Minalunga National Park is located in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija. I am from Nueva Ecija and I can't believe our province has this magical place. It is truly a hidden gem that's slowly dragging tourists in Nueva Ecija. I've read a lot of travel blogs telling visitors that the nearest drop off point from Manila is in Gapan. The road from Gapan going to Minalungao is a rough road and you'll go through savannahs. It's quite scary and I don't recommend it for private vehicles. If you're using a private vehicle, I recommend going through SAN LEONARDO -> PAPAYA -> General Tinio. That's what we did. You'll go through high way so the road is better, it's safer and you'll get there faster. From San Leonardo it is just a one hour smooth ride. We asked the locals of San Leonardo and Papaya for directions since sign boards going to Minalungao is limited.
We arrived a bit late so our time was limited. We rented a bamboo raft with a tour guide. There were also kids that were willing to guard visitor's car. You could also assign these kids as your tour guide.
Minalungao National Park is a very photogenic place. I admire its natural beauty. It just saddens me that there are already establishments getting built in this hidden gem. It's not that hidden anymore, I guess. There are a lot of activities to choose from. Your family or barkada can go swimming, have lunch in one of the cottages or in the bamboo raft while appreciating the huge and beautiful limestones of Minalungao, cave tour/spelunking, trek the Minalungao Cross on top of a hill where you'll have to climb 1000 steps before you see it or you could ride a zipline for a thrilling adventure. Some say there are spots for cliff diving but you'll have to ask the locals.
Locals in Minalungao are very friendly. Tipping is not mandatory but it's a way to help locals in their daily lives. Snacks are available near the cottages and there are also comfort rooms available for the public to use. I hope you could visit Minalungao National Park. A day tour is enough to appreciate this wonderful and magical place.
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