Why do we keep going back to the same mountain resort in Burauen, Leyte, when there are so many other places to visit? For our family, the answer is simple: Cansiboy Burabod Mountain Resort offers something refreshingly different. Cold, flowing spring water, mountain views that never get old, and a price tag that makes it easy to bring the whole clan along.
Our first trip was years ago, on my brother-in-law’s recommendation. Back then, it felt like a hidden spot tucked into the mountains. Now, after nearly 10 visits, it’s become a family tradition. Every summer, we make the drive from Tacloban, unload baskets of food, and brace ourselves for that first shocking plunge into the icy pool.
If you’re looking for slides like the one in Port Royale Waterpark in Tacloban, luxury, or polished amenities, this isn’t it. But if you want a natural swimming spot where the mountain does most of the work, Cansiboy delivers every time!
Getting There: Location & Accessibility
From Tacloban, Cansiboy Burabod Mountain Resort sits about 55 kilometers away, roughly an hour and a half drive if the roads are kind and your vehicle’s in good shape. It’s just far enough to feel like an adventure, but not so far that you need to commit to an overnight stay. That’s part of its charm for us: you can leave after breakfast, swim to your heart’s content, and still make it back home before dinner.
The roads are mostly paved, though the last time we went, a few sections were under repair. It wasn’t anything too tricky, just enough to remind you that you’re heading up into the mountains. It’s best to bring your own vehicle, as public transport is nonexistent, I think. The only thing we’ve seen around there are habal-habals (motorcycle taxis), and those aren’t exactly practical if you’re hauling kids, coolers, and picnic baskets.
The one tricky part is the signage or rather, the lack of it. Unless you’re familiar with Burauen, it’s not the kind of place you just “stumble upon.” My advice is to download Google Maps and save the route offline before you head out. Mobile signal gets sketchy once you climb higher, and you don’t want to be guessing turns when you’re halfway up the mountain.
Parking, at least, isn’t a problem. There’s plenty of space along the roadside near the resort, and since the area isn’t heavily developed, it never feels like a mad scramble to find a spot. You just pull over, unload, and let the mountain air hit you. It’s the kind of welcome that already makes the drive worth it.
Facilities & Layout
What makes Cansiboy Burabod Mountain Resort unique is how much of it feels shaped by the mountain itself. Instead of slick slides and manicured landscaping, you get a setup that looks simple on the surface but works beautifully for families.
The highlight, of course, is the spring water pools. There are three in total, flowing one into the other like natural terraces. Pool One is the source, fed directly by the mountain spring. It’s about 4 feet deep, clear enough to see the bottom, and icy enough to make you second-guess your decision to dive right in.
The water spills down into Pool Two, which is deeper (around six feet) and is usually the spot for the braver swimmers or those showing off their dives. Beside it sits the kiddie pool, shallower and gentler, where little ones splash around once they’ve gotten over the shock of the cold.
Around the pools, you’ll find a line of open-air cottages. They’re nothing fancy, just wooden structures with a table in the middle and benches for everyone to crowd onto. Some sit right beside the pools, which is where we always try to settle, since it makes keeping an eye on the kids so much easier.
The bathrooms and changing areas are about as basic as it gets: a couple of toilets, two shower stalls, and space to rinse off before heading home. Nothing Instagram-worthy, but surprisingly well-kept given how many people pass through daily. Staff clean them regularly, and I’ve never had that “I regret stepping in here” moment you sometimes get in rural resorts.
View of Cansiboy pools from the main path going up the mountain resort
The Cold Spring Water Experience
Nothing prepares you for that first plunge into Cansiboy’s spring water. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been ten times or it’s your very first visit — the shock hits you every single time! The water is crisp, biting cold, the kind that makes you gasp out loud and scramble for the edge.
Kids, of course, process it differently. Some cry, some laugh, some go blue around the lips (mine included). But once the shock wears off, you can’t get them out of the water.
Timing is everything here. Summer days are perfect when the sun warms your skin enough that the cold feels like balance rather than punishment. Rainy or overcast days are less forgiving.
My advice: check the weather, pick a bright day, and pack extra towels and dry clothes for when you’re done.
And unlike chlorinated pools or salty seawater, there’s a purity to this experience. No harsh smell, no stinging eyes, no sticky and salty skin afterward.
