Climbing / Credit: Dimpsy via Erlinyenyu's FB page
The wall is wet and slippery because of the green and brown algae on the rock. Below is a river that has undetermined depth and rocks. Just by looking at it my gut feeling told me it's quite dangerous. None of my travel mates got the initiative to do the thing. Watching those two human beings in the photo were like a pro. We even jest they're the son and daughter of Spiderman because of their natural way of climbing the wall. We left it as is and off we went to our next activity.
►River Trek and Quick Dip
River Trek / Credit: Dimpsy via Erlinyenyu's FB page
The river trek was fun because of some boulders along the way. I couldn't feel the heat of the sun because of the refreshing breeze and cold flow of the stream. Hearing the calming effect of the birds chirping gives our trek a very relaxing atmosphere. From time to time we took a quick dip to freshen up ourselves and a few minutes to take a rest.
►Literal Rock Climbing
Rock Climbing / Credit: Dimpsy via Erlinyenyu's FB page
As you go a further trek into the river boulders will surprise you. For you to get through to Katinggo Falls, an obligatory rock climbing is a must. Wearing appropriate footwear is recommended for both river and rock trekking to avoid foot injury.
►Snaps
Selfie Snap / Credit: Joseph Bacalso via Erlinyenyu's FB page
After rock climbing, you can pass through a raging water stream and even mini waterfalls. It's not the Katinggo Falls yet but this part here is instagrammable so don't miss out to have your selfie shot. Be very careful though not to slip on the rocks.
►Fish Feeding, Swimming, and Mandatory Pose in Katinggo Falls
Katinggo Falls / Credit: Joseph Bacalso via Erlinyenyu's FB page
We finally arrived at Katinggo Falls. To my surprise, the waterfall is not what I expect the height would be. The estimated depth of the catch basin of the waterfall is about 30-100 feet or more. You need to climb up the rocks by gripping on the roots of the trees in taking a plunge from the top of the waterfall. Aside from the waterfall, fish feeding is also possible in the area. Our guide was the owner of the hot spring. Without our knowledge, there are tilapia fishes in the water. Mr. Esoy said that not all guests even the locals knew about the fishes. It was our pleasure that he entrusted us to feed the fishes and mind you there was a lot underwater. Swimming was the last thing we did in the waterfall. Grateful for the life vest that we spent most of our time swimming.
►Therapeutic Dip
Hot Pool / Credit: Joseph Bacalso via Erlinyenyu's FB page
We head back to the cottage and spent most of our time in the hot swimming pool. It was therapeutic for me as I got to experience relief on my sinuses. Soaking your body in hot spring provides relaxation and soothing relief just like in a spa. Indeed Esoy hot spring is one therapeutic haven in Cebu.
Esoy and Katinggo Falls / Credit: Cecilia Abucejo via Youtube
Here is a full video from Cecilia Abucejo. This video will show you from the main gate of Esoy, the 150 steps, the hot swimming pools, hanging bridge, the literal rock climbing, mini falls, the raging water, river trekking, fishes underwater, and the Katinggo Falls. If you can notice in the video the guests owned the entire Esoy and Katinggo Falls. That is the good thing about the implementation of Esoy - no booking no entry; if you're lucky to be the only guest booked on that day then, privacy is all yours.
WRAP UP
Spending a day in Esoy Hot Spring felt like I'm in a spa. It was the hot pool that I like most about this adventure. The hanging bridge, the river trekking, and the Katinggo Falls were add ons of Esoy hot spring; an added value that adds excitement and fun to the trip. Others get bored when its hot spring alone. But as for me who's an aquaphile, soaking in both cold and hot water is a lighthearted pleasure. All in all this trip was all worth it!
Thank you for reading my blog. You may visit my Dimpsy page for more travel blogs.
