Sarah
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The Kawasan Falls are probably one of the most instaworthy places in the Philippines – if not on Earth!
So you are probably not surprised that we (or more, I) wanted to head there for sure when we spent over a month in the Philippines mid-2018.
Also read: Best places to visit in the Philippines
As some of you know already, I am a research monster. So, of course, I didn’t come unprepared – and we had an amazing day at the falls due to that!
And given the fact that you really seem to like my recent articles about the Philippines, I finally wrote down my ultimate guide to visiting the Kawasan Falls!
I’ll show you how to avoid the crowds, how to get there, what to bring and where to snap the best Instagram shots!
Table of Contents
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General Information about the Kawasan Falls
The Kawasan Falls are a group of waterfalls located on Cebu Island. They are about 3-4 hours away from Cebu City. One of the closest towns to stay at is Moalboal (around 45min by scooter).
The Kawasan falls are particularly famous for their stunning (slightly milky) turquoise water. This is not Photoshop – it’s nature! That’s what makes then especially instaworthy – and the lush green vegetation around too!
Actually, the Kawasan Falls are split into three sections: the lower, the middle and the upper falls. On all levels, there is a big, swimmable basin. Technically, there are some smaller falls in-between too – and you can also go on a canyoneering adventure!
The most instagrammable photo spots are at the upper and the lower falls. However, the middle falls also offer plenty of nice instaworthy photo ops too.
My secret Instagram tip: also take photos at the smaller falls in between! This way you will have the obvious (stunning) shots – AND some unique ones! (You know, I am all in for the unique places!)
Entrance to the Kawasan falls is 40 PHP per person!
The different levels of the Kawasan Falls
The Lower Falls
You will find plenty of pics with a floating bamboo raft on Instagram from the lower falls.
So be aware that a lot of people want to snap shots here (scroll down to “How to avoid the crowds” to find out how to snap your instaworthy shot without them)
The Middle Falls
I think that this little rock on the middle falls is a highly instagrammable spot.
There is also some cliff jumping spots here if you are into that sort of thing! (I am sooooo not – coward alert here!). And there is another bamboo float – but this one is in s slightly less interesting perspective.
The Upper Falls
The upper falls are incredibly gorgeous and probably Instagrams No.1 darling here.
Depending on the water level, the waterfall will be ”active” or not. Unfortunately, they weren’t when we visited – but it was still super gorgeous there!
Slightly above the upper falls is also a waterslide carved into the stone that you can try. I am not an adventure type of traveler – but even I tried and loved it! 😀
Instaworthy photo spots in-between
As I told you already, there is more spots that you can take gorgeous photos at!
This one required a bit of climbing (not too bad) It is located between the lower and the middle falls – and I think it is one not to miss!
These spots can be found at the lower end of the middle falls and is usually not crowded. Great choice if you came a bit late!
Interested in instagrammable spots? Well, then you should also check my ultimate Instagram bucket list!
Also read: the ultimate Instagram bucket list
How to avoid the crowds at Kawasan Falls
Avoiding the crowds is the most important things when it comes to both taking amazing pictures as well as really being able to enjoy the waterfalls.
This is how the lower falls look like at 9am:
And this is how they look at 11am:
I am pretty sure, you also prefer the 9 am version. And this is also the only way to avoid the crowds: get up early.
You can’t really manage to be at the falls at 9 am if you come from Cebu City. Many guided tours come from there and that’s why it gets so crowded around 11 am – that’s when the buses arrive!
So, your best bet is to stay close to the Kawasan Falls overnight and drive there on your own in the morning.
The town that I would highly recommend for this is Moalboal. It’s about 30-40 min from Moalboal to Kawasan Falls by scooter. Plus, Moalboal offers nice beaches, cool diving and snorkeling options and some rice paddies to explore around!
Renting a scooter in Moalboal is easy and really cheap (we payed 120 PHP for the whole day!). Always wear a helmet when riding scooters – especially in Asia!
After you arrive at the falls, first take some shots on the lower falls as they fill up most quickly with bus tourists. Then head on to the upper section next. The upper section is where to people from the canyoneering will arrive first. Lastly, make your way down to the middle falls and finish off your little Instashooting with some of the smaller spots in-between. Now it’s time to bathe 🙂
If you fancy canyoneering too – do this after taking the pictures. You can perfectly organize this adventure straight at the Kawasan Falls (even cheaper than in town)!
