It was noon once we arrived in Dapya River. The highway going to this common riverside vacation spot in Cabangan, Zambales is not precisely made for Sunday driving, actually, the paved highway actually disappeared about midway to our vacation spot.
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| EN ROUTE TO DAPYA RIVER IN CABANGAN |
This was a type of journeys the place we truly deliberate upfront. Properly, okay, the unique plan was to go to Agbobotilya, additionally a river vacation spot in Cabangan. It is form of like a Minalungao Nationwide Park in Nueva Ecija—with rock formations and emerald inexperienced waters—however on a smaller scale.
►SEE: NUEVA ECIJA TRAVEL GUIDE
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| A LOCAL KID RUNNING ALONG THE DIRT ROAD OF BARANGAY CADMANG |
The issue was, getting there requires an hour plus of climbing. The path, our nephew mentioned, is comparatively flat and pretty straightforward even for non-hikers like us. However add a two year-old child with endurance as skinny as a McDonald’s burger patty to the combination, and it could go bushy actually quick.
WIth Agbobotilya out of the story, he advisable a spot that is extra accessible however no much less engaging—Dapya River.
►SEE: CABANGAN TRAVEL GUIDE
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| DAPYA RIVER, A PICTURE IN CALMNESS |
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| KIDS PLAYING ALONG THE RIVER |
Positioned in Sitio Maporac in Barangay New San Juan, Dapya River truly shares the identical waters as Agbobotilya. In reality, the identify is a misnomer since they’re each elements of the Binaong River. Agbobotilya is an hour’s stroll away, whereas Dapya is zero stroll away—you possibly can truly deliver your automobile and its proper there as you open your doorways. You will know you are there when you attain the top of the navigable grime highway that results in the realm.
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| A STONY BANK ON ONE SIDE, A MOUNTAIN ON THE OTHER |
Dapya is a neighborhood time period for a brook or creek in Cabangan. And certainly, it is not that extensive for it to be referred to as a river. From its gravelly financial institution, it stretches to about twelve meters to its mountainous aspect. Stony financial institution on one aspect, an nearly 5 hundred-meter mountain carpeted by dry grass and dotted by hardy bushes on the opposite aspect.
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| HARDY TREES GROWING ALONG THE MOUNTAIN BESIDE THE RIVER |
The river, or err… brook itself, has an nearly non-existent present—a complete reverse to the raging waves of Cabangan Seashore—with a backside full of clean stones concerning the dimension of an egg to a small couch. The water is extraordinarily clear with a just-right temperature—refreshing with out being too chilly.
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| CLIFF JUMPING AT DAPYA RIVER |
Water depth vary from ankle deep to about 5 ft—good for any swimming ability degree and for youths. Nonetheless, I advisable grownup supervision—you possibly can by no means be too positive about these sorts of tough locations. On the mountain-side, there’s additionally an space the place you possibly can climb and do some mini cliff-jumping exercise ala-Siquijor to the deeper elements of Dapya River.
►CHECK OUT: SIQUIJOR TRAVEL GUIDE
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| A ROW OF RENTABLE HUTS AT DAPYA RIVER |
There are completely no resorts right here, however for day trippers and overnighters, there are rentable huts a couple of meters from the water. We availed of 1, and it was right here the place we arrange our lunch, afternoon snacks, and drink of selection for that day—gin gimlet or uhmmm, quatro kantos plus lime in native vernacular, lol. These huts don’t have any electrical energy however considered one of us introduced a transportable generator-level powerbank for our videoke wants.
To assuage those that detest these singing machines, we’re the one friends once we went. I guarantee you, no people have been harmed throughout our afternoon singing.
►CHECK FOR AFFORDABLE RESORTS IN CABANGAN
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| THIS PLACE IS PERFECT FOR FAMILY PICNICS |
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| NO SHADE, NO PROBLEM. THE WATERS OF DAPYA RIVER IS VERY REFRESHING |
And with that, I like to recommend going right here on weekdays to have the entire Dapya River to your self. One of many caretakers advised us that it does get fairly crowded throughout the weekends.
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| EXTREMELY CLEAR WATERS OF DAPYA RIVER |
All in all, we did have a really gratifying keep at Dapya River—good, clear, old-school provincial enjoyable, if I could say so myself. Clear waters, lovely view, good meals, glorious firm, continuous singing, simply the correct amount of buzz, and extra importantly, no climbing.
Dapya River
Tackle: Sitio Maporac, New San Juan, Cabangan, Zambales
Opening Hours: 6:00AM to six:00PM, Every day
Entrance Payment: ₱20.00
Hut Payment: ₱300.00 to ₱500.00
GPS Coordinates Map: 15.148603, 120.076819
