Last week, March 31, a group of 24 guests from 8 nations came to Coco Beach Island Resort for some fun and adventure. The group consisted of various nationals from the Philippines, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Great Britain, Australia, Sweden and the USA and for one whole day they had a great adventure with our Activity Guides.

The group consisted of Caleb & Rachel Kurianski and son Daniel (USA), Henning & Anette and children Jacob & Rasmus Karlsen (Denmark), Verejano family Erick, Robert, Ernesto, Ruth and Jennielyn (Fil/Canadian) Paguio family Daniel Jr, Adeline, Ermelita, Josielyn, Daniel and Michael (Fil/Canadian), Leah and her son Josh Gander (Australia), Alex Milazzo (Italy) and his girlfriend Claire Worral (British) and Gruar Jansson and zMarriane Rietlez from Sweden.

One of the Filipino-Canadian Families at Tamaraw Falls

Among the many activities that they had, the trip to Tukuran Lagoon was the most fun and exciting. Their adventure started at 9:30 am when they took a 15-minute boat ride to Muelle in Puerto Galera town. From the pier, they boarded a local jeepney that brought them to the famous Tamaraw Falls, about 45 minutes away from the town center. The jeepney is a uniquely Filipino mode of transportation with roots traced to the military jeeps used by American soldiers who occupied the Philippines over 70 years ago. Tamaraw Falls is just beside the national highway and stands gracefully at 80 meters high with crystal clear water cascading down to a series of pools at the foot of the mountain where it eventually finds its way out into the open sea. Along the way, this international group were treated to the majestic views of Puerto Galera’s coastline with its towering mountains, forested islands and wide blue sea.

Carabao Cart ride to Tukuran

From Tamaraw Falls, the group proceeded to the town of San Teodoro where they exchanged the jeepney ride for something totally rustic and another more indigenously Filipino means of transportation, a wooden cart ride pulled by the country’s national animal, the carabao. Riding the wooden cart is a totally different experience that takes about 30 minutes as the carabao, pulling the wooden cart slowly wends its way to the Lagoon through rough trails and six rivers. Bumpy and rickety yet strong and sturdy, the carabao cart ride is guaranteed to give you a totally different meaning to “free massage”.

At Tukuran Lagoon, the big group had a blast as they enjoyed swimming in the fresh clear waters of the lagoon or just trekking around the huge riverine stones. While swimming, our Activity Guides prepared a healthy barbeque lunch beside the lagoon which consisted of grilled tuna, pork chops, marinated chicken, green salad, fresh fruits and many more.

After lunch as the sun arced over the sky, they went back to Puerto Galera Town and did some shopping and tour around the town center before heading back to Coco Beach.