Cebu Island is an amazing and beautiful place to visit, with plenty of things to see and do. One of the best ways to experience all that the island has to offer is by exploring its many waterfalls. While there are many different waterfalls on Cebu Island, each one offers its own unique set of sights and experiences.
Since you like so much our previous post about DIY CEBU ADVENTURE TRIP: The Best Places to Visit on a Budget we created a new adventure trip for you that you will surely enjoy!
In this blog post, we will provide you with all the information you need to know about visiting the different waterfalls on Cebu Island.
So, if you’re looking for some adventure and want to explore some of the most beautiful places on Cebu Island, keep reading!
MANTAYUPAN FALLS
ENTRANCE FEE: SGD $1.10 /head (PHP 40.00)
Parking fee: 20.00
Raft Rental Fee: SGD $ 2.63 (PHP 100.00)
Cottage Rental Fee: SGD $13.00 (PHP 500.00)
ADDRESS: Barangay Campangga, Barili Cebu
Mantayupan Falls in Barili is Cebu’s highest and most magnificent waterfall. This is one of Cebu’s most stunning waterfalls, forest, and tropical vegetation.
On weekends, it can be rather crowded for the entire day, but come early in the morning during the week and you could just get the waterfall to yourself.
If you want to take the bus from Cebu South Bus Terminal, prepare SGD $1.84 (PHP 70.00) it takes 1.5 to 2 hours to reach Barili. When you arrive at the Shamrock Center (the necessary bus stop in Barili town), ask a habal-habal driver to take you to Mantayupan Falls. The fare is negotiable at PHP 30.00, less than a dollar.
REMINDER FOR DRONE PILOTS: Because the GPS often does not pick up inside the canyon, you will need to fly from the parking lot and then up and over to the waterfall to gather your satellites.
The route takes less than a minute to reach the first waterfall, a 14-meter cascade that cascades down into a circular pool. This pool is deep enough to swim in and is a lovely milky blue/green color. We spent some time at this pool before heading up to the main attraction.
The trail now brings you along a thin hanging bridge, which makes it feel much more adventurous than it is, as the major Mantayupan Falls is only a 1-minute walk away.
It’s a breathtaking 98-meter waterfall that cascades down into a massive pool of emerald green water. It’s ideal for swimming, and there’s even a small cliff jump to the right. However, be cautious because there may be pebbles or debris beneath the surface. Footprints in the rocks indicated that humans had climbed up to the 4-meter-high ledge.
KA TREASURE WATER TERRACES FALLS
ADDRESS: Brgy. Catang, Argao, Southern Cebu — approximately 10-15 minutes from Argao proper.
ENTRANCE FEE
Adults: SGD $2.64/head (PHP 100.00)
Kids: SGD $1.32 /head (PHP 50.00)
This new tourism attraction in Cebu’s south will undoubtedly catch your curiosity.
When the locals discovered this water terrace, they didn’t change its form. All they did was remove trees that covered up what is now an amazing view of nature!
The pools range in depth from 2 to 6 feet. Locals intend to extend the pool further down, construct stairs, and install a mini bar!
The flowing water into them comes from an incredible spring, and it’s so clean that even the manager drinks out here! But we advise against drinking unfiltered or untreated waters because they can be dangerous to your health if not boiled first – as long at least one minute goes by before you drink
To get there just take a bus from Cebu City to Argao and ask the driver to drop you off at the Argao Bus Stop. After that, take a motorbike to Argao Public Market. Then hail a Catang-bound motorcycle. The fare ranges from SGD $0.70 to $1.00 ( PHP 30.00 to 50.00). Expect to walk 10-15 minutes from their parking lot.
They already have cottages, restrooms, and food to serve their guests now that the area is officially open and more visitors are coming in! You are also welcome to bring your own food because there is no corkage fee! They also allow overnight stays, but you must bring your own tent because they do not currently have any accommodations.
KAWASAN FALLS CANYONEERING
RATES: SGD $50.00 – $65.00 (PHP 1500.00 to 2500.00)
Note: The typical packages include transportation, a knowledgeable tour guide, and the cost of entrance, depending on the package you choose.
ADDRESS: Barangay Matutinao in the town of Badian, Cebu
Since we have covered this attraction in a previous blog post today will focus more on canyoneering- which means going into narrow rocks with deep rivers!
One of the most popular tourist activities on the island is canyoneering through the Gatorade blue waters all the way down the canyons to Kawasan Falls. Every day, thousands of tourists take part in the adventure.
You can do it yourself or book in advance. This thrilling journey lasts about 3 to 5 hours. It will begin in Alegria and conclude in Badian.
