Living it easy at La Libertad Lake
There’s just something about summer that makes you want to go places! You would think that after spending a good part of the year on a cruise ship, I would like to stay put and enjoy firm land under my feet. But no, the wanderlust kicks in, and I find myself doing everything I can to explore new places!
Lanao del Norte is blessed with so many exciting places, and being its native, I want to know more about its lakes, falls, cold springs, and more. Of course, it’s also the perfect time to bond with the kids, cooling off while summer goes its merry way. To top everything off, I wanted to take the family on an adventure, a completely new experience.
I heard about the remote village of La Libertad, in the municipality of Kapatagan. Atop it was a man-made lake, up to 15 hectares wide, and managed by the local government. Dubbed the “Majestic Kapatagan La Libertad Lake Adventure”, the place is purported to offer not just a breath of fresh, cool air but also a good number of water rides in an Instagram-worthy environment. That sounds awesome to me. We immediately planned for a trip!
Getting to Kapatagan
The place is a bit remote, and it took around three hours via van before we can get to Kapatagan itself. Before that, we went to a Jollibee in our area for some take-out lunch. I heard there was neither fast food nor restaurant in the area, so we decided to play it safe.
The ride in itself was an experience, though — it was fun to watch the sparkle in the little ones’ eyes as they watched the scenery fly by. It wasn’t something they (or I, for that matter) get to see everyday. There were rice, coconut, and banana farms on the way, not to speak of various wildlife and livestock.
Upon reaching Kapatagan, we had to take another ride towards the lake itself. There are two choices for tourists: a traditional habal-habal or a regular tricycle. While the habal-habal has the advantage when it comes to treading the tough terrain (the lake is located atop a fairly steep climb), the tricycle might be more practical for those with little ones. It’s a good thing the locals are very kind and cordial, and they helped us get a ride to their town’s hidden jewel.
The wide expanse of green and blue, dotted only by white little strokes that were the trunks of coconut trees, greeted us as we reached the lake. It was indeed, a refreshing sight! The only signs of human civilization were the signboards and the water rides. We ate our lunch here. It was like an old-school family picnic. Of course, there were lots of pictures!
A Tranquil Adventure
From the get-go, one can see that La Libertad is made for relaxation rather than all-out adventures. Also, it’s not made to cater for huge throngs of crowds. That’s okay, since there aren’t too many visitors in this place (at least not yet). For those that are there, you can be assured of a huge amount of elbow room. It’s ideal for those who wish to get away from the pains of city life.
For the families, the swan boat is a really nice option. It can seat four people, and allows you a good little challenge of syncing up with the others on pedaling and deciding where to go. It’s
also great for those seeking for a shade on a bright, sunny day. Unless, of course, you wish to take advantage of the floating cottages instead.
A notch above the swan boats are the water bikes, which seats two and offers more of a fun time. You have to make sure you and your partner pedal at the same time and at the same speed if you want to get somewhere! It’s pretty exciting since the water bike is quite light, and sways at every turn. You’re being asked to wear lifejackets for a reason! While there are no real dangers here, the adrenaline factor is turned up a notch. Be careful when turning!
And of course, there are the kayaks which can seat up to two people. Fail the rowing, and you might as well be taking a bath in the clean waters of La Libertad. Which isn’t so bad after all (not that we experienced that, though).
If you have an afternoon to spend here, it would be awesome to try all of these rides! Of course, you can just lay a mat on the green grass and enjoy the cool breeze from the lake. Being that this is a highland lake in a fairly far-flung area, even the hottest afternoons here are much more tolerable than down in the city.
Some Tips for You
Aside from food (which, by the way, you can buy in Kapatagan town proper, too), it would be nice to bring in some other provisions such as enough water for the family and a couple of changes of clothes. If you have a dry water bag, it would be best to put your stuff in one just to be safe. It’s highly likely you will be bringing your stuff along with you for the rides, since there are no baggage counters around. You may opt to leave your items with the staff, though.
Since there’s likely a lot of picture taking here, it would also be best to invest in a waterproof pouch for your phones. You’ll never know when you might take a dip! These pouches are pretty inexpensive, and you can buy them either online or in shops that sell phone accessories.
The entrance fee for the La Libertad Lake Adventure is at only Php 5, and the rides are Php 75 per hour (except for the kayak, which is per charged per head). You should also prepare around Php 250 per head for the transport, which has enough allowance for a back-and-forth ride even in case of sudden fare hikes.
If you want to get somewhere far away without totally cutting yourself off from civilization, Magnificent La Libertad Lake Adventure is a pretty good choice! It’s a nice fusion of man and nature, and is the perfect venue for some much-deserved bonding time with the family.
