A Mother’s Stuff

Baluarte Falls of Salcedo, Ilocos Sur

Baluarte Falls is accessible by light transportation vehicles and her beauty is best seen during the last quarter of the year. Passing through rainforest, visitors are greeted with cool mist and showers. Adventurist may also scale the top of the falls through a steep pathway constructed for this purpose. Being manned 24 hours by Baluarte Barangay Tanods, these tourist guards says: Conquer your fears, let your spirits soar, have your souls reinvigorated and feel nature at its best.

Pinsal Falls

Located at Barangay Babal-lasioan, where the legendary foot prints of Angalo was left when he was in search of his wife, Aran. There is a stone stairs out of the mountain between the falls which is frequently used by the resident of Pilar, Abra in coming to and from the Municipality of Santa Maria.

The majestic grandeur and pristine beauty of this falls has long been attracting foreign tourists and local excursions who love nature in its best as a picnic destination. Crystalline falling water cascades down to two spacious natural pools below during the dry summer where one could swim and frolic in the clear and transparent water. Another factor to its natural beauty is the hillsides on both sides covered with foliage of big trees under which one can take a restful nap after having an appetizing lunch from so much swimming on the two pools or inside a hidden cave behind the cascading waterfalls of the main fall. One’s trip to Pinsal Falls is not complete without climbing the carved steps to the top. On reaching the top of the falls, the visitor will be fascinated with more natural pools, the biggest of which is the so-called footprint of Angalo, a male giant which he left chasing his lady-love, Aran, also a female giant, so the legend goes.

Calling it a day, after an exhausting but rich and unforgettable experiences, the visitor trod back to the cascading falls for a lunch under the cool and breezy shade of the verdant trees.

Pinsal Falls can be reached in 45 minutes by any vehicular transportation from the Municipal Hall of Santa Maria. This is the biggest waterfall in the Ilocos Region as the eastern branch of the Santa Maria. It drops from a height of some 85 feet to a narrow gorge below many miles away from the South China Sea. It is considered as the most picturesque waterfalls and considered the pride of Santa Maria.