A life jacket, helmet, and even rubber shoes will be given. We began the adventure with a 30-minute habal-habal ride to the mountain after completing the necessary preparations and orientation. Then we walked along the river for 15 to 30 minutes. The turquoise blue river appeared, surrounded by lush greenery.
The group then proceeded downstream, following the river. You’ll have to slide down rocks, float with the river current, and jump from cliffs varying from 10 to 50 feet high but it is optional.
If you choose to jump, the floating and swimming will finish roughly halfway through and you will begin a walk through the river and jungle. It’s a very immersive experience, but it’s also very safe.
When you get to Kawasan Falls, it is tradition to leap from the top of the falls and make a large splash to commemorate your visit to Cebu.
CAMBAIS FALLS
ADDRESS: Guadalupe, Alegria Cebu City
ENTRANCE FEE: SGD $1.32 /head (PHP 50.00)
Cambais Falls is a spectacular waterhole located in the hills of Alegria, Cebu. It’s only a half-hour drive from Moalboal (4 hours from Cebu City), and there are numerous other amazing waterfalls nearby to round off an epic waterfall adventure day.
The drive to Cambais Falls is a scenic one. You can’t miss the modest sign that marks your entrance to Cambais Falls.
It’s only 30 minutes away from Kawasan Falls, and there is a ticket office right at this part which is a 15-minute walk from the waterfalls
Cambais has multiple waterfalls and cliff jumping levels, as well as wonderful swimming locations.
Cambais Falls is divided into two levels. A large, milky blue pool is encircled by ferns, stones, and trees on the first floor.
At this level, the waterfall pours over the limestone rock face with less power, more of a pour!
It appears to trickle off the limestone in lines, creating a lovely view from below. This level has a lot to explore, including a few small caverns and plenty of rocks to leap off.
There is a solid cliff leap on this initial level. You can jump directly from the waterfall from about 7 meters and then 10 meters.
The landing area is pretty narrow because it isn’t too deep, and you must hit the correct landing place. Before jumping, make careful to check the depth.
INAMBAKAN FALLS
ENTRANCE FEE: SGD $1.32 /head (PHP 50.00)
ADDRESS: Brgy. Calabawan, Ginatilan
Inambakan Falls is famous for its stunning 100-foot waterfall that cascades into a large pool of blue water. It is an amazing scene, surrounded by rich jungle flora.
The multi-level hike to numerous pools and waterfalls, however, is what makes Inambakan Falls such a unique adventure.
The main waterfall is a 100-foot-tall rush of water that smashes into a turquoise pool of water. The limestone cliffs behind the waterfall are stunning. The orange hue contrasts sharply with the deep blue of the pool below.
Behind the waterfall is a cave where you can explore the rocks of the main pool and leap into the pool below. You could spend hours exploring here, and it is an experience in and of itself.
However, there are five levels at Inambakan, so this is only a portion of the overall experience.
You can find the third level to be a beautiful spot. A crystal blue pool, deep enough for cliff leaping, is set against an exquisite backdrop of palm trees. It’s a little piece of heaven in the heart of the bush.
To get here from Cebu City, take the South Cebu Bus Terminal to Inambakan Falls. Take the Ceres bus from Bato to Barili.
You can request that the conductor drop you off at either Ginatilan Town proper or Malabuyoc; the ticket is approximately SGD $4.48. (PHP 170.00) The travel time is approximately 4 to 5 hours.
However, if you are already in Moalboal, it is a one-hour and twenty-minute trip to Inambakan Waterfalls.
Then, ride a habal- habal to drive you to Inambakan Falls in Brgy. Calabawan. Depending on your bargaining skills, the fare will be around SGD $1.50 to $2.00 (PHP 50.00 to 100.00). It takes 20 minutes to get there from the waterfalls.
Once you’ve reached the entryway, expect a 10-minute stroll to your final destination.
There are roughly 7 waterfalls in the region; hire a local guide if you want to go visit them all (canyoneering + cliff jumping). There is no set rate, but please compensate them fairly for their time and effort.
It never hurts to give back to the community. It’s a relatively inexpensive area to visit, and the locals are looking after these attractions so that we can all enjoy them; the very least you can do is support the local economy.
So far, we’ve shown you five of the most beautiful and picturesque waterfalls on the island. And trust us when we say that there are plenty more to explore!
If you want to check out where these waterfalls are located in relation to each other, please refer to this map.
Don’t forget to share this post with your travel buddy so that you can both get excited about your next Cebu adventure together!
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