Tayabo Nature Park (also called Diamond Park) is known as the “Little Baguio of Nueva Ecija.” At first, I was reluctant to believe why they call it that, even though we shot videos here a year ago. Back then, I didn’t explore the tourist attraction much since we had a different motive. Now that I’ve strolled further around the park, I finally get it. I’m excited to share what we did during our stay.

Main Entrance

After more than an hour of travel, we reached the entrance of Tayabo Nature Park. I thought I was mistaken, but this was the exact place where we previously shot a historic film. My uncle paid ₱20 to park his XLT and rented a cottage worth ₱100. Before parking our vehicle, he asked the staff if there was a “pailaw” at night. Unfortunately, they said it’s only available from Friday to Sunday.

Tayabo Dam

I’m bad at describing places, but this was where we first went to capture memories. On the northeast portion of Tayabo Nature Park, you’ll find Tayabo Dam. It’s also called Kampo Kwatro, as it served as a strategic camp for Filipino soldiers during World War II. Alongside the dam, you can see captivating, picture-perfect mountain ranges. Based on my research, these are part of the Caraballo Mountains. It serves as a knot between the Sierra Madre in the east and the Cordillera Central in the west. And of course, where there’s a dam, there’s also the Talavera River.

Tayabo Nature Park

After finishing our photo-taking, we proceeded to the main core of the park. Although it was already my second visit, I couldn’t help but appreciate the tall trees and cool rock formations. The developers also built mini cottages that visitors can use for free. The place looks even more relaxing at night, especially with the Christmas light decorations. This is also where you’ll find the infamous 100 steps.

100 Steps

As we strolled around the park, we finally reached the 100 Steps attraction. This Instagrammable spot is similar to Wright Park in Baguio, which has 100 steps leading to a cross. However, I chose not to climb it and instead used the zigzag circular path.

Tayabo Nature Park Viewing Deck

When we reached the top, I couldn’t help but appreciate God’s creation. You’ll witness a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the Talavera River and the Caraballo Mountains. You can also see agricultural farms below, where the water from the dam is used to nourish the seedlings before they grow into rice.

Pagoda

I don’t know exactly what it’s called. However, if you walk to the highest part of Tayabo Diamond Park, you’ll see a structure that offers a panoramic view of the Caraballo Mountains. My cousin even joked that it looks like a place for rituals. The only thing I didn’t like was the vandalism on the walls. The back part of the pagoda also had a lot of litter, mostly from snack wrappers.

Cottage

After getting tired from walking, we went back to our rented cottage. This is where we ate our snacks and had what we considered an early dinner. We prepared two Chooks-to-Go chickens, a pot of macaroni soup, and one tub each of homemade puto and kutsinta. For drinks, we brought one gallon of mineral water, jars for creamer, sugar and coffee, and a thermos for hot water. While eating, I just listened to their conversations.

Playground

Now, let’s move to the northwestern part of the park.

In front of the playground, you’ll see a big circular structure where you can sit and take photos. They told me I could lie down on it, but I was concerned about its sturdiness. On the right corner, there’s also a big LED light display that says “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”

The playground itself has a seesaw, swings, slides for adults, and hanging bars. I enjoyed riding the swing and playing on the seesaw with my mother. Yes, we acted like kids again and took lots of photos. This area is right in front of the spot where I previously filmed and sat.

At the back of the playground, there’s also a swing bench where you can relax after a tiring walk. On the left side, there are slides meant only for kids. There’s also a kiddie swimming pool, which I think is only available during summer.