Summer Getaways in Nueva Ecija

 

 

Discover Three Summer Getaways in Nueva Ecija

Discover Nueva Ecija’s Best Summer Getaways

Are you looking for summer getaways close to Metro Manila to disappear to for a few days or a weekend away with friends and family? I have just the place for you. The Province of Nueva Ecija.

There are rivers, canyons, farms, resorts and museums just to mention some of the attractions to be found here.Nueva Ecija is just 4 hours away from Metro Manila, is easily accessible via the NLEX Expressway and has so much to offer to keep you and your family occupied for many days. There are no beaches in Nueva Ecija but the Province has a beauty all of its own.

Nueva Ecija Quick Facts

Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Palayan. Nueva Ecija borders, from the south clockwise, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora. The Province covers an area of 5.751 sq km and is made up of 27 Municipalities – Wikipedia

Summer Getaways in Nueva Ecija

To escape the summer heat we need water, and lots of it.

We can choose between a modern resort like Crystal Waves Resort with its swimming pools, wave pool, waterslides and other water based amusements, or we can get back to nature and find a safe river to swim and keep cool in, such as the Sumacbao River winding and cutting its way through limestone the cliffs of Minalungao National Park.

For those who don’t like water and would prefer a countryside adventure with lots of shade, Nueva Ecija has an Eco farm in the Municipality of General Tinio, PMP Paradise Farm.

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing these Summer Getaways in Nueva Ecija first hand as part of Lakbay Norte 6, a Media tour planned by the ( NVPB )North Philippines Visitors Bureau.

 (Cover Photo by Martin San Diego.Courtesy of NPVB)

What Travel Bloggers Say

Read what three of my Lakbay Norte 6 colleagues have to say about Nueva Ecija’s summer getaways

Levy Amosin
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Levy Amosin

HUGGING HORIZONS

To sum it all up, PMP Paradise Farm provided experiences that changed the way I looked at life. 

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Mark Maramag
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Mark Maramag

PLAN YOUR TRIP NOW

The rock formations surrounding the Peñaranda river is simply amazing. Who would expect that such a natural wonder exists in the quiet town of Nueva Ecija?

Arrianne Guzman
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Arrianne Guzman

TRAVEL HABEAT

The rock formations surrounding the Peñaranda river is simply amazing. Who would expect that such a natural wonder exists in the quiet town of Nueva Ecija?

Levy of Hugging Horizons enjoying the Scatter Cushion area of Crystal Waves Resort. Summer getaways
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Top 3 Things Levy liked during the PMP farm experience

1. Making my own “kakanin”. PMP Paradise farm allowed us to experience cooking our own “kakanin”. I can still recall how happy I was while cooking palitaw, the process was not easy but was indeed entertaining.
2. Herding was another remarkable event made possible by the PMP Paradise Farm. As someone who grew up in the metro with a fast paced environment, herding was a refreshing activity! This experience made me appreciate the peaceful and simple ambiance a farm can offer, far from the usual noise brought by the city.
3. Fishing! This activity was indeed challenging, but very much fullfiling. This part of the farm experience taught me how to be patient but be as strategic as possible to reach my goal (which was to catch a fish, of course!) To sum it all up, PMP Paradise Farm provided experiences that changed the way I looked at life. 

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Photo Courtesy of Hugging Horizons

Crystal Waves Hotel and Resort, Dinarayet, Talavera, Nueva Ecija

Swimming Pool, Giant Racing Water Slide, Zip Line, Wall Climbing, Lawn Games, Cushion Chillout Area

Summer Getaways in Nueva Ecija #1

Crystal Wave Hotel and Resort was founded by Rolando San Pedro. The Resort is family-owned and managed by Rolando San Pedro’s children. It has recently been redeveloped and offers the amenities such as a Wave Pool, an Olympic size swimming pool and childrens paddling pool, so there is plenty of water around which is ideal for summer getaways from the Metro.

The water racing slide is one the longest and highest  slides in the Philippines. You can also get out of your comfort zone and test your fear of heights by having a go on the zip line, do some wall climbing and rappelling. Away from the pool areas is a grassed area where you can play giant board games like snakes and ladders or just chill on.. one or some of the huge scatter cushions lying around.

Crystal Waves Hotel and Resort in Nueva Ecija should be on your list of must-visit this summer. There are so many fun things to do like swimming in their wave pool, conquer your fear of heights on the zipline, swoosh down their giant slide, and take selfies on their landscaped garden. 
Mark Conrad Maramag of Plan Your Trip Now

Giant Racing Slide, Crystal waves resort
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Crystal Resort Contact Details


Address: Maharlika Highway, Dinarayat, Talavera, Nueva Ecija
Mobile number  0906-081-6641
Email crystalwavesresort@gmail.com
Facebook Crystal Waves Hotel and Resort
Instagram  @Crystalwaves_official

playing snakes and ladders crystal waves resort
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Crystal Waves Hotel and Resort Pool
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Minalungao National Park, General Tino, Nueva Ecija

Swimming, Bamboo Rafting, Hiking, Trek up 1000 steps to the Cross

Summer Getaways in Nueva Ecija #2

Minalungao National Park in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, takes it’s name from two local words – “Mina” meaning Mine and “Langaw” meaning Cave.So the clue is in the name. Minalungao is a place where several channelling caves are found.

There are stories that the Japanese soldiers hid their looted treasures in one of the caves during the 2nd World War when the Americans returned to Liberate the Archipelago.Minalungao with the Sumacbao River cutting through the tall limestone cliffs has become one of the Summer Getaways for the population of Metro Manila.

