Bikers are always on the lookout for scenic spots to visit for a bit of nature and greenery in the city. Aside from Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife and Quezon Memorial Circle, one of the public parks currently open to visitors as of January 2022 is La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City.
Even though I’ve been a QC resident for years, I’ve never bothered going to La Mesa Eco Park before. I’ve always had this mental image that the park was too near to visit by motorcycle but too dangerous to visit by bike. In the past, biking along the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue isn’t something you’d normally do for fun. Plus, we’ve always had the lovely UP Diliman campus as our regular go-to biking destination for a quick nature fix.
But the pandemic has really changed people’s perception of distance and rediscovering the city, and biking somewhere you haven’t been to before is always a pleasant prospect. With (mostly) protected bike lanes now in place along the former “Killer Highway,” biking to La Mesa Eco Park is actually very near and doable for urban rides.
The terrain is all paved and flat, with no steep elevation, so it’s easy whatever type of bike you’re riding. There are some sections of the bike lanes where barriers are not in place, where vendors have taken over, and where car owners have turned the lanes into parking lots esp. in front of churches, but for the most part, the bike lanes are a great improvement to the pre-pandemic biking situation.
The entrance to La Mesa Eco Park is through East Fairview Park Subdivision. From Commonwealth Avenue, just turn right on Winston Street, and then left at Dunhill St. all the way to a Steel Bridge, than left and follow the tree-lined road to the entrance to the park.
La Mesa Eco Park is a public park where visitors can jog, walk, and meditate surrounded by high trees, fresh air, and relaxing scenery.
NOTE: As of January 3, 2022, only FULLY VACCINATED individuals may enter La Mesa Nature Reserve (the larger watershed area) and La Mesa Eco Park for recreational activities. All unvaccinated persons can only travel for necessary purposes. Please check their FB page for announcements, as restrictions could easily change at a moment’s notice. I didn’t see any kids there during our visit. There were just a few other biker groups and adult picnickers.
Covering an area of 33 hectares (82 acres) the public park is located along the natural boundary of the La Mesa Watershed Reservation, located 40 meters (130 ft) below than the reservoir. One of the main attractions of the park is the flower terraces, where you climb 125 steps (as high as the grotto in Baguio) to get a view of the dam above.
The bikeable area inside the park isn’t that large, but the forested area and lagoons are a welcome sight after biking next to buses and cars on the highway. The park has loads of shaded huts and benches where you can just and relax and photo spots for picture-taking.
Some sections of La Mesa Eco Park, like the Eco Center, Swimming Pool, Orchidarium, and Butterfly Garden are currently closed because of pandemic restrictions, while other activities like rappelling, zip-lining, waterbike rides in the lagoon, go-kart racing, archery, fishing, bike rentals etc. are currently not operational. The Mini-Forest and Fitness and Bike Trail inside the complex were also fenced off.
However, cyclists with their own bikes who just want a scenic destination to ride to in the city or nature lovers who just want to enjoy a quiet spot for picnics and nature walks can still enjoy visiting the Eco Park. They allow cyclists to bring in their bikes, while there’s a parking lot for car owners and motorcycle riders right outside the entrance. FYI: Motorized vehicles are not permitted beyond the park entrance.
As of our visit, there was one kiosk inside selling sago gulaman, softdrinks, and snacks like kwek kwek, siomai, etc. inside. Other booths selling burgers and other food were not operational yet. Visitors can also bring their own food and snacks, making this a good spot for picnics. La Mesa Eco Park offers shaded huts and cabanas, which you can rent for day use or you can just lay in the grass at the open-air Amphitheatre or find a quiet spot among the Picnic Grounds.
It would be great if there was a place serving good coffee inside, since bikers always love coffee, but so far, no coffee yet. You might want to bring your own in a flask. Just be sure to throw your trash properly. The park has trash bins everywhere, but for some reason, some visitors still throw their plastic cups and discarded fast food packaging everywhere, especially in the overlooking spots.
Overall, La Mesa Eco Park offers a pleasant, quiet and peaceful nature spot in the city, especially at this time when unvaccinated individuals (which includes children) aren’t allowed out for leisure activities yet. While the pandemic has taken its toll and some areas feel a bit run-down and abandoned, it sort of has that romantic “The Last of Us” post-apocalyptic vibe and is pretty quiet these days. Cyclists looking for a place to enjoy nature in the city for their weekend rides can check it out.
Guidelines (as of January 2022)
- Allowed activities: Jogging, walking, meditation and picnic (Mon-Sun)
- Photo/video shoot (Mon-Fri)
- Operating hours: 6:00 am to 12 noon (Monday to Friday), 6:00 am to 3:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- Walk-ins will be accepted but following a limit of 700 guests inside the park at any given time
- Only fully vaccinated individuals may enter the La Mesa Nature Reserve and La Mesa Eco Park
- Areas open to visitors: Main access roads, open-air amphitheater and picnic area
- Minimum health and safety protocols of the park must be observed at al times
- Vaccination Card and valid ID (for the discount) must be presented before entry.
La Mesa Eco Park min. Donation/Entrance Fees
- Minimum donation of P50 per head (QC residents get a discount)
- Regular admission (adults) – Php 50.00/head
- Quezon City students and residents (with valid ID and proof of residency) – Php 40.00/head
- 3ft and below – free entrance regardless of residency
- QC Senior Citizens and Person with Disability (PWD) – Free entrance
- Non-Quezon City Senior Citizens and PWD – Php 40.00
- Cottage rental – Php 500 per day
Photo and Video Shoot Fee
- Php 500 inclusive of 4 persons free park admission
- Additional Php 50 per person in excess of 4 pax.
- Additional charge for use of other facilities (verify with the eco park administration)
How to get to La Mesa Eco Park
By bike, motorcycle, or private transport:
- Drive along Commonwealth Avenue and look out for the entrance to East Fairview Park Subdivision (Winston Street).
- Nearby landmarks include Puregold NORTH Commonwealth, Fairview General Hospital Wilcon Depot Fairview, Honda Cars Fairview, and Robinsons Supermarket on the side of Commonwealth Avenue and Don Mariano Marcos Avenue (R-7).
- Turn right on Winston Street, then turn left on Dunhill Street and follow it all the way to the entrance of La Mesa Eco Park.
By public transport/commute:
- Ride any bus bound for SM Fairview.
- Tell the conductor to drop you off at Winston street tricycle terminal of East Fairview Park Subdivision. There’s a small sign pointing right to La Mesa Eco Park.
- There are tricycles stationed near the entrance allowed to enter the subdivision at the Winston Street terminal. Tell the driver that you are going to Eco Park.
- Pay the required admission fee to enter the vicinity.