Last weekend, FreebieMNL discovered a hidden gem deep in the South.
If you’re in the market for a relaxing vacation, the AirBnB Lake House by Happy Camp in Cavinti, Laguna is the place to be.
According to the owner Juvi Delas Alas, she and her husband love to travel. They’ve always wanted to own lakefront property. When they fell in love with Sierra Lake (aka Lumot Lake if you’re a local), they decided to build a house there.
The original purpose of Happy Camp was to serve as a resthouse for their family and friends. But they decided to open it to others via AirBnB. They hired caretakers and spruced up the place a bit. They chose a cheerful name so customers would have an enjoyable experience there.
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Delas Alas says she doesn’t have real ties to Cavinti. “We were visitors who fell in love with the town. A lot of people have never heard of it, but it’s a nice place. There are a lot of things to do here. The townspeople are friendly and kind. Lastly, it’s only a few hours away from Manila.”
The AirBnB house
When you book a stay at Happy Camp, you’ll have access to the entire property. That means the house and grounds are all yours. The former is a loft-type dwelling with large windows. It has two rooms, each of which can hold six people. There’s also a tent in the lounge area on the second floor.
The living room faces the lake, which can be clearly seen through the windows. The kitchen, porch, and restroom are all huge. In the backyard, there’s a rough-hewn dining area wrapped around a big tree.
When the FreebieMNL team arrived, Delas Alas gave them Cabernet Sauvignon and Coke. It took them about seven hours to get to Cavinti since they made several stops along the way. Delas Alas says the trip to Laguna from Quezon City takes half that long without stopovers.
Activities
Guests can swim in the lake as long as they wear life vests. Happy Camp also offers trips to the river, which is 30 minutes away from the island. The river water is clean and clear, but parts of it are quite deep. Guests need to be careful and wear protective equipment at all times.
Brave souls can try the 10-foot-high jumping pad. Those who aren’t as fearless can sit on the nearby rocks and watch the action. If you’re not a fan of water-based activities, there are other things you can do here. You can lie in a hammock to recharge your batteries or build a bonfire.
Pet lovers can also spend time with the playful, sweet dogs that live on the island. If you’re a fur parent, you’ll love the fact that Delas Alas decided to open Happy Camp to pets as well. You won’t have to leave your fur babies at home or a kennel to go on vacation!
Details and discounts
“Our check-in time is at noon. Guests must check out by ten in the morning the next day. Early check-in is OK if no one checked in the day before your booking date. We always spend two hours cleaning and disinfecting the entire place. We do that before guests arrive,” Delas Alas says.
You can contact them on Facebook, Instagram, or AirBnB at Lake House by Happy Camp Cavinti. They have a few ongoing promotions, such as a 20% discount when you book through the AirBnB app. If you like their Facebook page and share this article, you can get up to a 25% discount.
Featured Image Macky Arquilla