How to get to the Kawasan Falls
The first thing you need to do is catch a flight to Cebu City. There is quite a few international connections as well as myriads of domestic flights to literally anywhere in the Philippines.
While you can visit the Kawasan Falls as part of an organized group day trip from Cebu City, we advise you not to do this because of the crowds.
Instead, get a driver (or a bus) that heads to Moalboal and sleep one night there.
Get to Moalboal from Cebu City
You can get from Cebu City to Moalboal via different option: public bus, van and taxi.
We took a taxi because we were short on time and our flight arrived late in Cebu City.
However, it is much cheaper to go by public bus or van (around 90-120 PHP). Public buses to Badian from from the South Bus Terminal while the vans start from the One Citylink Terminal (close to South Bus Terminal). Vans are quicker (2-3h, buses 3-4h) – but they can get really crowded.
You can check the bus timetables online on the official website (just click)
Get to Moalboal from Siquijor Island
An alternative way to get to Moalboal is to first visit other islands around Cebu and then head to the Kawasan Falls.
There is a ferry going to Liloan port in Santander from Larena Port, Siquijor Island (which has gorgeous waterfalls too). In order to get to Siquijor Island, you first have to catch a ferry from Cebu to Bohol.
Also read:
Our itinerary (after spending 3 weeks in Palawan) was: Cebu City – Moalboal (Kawasan Falls) – Siquijor Island – Bohol – Cebu City. But of course you can also do this the other way around!
You can check ferry timetables online – but don’t trust them too much! They can be outdated and you don’t want to miss your flight.
This was the best source I found: Ferry timetables Cebu
Get to the Kawasan Falls from Moalboal
The next day in the morning (or even the evening before), organize a scooter for latest 8 am and get on the road to the Kawasan falls (see the map) – a scooter costs around 200 PHP for the full day.
The drive to the Kawasan Falls is really easy to do as the road conditions are absolutely fine. I marked the exact entrance to the falls on the map above (you can click and zoom) because it is not on Google maps.
Once you leave the main road for the falls, someone will try to stop you to make you park on their parking lot. They will insist that this road is private and you can’t go further.
Ignore them and go further. You CAN park closer to the gate and it’s cheaper there (technically you don’t have to pay at all – but spending a few bucks for someone guarding your scooter is a good idea in many countries).
From there, it’s about a 10 min walk to the lower falls.
Other options to get to Kawasan Falls from Moalboal include a tricycle (not recommended, much more expensive – 600-800 PHP) or the bus. You can catch the bus on the main road in Moalboal (near the pharmacy, it’s heading to Bato). The bus will be 40 PHP – but then you still have to get from your hotel to the main road and back.
We felt that for two people it was almost the same price as a scooter. And a scooter gives you much more independance! For example, we visited White Beach in the afternoon too! 🙂
What to bring for your day trip to Kawasan Falls
There is a few things that you should definitely bring along your trip to the Kawasan Falls to make the most of your time!
As there is only lockers at the lower falls (100 PHP), a drybag is probably the most important item to keep your stuff with you most of the time (and to keep it dry :D).
Another item that might come handy is a Pacsafe. With a Pacsafe, you can lock your drybag or backpack to a tree and make sure no one is able to steal your valuables while you splash in the water. We had our backpack stolen on the beach in Cuba once and now we always have a Pacsafe with us for situations like this!
Obviously, a GoPro is a must have if you want to go canyoneering or jump around in the falls recording videos. We currently have a GoPro Hero 6 – but have heard good things about the GoPro Hero 7 as well.
If you are interested in a few other things that we were really happy to have them with us during our trip around the world – check this blog post too: 30 Perfect Gifts For World Travelers (that they REALLY want!)
Good shoes are also something you need to bring! While I am all for flip-flops – you will be happy if you have some more stable shoes with you at the Kawasan Falls. Especially the path from the middle falls to the upper falls can be really slippery from time to time!
Other items to pack into your drybag:
- Quick-dry towels (surprise, surprise!)
- Food/Snacks (there is not a good selection of food)
- Camera/Phone (waterproof or with a smartphone drybag)
- Water (only sold at lower falls)
- Insect Repellent (not too many mozzies are there luckily)
- An inflatable Flamingo (just kidding. No, not kidding. I wish I had one. It would have looked so ridiculously funny :D)
- Plastic bag for your wet stuff on the way back
How much does it cost to visit Kawasan Falls?
