Thursday, August 25, 2011

KIDZ POOL Mountain Resort, Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales

Kidz Pool Mountain Resort along Coto Mines in Masinloc, Zambales



I've heard about coto mines from a friend's friend on one booz session I had. The source is a Palauig local and when I've told him about Magalawa island, he claimed Coto Mines is a much better adventure.


The resort is actually KIDZ POOL MOUNTAIN RESORT though most of the articles on the net refer to it as COTO MINES (and people in the national highway would know COTO Mines and not kidz pool.)

The morning after, apart from I was still quite dizzy and weak as I drank so much the night before, I couldn't do any better than just sit and do whatever I could while sitting...browsing randomly as the best.

I took the time to look for whatever information I can find about that place called Coto Mines. When I googled, I could get enough pictures but not really enough information. Nevertheless, the pictures would tell so much about how great it is an experience that, again, I had to include it in my must list for destination.

There hasn't been much leisure happening lately as I have commenced work, and it was getting me real bored; So, i took the decision to go to Coto Mines. I had been sending messages to friends back and forth to get a company to come with me, however, nobody else confirmed but my good friend Ivy. We also managed to pull in our mountaineering buddies khai and james.



get this or you don't get in
Several radio calls from the guard and several enumeration of a list of names, after about 30 mins, we finally got the permit. It took a while to get that permit as we had 2 non-filipino nationals who are in the other group. As soon as they handed the permit, we were told there will be 4 checkpoints ahead, with the 4th being where we pay the P60 entrance fee and where we'd get briefing prior to being allowed to get into the resort. We were also warned about the terrain and that there had been some groups who didn't get to the resort because they lost patience with the 27kilometers rough road to the resort. In fact, we were also told that our car, Hyundai Getz, might not handle it, and I just told them that the 4 of us in the Getz will transfer to the Everest in that event (though I knew we'll get it through by hook or by crook).

19 bridges away and 4 strict checkpoints passed, we finally got the resort. My research said it'll take us an hour to finish the 27km rough road, but because of the car, we actually took 2.5hours. At most of the trail, we ran at 10-20kms/hr speed, but for a fifth of the distance, we could only run at 5-10kms/hr speed.

en route to Kid'z Pool, Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales

a bead shop en route to Kid'z Pool, Coto Mines, Masinloc Zambales

en route to Kid'z Pool, Coto Mines, Masinloc Zambales

there's about 14 of these wooden bridges en route to Kid'z Pool, Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales

there's about 14 of these wooden bridges en route to Kid'z Pool, Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales

The view along the way was amazing. It starts with a thick forest; then through mountains and then river stream; Your eyes could only feast on the greenery.

right as soon as you get to the gate of the resort, your sight could tell you how cool the water is...the hanging bridges and the rocks...a totally different experience. We parked the car next to the villas and had to walk through the hanging bridge to get to the Kidz Pool where swimming happens. We boiled the rice and left it to cook itself while everyone ran after another to the diving board to jump out to the water: 500% excitement. The pictures will speak for me for how great an experience it is.


Kid'z Pool, Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales

Kid'z Pool, Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales







Kid'z Pool, Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales
According to the other guests who are locals in the mining site, the water source is actually a huge lagoon from the mountains. The mining company has built a pipe from the lagoon to distribute water to the households and operations, and had put an articial falls by drilling through this pipe.

I also traced the waters of Coto through google maps, and I see that the waters come all the way from several mountains in Tarlac that crosses all together in the boundaries of Tarlac and Zambales.





herebelow are the kilometer readings I took note on trip:

To get to the resort, from Iba Public Market in Zambales, it will be 29.9kms away on the national highway taking the candelaria route (From barangay panolingan in palauig, it shall be 11.8 kilometers through the national highway). Take right on the arch for Baragay Narra, drive straight until 1.9kms after, the road curves towards right exactly where the first checkpoint is. (The wharf where the permits is issued is going to be on the opposite side of the national highway; Just right opposite the entry to Brgy Narra).

Just after 400meters after the first checkpoint, the paved road ends and starts the slow journey. The first bridge will be right after 200m and yes...all the bridges are safe for passage (just not outrightly obvious).

