7 Public Outdoor Resorts

7 Family Outdoor Resorts
near and within Bacolod City
(with swimming pools)
The last is a multi-awarded innovative mountain resort

DESTINATIONS

Are you searching for a place for family outing with a pool but near or within Bacolod City? 
Fret no more! Here are some public resorts that has swimming pools and activities that the family will do and enjoy. Here's your guide (with YouTube Video features)

1. Bacolod Splash Park 
Bacolod Splash Park is just within the city centre. It is the most accessible resort in the city as it is just in front of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Megaworld The Upper East and beside Sixty Fifth Hotel along circumferential road. Inside are modern giant slides, train ride, playground, animal statues, food stalls, a JT Manokan Restaurant, and a Safari lazy river. At night, the place glows with beautifully-placed  lamp posts and light effects that adorn its garden landscape.

WATCH: SPLASH PARK BACOLOD DURING THE DAY

WATCH: SPLASH PARK BACOLOD AT NIGHT

2. Bantug Lake Ranch 
A mountain resort, Bantug Lake Ranch is very accessible via the roads of Brgy. Granada, Bacolod City. Amenities include rooms for overnight stay, a large man-made lake where families can go boating or fish on it, two swimming pools, and a horse riding area. Cabanas for rent are spread all over beside its open air restaurant with a picturesque garden and playground. 

WATCH: BANTUG LAKE RANCH WITH DRONE SHOTS

3.Forest Park Resort

Located in Taculing, this resort boasts a large swimming pool with a giant mushroom scuplture in the middle and a bridge connecting the two corners of the cabanas. Forest Park is open from 9 am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays and 8pm to 7pm during Saturdays and Sundays. There's a mini zoo for the kids, a lazy pool river and a promenade.

4. Palmas del Mar (hotel seaside resort)
A seaside resort, Palmas del Mar has been serving Negrenses for decades already with its hotel and leisure amenities. Inside are three pools with different shapes and theme. One of the pools are adorned with cute cherubim angels. Next pool has a mini bridge. The main pool is the larget and features a slide and a kiddie pool beside it. Palmas del Mar's name is based on what you'll really find within its vicinity. Beside the sea are palm trees that add to the tropical vibe. On a good day, as the sun sets, one can see magical reflection hues on a man-made lake with an island connected via a wooden bridge..

VIDEO OF PALMAS DEL MAR  ON A GOOD DAY UNTIL SUNSET (BLUE HOUR) 

5. Bocal Bocal Spring Resort Alangilan
As the name of the resort suggests, you will find two swimming pools that utilize fresh spring water. Thanks to Mother Nature, the unlimited flow of water replenishes the area's adult and kiddie pools with freshwater daily. Also inside are wooden huts for rent and wide barbecue grilling areas. There's not much activity this place can offer but swimming under a lush forest and sounds of birds around make your family outing a memorable moment. This resort is near the Alangilan town center where the Catholic church is located.

VIDEO OF A FAMILY WEEKEND OUTING AT
BOCAL BOCAL SPRING RESORT ALANGILAN

6. Mambucal Sanctuary and Wildlife Sanctuary

In our list, Mambucal, situated in the mountain ranges of Murcia town, is the oldest resort for the public that has been revamped many times. There was once restaurant where you can eat by the river and also a slide for life activity but these two were discontinued. But, many things stayed as usual in this resort owned by the Negros Occidental Provincial Government. It's the only tourist spot in Negros Occidental that has hot springs pools (Japanese onsen) and a massage spa beside the vicinity. With Mount Kanlaon's hot steam, boiling muds and sulfuric water, this destination has become a popular place for people who love dipping.in a hot spring and believe it can cure some ailments.

VIDEO: HIKING AT MAMBUCAL NATURE
AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY'S WATERFALLS

The cold pool and the river with man-made lake are popular amenities for families who are not used to bathe in hot sulfur water. Inside Mambucal's vicinity is a hotel, open cottages, mini cabanas for families and a contemporary restaurant. Large flying foxes and other faunas are present within the lush forest of Brgy. Minuyan in Murcia.
Mambucal has 7 Falls for trekkers to hike and bathe. Along the hiking area are zigzagging paths with lush forest and rare insect species.

7.Campuestohan Highland Resort
For years, Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay has attracted so many visitors, bringing arrivals in Bacolod, which is the jump point to this mountain destination. Currently, the resort owners are building the Biggest/Largest Rooster Hotel and the longest water slide race which they are trying to verified for Guinness Book of Records.


