Iligan City -- Timoga Spring Pools

One of my closest friend is home from the US and she and her parents want to visit the city of waterfalls, Iligan City.  I tagged along on the said trip.  The plan was to swim on the pools in Timoga and visit Maria Cristina Falls.  The day started early we left Elena Tower Inn, where we stayed for two nights, at around 7 AM . 

I have lived in Iligan for the whole college years. But then I took college life so seriously that I was not able to explore this beautiful city. The farthest part I have been in the city is the series of spring pools in Timoga. Almost every acquaintance party and class outings were held here. I did not even get to visit the vicinity of the city hall where they said is amazing.

Anyway, my friend came with her parents and did not bring a vehicle so we commute our way to and around Iligan City. From Elena Tower Inn, we ride a jeepney to the city. We stopped at the corner before Jollibee main branch. There, we ride a jeepney going to Buru-un and asked the driver to drop us off at Timoga. 

not even half of the olympic-size pool 

not shown here is the 16-foot deep part
on the other corner

one of the kiddie pool

a playground and a beautiful landscape at the back

Now here is the crucial part. For some people who are new to the place (as I am during my 1st time), Timoga is perceived as the name of the resort that housed the pools. Actually, Timoga is a sitio in barangay Buru-un. So when you arrive at the place, keep looking on the right and you can see a series of spring pools. There are several of them. Dela Mar is at the rightmost part (when facing the resort). Only Dela Mar has the olypic size and 16-foot deep swimming pool. This must be the reason why this pool is always full. Oh, there are also several pool sizes in this resort. There are pools for kids and are available in different depth. 

There are many stores and stalls on the other side of the road that sells everything. Since we have no baon, it is only there that we bought pork lechon, lechon manok, grilled fish, rice wrapped in coconut leaves, junk foods and soft drinks. There are also boiled banana and kamote.

Dela Mar charges corkage fee for beverages in cases. Other than that, you can bring every food you want without any fee. There is a store inside though in case you run out of booze. Entrance fee is Php 50 and table rental is Php 100. When I was in college, entrance fee is Php 10 plus a cup of softdrink. Still sulit and compensating to the experience you will enjoy inside. If you do not like this place, there are adjacent pools which have the same overflowing spring water, same price, same amenities and different sizes and depths of pools. A tip though: go there on weekdays as the area really gets full on weekends.

How to go:

• From any point in Cagayan de Oro City, ride a taxi or any Bulua jeepney to bring you to Bulua Bus Terminal.
• Choose any bus that says "Iligan"
• From Iligan Bus Terminal, ride any jeepney going to "syudad." Or you can ride a taxi. Ask the driver to drop you off near Jollibee main branch where there is a jeepney going to Timoga or Buru-un.
• Ride the jeepney and ask the driver to drop you off at Timoga pools. You can't miss the place as it is very visible on the left side of the road. (Tip: when I commute, before I ride the jeep, I ask the driver or konduktor if it will pass through the place I am supposed to be and request to drop me off then.)

meet the world, 
~S

“An official entry to the Iligan Blogging Contest 2012”