Wawa Dam Gorge

The Marikina river escapes the Sierra Madre through a narrow limestone gap at Wawa, in a gorge some 360 metres deep, and the American colonial government dammed it there - work began in 1904 and the dam ran from 1909 - to supply Manila's water. It was the city's only source until Angat Dam replaced it and was abandoned in 1968, but the setting it created remains: a wall of old concrete across a gorge with cliffs rising on both sides, green water pooling above and below, a hanging footbridge, and boulder shores where families swim and picnic. The two crags flanking the gap are the area's other draw - Pamitinan and Binacayan, both sharp limestone scrambles of a few hours with rope-assisted sections and airy summits looking back over the gorge, the reservoir and, on clear days, the Metro Manila skyline. Guides are required for both, and the area is protected as the Pamitinan Protected Landscape. Pamitinan also carries a cave associated with the revolutionary Katipunan, which local guides point out on the way up. It is the nearest thing to real rock scenery within reach of the capital's traffic.

What you'll find

• The old dam - concrete across the limestone gap.
• The gorge pools - green water and boulder shores.
• The hanging bridge - the crossing above the river.
• Pamitinan and Binacayan - the twin limestone scrambles.

When to go

November to May; the river rises fast in the rainy season and swimming closes. Start climbs early - the limestone bakes by mid-morning.

What to expect

Weekend crowds and litter are real problems at the swimming areas. The mountains are short but genuinely scrambly with exposure near the tops; guides are mandatory. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Daranak Falls and Mount Daraitan lie south in Tanay; Antipolo's ridge is half an hour away.