Here are two videos about Campuestohan's Night Light Tunnels and a General Activity Guide:

WATCH: Virtual Night Tour of
Campuestohan's Light Tunnels
(Amazing Sci-fi/Science Fiction, Romantic
and Christmas Holiday Light Effects)

WATCH: Campuestohan Activity Guide 

With its owner Bacolodnon Ricardo "Cano" Tan, it has received many accolades and multiple awards from different Tourism sectors for being a creative and innovative place for families to gather and enjoy. The place has many activities and it caters not only to the kids and adults, but even to the elderly. Activities include horseback riding, outdoor play place, swimming in its many pools especially in the wave pool near its outdoor cafe, overnight staycation, karaoke, selfies with many dinosaurs and other pop culture statues, foam bath, free gym, relaxing at a spa, strolling around its amazing areas, hamster wheel, bike in sky, walking along its hanging bridge, Life-sized dinosaurs, whimsical statues, giant chess game. New added attractions/amenities are bright light effects tunnel at night, and as earlier written, a giant rooster hotel (biggest in Asia and will be adjudged for Guinness Book Records), longest slide race and free use of its outdoor gym.

TREK TO MAMBUKAL RESORT'S MAGNIFICENT 7 

(Did We Reach All Seven Waterfalls?)

   NATURE WITH HIKING TIPS and VIDEO BELOW   

THE FOREST PATH TO THE WATERFALLS

Negros Occidental is home to the mystic Mt. Kanlaon and other neighboring volcanoes. In these mountain ranges, thousands of waterfalls abound. And in Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, you can find seven power waterfalls feeding the resorts' man-made lake and swimming pool with its cool waters. 

Hiking to these 7 falls, however, takes time, patience and energy plus a lot of safety nets should be considered as there are occasional landslides and, of course, the terrain can get  muddy and slippery on rainy season. Flashfloods are also a given phemonenon as the North Negros Forest is catch basin and can bring high levels of water. That's why the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, the institution that owns and maintains Mambukal, closed down the hiking trail, for the meantime, for the safety of tourists. 

It is advised to do the trail during summer to avoid these muddy paths. Of course, water is much more clean and bluer. 

WATCH THIS VIDEO FEATURE

As you can see in the video above, we only reached the 3rd falls as we were saving our energy back to the main resort plus for another adventure to Don Salvador Benedicto in the afternoon. We ate a light breakfast at the resort before we trekked so it gave a extra jolt for our us to walk around the forest. The stairs to the 2nd falls was so steep and slippery, you need more energy to go up safely. The 3rd waterfalls was even more challenging to reach. The sheer power of the falls blow off the dew drops to the stairs, making it slippery.

BRIDGE OVER SERENE WATERS

Going back, we took some group and selfie photos. But, one can wonder how such picturesque place exist. There's a speechless wonderment while we were taking photos of the ecology that overpowers us. Our nature photographs and videos for MANG INTERESADO youtube channel can tell it vividly and these images included some stick insects that are seemingly saying hello to us. These little creatures are indeed amazing to look at as it blends well with the flora of the place. On top of it all, you will be awe-struck with Mother Nature's bounty: stunning scenery, clear waters, the living flora and refreshing environment.

Indeed, hiking to these natural wonders is worth it.

HIKING TIPS
If you have the energy, determination and passion to hike to these 7 falls, we have some tips for you to keep in mind: 

1. You need to ask for a personal guide (comes with a fee) 
2. You have to list your full names on a manifest at the gate
3. If you hike in groups, you need to check each other 
4. Wear non-slippery shoes (hiking shoes are ideal). Don't wear slippers 
5. Watch out for falling rocks 
6. Be aware of the cliffs and zigzaging pathway (you might fall down if you don't check the mountainside pathway 
7. Wear comfortable shorts 
8. Bring canteen of container of water 
9. Careful in moving up the steep cemented stairs to the other falls 
10. Don't throw garbage in the forest. Take pictures only 
11. Appreciate nature but don't disturb their habitats 
12. Just in case, put some sunscreen and anti-mosquito lotion  
13. During rainy season, be careful as the water stream is stronger and deadly 
14. When hiking avoid making pranks and jokes 
15. Watch out for venomous snakes 
16. Don't eat too much before hiking 
17. Bring first aid kit 
18. Bring some reflective materials for easy detection (you can this when get stranded or lost in the forest.
19. Don't cook, don't smoke or bring materials that can cause fire in the forest
20. Always Remember: Safety First! (Hold on to Railings, Don't Run, Don't Jump esp on wet stones,  Walk slowly in slippery cliffs and don't swim during a rainy day (Flashflood might be happen) 

LONG EXPOSURE SHOT MAKES WATERFALL PHOTOS MAGICAL