Besides rafting the river, visitors can enjoy the 300 metre long zipline, walk across the 80 metre Hanging Bridge and follow the path up 1000 steps to the top of the hill where a tall Glass Cross stands and enjoy the view over the surrounding countryside and even over to Mt. Arayat in Pampanga.

 

The first I saw Minalungao Park in photos, I knew I would want to visit it one day. The rock formations surrounding the Peñaranda river is simply amazing. Who would expect that such a natural wonder exists in the quiet Province of Nueva Ecija? You can do a number of activities in the place but what I like most is the bamboo rafting. Standing in the midst of the river while seeing those rock formations was really refreshing for someone like me surrounded by tall buildings almost everyday.
Arrianne Guzman Travel Habeat

hiking the canyon minalungao national park
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How to get to Minalungao National Park

Take a Victory Liner bus heading to Gapan/Cabanatuan. Fare is P150-P200. Estimated travel time: 2-3 hours

Then from Gapan find  a jeepney going to General Tinio. From General Tinio ride a tricycle to Minalungao Park. P50/person ****** You could also hire a tricycle from Gapan to Minalungao Park, P500-P600/tricycle. The tricycle will wait for you and return you back to Gapan. Estimated travel time: 1-1.5 hours

By Car or Van Take NLEX Northbound and Exit at Sta. Rita. Proceed right and go along the Candaba – San Miguel Road until you reach Bucana, Gapan.
*** Upon reaching Gapan, ask the locals the best route to Minalungao National Park since there are several roads leading to the park. *** Estimated travel time: 4-5 hours

Further details can be obtained from Ms. Diana Rose Cunano Municipal Tourism Officer (044) 958-2874 Local 104

Minalungao National Park Rafts and picnic area
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 Watch a video of Rafting the Gorge

Hanging Bridge at Minalungao National Park Nueva Ecija. summer getaways
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Riding a raft through the canyon minalungao
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PMP Paradise Farm, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija

Tree Planting, Fishing on Floating Bahay Kubo, Palitaw & Nilupak making, Horse Riding, Sheep Herding, Fruit & Vegetable Picking

Summer Getaways in Nueva Ecija #3

PMP Paradise Farm is set in 250 hectares of farmland in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. The once barren hills has been transformed by its owner, Major Pagtalunan, into this man-made Paradise Farm with orchards, vegetable gardens and rice paddies. Farm animals roam the fields and migratory birds find a haven here to rest from their long travels.

The farm has several man-made and also natural lakes filled with Tilapia, Hito and Bulig fish. These lakes are used to irrigate the rice paddies and since there is an abundance of water, the farm is able to have three crops of rice a year.

Visitors to the farm can enjoy fishing using a traditional bamboo pole and cooking their catch on a BBQ, making traditional local delicacies such as Palitaw and Nilupak, horse riding and herding sheep.

Riding around pmp paradise farm. rizal monument
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Getting to PMP Paradise Farm

The farm is located at Barangay Nazareth, General Tinio. It is a 3 to 4 hour drive from Manila via SCTEX & NLEX.

By Bus  take Victory Liner buses bound for Cabanatuan and Gapan City.

Contact Details Mobile 09429714903

Further details can be obtained from Ms. Diana Rose Cunano Municipal Tourism Officer (044) 958-2874 Local 104

Watch an excerpt of a video recording of our Lakbay Norte 6 PMP Paradise Farm Tour 
Video recording from Buhay Pinoy TV.

Herding sheep at PMP Paradise Farm, Nueva Ecija
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fishing from a raft at PMP Paradise Farm
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making rice milk at pmp paradise farm
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carabao cart to ride visitors around pmp paradise farm
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Puno’s Ice Cream, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija

Pasalubong, Pasalubong, Pasalubong.

Puno’s Ice Cream – Now for the Treat On your way back to the Metro make sure to find time to call into Puno’s Ice Cream Plant in Cabatuan City to stock up on the best ice cream in Luzon. I loved their Buko Sherbert with Lychees. Super fantastic taste.
They package it up very well and will easily survive the 4 hour bus ride (unless you are tempted to eat it of course )
 
Founded in 1960, Puno’s Ice Cream and Sherbet is a well-known ice cream brand in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The company was founded by Atanacio and Simeona Puno. They decided to start the ice cream business to help send their nine children to school and fund their studies.Puno’s Ice Cream and Sherbert has perfected the taste and quality of their products for the past five decades now, making it the number one Ice Cream Manufacturing Plant in the City of Cabanatuan. Puno’s Ice Cream and Sherbet are now known as  “Purveyors of Quality made-to-order ice cream and sherbet” in Cabanatuan City.
 
Products
Ice cream and sherbet are available in one gallon, half gallon, litre, pint and cup sizes. Ice cream flavors: Cheese Casoy Macapuno,  Lanka Cheese Casoy,  Ube Macapuno,  Fruit Salad, Cookies and Cream,  Chocolate with Cashew Nuts,Sherbert Buko Sherbet with Lychee. 
Punos Ice Cream
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Punos Ice Cream Contact Details

Opening Times  08.00 to 18.00
Address  Maharlika Highway, Bites, 3100 Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

Contact Person: Gregorio S. Puno, General Manager Mobile numbers: (63 932) 881 4249 ; (63 922) 533 4987
Email  ice.cream.sherbert@gmail.com
Facebook
  Punos Ice Cream and Sherbert
Messenger @icecreamandsherbert

Puno Ice Cream Tasting
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Punos Ice Cream Cabatuan
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Summer Getaways Videos

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Best Summer Getaways
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Summer Getaways in Nueva Ecija
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Where to Stay in Nueva Ecija

Check  Latest Prices for Harvest Hotel and Microtel by WydenhamCabanatuan

Check Latest Prices for other hotels in the area HERE

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