Sometimes you just want to get away from the city and sleep outdoors somewhere cool and refreshing. And Laguna is one of the destinations near Manila you can do that. You can find resorts and campsites all around Laguna especially near Caliraya Lake.
But most spots require you to leave your vehicles in a parking lot and head to a different area to camp. For those traveling by motorcycles, bicycles or just want to have their vehicles close by to keep all their stuff secure, Kaliraya Surf Kamp is a good option.
Outside Slacker and I decided to go on a short motocamping trip mainly to test ride and take photos of the Kymco Like 150i (review on the bike soon) and I wanted a destination beside a body of water like a beach or lake. The main draw of Kaliraya Surf Kamp is its lakeside location and the fact that you can park your vehicles on the camping grounds where you pitch your tent. The campsite is accessible to all types of vehicles, but feels remote.
There’s no electricity, so camping here feels like you’re really off the grid especially at night. Make sure you bring rechargeable light sources. We didn’t have any so we had to use our motorbike’s lights to set up the tent because it was really dark when we got there. There’s no WiFi in the area, but you can still keep connected online with data.
The campsite has basic amenities like running water, a shared public restroom and native nipa hut cottages that you can rent out for group meals or where you can keep your stuff dry in case it rains. We stayed on a Friday night in January and there were only a few other campers in the area. The grounds are spacious enough so you can all get your own private corners. It probably gets more crowded during weekends and summer though.
The weather by the lake is extremely chilly at night and in the morning. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular in the area, so you can imagine how windy it can get.
Too bad the gloomy weather wasn’t really ideal for drone videography, stargazing and some of the other activities we planned to do like kayaking during our stay, but that was ok with me. I was content enough with the ride going there and back and just enjoying the breeze and simple life. You can check out my related posts for other activities you can do around Laguna if you’re staying longer, but here are the basics on the campsite for reference.
Table of Contents
Location
Activities
- Camping
- Picnic
- Kayaking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Caliraya boat tour
- Bonfire at night
- Stargazing
- Jet skiing
- Kite surfing
- Frisbee / ultimate
Amenities
- Open nipa huts for rent
- Bahay kubo for rent
- Tents for rent
- Common CR/shower room
- Common wash room
- Parking by the lake
- Griller
- Jetski/speedboat docking
What to bring
- Flashlight/lamps or any source of light (no electricity at night at the campsite, lights are provided only at the common toilet/wash room)
- Power banks
- Tent
- Sleeping bags
- Jackets (it can get very cold at night)
- Swimming attire (if you plan to swim)
- Extra clothes
- Mosquito repellent
- Basic toiletries/towel
Where to eat
Campers need to bring their own food & cooking utensils/ equipment as there’s no restaurant inside the campsite. There are a few sari-sari stores along the main road near the entrance to the campsite.
Since we were traveling by motorcycles and didn’t want to bring perishable stuff, we just drove to Yhamshe Resort Hotel & Restaurant, about 10 minutes away by motorcycle for our meals. They serve typical Filipino food (lechon kawali, crispy pata, tortang talong etc.), short orders (pancit, sandwhiches) and all-day breakfast meals (longsilog, tapsilog). You can buy snacks and drinks here to bring back to the campsite. You can refill reusable drinking water containers here.
Why you should go there
Kaliraya Surf Kamp is a good option for road-trippers, riders and bikepackers who want an overnight base to explore the Laguna loop or get an early start to hike to waterfalls in Laguna the next morning. Staying overnight can let you explore at a more leisurely pace instead of trying to squeeze everything and drive back and forth on the same day, which can be tiring.
It’s best for those who have their own form of private transportation. While it’s possible to get here by public transport, it can be a bit time-consuming. The campsite is kid-friendly and pet-friendly too.
Rates
- Entrance fee: Day Camp: Php 100/pax | Overnight: Php 200/pax
(adult/kids same rate) - Parking Fee: Php 100/car (free for motorcycles & bicycles)
- Tent Pitching Fee (own tent):
- Small tent (1-2 pax)- Php 100
- Medium tent (3-4 pax)- Php 200
- Big tent (5 pax and up)- Php 300
- Tent rental: P800/small tent with rubber mat, P1,500 medium tent
- Open nipa hut rental (without faucet): P600/day camp use – P1200 overnight use
- Open nipa hut rental (with faucet): P800 day camp use – P1500 overnight use
- Bonfire: Php 300/ set
- Kayak for rent: Php 400/hr good for 2 pax inclusive of life vest
How to get there
By private vehicle
- If you’re coming from the South, take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and exit at Calamba.
- Pass by Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, Calauan, Victoria, Pila and Sta. Cruz. From Sta. Cruz, go straight to Pagsanjan. When you reach Pagsanjan church, turn left going to Lumban.
- After the PNP checkpoint at Lumban, turn right going up to Caliraya.
- Kaliraya Surf Kamp is located before Lagos del Sol resort.
- If you’re coming from the North area like Quezon City or riding small displacement bikes, it’s better to take the Laguna backroads.
We took the Marikina-Infanta Highway / Marilaque Highway R-6 and R-5 to avoid traffic in Antipolo (and took the shortcut via Pililla Wind Farm but you can just pass the Manila East Road)
- Follow C5 to Aurora Boulevard / Marikina-Infanta Highway / Marilaque
- Take Baras-Pinugay Road to Manila East Road / R5 in Baras
- Turn left onto Manila E-Road / R5
- Follow Lumban – Caliraya – Cavinti Road to your destination.
- Travel time is about 3 hours one way depending on your route, pace and traffic
By public transportation
- Take a bus going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
- Via Jac Liner: Tell the bus driver to drop you off at Lumot/ Caliraya jeepney terminal in Pagsawitan, Sta. Cruz (across BPI Highway branch).
- The jeepney drivers of Lumot/ Caliraya know Kaliraya Surf Kamp. Just tell them to drop you off there.
- Via DLTB: Drop off at the bus terminal in Sta. Cruz. From DLTB terminal, ride a jeepney with Sta. Cruz sign board and tell the driver to drop you off at the jeepney terminal in Sta. Cruz Public Market going to Lumot/ Caliraya (this is near Mercury Drugstore).
- The jeepney drivers of Lumot/ Caliraya know Kaliraya Surf Kamp. Just tell them to drop you off there.
- If you’re coming from Buendia bus terminal, fare going to Sta, Cruz is Php 140. Sta. Cruz, Laguna to Kaliraya Surf Kamp: Php 33
Contact info
For inquiries, please text/call: 0922-4336749 or message Kaliraya Surf Kamp on Facebook.
New Normal Guidelines (2021)
This article was originally written before the pandemic during our visit in 2019. Kaliraya Surf Kamp is under new management and new normal rules now apply. Please see below.
