Glamping at The BLOC Campsite

As promised, I will be sharing our glamping experience at The BLOC Campsite.

The BLOC Campsite is located at Cavinti Laguna and I heard they are still expanding to have more campsites around the Philippines. 

Glamping is short for "glamorous"and "camping". Camping without sacrificing the comforts of your home since they will provide you some of the usual necessities that basic camping cannot. I.e. airbeds, pillows, blankets, and even electricity. I'm the staycation type of person and I will prefer comfort over adventure at any day but Roi as a hiker, will always prefer outdoor activities. 

So I opted for glamping to make our preferences meet and also we will be celebrating our 2nd Anniversary so I prepared this myself :D *my proud moment* lol 

BLOC is situated beside a man-made lake called Sierra Lake. The greens and serene surroundings really call for peace and relaxation. It actually helped me keep my mind off work the moment I stepped a foot!

We went straight to HM Bus Station at Cubao after our shifts and yes, we are commuting ! It was a 3 hour travel from Cubao to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Took a jeepney going to Cavinti and told the driver to drop us at the terminal of Cavinti Town going to Barangay Bukal. From there, we just asked our co passengers where should we alight and they were very helpful! The BLOC is actually located inside the Passion Cove Estates at the end of the short dirt road beside the Lake. It was a total of 5 hour travel and we finally reached our destination. We were an hour early for the check in which is at 2pm. The staffs, however were already accommodating, they asked us if we want to try boat riding to kill time but we chose to rest instead because we're tired from all the travel HAHAHA!

While waiting, the owner Mr. Philipp Inno arrived together with his family and we had the privilege to meet his wife, Ms. Aj. who oriented and escorted us to our tent 30 minutes earlier than the check in time yaaaas!

I pre-ordered our lunch, dinner and breakfast for the next day. Pre-order is cheaper, food prices doubled when taken on the campsite. 

In our case, we didn't bring any packed lunch to eat once we arrived since the lunch will be served the next day upon check out. We ordered because we were legit starving ! Assuming that the food's price will be Php198 because we ordered on site but Ms. Aj only collected Php99/meal! (the pre-order price), she was kind enough to give us a discount. ♥ . 

They initially booked me with a medium tent but I saw on another blog post that they also offer deluxe tent so I had it upgraded. Fortunately, ours was overlooking the lake and we had our own hammock !

Inside the tent, there's the airbed, pillows, blankets, table, another two chairs, an outlet for charging your gadgets, a LED light and electric fan. All the comforts I need. I'm in love. 

The lake view is just so beautiful ♥
but what happened to that swan though ? HAHAHAHA!

For the prices of tent, it's better to ask them about other options. They have tents that can accommodate large groups too ! perfect for friends and family quality time. 

The weather was a combination of sunny and windy.  Feeling so relaxed and peace, we both fell asleep. It was by far the most comforting sleep I've had in a while ! This is therapeutic ! We woke up at night to eat dinner and heard the noises of the other campers outside. 

After some soul cleansing, I decided to go for a bath.

The rest room and bathroom however are shared with the other campers so to avoid the queues, better choose a time to bath or to do your "thing". 

We asked for a BBQ grill that came with a free charcoal. I brought hotdogs and marshmallows with me and this better not be a waste, and it didn't!

who would have thought that simple grilling hotdogs can give me so much "camping" feels! Eating it and overlooking the lake is pure art!

 Well look who joined us for breakfast too ! lol

 These cats were so adobrs!! but better watch out for your food ! they can go and steal it so always keep your tents close because these residents can be sneaky. 

Just after all the grillin, the staff informed us that breakfast was ready!

We got to try almost all their food from the breakfast menu and I totally recommend their Tapsilog ♥

And after eating our breakfast, we decided to go for a swim. The lake is really deep and as much as this alone gives me anxiety, I still went and try it myself ! 

They will provide life jackets for free so you will be fine.

Had lunch before checking out.

We were told by the staff that jeepneys on Sundays were rare. Luckily, Kuya Larry helped us find a tricycle who will take us to Cavinti Terminal. We paid Php150.

Overall, I really enjoy my stay here. I would go back in a heartbeat if given a chance. The service was top notch and the staff were friendly and accommodating. Every corner was instagrammable too!

Here are some of the the features that you can also add for your stay:

• Floating Garden Dock (By Separate Booking) 
• One Time (Limited Use) = Php500
• Overnight (Unlimited Use) = Php1,000

We didn't try any lake activities either because we just wanted to chill and immerse in our glamping experience aaaand we're too exhausted since we we're both sleep deprived going there after our night shift !

But if you're interested, feel free to check the prices below:

• Inflatable Boats/Floaters = Php100/hour minimum of 3 hours
• Kayak = Php200/hour minimum of 3 hours
• Stand Up Paddle Board(SUP) = Php300/hour minimum of 3 hours
• Couple's Canoe = Php1,200 for 2 pax only minumum of 3 hours; Php900 for solo
• Island Hopping-Boat Trip = Php100/pax minimum of 10pax with a side trip to the Secret River with FREE Cliff Dive

Inclusive:

• Unli swimming at the lake
• Fishing at the lake ( bring your own fishing rods\gears)
• Utility of Toilet and Bath facility

Freebies:

• A pair of live vests
• A set of firewood for bonfire
• A set of charcoal for BBQ grilling

Here's our sample computation:

2 pax GLAMPING Experience
SAMPLE DETAILED COMPUTATIONS
Price per 1 Overnight
Oct. 27-28

2pax DeLuxe Glamping = P5,200
3 Breakfast Meals = P297
2 Extra Rice = P40
TOTAL = P5,537 Only!