So, here is the good news: visiting these gorgeous waterfalls in Cebu is not at all expensive. In fact, it is pretty cheap (if you are in the Philippines already…!)
Cost of visiting Kawasan Falls:
- Scooter rental (+gas): 200-300 PHP
- Entrance to the waterfalls: 40 PHP
- “Parking”: ~50 PHP (haggle…)
- Fresh young coconut; 40-50 PHP
- Lockers (if you don’t have a pacsafe): 100 PHP
- (Canyoneering: 800- 1,000 PHP)
- (Food at restaurant: ~200 PHP – better bring your own!)
Where to stay near Kawasan Falls
As mentioned, I would recommend you to stay at least one night in Moalboal, in order to avoid the crowds at the Kawasan Falls!
Moalboal also offers nice diving, cool bars and a few good restaurants if you stay close to the beach. I marked a few spots on the map above (under “How to get to Kawasan Falls from Moalboal)
We stayed at Pescadores Seaview Suites in Moalboal and I think they were a decent option.
Just search with Booking.com or Agoda to find a deal that suits you best!
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Hey! Great instructions! I will be heading to moalboal. I was wondering if scooter shops open that early? And may I know if they have restaurants opening till late night ? I will be arriving at around 11pm..
Hi Jan – you will find lots of restaurants that will be open until late night – don’t worry! For scooter rentals, most places open around 8am – you can see if someone is around late night when you arrive and make sure that they’ll open early!
Wow, that is an amazing place. I’m a planner too and I really appreciated you showing the difference between early morning and late morning at the falls. What a difference a few hours makes. I’ve never been to the Philipines but it’s definitely on my list now.
Glad you enjoyed your visit! Kawasan is paradise, and you captured its beauty perfectly! 🙂
Great post Sarah. Deep insight about the Kawasan falls. It’s indeed instagramable.
omg this looks absolutely gorgeous! I love that you’ve included instaworthy spots here … I hope I get the opportunity to visit these falls someday. Haven’t done much travelling in my time but this has DEFINITELY been put on my bucket list after this post. Great article!
xx J
Looks like an amazing place and great article. Thanks for sharing.
I love traveling and always looking for new places to visit so thanks so much for sharing.
I really love your photos! I really want to visit Philippine next time too. But never thought about coming to this place. Now I really want to see this place with my own eyes and experience the nature. SO stunning! Thank you for sharing!
I love your photos… I’m happy to know that you enjoyed my country. I have never been to Kawasan Falls but looking at your photo’s – I MUST GO THERE THIS YEAR. Thanks for the information. I took down notes.
Oh wow that looks like Paradise on earth. Love your pictures. Really beautiful.
This waterfalls looks so beautiful..! Love the color of the water. It looks so clean and fresh here.
Wow i had never heard of this place before. It looks absolutely stunning! It’s on my list now! Thank you for the guide.
OMG! These pictures make me want to go on vacation ASAP! The waterfall is absolutely stunning and it looks like you had an amazing time! It truly looks like paradise on Earth.
This is an awesome travel guide! I really want to go there someday it looks beyond beautiful!
Ok this looks absolutely amazing! I hope to go visit someday, and now I know when are where to travel so I don’t hit the busy season! Gorgeous pictures!
The pictures are absolutely awesome. It is pretty obvious you had an awesome time with your trip. I am quite jealous actually.
Looks like you found a great spot to enjoy with your family! I haven’t been to this place but interesting destinations like this are definitely on our list!
I went with my husband – but you could totally go there with kids as well!
Never been to this place but that place looks very vibrant to relax and unwind. Looks like you had a great time there!
Absolutely! I think it should be on everybodies bucket list 🙂
Wow, I never knew about this Kawasa falls, looks so good, I bet it looks more beautiful in person. I would love to visit this falls sometime.
It’s impossible to catch it with pictures – you need to see it in real life! 🥰
Oh wow this place is STUNNING!! I. think I would spend the whole time just taking photos! It just looks so beautiful!
It took us also quite a while until we were satisfied with the number of pictures 😀
You totally should! They are one of the most amazing places I have ever seen!
Wow, such a beautiful place to visit and it sounds like you had a fab time. Great tips for others wanting to have a lovely visit as well.