Lake Danao - Leyte
Lake Danao is a fresh, pure, mountain stream fed lake that is a water source for some of the cities in Leyte.
The road to it gets a bit rough after a heavy rain but it’s worth the drive from Ormoc. Take a right when you get to the fork in the road up to Nueva Vista (where the geo-thermal electrical generator plants are - you can see the steam rising up from the mountains).
There is a security team there to protect the valuable water source. You never know what to expect in the Philippines but I believe it to be at low risk from saboteurs.
The 5 power plants in the nearby mountains have an army base right on the grounds because these generators supply a huge area with electricity.
These guys have a good time and usually have the lake to themselves.
Delicious. They gathered this asparagus type green for lunch.
My travel companions. We went up there with 4 of us on a motorbike with an extended seat. The road wasn’t too bad but after heavy rain the steep areas might be rutted.
There was one stretch of mud but we are used to that from living in Samar.
Horses and Cows in the Philippines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqXsBElHyUE
Beth does have a sweet smile that gives life to the pictures.
I am not exactly sure where our relationship is going to go, but we do seem to enjoy seeing the country together.
Boats can be rented for a hundred pesos or less. The tourist mafia tries to extract money from you any way they can. The sign says 5 peso entry but they try to nick you for 50.
You can also park right alongside the road and go for a swim from there for free.
Rollie.
I think that winding road eventually ends up near Tacloban. It deteriorates dramatically after the town of Gaas and with the typhoon blowing in I had to give it a pass on this trip.
I will try it again later during drier weather.
Hello again DP,
Read this page with interest, we will go there from ormoc next month, look pretty nice.
The tourist mafia you write about, do they make any problem if you pay just P5. I hate to give into illegal payments how ever if funds are used for the upkeep of the surroundings, well thats quite OK.
Guess there is no where to stay at lake so we will go early from Ormoc and return late pm.
Is it possible to walk around the lake in a day?
Thanks again for excellent info
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
No worries mate, just hand them 5 pesos. If they complain tell them to get stuffed!
I suggest parking alongside the road right where it meets the lake. The road in there is really beautiful…I haven’t followed it to the end yet but suspect that it might go all the way to Tacloban.
I do not think that they will let you walk around the lake. It is considered a security risk because the lake supplies the drinking water for this whole area of Leyte including Ormoc. Please let me know if you make it around on foot. Consider renting a canoe from the boys instead.
I appreciate your interest and support! Thanks.
dp
Hi again DP thanks for the info.
With the use of google earth it would seems there is a road from pastrana to Tacloban. Not able to find any sort of a road from the lake through to Pastrana though. Just wondering if you have heard any more on he possibility of getting to Tacloban from here.
We plan to there in about a month and would be keen on traveling from the lake through to tacloban, road permitting.
Thought we may enquire at the geothermal plant for info.if anybody knows these guy should.
regards
Hi Bruce,
I live less than 20 k from Lake Danao now and will try to run up there some time next week and check it out for you!
Cheers and thanks for the update - if it does go through I don’t think that it will be more than a one lane trail.
dp
Cheers Dp would appreciate it very much. We will be there in a month or so and would sure make it easy if there was a way through.
I recall your curent GF comes from this area so maybe some of her family can enlighten us here.
Hope we can catch up or a beer or two, we certainly owe you a few for all the in put you and your site have given us.
best regards
Bruce
bruce,
will get back to you on this one…
dp
Halo.
I was on Lake Danao also and on lake Mahagnao on the othere side of the meountains, it is near Burayen. Want to ask if there still exist a mountrain trail between these 2 lakes. I have read something in internet but it seem nobody knows. So share some experience please.
Hello b,
I am told that there is a trail over the mountains,
but I have not yet gone all the way over the top.
Locals tend to caution back country adventure because of the NPA presence or whatever, but I have not yet had any problems. In fact the locals seem very welcoming and friendly.
cheers
dp
there is a mountain trail from lake danao to Mahagnao but like what DP said these mountains are home to a couple of rebels so it is not advisable for foreigners to go trekking in the mountainside without the locals.