(transpo fare not included)

Check in:   2pm

Check out: 12pm

Loud sounds and bright light off: 10pm
Complete sounds and light off: 12mn 

Kindly bring your own food and drink, they don't have corkage fee~!

It simply means that you can bring all the food and drinks you want

But just in case you want to order food, this is the menu available. 

 They usually do not stock food supplies at the Camp Site. Food ingredients from food pre-orders (only) of the booked Guests shall be included in the shopping list of their camp site staffs when they travel downtown Pagsanjan/Sta.Cruz to go to the market.

If you want, you can rent your own Super Kalan for Php300, overnight use.

Going to the BLOC Camp Site Options
(courtesy of BLOC)

The easiest way is to find the BLOC Camp Site at Waze or at Google Maps.

They have 2 alternative ways if Waze or Google Maps won't be your option:

1. With Own Vehicle

Travel Time:

3 hours during weekdays,

3-4 hours during weekends.

Option A - Laguna Loop, coming from the South via SLEX

- Drive thru SLEX and take Sto. Tomas / Lucena Exit (the Exit right before Calamba). After a few kilometers, you will see the sign "By Pass to Bucal". Turn Left until you reach the Provincial Highway of Laguna between Calamba and Pansol. Then turn right. Drive straight and you will pass by the towns of Los Banos, Bay, Victoria, Pila, Sta. Cruz and then Pagsanjan. When you reach Pagsanjan, a T-junction in front of the Catholic Church will show you two (2) options: Turning left will lead you to Lumban, while turning right will lead you to Cavinti. The shorter route is to turn right. After an 8 kilometer zigzag drive, you will reach a "Y" junction. Take the road going to the left. Just drive straight ahead and don't take any right turn. You will pass by 2 bridges where you will notice the BLOC Camp Site road signs. Notice a checkpoint barrier with a BLOC Camp Site sign. Turn right and drive into a long and winding path named Agarao Road. When you reached the inverted "Y" junction, drive straight ahead until you pass by the covered court and schools in Brgy. Bukal. Right after that, you'll see now the Passion Cove Estates where the BLOC Camp Site is.

Option B - Laguna Loop, Coming from the East via Cainta or Antipolo

- Drive towards the town of Famy either thru Teresa or thru Angono. Drive straight ahead until you reach the town of Pagsanjan, Laguna. Then follow the guide already advised above at Option A.

2. Commute

- Go to the HM Trans Bus Station at Cubao, Quezon City. It's located at EDSA near the intersection of Aurora Blvd. It is right beside the 5 Star Bus Station. Ride a Bus going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. When you reach the HM Trans Bus Station somewhere near the boundary of Sta. Cruz and Pagsanjan, Laguna, there are jeepneys that are bound to the town of Cavinti. Tell the Driver to bring you to the Jeepney Terminal at Cavinti Town going to Brgy, Bukal. When you reach Brgy. Bukal, ask for the Passion Cove Estates owned by an American expat. The BLOC Camp Site is located inside the Passion Cove Estates at the end of a short dirt road beside the Lake.

If you have a GPS or Map or perhaps familiar with the place already, the other option to go there is to pass by the Caliraya Lake route. Instead of turning right (Option A), turn left and pass by the town of Lumban until you reach the "Y" intersection. Turn right and drive straight up to Brgy. Caliraya. After Caliraya, there are a couple of barangays to pass by until you reach Brgy. Lumot. In one of the check points with check point road barrier, you will see the BLOC Camp Site road sign. Turn left until you reach Brgy. Bukal and follow the above instructions.

If you're coming from the east (Option , instead of driving all the way to Pagsanjan, you will see the above mentioned "Y" intersection before the town of Lumban after the small town of Kalayaan. Now follow too the aforementioned instructions above.

If you feel you are lost, the key is to always ask people around.

Reminders:

• Bring everything you think you'll gonna need to feel and enjoy camping, including personal stuff such as towels and toiletries
• Always keep your tents zip and locked to avoid mosquitoes and other insects getting inside the tent. This also prevents the cats and dogs from entering your tent and eating your food.
• Watch out for your belongings, gadgets and cash. They haven't encountered any burglar-related incidents since they started yet still be careful with your personal belongings. 
• You are required to wear a life jacket for any lake activities that you will do.
• Minimize the noise as there are campers who prefer to enjoy the peaceful vibe of the camp.
• If you book on weekends, expect the camp to be loud, and festive. Weekdays are more serene and quiet.
• To avoid getting stuck on the queue for toilet and bathroom in the morning before checkout, use it at night time or at the break of dawn. 
• Clean as you go. Please keep the camp clean and organize.
• If you're going to commute, allot 4-5 hours travel time.
• They have 3 common bathrooms but they have 5 more located at the back for backup.
• The outlet provided can only accommodate small wattage usage good for charging your gadgets. 
• Enjoy the rest of the glamping !

If you want to book or if you have questions, you can send them a message through their Facebook Page. 

Thank you for reading !!

Till our next adventure♥

Grace~♥