The Private Camp in Daraitan – A Quick Escape from Manila

It is a known fact that the Philippines is blessed with beautiful islands, gorgeous beaches and breathtaking landscapes that are perfect if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

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But the problems is, many of these locations are either too far from the metro or too expensive to travel to.

Luckily, we were able to uncover this almost perfect and hidden gem that is just a few hours away from the city and is fairly inexpensive to travel to.

THE PRIVATE CAMP: DARAITAN
Brgy. Daraitan, Tanay Rizal
Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31709562?adults=1&guests=1&s=CU-2GEm6
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprivatecampdaraitan/
Contact: +63 905 925 3591

Located just approximately 2 hours away from the city, The Private camp: Daraitan is not like any other Airbnb space. It is not some comfortable hotel or fancy resort.

The Private Camp: Daraitan is an adventure experience that puts you directly in the heart of a small rustic village that is nestled in the mountains and rivers of Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal.

THE JOURNEY

Our journey started on a Friday night in Ortigas when we decided to book their space via Airbnb for only P2,500. We then arrived at the Private camp in Brgy. Daraitan at around 10 pm.

The place itself is fairly easy to find with the help of Waze, but towards the end, the road tends to get rougher and harder to navigate.

When we arrived, we immediately fell in love with the rustic and raw nature feels that the camp offers. It was even more beautiful at night with only the stars and moon as lights.

We stayed in this elevated “Kubo” style space that has this awesome view of Tinipak river and the Sierra Madre mountain range.

The place itself is located directly beside the river and checked in guest can set up their own tent by the bonfire at night.

There is electricity but cell signal is limited to some areas, hence the place is perfect for backpackers, nature lovers and to anyone who simply wants a unique native experience.

A NEW DAY

There is nothing better than waking up to the sound of a rushing river with a matching view of the scenic of Sierra Madre mountain range.

Nothing beats waking up to this view while taking a sip on our hot coffee.

This is the quaint and cozy “Kubo” style hut that we slept in last night. Surprisingly, there were no mosquitos and the cool breeze helped us have a good night sleep.

The place itself is clean and feels very homey, all thanks to our trusted and friendly Airbnb staff Kuya Jury who lives just right across our hut.

There is no actual shower but luckily the clean river is only a few steps away and taking a bath there is always a treat. Kidding aside, there’s a clean bathroom with drums full of water for taking a bath.

There is also a small Kubo (also managed by Kuya Jury) inside the grounds that sell assorted snacks, food, water, and other necessities.

ADVENTURE

Aside from unwinding and nature appreciation, guests can also choose to tackle adventure-filled activities that would surely test your physical fitness and reward you with a spectacular view.

For starters, guests can trek for 1 hour along the Tinipak river to reach a certain part of the river that is suited for swimming and cliff jumping.

The trek along the river is fairly easy even for beginners. The path to the river and the rock formations alone is surely worth the trip.

But if you’re in for a more challenging adventure then you can opt to hike up Mt. Daraitan.

It’s a 5-hour tiring trek up the peak of the most famous mountain in Tanay. It offers the best-undisputed view of the Tinipak river and the Sierra Madre mountain range. It surely is worth the climb.

VERDICT

Overall, The private camp in Daraitan stayed true to its promise of a unique Airbnb staycation like no other. The remoteness of the place made us feel like we were living in a jungle despite being only 2 hours away from Manila.

It’s perfect if you want to truly immerse in the rawness of nature and have a slice of the authentic life of our natives, without compromising privacy and security.

So if camping or in this case glamping is your thing then you’ll never go wrong with what the Private Camp in Daraitan has to offer.

THINGS TO DO

– River Swimming/Hiking | Caving
– Unwind | Nature Appreciation
– Fishing (Bring your gear)
– Mt. Daraitan Trekking
– Campfire Sessions

NOTES

– Their humble camp is not a HOTEL so please lower your expectations
– They will provide (Banigs/Plastic Mattings, Pillows 2pcs, Blanket 2pcs)
– Kuya Jury works hard for your water so please conserve it (they suggest to experience bathing in the river just like the locals)
– They will also be providing basic kitchen tools (cooler, pot, plates, pitcher, etc)
– Better bring your own FOOD/GROCERY rather than buying it there since their area is a tourist destination the prices are a bit jacked up

THINGS TO BRING

– Sunblock | Mosquito Repellant
– Camping 101 knowledge
– Emergency Flashlights
– Sleeping Bag/Comforter
– Rechargeable Fan
– Hiking gears

 

THE PRIVATE CAMP: DARAITAN
Brgy. Daraitan, Tanay Rizal
Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31709562?adults=1&guests=1&s=CU-2GEm6
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprivatecampdaraitan/
Contact: +63 905 925 3591

 

Live an Awesome Life,

Disclosure: Our stay in The Private Camp Daraitan was courtesy of The Private Camp Daraitan. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.