Summer's here, a season where a lot of companies and organizations plan getaways for its employees or members. If you're looking for a venue to hold your team building, conference or seminar near Manila that's close to nature, consider Haranah Eco Park.
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| A wide open space for your activities |
Located in Tanay, Rizal, this 16.2 hectare family-owned eco park offers its visitors a expansive venue to unwind while enjoying generous views of the Sierra Madre mountain range.
With its proximity to the mountains, the weather is cool year-round and gets even colder at night, a nice contrast from the heat in the lowlands.
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| Scenic mountain views from the Bahay Kubo |
Getting here takes around 1.5 hours from Quezon City and 2 hours from Manila with moderate traffic. It passes MARILAQUE (short for Marikina, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon) highway, a well-paved road offering scenic mountain views and rocky peaks, a reason why it's frequented by bikers.
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| Established friendly hiking trails |
Haranah Eco Park offers the perfect venue for its visitors to interact with each other without the modern day distractions. In place of television and radio are nature's sounds. Cellular network connectivity is limited to Smart and Sun users. It's a good place to disconnect and do some reflection.
In line with its mission to promote environmental awareness, some of the flowers and trees along the hiking trail have tags containing its common & scientific name, description and region of origin. Being a plant lover, it was nice to just walk around and look at plants and know its name. (Related post : Tree trekking with Haribon)
Other activities you can do here include hiking, mini obstacle course, bonfire in designated spots, rock balancing, a form of art where rocks are stacked without the use of adhesives or other materials. You can also bathe in a small natural pool which can be hiked down a very steep hill.
For more information on Rock Balancing, visit their Facebook page here.
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| Trying out rock balancing with my fellow bloggers Joshua Berida and Julia who's on assignment for Langyaw.com |
Tent accommodation with foam mattresses are offered. You can also bring your own tents but pitching is allowed in designated areas to preserve the beauty of the place. The camping grounds is on a well-tended grassy area close to trees and surrounded with flowering plants. The restrooms and shower area is also a couple of feet away so no need to worry about going to the toilet in the middle of the night.
They also have a kitchen you can use but availing of their food service is also a good idea because they serve good food! The multi-purpose hall which also serves as the dining area is an excellent spot to watch the sunset or just stare at the Sierra Madre mountain range. There's also another area in the property where you can witness a beautiful sunrise.
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| Breakfast with a view at Haranah Eco Park's multi-purpose hall and dining area |
Facilities :
Solar-powered multi-purpose hall (seating capacity : 200)
Bahay kubo
View deck and lounge (seating capacity : 15)
Conference Hall (seating capacity : 40)
Amphitheater which can be a venue for outdoor lectures
Designated bonfire areas
Geodesic domes for planting herbs and spices
Hiking trail with stone steps
Kitchen
Admin building & Clinic
Shower hall and restrooms
Basketball court
Currently, Haranah Eco Park is by reservation only and for big groups, a minimum of 40. In April however, they will be accepting solo or small groups. You just need to book in advance. Details provided below.
April 13,14,15,16, 2017
Fee : P1,000
Inclusions : a day tour with set lunch
For reservations, contact +63(02)376-6645 or +63 (02)411-6567 or send them an email at postmaster@haranahecopark.com.ph.
Camping with a small group
Haranah Eco Park now accepts smaller groups with a minimum of 10 persons.
The rate is 3,200 Pesos inclusive of tent accommodation, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner and bonfire on the first day, then breakfast and morning snack the next day. To book, get in touch with them directly. Contact details are listed below.
Calinawan Cave which can be combined with a side trip to Daranak Falls (blog to follow)
Regina RICA, a pilgrimage site and a place for contemplation (blog to follow)
Hiking destinations in Tanay by Pinoy Mountaineer
Tanay Travel Guide by Travel Up
Haranah Eco Park
Sitio Mayagay 2, Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal
Contact Number : +632-376-6645
Email : postmaster@haranahecopark.com.ph
Facebook Page : http://facebook.com/haranahecopark
Note : This trip was in collaboration with the Tourism Promotions Board and Haranah Eco Park, the marketing arm of DOT (Department of Tourism, Philippines).