The Kawasan Falls are some of the most famous waterfalls in The Philippines and one of the top things to see in Cebu. And you can certainly see why. Lost in depths of lush jungle, crystal clear water cuts a path through the landscape, pouring over rocky formations and into inviting turquoise pools. It’s a perfect paradise for adventure lovers to swim, hike and explore.
If you’re visiting Moalboal or even Cebu a day trip to the Kawasan Falls should definitely be on your list – this guide should tell you everything you need to know to plan your visit.
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How to get to the Kawasan Falls from Moalboal?
As the Kawasan Falls are only set 26 km outside of Moalboal they are really easy visit, even for just half a day. The cheapest option is to get the bus there. If you head to the market in Moalboal town centre you can hop on any Ceres bus driving that direction and just tell the conductor where you want to get off. Tickets cost 20 – 30 pesos depending on if you get an aircon bus or not and the journey takes around 30 – 40 minutes.
You can also get the bus from Cebu City to the Kawasan Falls, however, this journey takes around 3 – 4 hours so I would recommend staying closer by the night before your visit.
Once you get off the bus, cross the road and you should see a sign marking the entrance. From there it’s a further 15-minute walk to the first set of falls.
Top tip: as you get off the bus you’ll probably be approached by locals telling you that they want to be your tour guide for the day. In all honesty, though, you don’t need a tour guide to explore the falls, so if you want to save some money it’s best to politely decline.
What is there actually to do at the Kawasan Falls?
There are three parts to the falls each with their own bright blue pool to swim in.
The first level is the easiest to reach and has those famous bamboo rafts that you might have seen on Instagram. After you’re done enjoying the bottom part of the falls, make sure to wander up to the top of the waterfall too where there’s a small rocky spot from which you can look down on the water gushing into the pool below.
A short and relatively easy hike takes you up to the second level of the falls, which is the most scenic in my opinion. There are two waterfalls here and it’s set much more within the jungle canopy. You’ll also find a couple of restaurants and stalls at the first two levels where you can buy food and drink throughout the day.
The hike between the second and third part of the falls is more challenging but still manageable in a decent pair of trainers. The third level is the least pretty but arguably the most fun! The water runs over a man-made concrete dam here (not quite so nice to look at), but the pool is also home to a series of slides and swings making it a water playground!
Other than hiking and swimming around the different levels of the falls, canyoneering is also a really popular activity to do at the Kawasan Falls. You can organise a tour from either Moalboal or when you arrive at the falls, with both options giving you time to explore the falls either before or after.
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How much does entry cost?
The entry fee to the Kawasan Falls is 40 pesos per person. Then once you’re inside if you want to go on any of the swings or slides you can pay extra per go. Oh and not forgetting those bamboo rafts I mentioned earlier – we got quoted 500 pesos each to rent one out!
What time should you visit?
If you want to avoid the crowds it’s best to visit the Kawasan Falls on a weekday in the early morning. That being said it also depends on what time of year you visit too. We visited in low season on a weekday and it still wasn’t very busy around lunchtime.
What should you take when visiting the Kawasan Falls?
Other than the obvious, swimming costume/trunks, towel, camera etc. Make sure to take some mosquito repellent, as you are in the jungle after all. I would also recommend a decent pair of shoes for hiking around the falls as it can get quite slippy as well as some shoes to wear in the water to protect your feet from the rocks (although not that essential). A waterproof bag is also handy to protect your things whilst you’re in the water.
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How to get back to Moalboal?
Head back to the main road and wait for the bus on the same side of the road as the entrance. From here you can flag down a passing yellow Ceres bus to take you back to Moalboal or on to Cebu City.
