Travel Guide: Waterfalls in South Cebu

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Posted by geemiz | Posted in Byahe Pilipinas, Cebu | Posted on 29-11-2015

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Cebu is one of the many beautiful islands in the Philippines and is best known for its annual celebration, the Sinulog Festival. During summer, visitor flocks the island to visit the pretty beaches both in the north and south.

South Cebu Waterfalls

 

Did you know that Cebu is also rich in waterfalls? This article will guide you to visit 5 enchanting waterfalls in the South part of Cebu in just 2 days plus side trips to the highest point of Cebu, a heritage park in the South, and a tasty ice cream.

South Cebu itinerary

Complete Itinerary Cebu South Waterfalls

 

Side Trip to Mantalungon, Dalaguete (Osmeña Peak)

TimeParticularsCostNote
2:45am – 4:30amSouth Bus Terminal to  Dalaguete105.00Ceres Aircon bus
4:35am – 5:00amDalaguete Proper to Osmeña Peak drop off point100.00Habal-habal Ride
5:05am – 5:30amTrekking to Osmeña PeakTime may differ
5:30am – 7:20amEnjoying the beauty of the place25.00Tip to our guide
7:25am – 7:35amTrek Back
7:45am – 8:20amOsmeña Peak drop off point to Dalaguete proper

There are children who would ask if they can be your tour guide. Though the place is easy to locate, hiring them plus a tip after is a great deal for these kids. They would tell you that the money is a help for school. In our case we hire Jake to look after our things while we busied ourselves enjoying nature. (by enjoying I mean taking thousand of photos) *All cost is per person and during this trip I was accompanied by my sister, cousin, and dear friend.

Osmena Peak

Why visit Osmeña Peak?

The Osmeña Peak is the highest peak in Cebu and is approximately 1000 meters above sea level. It is located in the municipality of Dalaguete and is part of the Mantalungon mountain range. The hills are unique among others in the country because it is jagged together as a group. At the peak when the clouds are clear you can see the islands of Bohol and Negros. Vegetables are cheaper in this part of Cebu for Mantalungon is known as the vegetable and fruit basket of the Island.

Other things to do in Badian

  1. Trekking from Osmeña Peak down to Kawasan Falls
  2. Canyoneering

Side Trip Oslob Heritage Park

TimeParticularsCostNote
8:30am – 9:05amDalaguete to Oslob50.00Ceres Aircon bus
9:10am – 9:45amBrunch in a carenderia86.25.00Extremely hungry at this point
9:50am – 9:55amWalk to Oslob Heritage Park
10:00am – 10:50amRest and enjoy the place
10:55am – 11:05amWalk back to Hiway

 

What makes Oslob Park Heritage?

Oslob Heritage Park is beautiful. It is located farther back of the Municipal Hall near the shores and in front of the Oslob Church. The church itself is considered a National Heritage.  In the park you can find the Baluarte a ruin watch tower and the Cuartel, a ruin of a Spanish era building believe to be a prison cell.

Oslob Heritage Park Oslob Cuartel

Oslob Heritage park Church Oslob Heritage Park: The Baluarte

Other things to do in Oslob

  1. Visit Tumalog Falls (Regretted that we did not include this in our itinerary but happy because this adds a reason for me to be back in the South)
  2. Whale watching (I do not want to comment in this activity)

Day 1 Falls Hopping: Samboan’s Aguinid, Da-u, and Hidden Falls

TimeParticularsCostNote
11:10am – 11:50amOslob to Bato, Samboan35.00Ceres non-Aircon bus
12:30pm – 5:20pmRent A Multicab400.00This is a rip off
Aguinid Falls155.00Guide + dry sack+entrance
Lunch50.00
Da-u Falls70.00Guide + 20 entrance
Hidden Falls45.00Guide+20 entrance
5:30pmBought food for dinner, breakfast & Snacks111.25
6:00pmCheck Inn at the Resort375.00Good for 5-6 persons
Tip to the care taker for cooking87.50

We had a misunderstanding with the multicab driver that we hired, so we believe that 1,600.00 php is too much for the 1 day trip – 12:00pm – 6:00pm day 1 and 8:00am to 9:45am day 2. On the other note the care taker of the resort where we stayed is nice enough to cook us grilled fish and pork plus tinola (fish soup) during dinner. For our breakfast we had the extra tinola from the previous night and longganisa.

Samboan Falls

Aguinid Falls

A mystical 5 level falls situated 200 meters away from the Hiway. Each level is unique in its own ways that it is hard to choose on which is most highly acclaimed. But the ascending and descending part of the level 3 falls will surely excite you. The Aguinid falls is well maintained and managed. They have a strict policy about keeping the place clean and tourist safety. The Aguinid Falls has their own official tour guide and base on our experience their tour guides are nice and most importantly knows how to handle a camera. 🙂

Aguinid Falls Cebu  Cebu Aguinid Falls

Samboan Cebu Aguinid Falls  Aguinid Falls Samboan Cebu

Da-u Falls

One of the tallest falls I have seen by far and the tallest in Samboan. It is 120 meters in height. The path going to the falls reminds me of the magical place of the Elves in the Lord of the Rings series – the Rivendell (my photos don’t give justice to the place). Make sure to bring a bottle of water for you need to walk 30 minutes to reach the falls.

