Traveling Morion | Travel + Photography: Laguna | Costales Nature Farms in Majayjay

Organic produce is now on the rise in the market. People are becoming more health conscious and organic lovers. If you are one kind of, Costales Nature Farms at the foot of Mt. Banahaw in Barangay Gagalot, Majayjay, Laguna will never stop linger in your mind until you grab the chance to get there.

The famous Costales Nature Farms is initiated by IT specialist couple, Ronald and Josephine Costales. Thinking about the future, agriculture has been the ideal retirement life they wanted apart from the fact that farming has been a part of their childhood, although, they have opened partnership with several Overseas Filipino Workers and CNF when the need to expand was strongly demanding. It is a 5 hectare home of different organic fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, spices, livestock, poultry and rabbits, sealed and stamped with an organic certification by NiCert. For more than ten years now, the farm have been known as the first and premiere Agri-tourism destination in the Philippines accredited by both DA’s Agricultural Training Institute and Department of Tourism (DOT).

From a simple backyard farm just for easy access of organic produce for family consumption, the sustainable farming system in the operation has gained popularity that made them decide to open the farm for tourism with intent of sharing their knowledge in farming until well known restaurants reached out to them for supplies of organic produce such as Italianni’s, Solaire, Shopwise, Rustan’s, Healthy Options and Cibo. These are where some of the farm’s organic produce are marketed. Costales Nature Farm is in fact the Philippine’s largest producer of organic vegetables and herbs.

By this time, about 5000 local and foreign people in a year are visiting the farm with different purposes and interests. Having a visit will give you the chance to enjoy and experience vegetable harvesting, transplanting, sowing, animal feeding, egg harvesting, fishing and fruit picking. Experiences in a bunch that will surely make your stomach growl after but nothing has to worry for Costales Nature Farm has Apong Damian’s Organic Resto which serves palatable dishes and The Right Food which is a farm-to-table deli and market where you can rest for a dine. Both are of organic servings. You may also eat during the tupig grilling (a favourite Ilokano delicacy of Mr. Costales which he proposed in the farm) and the tea, salad and pizza making. All with the organic bounty from the farm except for the pizza dough and cheese which they are after to becoming organic the soonest they can supply.

We prepared our own "fresh and organic" Garden Salad - a great and refreshing experience!

Costales Garden Salad made from all organic farm produce

Tupig making can be part of the package tour

Everything in the farm works organically and naturally

Apart from all the organic based food they offer, the farm also has different kinds of tours which you can enjoy such as Wellness, Lakbay-Aral, Life at the Farm, and Green Living. It is best though to have a trip on summer since they have programme for cultural show by this time of the year. Student field trips are given special activities where they will go home fully with knowledge and ideas in business, agriculture, culinary and tourism.

After a lengthy day with nature, it‘s worth to stay overnight in their accommodation facilities and feel the cool breeze of the night in Costales Nature Farm.

PACKAGES and RATES

Bed and Breakfast Rate

Bahay Kubo : 2 persons Php1985

Villa Josefa : 3 persons Php3315

Villa Marcus: 10 persons Php8775

Villa Angela : 10 persons Php8775

Seminar and Workshops

Organic Agriculture Production (OAP) NC II

Integrated Organic Agriculture and EM Tech

Farm Tourism Workshop

Organic Hog/Poultry Raising and EM Technology

Urban Gardening Workshop

Inclusions: AM and PM Snacks, Buffet Lunch and Seminar Kit

"Pick and Pay", harvest organically-good chicken eggs then pay at the counter.

FARM TOURISM PACKAGES

Wellness Tour

Php4245 per pax

3 days / 2 nights

Meals and Accommodations

Guided Farm Tour

Tour to Nearby Towns

Tour to Majayjay Falls

Green Living Tour

Php1275 per pax

Whole day meals

Guided Farm Tour

Tour to Majayjay Falls

Lakbay Aral Tour Package A

Php275 per pax

2-3 hours with snacks

Guided Farm Tour

Lakbay Aral Tour Package B

Php695 per pax

Half day with snacks and lunch

Guided Farm Tour

***Tours and itineraries can be customized according to the preference of the visitors.

Healthy and organic flowering papaya tree

Barbados cherry is grown in the farm.

Catch your own tilapia using lettuce as bate. Amazingly, tilapia here are vegetarians!

Tara! Plan your weekend getaway in Laguna and don't forget to include Costales Nature Farms in your itinerary!

HOW TO GET THERE
From Edsa

Ride a bus bound to Calamba and jump off at SM Calamba

Ride a van bound to Lucban and just tell the driver to drop you off in Costales Farm

From Alabang

Head to Festival Mall at Filinvest and ride a van bound to Lucban and drop off at Costales Farm

Costales Nature Farms

Address: Costales Nature Farm Training Center, Brgy. Gagalot, Majayjay, Laguna

Phone: (049) 576-3824

E-mail: inquiries@ costalesnaturefarms.com

Website: http://www.costalesnaturefarms.com/

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PS: I would like to say thank you to Mam Josephine and family; Sir Kenneth, for organizing this farm tour for bloggers; Jess, for serving us the best foods and teaching us how to cook and prepare [organic] sumptuous menus; Shaira, for touring and guiding us; and to all the accommodating staff and farmers of Costales Nature Farms for this great (healthy) weekend of August. Opppss, also to blogger friends (Mayor) Jherson and (FL) Lana of Lonely Travelogue; (Gov) Franco of Lagaw Travelogue, (Kapitana) Claire and Rem of Traveling Light, (Silent but malupet) Leon of TadongGeniusKuno, Angel (and Nel and the cute cute Ellie) of Mrs. Enero’s Diaries , my kababayan and founder of #BillyCaresFoundation - Billy of EscapeTravels, and Ms Millet of Project Gora – maraming salamat sa tawanan!