Daranak Falls are located on government-owned land in the Tanay municipality, a couple of hours’ drive east of Manila.

The main waterfalls are about 14 metres high and there are a number of smaller cascades nearby. Batlag Falls are privately owned and is located slightly upstream from Daranak.

If you’re looking for a quiet nature escape away from the crowds of Manila, stay away from Daranak Falls, especially on Good Friday!

Good Friday is one of most important holidays of the year and the crowds swell on this day, so you have been warned.

An additional entrance charge is payable to access Batlag, which makes it somewhat less busy.

The unusual straw huts make the whole place look like a film set from a Robin Hood movie.

This looks like Fred Flintstone’s roller coaster.

Away from the busy pools it was possible to find some peaceful spots and even a private mini-waterfall or two.

The only way to reach some of the upper cascades and pools is by scrambling over jumbled and slippery rocks. You’ll be safe from flash floods though if it’s the dry season.

This place is not the unspoilt paradise it might once have been and there was a lot of litter around. But overall it was worth the visit and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.

This article first appeared on thriftytraveller.wordpress.com