Happy Steps travel blog

Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Scenic views from the lobby

Continued from Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: EcoTourism Park in Negros Occidental

These are some scenic views overlooking nearby areas in Negros Occidental, as seen from the lobby of the lodge at the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center.

It was drizzling as we had our lunch, and the views were initially hazy with cloudy skies, we can’t even distinguish a thing few meters ahead. We were thankful when few hours shortly, the skies cleared up and we spent most of our time at the lobby capturing photos and just enjoying the place.
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Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: EcoTourism Park in Negros Occidental

Continued from Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there

Because of its proximity to Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano in the Negros Island, Bago City is blessed with natural attractions such as waterfalls, streams, springs and abundant vegetation. Some areas have sloping terrain with cool atmosphere and breathtaking mountain views such as the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort which was our first stop. Another notable destination for nature lovers is the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center, about 30 minutes further up from the said resort. You can see some of the scenic views along the winding road going to the park in my previous post Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there.
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Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there

Continued from Buenos Aires Mountain Resort, another tourist destination in Negros Occidental

“Huh, is this it?” My sis and I wondered if we passed by a different route. The skies were gloomy and about to rain as we arrived at the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort. It was already high noon and our tummies were grumbling. Some friends toured us here many years ago and we remembered driving through some zigzag roads by the side of the mountain with breathtaking views of lush vegetation and hills below. How come we didn’t see them along the way?

After talking to the Buenos Aires resort staff at the Administration Office building, we later learned that the scenic views we remembered were actually on the road going further up to the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center. The resort staff told us that the road visibility might not be favorable due to fog, nevertheless we decided to continue our way up, and we were thankful we did. The photos below can’t really capture the scenic views as we drove by the winding road going up to the eco park.
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Buenos Aires Mountain Resort, another tourist destination in Negros Occidental

Another notable tourist destination in Negros Occidental is Buenos Aires Mountain Resort located in Brgy. Ilijan in Bago City. Going there from Bacolod City would usually take about 45 minutes but for our group it took more since we were disoriented about the route (it was our first time without any guide!) and we had to stop by and ask the locals for directions.

Sugarcane plantation along both sides of the road to Buenos Aires Mountain Resort

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort is maintained by the Bago City local government and supported by the Department of Tourism. The resort offers varied accommodation and facilities for day-trippers and visitors planning to stay overnight or for few days. Upon arrival at the resort, turn right and drive up to the Administration Office to settle your preferred accommodation (or reservation if you phoned ahead).

For day-trippers, the resort offers open cottages while those planning to stay longer can stay at the hillside hotel located further up. There are also some closed cottages along the slopes with pathways leading up to the hotel. Those who prefer not hiking up can stay in one of the family suites in a rowhouse beside the Administration Office building.

Open cottages beside the brook

Rowhouse of family suites

The hillside hotel

View of the resort from the hotel balcony

The steps going down to the lower level of the resort

Swimming pool

The hotel rooms, family suites and some closed cottages are air-conditioned with convenience outlets. The open cottages are also provided with convenience outlets. We arrived lunch time at the resort but decided to go on ahead to Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center where we stayed overnight. We came back to Buenos Aires the next day, had our lunch at one of the open cottages by the brook and soaked ourselves for a while by the pool before heading home.

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort facilities and rates (as of April 1, 2009):
Hotel rooms: Php1000.00
Family suite rooms: Php1800.00
Closed cottages: Php800.00 (w/o AC); Php1200.00 (w/ AC)
Swimming pool: Adult – Php30.00; Children – Php25.00
Open cottages: Php100.00

Contact information:
Location: Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Telephone numbers: +63 34 461-0540; +63 34 461-0164
Office hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort may not be such a well-developed resort, their accommodation and facilities lack proper maintenance, but as a whole it was another fun weekend getaway for us up in the mountains.

Up next: Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center

Mambukal Resort: Rates for entrance, accommodation and facilities

Continued from Mambukal Resort: Top tourist destination in Negros Occidental

These are the entrance fees and rates for accommodation and facilities at the Mambukal Resort which I got from their signboard as of December 29, 2008:

Picnic Huts
Small Php300.00
Big Php600.00

Picnic huts beside the boating lagoon

Wall Climbing Php25.00

Canopy Walk Php50.00

Slide for Life Php100.00/2 trips

Boating Php50.00

Ishiwata Camping Ground Php30.00/head
& Camp Nolan Php2000.00/day

Php3000.00/overnight

Accommodations
LGU Cottage Php900.00/2 single beds
Additional bed Php150.00

Tourist Lodge
Ordinary Php600.00
Deluxe Room Php750.00
Suite Php1000.00

Conference Hall Php2500.00/day rate
Php3500.00/night rate

Additional facilities
Table w/ 4 chairs Php100.00
Electric fan Php100.00
Extra foam Php100.00

Mambukal Resort is located in the municipality of Murcia and is about 45 minutes drive from Bacolod City.

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Mambukal Resort: Top tourist destination in Negros Occidental

Situated at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon, an active volcano, is Mambukal Resort, one of Negros Occidental’s top tourist destinations known for its hot sulfur springs, rushing waterfalls and streams amidst a refreshing backdrop of thick trees and sloping terrain.

This mountain resort offers varied accommodation for camping and overnight stay as well as outdoor recreation such as wall climbing or boating. The adventurous can trek up a series of seven waterfalls which could be a challenge to those who are not comfortable with heights and climbing up steep steps.

Resort guests can bring their own food, drinks and utensils or simply go there unprepared since the resort has dining facilities with food stalls serving seafood and native dishes. Even Enteng’s of Sagay have a stall there.

Just recently, we had guests from Iligan who wanted to visit this mountain resort, and so we took them there though we were quite unprepared. Good thing the food we ordered from one of the resorts’ food stalls were yummy. We had grilled stuffed squid, fish and pork for lunch in one of the small picnic huts by the stream. It would have been nice to have an overnight stay but we had to go home since we will be leaving for Punta Bulata white beach resort early the next day.

I will be posting the rates for gate entrance, accommodation and other amenities for Mambukal Resort on my next post.

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UPDATE: Mambukal Resort: Rates for entrance, accommodation and facilities