7.3kms after, you'll have a great panoramia of both the river and the mountains. Another 1.5 kilometers after, you'll have a viewdeck for a better preview of the river. 7.2kilometers further, you'll see a 'BOTIKA'. 1.7 kilometers more is a standalone (quite hilarious) crafts store.


2.6kms after will be the second checkpoint. Just 500m after, you'll get to the Mandaloy Elementary school and right infront is a store with enough convenience (you can get even cuticle remover and some vegetables there; Prices are OK; I bought a pack of 20s Marlboro lights for P36 and we also got ripe mangoes for just P15/kilo considering it's not even the season). 3.5kms more, you'll get to view an actual mining site and 200m further is the final checkpoint where you'd pay the P60 entrance fee. Just 800meters from there will be the resort.

From a few kilometers towards the resort, there will be diversions but always take the wider road.

Kindly contact Aling Coring (caretaker for Kidz Pool Mountain Resort) for inquiries: 09213540633..




Update June 12, 2015:

Last 2013, I went back to Kid'z Pool for one reason: To jump off the bridge. Back in our first visit in 2011, there were dive boards in place but I was so scared to jump. I went back to do it, and not only on the diving boards (which are not there anymore) but on the bridge. It is said to be 30 feet up and 30 feet down. I did it twice, and immediately after jumping, we left :-). 

As of that visit, there are no more permits required to get in. You can get a jeep from town proper that gets to the place. It is so nice to topload the jeep as there are a lot of mangoes along the way that I filled up a whole plastic bag with mangoes, atis, and avocado :-).





Update March 14, 2018.

The place has never been maintained, trash all over, all hanging bridges broken, andI regret, its totally not worth visiting anymore, to think that only perhaps 2% of the road has gone better.

23 comments :

  1. Hello! Thanks for a very wonderful description of the place everyone of us love so much! No one could resist its beauty. I was once a resident of Coto and Kidz pool is our favorite place of my high school classmates. And I was shocked to see our unfinished house, the one you called "BOTIKA". I painted that signage Bela's Beads, when we were still there (August 2010 was my last stay there), before I decided to come back here in Meycauayan and pursue my beads business here. But nevertheless, we would still finish that house/store in the future and put my products there for visitors like you who wants to have a souvenir from one great place.

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  2. Wow, Great that you found our own hidden paradise, Coto is very beautiful place that I will never forget, there,I saw the first light in my life way back May 14, 1974. My parents start living in Coto around late 50`s, Here in Coto Mines, I took my studies till highschool.( Batch 1991) a meaningful experience in my entire life.
    To add more, yes it is a tiring journey from Masinloc to Coto, a 27 km rough road( Sedan,small cars are not advisable) but it depends also, coz I am riding my Bigbody corolla to get there. Around 45minutes to get in, but according to the author they took it for more than 2 hours, yes I admitted that if you are a first timer, you will have difficulties cruising the road.
    Along the road yuo will find scenic places that definitely you will take a stop and got some pictures coz of its alluring beauty... you will pass some wooden bridges that you will think twice if you will pass or not ha ha ha...a dusty road that you will encounter helps you to save you foundation and a hair highlights ( lol )
    Then after 23 kilometers, here it is, Mandaloy Elementary School , my beloved school, Fronting is a store manage by Melgar family, which one of the member is my batchmate from elementary till secondary, no other than Eugene, which I haven`t seen again after our HS graduation. Then after that a community that i love so much.

    Another security check after 2 kilometers, the road pump, before leading to Coto Mines. from the last bridge , a high terrain going up that will take you a good rev in you pedal, but beware some are blind curves, after that you will pass an Ore bin, then an old gas station operated by mines(not working now) Then that`s it the first house in Coto, 1 km more there you are the Batingan`s store, the famous and every cotonians knows it. adjacent is a wet market. after that a basket court then the Plaza. Just stop there get some drinks for I know that you are tired.
    Finally, your destination, Coto Kidz pool, yes you right, you are there after 27kms, here it is a wonderful place that I am pretty sure you will come back with your other friends he he. a Crystal clear water, a very cold one( we used to put our bottled drinks,then after an hour,a cold drink instantly... swim swim swim, i use to jump on that diving board and the 20 feet high hanging bridge...
    ha ha.