My son and his friend enjoying the Cansiboy "waterfall"
Cottages & Amenities
After you’ve braved the spring water, the cottages at Cansiboy are where everyone inevitably gathers. Shivering kids wrapped in towels, parents digging into Tupperwares of home-cooked food, and uncles already halfway through a bottle of soda. They’re basic, open-air huts with benches circling a single table, but somehow that’s all you need.
We always try to book one of the poolside cottages. It makes life easier when you’re juggling food, wet clothes, and children who decide they’re hungry 5 minutes after getting in the water. The higher cottages, perched up the slope, have nice views, but climbing up and down with a plate of pancit or grilled pork isn’t as relaxing as it sounds.
View from our cottage at Cansiboy Mountain Resort in Burauen, Leyte
Rental fees are very affordable. I think we paid less than a thousand pesos the last time we visited. And unlike many resorts, there’s no corkage.
You can bring whatever you like: home-cooked meals, snacks, cases of soft drinks, even karaoke if your family insists (and in true Filipino style, many do). There’s a small sari-sari store by the entrance for snacks and soda, but if you’re feeding a group, buy everything you need in Burauen town before heading up the mountain.
The best part is they don’t have strict headcounts, so you can squeeze in as many as your group can handle. I’ve lost count of how many times our extended family has filled one, spilling over with coolers, bags of chips, and kids weaving in and out in dripping clothes. It’s messy, chaotic, and exactly what you want on a family day out.
Rates are super affordable at Cansiboy Burabod Mountain Resort
What First-Time Visitors Should Know
Arriving at Cansiboy is refreshingly uncomplicated. You pull up by the reception hut, pay the entrance fee along with the cottage rental, and that’s pretty much it. If no one is manning the counter, just call out a friendly “Maupay!” and someone will come along.
Staff don’t wear uniforms, so you’ll quickly learn to recognize who’s working there versus who’s just another family unloading a cooler.
Once you’ve paid, you’re led to your cottage. If the one they assign doesn’t suit your group - too small, too far from the pool - don’t hesitate to ask for another. The people there are pretty accommodating!
Crowds vary depending on the time of day. Mornings tend to be quieter, while the lunch hour draws in most groups. It’s festive but never too overwhelming, partly because the open-air setting keeps things breezy.
What to bring? Everything. Towels, toiletries, soap, shampoo, floaties for kids, and especially food and drinking water. The sari-sari store is handy for soft drinks and snacks, but don’t expect a full grocery’s worth of supplies. We’ve seen families bring portable speakers, even projectors for movies, though personally I think the mountain view is entertainment enough.
If you’re the type who prefers planning ahead, you might wonder whether you need to reserve in advance. In all our visits, we’ve never booked ahead, and we’ve never been turned away. That said, arriving earlier in the day helps, especially in summer when big family groups are more likely to fill up the poolside cottages.
It’s all very simple, and that’s the beauty of it. You don’t come to Cansiboy for polished service or fancy amenities. You come for the cold spring water, the mountain air, and the chance to spend an unhurried day together.
Main entrance to Cansiboy Burabod Mountain Resort
Final Verdict & Recommendations
After so many visits, I can confidently say Cansiboy Burabod Mountain Resort has earned its place as our family’s favorite. Not because it’s the most polished or comfortable resort in Leyte (it isn’t) but because it offers something harder to find: a genuine, back-to-basics experience that feels refreshing every single time.
If you arrive expecting polished amenities, you’ll be disappointed. But if you set your expectations right — basic facilities, budget-friendly pricing, and nature doing most of the work — then these quirks are easy to forgive.
For us, it’s a 9 out of 10. The missing point? Maybe the lack of a lifeguard, or the cottages slowly looking their age. But those feel minor when weighed against everything we love about it. And the fact that we keep returning year after year says more than any rating could.
If you still have energy after a swim, I’d also recommend driving further up to Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park. The scenery there is incredible, with mist rolling over the slopes, lush forests, and a quiet atmosphere that feels worlds away from the busier towns below. We only managed a quick visit once because the fog was closing in, but even that short glimpse was worth it.
Will we be back to Cansiboy? Absolutely. It’s become a family tradition, one I can see continuing for years to come. And that, to me, is the mark of a place worth sharing.
Over to you!
Have you ever been to Cansiboy? How did your family handle that first icy plunge? Let me know in the comments below!