With the increased popularity of ecotourism these days, going to the La Mesa Dam and EcoPark is an expected choice. Yet it’s ironic that we haven’t visited the place even if we work and live near it. So, during the 3 Kings celebration, we decided to have a picnic-lunch at La Mesa.
I didn’t think much of the place, a short-lived opinion that vanished into thin air as soon as we arrived. I thought it’s just the same boring patch of green plants and open space. But I was badly mistaken. La Mesa EcoPark is a perfect picnic place and I could say that with confidence even if my ONLY other picnic experience was at the UP Sunken Garden.
There are a number of open areas amidst the trees, shrubs and other greenery. Since we haven’t been to the EcoPark, our first instinct was to grab the first available open space nearest the entrance, thinking that, just like in a parking space during peak times, there might not be an available space up the road. We found out that there are many open areas as you go deeper into the Ecopark.
There are picnic tables in a number of places, but we decided to simply put a mat on the ground, under the shade of a tree. It’s rare that I get to lay down in open air, especially in the city. Now that I’ve done it again, my childhood “fear” of spears raining from the sky came back. The imaginary spears immediately blipped out, though, when someone said that lunch is ready.
Faucet/water stations are found all over the place, good for washing hands, plates or anything of that sort. You don’t have to fall in line or walk to the end of the earth just to look for tap water. There are a number of small stalls selling chichirya and meals. Comfort rooms are readily available. The staff go around to get the trash from the trash cans. The place is relatively well maintained, I must say.
Take all that, then add shade, fresh air and cool breeze into the equation, then add the following components: view of the La Mesa Dam (although taking pictures and video of the dam itself is unfortunately not allowed), the Flower Terraces, playgrounds for kids (there’s more than 1 playground), kid’s bikes for rent, boating, rappelling through the zip line across the boating lake (you’ll see one if you look closely at the right side of the boat, photo to the right), fishing, paintball gear and place, and the Butterfly Trail and Hatchery, and what do you get? Perfect picnic place for the kids (and the oldies).
Oh, I almost forgot — there’s a swimming pool, so better come prepared. For those who want to burn calories (or for us who are dreaming of burning fats), there’s a fitness trail. I might just go back someday to try the fitness trail and see if fresh air could help me lose weight faster.
The La Mesa Dam and Ecopark is found in Quezon City, which explains why QC residents enjoy a P10-discount in entrance fee. There are a number of entrance/egress from La Mesa, but only one going into the EcoPark is open to the public.
How to get there? From the Quezon Circle (which is near UP-AyalaLand TechnoHub, Trinoma and SM North EDSA), take Commonwealth Avenue past UP, Ever-Gotesco and Sandiganbayan. After the Mangahan Market (to your left), you’ll see Andok’s Litson Manok and KFC outlets (to your right) and MetroBank (to your right). You could turn right in a couple of blocks in that area, all of which will lead you to the EcoPark. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions.
How much are the rates? Main entrance fee is P50, but Quezon City residents enjoy a P10-discount. There are separate fees for the swimming pool (persons above 3 feet — P80; below 3 feet — P40), boating park (P100 for 30 minutes per boat, good for 4 people), Butterfly Trail and Hatchery (P30).
There you go. Next time you’re thinking of having a picnic in the middle of the city while enjoying nature at the same time, think of La Mesa EcoPark, located at the La Mesa Dam.
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#1 by Aiza on January 9, 2009 - 10:01 am
Do we need a reservation bef0re going to la mesa eco park. Are the students allowed to visit the dam,and listen to some information regarding the dam.
Thank you.
#2 by Fred on January 9, 2009 - 12:01 pm
Aiza, there’s no reservation needed to enter the EcoPark, just the entrance fee. Guests could view a portion of the dam from the EcoPark (but no photos allowed). However, I get the sense that you’re planning a field trip, so kindly contact the EcoPark Office through these numbers:
(02) 430-4051/ (02) 430-5207/ (02) 430-5207 (telefax)
Sarah – 09062234125
Dong – 09159013772
#3 by tin on February 18, 2009 - 6:20 pm
hi just wanna ask if theirs any activity for team building facilities like, wall climbing or anything that can improve the students leadership skills? and this there any place inside that park that can stay over night? how much is the prices?
#4 by Fred on February 21, 2009 - 9:15 am
tin, I didn’t notice any wall-climbing facility or something of that sort, but there are lots of open spaces for group activities. There’s no overnight facility at the ecopark. Enjoy and take care.
#5 by girlie on February 21, 2009 - 9:46 am
is there any restrictions on the park? any contact nos i can call at the park
#6 by hill roberts on February 21, 2009 - 5:16 pm
Hi, Fred, thanks for your warm invitation to make me post comments. I have only discovered this site through trial and error. but hopefully, I’d be able to give my personal contribution to this interesting site since I am from the outside looking in but still in touch with what’s going on in our beautiful country.
