The best thing about DIY trips is not that it is less expensive. In my own point of view, what’s great about traveling at your own risk is that you get the hold of your own time. And by that I mean you can have spontaneous trips as long as all of you agreed to do it. For me, unexpected trips are really the most unforgettable ones. And that's what happened. Our spontaneous, adventurous selves lead us to this paradise which is far from the scary waves of Baler's Sabang Beach.
Our visit to Dicasalarin Cove came as an impulsive decision from one of us who is really fascinated with Lighthouses. We were building sand mermaids beside Sabang Beach when she mentioned that our tour guide told her there’s a Lighthouse that can be visited in Baler. We’re really having second thoughts due to the fact that our expenses would grow out of proportions if we’ll continue with the trip. What happened next? We went to the nearest bank to withdraw money and the rest was history.
About the Island
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| Paradise within reach <3 |
Dicasalarin Cove was a few miles off from Sabang Beach - Baler’s main surfing spot. It is a private beach owned by the Angaras which explains why entrance is quite expensive. The way to the cove is not easy. The way up was steep and the road is narrow. When you get to the entrance of the cove, you’ll have a majestic view of the whole cove. You’ll also see the lighthouse though it doesn’t quite look like it. Even the beach can be seen beautifully from the entrance to the cove.
Expenses
We rented three habal-habal's who took us to to Dicasalarin Cove. One of our drivers is our tour guide so he's the one who contacted the other two. You can also ask the hotel where you will check in to arrange a tour for you. For the habal-habal, we paid 300 pesos each for the roundtrip transfer. That's last 2016 so I guess prices already increased as of this type.
The expenses did not stop there. Admission in Dicasalarin Cove is not free. We paid 300 pesos each for a half day stay at the cove(600 pesos for the whole day stay). It's expensive to be honest but there are a lot of things to do inside the cove.
What To Do
Visit the Artist's Village
A fascinating open house standing tall within the Dicasalarin forest was what welcomed us inside the Artist’s village. The house has no windows. It looks like a grand tree house architecturally designed to give the artistic and cool vibe.
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| Missing these girls :( |
Inside the house are paintings from different artists. There are also sculptures. The house is a perfect place for bummers who love nature. It is surrounded with trees and a shallow river.
Baler has a very cold weather that time and this open house inside the forest is just the perfect place to chill. Too bad we're already leaving Baler by 2 pm.
Explore the Dicasalarin Cave
After unleashing our interests with creative crafts. We then went for some adventure - exploring the Dicasalarin cave. The Dicasalarin Cave is located below the cliff where the Baler light house was located.
During low tide, the water is low enough that you can cross the cave. When we came there, it was turning high tide that the waves became harsh they almost tumbled every one of us. So before the waves eat us, we just took a few photos then headed for the main event - Baler Lighthouse.
See the Baler Lighthouse and the whole view of the Cove
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| More than a hundred steps up to Baler LightHouse! |
The Baler Lighthouse is more than a hundred steps up from the beach. It is the most unique light house I’ve ever seen though it is not functional anymore. It just serves as an attraction now. You can also climb up like King Kong if you dare.
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| Go KingKong! |
The light house was splendid, but what made my heart skip a beat was the incredible view of the whole cove from the top. The rock formations where the waves crash are wonderfully formed. And the whole cove seem to be glistening with green and blue shades which is very refreshing to the naked eye. With that awesome view, I can never let the opportunity pass and took some instagram worthy photos.
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| Those amazing rock formations are breathless <3 |
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| Baler will always have a spot in my heart <3 |
Enjoy A Calmer Beach
A few jump shots and poses thereafter, we headed to the beach! The sand is not pure white but the texture is very fine. There are also a lot of hermit crabs - creatures my sister is very fond of. What I really enjoyed at the beach is also the very reason why tourists come to Baler, the waves. Unlike in Sabang Beach where waves are warriors prepared to take down any obstacle, the waves in Dicasalarin are calmer and more friendly though they are still big waves. We really enjoyed clashing with the waves and bumming at the beach. Afterwards, we all headed to the clean, shallow river to remove sand of our swim wears.
You can also trek to waterfalls hidden inside the cove but that time, our guide said that the falls is dry plus we don't have enough time to finish the trek without us being left by the bus.
Our trip to Dicasalarin was indeed a great one! Water supply was scarce when we went there which is a point for improvement but other than that, everything was perfect in that place. We could have stayed longer if it wasn’t for the reason that we already a scheduled for a trip home in the afternoon. While the place is very expensive for budget travelers, it is undeniable that what you will experience is worth the additional expenses. If you're not enjoying the harsh waves of Sabang Beach, then Dicasalarin Cove's beach is you next option. *winks*
Previously Featured Beach: Capones Island
