Mambukal 7 Falls Murcia, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental November 2013

Mambukal Falls is one the spectacular falls I have ever been to in Western Visayas. It is located in Murcia, Negros Occidental, an hour non-airconditioned bus ride from Public Market of Bacolod City. It has seven falls, which you can see when you trek it starting from Mambukal Resort. Some would go directly to the 7th Falls via 'single' motorcycle or private car, then trek down to Mambukal Resort. My experience was different, I trekked it from the resort going to the 7th falls then took a short cut back to the resort by foot. It was amazing! Mambukal is located at the base of  Mt. Kanlaon. It also has hot springs. 

Mambukal Resort Murcia Negros Occidental

So here are the details I wrote down when I went to the site:

I woke up six in the morning and prepared my backpack going to the falls. I ate my breakfast in the inn (Saltimboca Tourist Inn) which is just at the back of Calea Restaurant. After eating and resting, I rode a jeep with signboard Mandalagan-Libertad but you have to ask the driver if it will pass through the public market and advise the driver to drop you to the bus station going to Mambukal, Murcia. Jeepney fare is just P8. Do not expect much about the bus when you get to the public market. It is non-airconditioned, but this is the best way to get to the falls if you are in a budget, plus you get to smell the sweet scent of sugar cane along the way. It's very refreshing! Bus signboard is Nasugbo and fare is just P60 per person one way. We left public market at 7:41am and arrived at Mambukal resort at 8:40am. If you want a private car to bring you to the resort, then you have to ask your hotel to book for a private car. Cost of it ranges from P1500-P2000. 

Falls Number 1

The bus will directly bring you to the resort.After I registered at the tourism office inside the resort, they introduced me to a tour guide. Tour guide is a must in this travel. According to my tour guide, Rene Boy, it is an hour trek going to the 7th falls(without picture taking). We started hiking at 8:50 AM. It has cemented pathway but a little bit slippery when it rains. You can also see hanging bridges and big dream catchers along the way! I suggest you wear trekking shoes or a durable hiking sandals. I can hear the strong gushing of water on the first falls and a sweet scent of nature while going up there.The picture at the left is Falls number 1, if you feel that this is the falls you wanna try, then try dipping on it. There are still other falls up there! This is a 15feet tall waterfalls. The local government put a cemented trekking pathway and some decks for viewing and safety purposes in some of the falls like in falls number 2 and 3. This would make the trekking and viewing experience easier and safer.

Falls Number 2

Falls Number 3

Falls number 4 was covered by fallen trees due to typhoon Yolanda, that is why it is not included in this blog. Falls number 5 and 6 are interconnected and below are pictures of it. We stopped over Falls 5 and 6 at 10:16 am due to camera failure. I suggest you bring power bank for your phones and extra camera batteries. Always check your camera if it is functioning well.

Falls Number 5

Falls Number 6

We left falls 5&6 at 10:20am  Along the way we stopped by a local's hut to drink buko juice. I forgot the name of the plant on my left as seen in picture below, but according to the locals, they are like pandan leaves that give sweet scent in your rice. 

We reached the 7th falls at10:45am. The view is stupendous! It has big rocks all over the place. The place is well maintained unlike some of the local falls I've ever been to. Here are some of the pictures I took in the 7th falls of Mambukal.

The waterfalls is more than 30 feet. The water is cold you can even put your soft drinks there for just ten minutes and you can drink it like you just got it from your fridge! After staying at the last falls for more than an hour we went down at 12:02 pm using a short cut. We reached the resort at 12:50pm by foot. Of course, you have to give something to your tour guide! There is no exact amount that you have to give to your tour guide. Give whatever your heart desires. 

After dipping in the cold waterfalls I decided to try their hot spring. The cheapest cost for the hotspring is P50 and the one I tried was the Japanese Ofuro, which is P100. You can smell sulfur in the pool! It's great for the skin! It also relieves stress.

After the half day waterfalls-hotspring experience in Mambukal, I rode a Nasugbo Bus just outside the resort going back to Bacolod City. We left at 1:52 pm in mambukal and arrived in bacolod City at 3:20pm. Outside the resort they sell mangoes and semi-ripe papayas. It was my first time to try eating a semi-ripe papaya with soy sauce and vinegar. Try it, too! 

I hope this blog helped you to your travel plan to Mambukal falls.