Samboan Cebu Da-u Falls

Da-u Falls Samboan Cebu

Binalayan Hidden Falls

The name says it all. The falls seems hiding and waiting to be found. The 3 column waterfall is magnificent. There where many visitors when we arrive so we just admire the falls from a distance. Sad truth – there are garbage that is dumped in the side of the stream before the main falls. If you visit the place or just anywhere, kindly dispose your garbage properly.

BInalayan Hidden Falls in Samboan

Day 2 Falls Hopping: Ginatilan’s Inambakan Falls and Badian’s Kawasan Falls

TimeParticularsCostNote
8:00amBreakfast
9:00amInambakan Falls10.00Entrance fee
9:30amStroll around Ginatilan
9:45amGinatilan Proper to Looc Ginatilan
Guide – the driver hire from start of trip75.00He carry our personal stuff
10:30amGinatilan to Badian (1 hour bus ride)36.00
11:35amWalk from Kawasan drop off to Falls
11:40amEnjoy Kawasan Falls (2 hours in the Falls)70.00Guide + 20 entrance
2:00pmLunch (Beach resort in front of dropp off)135.00

 

So the driver of our multicab rental has his son go with us. So at the end of the trip we oblige ourselves to give him a tip. On most part, he is a handful carrying our personal belongings while we girls go swimming. He is also the reason why we have hundreds of photos (insert personal photographer).

 

Ginatilan Church

Ginatilan Church

Inambakan Falls

Inambakan Falls is a little far from the proper of Ginatilan but going there is so peaceful. The old houses were we pass by reminds me of my great grandparents house and oh! How I love to see those mountains and feel the cold wind. A 15 minute walk is also necessary to reach the falls.

Inambakan Falls in Ginatilan Cebu

Kawasan Falls

The most famous among the falls in the south is the Kawasan falls. Maybe because it is more accessible from Cebu City and is first among all to be developed as a tourist attraction. Just a short story – while going to the falls we met Jake, our tour guide in Osmeña Peak. He guided some tourist who went for trekking from Osmeña Peak down to Kawasan Falls. We ask him if he can watch over our things while we go up to the second and third falls. Thank you Jake. 🙂

Kawasan Falls Cebu

 

Side Trip Alcantara and Barili

TimeParticularsCostNote
3:00pm – 3:35pmBadian to Alcantara26.50Ceres Mini Bus
3:40pmStroll around Alcantara
4:30pm – 5:30pmAlcantara to Barili38.00Ceres non-aircon bus
5:35 PMMolave Milk Station25.00Ice cream
6:15pmWaited for bus bound to Cebu City
6:30pm -7:45pmTrike from Molave Milk Station to Carcar30.00
8:00pm – 9:00pmCarcar City to Cebu City60.00Ceres Mini bus

 

The Day is still young so we decided to go for another side trip, and this time at Alacantara and Barili. In Alcantara we wish to visit the Alcantara Sea Paradise: The Boardwalk where you pass an aisle of mangroves. We have not make an in-depth research because this is an on the spot decision. Reaching the place it is under renovation and no one is around for us to ask permission to get inside, so to the next destination we go.

Alcantara Church

Alcantara Church

The Molave Milk Station is a popular stop over for travelers in the south. They serve few dishes together with their specialty the cow and carabao’s milk, shake, yogurt, and ice cream. Since it is night time when we reach the place the only thing they had is the milk ice cream and yes truly worth it for a stopover.

We waited for around 15 minutes for a bus going to Cebu City or a multicab to Carcar City but most vehicles are full. We decided to hitch on a family owned multicab that was also at the Milk Station when a trike stop asking if we want a ride to Carcar City for 30.00php and we said “Thank God” plus a huge Yes.

Barili Molave Milk Station  Molave Milk Station in Barili

During that 2 day trip, I spent a total of 2,200.50php but it can be squeezed because as you see we are very generous to our tour guides and get a rip off on our multicab rental. We do not mind giving to tour guides for it is what tourism is for, helping our kababayan to make a living.

Lastly shout to the ladies on this amazing Round Trip to the South of Cebu and cheers on more adventures to come.

Round the South of Cebu

 

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Meet geemiz


Geezelle Maningo - A Cebu based travel blogger and the other half of GeeMiz Travel blog. She has been traveling around the Philippines and Asia since 2010 with her husband. A casual trekker/hiker since 2017 and has been blogging since 2008. A digital marketer during workdays and a bookworm on lazy days - she co-founded Cebu Book Club.

Comments (2)

Wow! You have a really great circuit of Cebu’s waterfalls. We haven’t been to some of the falls in your list.

OMG when your idol travel blog/blogger comments.
There are really many beautiful falls in Cebu.
Hope to join on your adventures soon.

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