I think our tourism minister, J Durano so far has been doing a good job in promoting our country. However, the basic complaints of many Europeans are still the lack of tourist package deals, directly from their country of origin. As I said, I have traveled the length and breadth of the great European cities and they too have already set package deals, or flights are so cheap even to go to Prague, Budapest, Warsaw rather than spending three days in London, for example.
Do you know that Spain enjoys around 63 million tourists a year? Gibraltar, a British Colony gets at least 20 million tourists a year, many of them on day trips. If we are
to have at least 5 million in the next couple of years, hey, that isn’t too bad, right? But, I ask in a frustrating manner, why on earth are we happy with that number when we can do better than that number? There are many many ways of promoting our country but if keep saying indirectly we’re happy with 3 million tourists, well, Fred, that isn’t good enough, right?
I mean, the technology is there for our government ministers to promote it Full Blast! Malaysia, with under 24 million inhabitants, seem capable of promoting their country with ease and they now get at least 15 mllion tourists a year. That’s quite a feat indeed.
So, how can we improve the number of tourists in our country? We really can’t, not in an instant, unless our very own Media decide to stop making disparaging articles, reports, which is so often, about the negative things about our country. There’s just too much surrender to the negative things when there are positive things they can report about. There’s so much emphasis on Politics. For heaven’s sakes, if we keep on and on about the daily politics there, about their misdoings, about corruption—which is something that exists in every country of the world—the USA is tops in corruption—they are the ones doing big-time fraud—those in the private sector—so let’s just drop corruption in our daily paper mill and for once, concentrate on the positive aspects that our country can offer—which is plentiful. Hopefully, the media will assist in promoting our country to be one of the great destinations in the whole of Asia. Mabuhay!
#7 by jona on February 23, 2009 - 8:32 pm
can i ask?does ecopark listed at the department of tourism?when?
#8 by Fred on March 2, 2009 - 7:11 pm
@Girlie, there are some restrictions . . . like no pictures of the Dam itself. Perhaps you could ask the staff — the contact details are mentioned in one of the comments above.
@Jona, I’m not sure (if it’s listed and as to what you mean). Maybe others who have ready access to the information could verify that info.
@Hill, as usual, it’s an honor to have your insights here. Maybe the figure — 3 million tourists — is a good start, although, as you mentioned, we’re far from maximizing the tourism potential of our country. But hey, we’ll get there (especially with tireless people, like you, who are promoting our country =).
#9 by alan on March 29, 2009 - 6:50 pm
open b pool sa linggo ng pagka buhay?paano b pumunta jan kung galing kmi ng q.ave?
#10 by Fred on April 2, 2009 - 9:24 am
Alan, I suggest you contact La Mesa. The contact details are indicated in the earlier posts, above. From Quezon Avenue, head straight to the Quezon Circle. The next set of directions are contained in the post. Enjoy.
#11 by Edlaine on April 16, 2009 - 2:59 pm
ask ko lang..how much specifically yung rate ng zip line rapelling, paint ball and wall climbing? at saka may mga bagog attraction ba sa park aside from what were mentioned dito sa post? thanks!
#12 by eljay on April 27, 2009 - 4:27 pm
magkano ba entrance dyan
#13 by Fred on April 28, 2009 - 7:49 am
Edlaine, I didn’t ask about the rates when we were there. Perhaps you could call (the contact numbers of La Mesa Park are indicated in the post) and ask. Or we’ll try to ask if we go back to the place.
Eljay, maybe you just missed that detail, which is included in the article. Enjoy the place.
#14 by jeff on July 11, 2009 - 10:09 pm
Just want to ask if there is a fishing spot at eco park?
#15 by tzeche on July 14, 2009 - 10:41 am
hi! just want to answer some of the questions:
* Just want to ask if there is a fishing spot at eco park?
–> yes, there’s a fishing spot inside the eco park. you can rent fishing rods and buy baits right there
* ask ko lang..how much specifically yung rate ng zip line rapelling, paint ball and wall climbing?
if i remember it right wall climbing is 50 pesos. zip line is 100 and paintball is 500/3 games
*hi just wanna ask if theirs any activity for team building facilities like, wall climbing or anything that can improve the students leadership skills? and this there any place inside that park that can stay over night?
aside from wall climbing, zip line and paintball may obstacle course sa loob ng park. maye you can organize some sort of team games using those facilities.
and i don’t think pwede mag overnight dun. park closes at 5 pm. walang rooms to stay in. pero try to contact la mesa ecopark kasi may pavillion sila dun. maybe you can make some arrangements for overnight stay.
share ko lang din yung pictures nung lugar…
http://tzeche.multiply.com/photos/album/31/eco_park_