Jasson Compuesto

A Spring of Life by Jasson Compuesto Carmen’s Gem When you talk about Cebu’s natural beauty, this province offers a lot of beautiful spots that local and foreign tourists can enjoy to the fullest. From the northern to the southern tip of Cebu Island, one can explore many natural spots that can offer full relaxation and recreation to nature lovers. This is just one of the reasons why Cebu is among the best tourist destinations for the past years and continues to be especially for our Japanese friends. To experience the many interesting scenic pleasures of Cebu, you should visit all the towns of this province. I have to say that each town offers not only historical landmarks to discover but also attractive natural spots to enjoy. One perfect example is the town of Carmen. Just 42 kilometers away from Cebu City, this municipality has so many interesting places to offer such as caves, mountains, rivers, and waterfalls. One of the tourist attractions in Carmen that has gained attention is the Durano Eco Farm and Spring Resort. This I recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a peaceful and cool relaxation for a day. My best friend, Sam, recommended this place to me. I must say that I was quite hesitant to visit this resort because I’m not familiar with the northern towns of Cebu. But my adventurous nature always just makes me curious as to how unique this place could be. So, I got up on my feet and made my way to this rumored paradise. Verdict: The place is simply breathtaking! This pool resort is an amazing place to be in. You somehow forget your life in the city for the moment and enjoy dipping yourself in the cool waters of the pool and enjoy the company of Mother Nature. The best thing about this resort is that it offers tourists of any age five different pools---from kiddie to deep swimming pools. Not only that, the water that flows through these five pools is free from any chlorine treatment because it comes from a cold spring. Taking a dip into any of the pools is purely refreshing and you don’t need to worry about getting sunburned since the surrounding trees offer you shade from the sun while relaxing by the poolside or simply dipping your legs into the ice-cold waters. Ranging from 4 to 10 feet deep, this pool offers swimmers depth for enjoyment. Big rocks are placed on the floor of the pool to add a natural touch to the man-made pool. Local tourists leisurely spend their time in one of the deep swimming pools. Follow My Lead To reach this hidden paradise, you can take a 2-hour ride to Carmen by bus, minibus, or van at the North Bus Terminal. The ticket fare for any of these forms of transportation just costs 70 pesos. Terminal assistants are available to help you with any of your needs. Since this would be your first time going to Carmen, you can simply instruct the bus or van conductor to drop you off at Carmen Public Market which would be your departure point in going to the spring resort. The public market is located at the center of the town. I can guarantee you that the 2-hour ride would be an exciting one. You will enjoy watching the beaches and different landmarks along the way especially since the route follows the highway near the coastline. Once you arrive at the Carmen Public Market, you will notice motorbikes lined up in front. For us, Cebuanos, we call this the habal-habal, another joyride that you will take in going up to the pool resort. The fare is 30 pesos only and it will only take you 15 minutes to reach the spring resort. This would be another interesting ride that you will take before reaching your destination as you will experience a refreshing look at green landscapes composed of mountains, farms, and plantations. You surely would appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature in this experience. You can inform the habal-habal driver to fetch you at a certain time so that you won’t worry anymore about going back to the town center. Since the resort does not have restaurant or snack bar facilities and there are no nearby stores to buy food from, you can bring your choice of foods and drinks to the place without corkage fees to be charged on you. Upon entering the pool resort, you pay the entrance fee of just 60 pesos per head. You can also rent a cottage of your choice, ranging from 300 to 1,500 pesos for its rental fee depending on the size. For those who want to avoid crowds when visiting the resort, I would suggest going to this beautiful scenic spot during the weekdays since this place attracts a lot of local and foreign tourists during weekends. In that way, you can enjoy spending your time with your family, friends or a special someone without any distractions. The resort offers cottages for rent like this for tourists ranging from 300 to 1500 pesos for daytime or overnight stay. The man-made pool and the natural backdrop just simply create a fascinating experience for anybody who wants to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Local tourists enjoy the cool waters of the pools of the resort. Below the last pool, one can look over a river that flows in a very idyllic manner. Exploring this area is a must. The last of the five pools receive the flowing water cascading from another pool. Navi de Cebu Online Magazine link: https://issuu.com/navimanila/docs/navi_de_cebu_5_for_webb