• March 29, 2024

After hunkering down for a good two years, you deserve a change of scenery to recharge your soul. One of the best ways to do that is to commune with nature. While heading to the beach is a go-to for many urban dwellers, why not go on a drive and experience camping for a change?

Rizal, which is home to several camping sites, is relatively accessible especially if you bring your own vehicle. Even before you get to your destination, you can already feel the stress leaving your body thanks to the lovely mountainscape and picturesque views along the way. 

A couple of hours’ drive from Manila is 3 Springs Mountain Park in Tanay, Rizal. If it’s your first time camping and you’re not sure about roughing it just yet, this private park is a great place to start because it provides basic comforts such as clean bathrooms and showers. There is a designated camping area where you can pitch your tent, enjoy the large expanse of greenery and beautiful views of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, and sleep under the stars.

De-stress by surrounding yourself with nature. Photo: 3 Springs Mountain Park

3 Springs Mountain Park is located at Km 56 Marcos Highway, Sitio Mayagay 2, Brgy. Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal. You’ll have to drive up and down twisty mountain roads to get there, but with a capable vehicle like Toyota’s new sub-compact SUV—the all-new Veloz—the journey can be as fun as the destination.  

The all-new Veloz is equipped with safety and convenience features, and bigger space to meet the needs of Filipino families. Photo: Toyota Motor Philippines

Guided by a new global design platform, the Veloz is engineered to provide improved driving and riding experience that combines power, pleasure, and safety. It’s powered by a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine (106PS at 6,000rpm and 138Nm of torque at 4,200rpm) that’s mated to a CVT transmission.

If you want to head south of the metro with the family, you might want to check out The Silent Sanctuary Reserve Campgrounds (SSRC) in Cavinti, Laguna. This campsite is a funding activity of the Deaf Evangelistic Alliance Foundation Inc., and all proceeds of the camps go in support of DEAF Inc.’s school and programs.

SSRC has four spacious campsites designed for vehicle-dependent camping or overlanding, which is ideal for families who want to go camping minus the hassles of hiking. The Mountain View Campsite can accommodate up to five vehicles; Lake View up to two; and The Island up to four. The Grasslands is the biggest of them all with a 10-vehicle capacity.

Stretch those muscles and go kayaking on the lake at SSRC. Photo: The Silent Sanctuary Reserve Campgrounds

For a fun and worry-free camping experience, don’t forget to pack your tents and sleeping bags; food, water, cooler and cooking equipment; toiletries and first aid kit; and flashlights or lanterns, among others. Bring towels and extra clothes, too, so you can freshen up at one of SSRC’s shower rooms after an exhausting kayak ride on the lake. The Veloz’s third-row seats can fold flat so there won’t be a problem fitting all your camping gear.

Got lots of camping gear? There’s room for everything inside the Veloz. Photo: Toyota Motor Philippines

Part of the whole camping experience is sleeping in a tent, but if you want your kids to sleep somewhere more comfortable, the Veloz has you covered. This seven-seater has a Long Sofa mode that lets you connect the second- and third-row seats to create a large, lounge-like rear seat. 

The Long Sofa mode lets your kids sleep comfortably. For safety, you should only use this when the vehicle is parked. Photo: Toyota Motor Philippines

Want to explore north of the metro? About two hours away from Quezon City is Kampo ni Juan in Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Bulacan. Plot your route on your phone, which you can mirror on the large infotainment screen of the Veloz via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Don’t worry about your device’s battery; there are four USB ports here and even a wireless charging pad. 

At Kampo ni Juan, there are two types of accommodation. You can rent either a tent (no need to bring your own and pitch one!) or a mini cabin with clear, tall windows that offer views of the surrounding hills. 

Food is a big part of a memorable camping trip. Plan accordingly—because being hungry is no fun. Photo: Kampo ni Juan

Before sundown, you can drive to nearby tourist attractions such as Gulod Paradise, Balistada Hills, and Talon Pari Falls. The Veloz will take you there safe and sound with its comprehensive features.

In particular, the V CVT variant is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense: pre-collision system, automatic high beam, and lane departure alert. It also has a panoramic view monitor. Meanwhile, standard on both the G and V variants are rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, vehicle stability control, hill start assist control, six SRS airbags, and electronic parking brake with auto hold. 

After exploring the surrounding areas, head back to the campsite, enjoy dinner by the campfire with your family or friends, and get a well-deserved rest before heading back to the city refreshed and reinvigorated.  

Discover new adventures aboard a safe, comfortable, and spacious SUV. Photo: Toyota Motor Philippines

Discover extraordinary adventures with your loved ones with the all-new Toyota Veloz, available in Platinum White Pearl Mica, Purplish Silver Mica Metallic, Black Metallic, and Dark Red Mica Metallic. 

Inquire about the all-new Toyota Veloz at your nearest dealership today. For more information, visit toyota.com.ph/veloz and check out the virtual showroom on the myTOYOTA APP. Follow Toyota Motor Philippines’ official pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or connect with them on  Viber for regular updates on products and services, dealer operations, announcements, and events.

In association with Toyota Motor Philippines

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