    I wish to come back and live there, I really want to help this place to rise again... God bless.


    Aljon

    aljon_rb@yahoo.com

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  3. hi guys... you delighted me today :-) thanks for the additional info... i wish we get more people promoting this place.. natural and unique. Regret that the resort couldn't get enough income to sustain its maintenance.. perhaps, if we continue to recommend.. we'll get it up again..

    many thanks again. will add you up on fb.. :-)

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  4. hello guys.. i wish to be there with my best friends and family.. do we really need to have our own car? baka puede mag-commute going to the nearest municipality or brgy na malapit sa Coto. Then we can rent jeep to hatid us and pick us up.. is there a way like this? possible ba ito?
    thank you..

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    Replies
    1. you can rent a jeep in iba, but that time we went there, the rate is P2500.. you can bring your car, just make sure it can handle the rough road. ours then was just a hyundai getz and it did it

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    2. you can rent a jeep in masinloc or pwde dn kau mg commute pero my time po un. u can contact auntie coring to ask kung anu oras mga byahe.

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  5. Finally, a latest traveller to our favourite hidden paradise! My family and friends been going there in 3 consecutive years until the last election where some Chinese nationals were mining the place, and there were news that they were illegal miners. Just right after the election, these Chinese were deported and we heard from our contact in the resort that it was closed to public, no more electricity and the caretaker contact we knew no longer works there.
    Like you, there's not much to google about the place that's what it makes it a secret paradise. But, I thank you for providing us news with the place. Been dreaming about it yearly, esp during summer months. Fresh spring water resort, cool breeze, a total relaxation is what I can describe of this place, better than Bora! ;-)
    Summer is just starting, were not too late. See you soon, Coto!

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  6. Btw, we used to stay there for 2 nights and 3 days (never wanting to leave the place, haha). Was there any electricity when you got to the resort?

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    Replies
    1. la po electricity at that time... i don't think they get enough guest income to pay for the resort utilities

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  7. Thanks sa information. Naghahanap kmi mpunthan dis summer. Pwede b bata dun? At aso :-)?

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    Replies
    1. yes mam.. pwedeng pwede po. you may contact the no posted there for more info. no is still active as of last month. it's a very good sidetrip and alternative for beach trips...especially kung naikot mo na buong zambales

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  8. hi. thanks for the info. how much na kaya ang rate ngayon? ok ba pag pumunta ng december?

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  9. same rate pa nman po, although as per my last visit, di sya masyado namaintain. you can call the number na pinost ko. i met them again in my last visit 2 months back. they also rent out a generator for around 1k/night in case you'd like to stay overnight. ask too about using the facilities like cottages, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mountaineers po kami and we want to explore this Mountain Resort.
      Meron po bang pwedeng ma-Rent na sasakyan from Masinloc going to Coto? if ever magkano po kaya? secured po ba ito sa mga campers? 09272650476 po number ko

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  10. Hi! I'm interested to go there. Anybody here has the contact number?

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  11. sir may unti po akong katanungan sana masagot nyo :D

    1. Uubra po ba yung jeep kasi mangagaling po kami ng manila
    2. Yung contact number po ba e still updated pa ..

    yan lang po TIA .. sana po masagot :D

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    Replies
    1. Depende siguro sa jeep nyo sir kasi as you can see, kung kinaya ng kotse, mas kakayanin ng jeep ;-). I would think the contact nos are updated, but it wont bite if u send an sms or give a call

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  12. Actually jeep talaga public transpo going to coto kahit loaded pa yan it would be fine :)

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  13. The remake of ABS-CBN's Pangako Sa'Yo teleserye is currently filming at Coto, Masinloc, Zambales.

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    Replies
    1. that's great. sana matulungan nila yung mga residents nung mining na walang koryente as of last visit dahil sa utang nung mining company

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  14. Hello Ian. Safe ba mag camp sa Coto Resort? From what I've heard abandoned na sya.

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  15. Hi i am from Coto Mines. The site was the location of ABS CBNs Pangako Sayo. It was called Buena Mines in the teleserye.

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  16. http://www.choosephilippines.com/go/trails-and-caves/3024/koto-zambales-pangako-sa-iyo/

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