San Pablo City, is a first class city in the southern part of Laguna province, and one of the countries oldest city. The city is also known as the “City of Seven Lakes“, referring to the Seven Lakes of San Pablo. Me and some of my officemates have been planning to go here for months already. The plan was to visit the two lakes in San Pablo, which is the Lake Pandin and the Lake Yambo. San Pablo City is just a two hours ride from Manila. If you want to visit the lake, it’s much better if you’ll do reservation, since they may not be able to accommodate you when you just do walk-ins.
You can send them an SMS at 09299789565 or 09079952983 – Aling Siona. Also, the advantage of having reservations, someone (could be one of the bangkeras or local kids) will be picking you up at the parking lot to accompany you for atleast 10 – 15 minutes walk going to the lake. According to the legends, these two lakes were named after two lovers, a beautiful woman named Pandin was cursed not to step on the earth, otherwise, something terrible would befall her. Yambo, her ardent lover, did not know about the curse and had made her step on earth, after which there was a terrible noise followed by the cracking grumble of the earth and a heavy downpour eventually converted the area into twin lakes separated from each other by a bare strip of land.
So here’s a few tips for those who would like to visit Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo ♥
**How to go there:
– Ride a bus off to Lucena
– Drop off at Medical Center San Pablo – Ride a jeep going to “San Pablo – BAYAN”
– Drop off at Bayan/Plaza
– Ride another jeep going to “Ilog”
-Asked them to drop you at “Lake Pandin Parking Lot”
– Someone (could be one of the bangkeras or local kids) will be waiting at the parking lot to accompany you for the 10-15 minutes walk going to the lake.
– You have to pay 360 pesos/per person for the rafting and lunch.
– If you would just like to do rafting, its only 180 pesos/per person.
– Lake Yambo, is just on the other side of Lake Pandin. Hike would take 3-5 minutes.
– Swimming on the lake requires you to wear life jacket (no matter how good swimmer you are). The water on the center of the lake is about 180feet, and the water on the part that they allow guests to swim is about 80feet ;p
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
5 – 10 minutes walk. we were picked up by 2 local kids at the parking lot 🙂
ALMOST ♥
you’ll see this on your way to Lake Pandin ♥
Lake Pandin ♥
Lake Pandin ♥
Prepared lunch by the locals 🙂
3-5 minutes hike going to Lake Yambo
be careful. slippey when wet :p
Lake Yambo ♥
SMILE -_-
Lake Yambo ♥
Lake Yambo ♥
Lake Yambo ♥
Lake Yambo ♥
‘Manong’ was the one who guided us on our walk going to Lake Yambo 🙂
Lake Pandin’s Grotto ♥
Lake Pandin’s Grotto ♥
A breath taking sight indeed! You have to see it yourselves! 🙂
Hi. I am Ann 
Thank you for sharing this trip to Lake Pandin. It was very helpful. My family and I are planning to go here and I lost my original source of information for directions. Thank you for generously providing the details and sharing the thrill and excitement of the trip 🙂
you’re welcome girl! And thank you too for stopping by. hehehe. 🙂 It is a really nice and relaxing place. The people there are very nice and very accommodating too! 🙂
But kisses looks so beautiful…:) she has a boyfriend?
Hahaha. Yep she has a long time boyfriend, but i’ll tell her about your comment. LOL
cheers!
Hello po Alin po ang mas malinis na tubig sa pandin o sa yambo
BOTH. pero mas maraming nagpupunta sa Lake Pandin. Unti lang kasi yung raft na available sa Lake Yambo and I’m not sure kung everyday din ang functions nila?
Thank you po….
You’re welcome! 🙂
Thank You so much for the info! The moment i saw this my boyfriend and i planned to go already! We’ll be spending this coming long weekend traveling! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I have come to Lake PAndin last SAturday, MArch 1, 2014, and for my experience, it was pleasant. The food, the serenity of the place and the warmth of the people operating there in Lake Pandin. The down-side is, THERE IS NO DECENT TOILET NOR BATHING ROOM to use for local tourist like me, the only “changing room” they can offer are the ones that are DILAPIDATED and there is no roof and the walls are riddled with holes..Im so embarrassed with the fact, that I invited my lady friends to go there and join with me only to find out later that there is no decent and secluded room/place to change/bathe or to defecate…after reading this, you are now being warned!
i hope the locals/operator there would do something about it..its nearly a perfect get away but its not.
March 2, 2014 at 9:38 PM
I agree with you, the missing COMFORT room on the area for tourist to use is really a turn-off, but let’s give them some time and another chance. I think they are just starting to be recognized by people. If I’m not mistaken there’s really no formal support from their brgy. aside from the fact that they were the one who started planning it. Hopefully they will start organizing and planning on how to improve the place.
Overall, it was really a nice experience. Let’s just hope that next time we visit the place they already put up some room where people can change and do their ‘business’.
Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
We’ll be there this May (unspecific date yet decided)… thanks for the comment and blogs… i think it’s as good as Sagada… Pictures tell us all… 🙂
Thank you too for dropping by! I haven’t been to Sagada so I really can’t compare 🙂
Hi! Me and my team are planning to go there this coming saturday and we’re planning as well to spend overnight on the area. It seems like theres no way for us to do so since the rafts are the place to where you stay on during the visit. Instead, Do you have a contact to where we can stay or a villa at least? My friend went there an they stayed at villa sylvia, do u have their contact. Theyd lost the villas contact kaya we cant reach them…
Awww sorry I don’t have any contacts in Lake Pandin aside from the Bangkeras. Maybe you can ask them 🙂 My officemates will be there this Sunday too! Enjoy!
hi..pwede po ba mag dala ng food dun and balsa lang yung rent?
that I’m not sure. try to txt them though 🙂
wassup..is there a nearby hotel or inn that I could stay? what are the other places that I could go to that is near na rin? Thanks! I will be visiting here next month 🙂
I don’t know. I think nasa bayan pa yung pinaka malapit na accommodation nila, but again… im not sure. Hehehe.
Maybe you can send an SMS to the bangkeras, ask them if they can recommend something 🙂
P.S my officemates just went there this week and they said that the water in the lake isn’t that good and clear due to the recent fish kill, but still a breath of fresh-air from Manila though 🙂
you wrote this pala on sept 17, my bday haha
i’ll send them an sms this week..hopefully successful ung trip ko..
thanks again! wait, sooo, meaning to say, it’s (kind of) waste of time to go there and swim? any nearby beach too? thanks!
Nope. The place is still a nice getaway from Manila. The water is just not as green as it should be. You can still swim if you want, but be reminded that they really don’t have a CR for you to make “banlaw”. Hehehe
I don’t know any beach near by, but maybe you can visit the other lakes in Laguna. Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo is just two of their so-called “7 Legend Lakes of Laguna”. Maybe you can visit the other 5 too 🙂
Hi, I wasn’t able to go there this week (due to office work and Mother’s day tomorrow). Anyways, I called up the numbers you;ve given (Thanks!) and managed to talk to them. However, they won’t allow one person to just rent their raft 😦 they, instead, told me to just rent a bangka 😦 question is, would that be feasible, you know, to get around the lake, make them wait for me as i go swimming, eat their prepared food..
thanks for the help 🙂
Well if you’re alone and that was what they recommended to you, I guess its ok? We haven’t seen one during our trip except the one that was used by ‘manong’ who guided us on our way to Lake Yambo.
hi 🙂 do they have toilets or changing rooms?
Yes. A small one and dirty 😦
That’s the only downside of the place.
Ayun pa din kaya yung number ni aling siony for reservation? Sayang naman kung di maaccomodate pag dating dun
Hi!
I’m not sure. I haven’t checked kung yun padin yung number nila. Siguro kung di nyo sila makontak, make sure na lang na maaga kayo darating (before lunch time) so they have enough time to prepare your meal. And as much as possible, weekdays kapag walang reservation.
Hi. My boyfriend and I are planning to celebrate our 7th anniversary at lake pandin. 🙂 I would like to ask if they offer a certain package for an overnight tour? 🙂 Thank you! This site of yours is really a big help for those in search for an affordable and memorable tour like us. 🙂
Hello Carla!
The last time we went there, they don’t have lights surrounding the lake so an overnight tour/stay is really not applicable. They also don’t have cottages where you can rent. You will only really stay at the rafts, and they will stop the tour as early as 5pm or before it gets dark.
Thank you for the comment! 🙂
hi, you can stay in san pablo city or in nagcarlan hotels if you want to stay overnight. there’s no near-by hotels so you’ll still have to travel by car / jeep to the hotels. Around Sampaloc Lake, there are hotels, restaurants and a park, so you could head over there if you are up to it. Tahanani ni Aling Meding i think is one of those
If you want to stay near the highway, Casa San Pablo has a nice ambiance for your romantic getaway.
Nice! Thanks ashleyslair! 🙂
Hi! We’ll visit lake pandin this weekend and planning to bring car. Do you think its safe to leave our car in the parking area? Thanks much 🙂
I’m not really sure, but I would say YES 🙂
Na excite naman ako sa mga photos na nakita ko, we are goin there tomorrow, well kasama kasi sa itenerary, i hope God will give us good weather, we’re from Oriental Mindoro 🙂
Hi Buenafe!
Just read your comment today. I hope you enjoyed your visit! It’s nice isn’t it? 🙂
Do you recommend any attire for the “hike” or can we just wear anything? 🙂 Is it just a simple hike? Also, do you have any more recent contact numbers because I plan to go very soon! Thank you
Probably not jeans, leggings would do 🙂 It is a very easy hike, although it’s a little slippery if it rains. If I’m not mistaken, the contact number I have here is still active.
Thanks for the comment!
Hi miss anngeneral, if i will make a reservation, are those number provided above still active?
Hi Eden ~
I’m not sure if it’s still the same number since I haven’t been there in awhile. Just try it though 🙂
Thanks, this blog has been a great help for us. Tnx for the information here. We went there last March 28, 2015. Truly a God’s work of art. a “must see place.”
Hi Percy!
Thanks for the comment. Yep, it is indeed a work of art 🙂
Hi! My mom is 80 years and has difficulty in walking waking, can she get into the lake for tour or its not advisable for us to go?
Hi Ochie,
The path going to the lake might be difficult for her (10-15 minutes walk – normal pace), but if you have a wheelchair to push her through then I think she’ll be fine although the path is not really smooth or straight, so it might be a little bit bumpy for her too.
I suggest to try and contact the bangkeras, maybe they have a better option for you.
But as soon as you get her into the raft, then there shouldn’t be any problem. I wouldn’t really call it a tour as they will just sail along the lake and it’s really not that big, but it will surely relax her nonetheless 🙂