Imagine the turquoise water at the Kawasan Falls in the middle of the jungle of Cebu Island in the Philippines. Sounds like a dream right? Well, it is, but only so much…
WHERE IS KAWASAN FALLS?
The Kawasan Falls is located in southern Cebu, Philippines, just 21km south of the coastal town of Moalboal.
The falls are not far from the main ring road that goes all the way around the island of Cebu. If you’re staying in Moalboal, you can easily reach Kawasan Falls by motorbike, taxi, tuk tuk or bus.
You can park your bike at the “Kawasan Falls Car Park”, which is also where the trail starts. Parking your bike here costs 50 pesos, just over $1 USD, a day.
Would you like to extend your trip in Cebu? Consider visiting Siquijor Island after staying in Moalboal
HOW TO GET TO KAWASAN FALLS
The trail to the waterfalls is quite flat, so much so that I’d describe it as more of a walk than a hike. The walk will only take you about 15-20 minutes to get to the first waterfall, which also happens to be the most popular one.
If you get the chance to go really early in the morning, you may just be lucky enough to enjoy it calmly for yourself and get some photos of this gem without anyone in the background.
WHAT ARE THE KAWASAN FALLS LIKE?
The Kawasan Falls is not a single waterfall. Instead, it’s a set of several waterfalls on different levels of elevation on the canyon.
As you can already guess, this beautiful site is a hotspot for tourists, even at the earliest hours of the day. Many locals make a living from tourists visiting the waterfalls by selling anything from guided tours to canyoneering tours and, of course, souvenirs.
What is a canyoneering tour? Canyoneering (or canyoning) is “the sport of travelling down a river situated in a canyon”. It’s probably the best way to enjoy Kawasan Falls since you will get to see the many different waterfalls. The canyoneering tour starts much higher in the canyon and it mixes cliff jumping, water slides, rock hopping, scrambling, and trekking.
Alternatively, you can visit the first 3 levels of elevation on your own. Based on our experience, it’s definitely worth getting to the 3rd fall, as the first one gets incredibly crowded straight from the morning.
Getting to the 3rd level of the Kawasan waterfalls is still very easy. You can swim on every level and the water is not too cold making it a fun and comfortable day by the falls.
Also, you’ll find several little spots along the trail where it’s worth taking a moment to stop. As you take in the views around you, you’ll feel like you’re reconnecting with nature.
Sadly, here is where the magical appeal of this waterfall ends.
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE INSTA-PERFECT SHOTS
This is a chapter we would have loved to neglect, but we really can’t.
Unlike many other stunning waterfalls in Southeast Asia, even super popular ones like Sekumpul in Bali, which manage to still retain that wild and untouched nature feeling, Kawasan Falls is as commercialized as it gets.
Cafés, bars, tables, and even accommodations are sprawled along the edge of the water.
We weren’t expecting the waterfall to look this way and that’s part of the reason why we were disappointed when we got there.
On top of that, we had a strange encounter with one of the owners of the cafés which is an example of just how commercialized the area has become. It was 6:00 AM and we were the only ones there at the moment.
We put our bag down on one of the tables for a split second and, upon removing it, the owner of the locale immediately asked us to pay a fee. We tried explaining we were not staying but, unfortunately, that didn’t work…
This anecdote serves to only give you an overall picture of what could happen. Of course, each backpackers’ experience can be different. Just don’t be surprised if you experience something similar.
This is what the waterfall looked like just a few hours after sunrise to give you a better idea.
Why did they build all of this?
Filipinos travel a lot in their own country and they enjoy celebrating any type of event in natural places like Kawasan Falls. Locals will cook at home and then bring entire pots of food to a place like this, where they share it with each other. That's what the tables are for. It's a supply that is there to meet an existing demand. We have seen this happening all over in the Philippines, and it's an interesting aspect of the local culture. Filipinos are incredibly welcoming and we even had the pleasure to sit with some locals on the 2nd level and share a meal. Which was just beautiful! What we didn't like in this case was how close they built everything to a natural wonder like Kawasan. We felt local authorities should have done more to protect and preserve one of the best natural attractions of Cebu Island.
ENTRANCE FEE
Parking costs 50 pesos (just over $1 USD).
The Kawasan Falls entrance fee is 45 pesos ($1 USD) per person, which you will have to pay at a desk half-way to the waterfall. They will also ask for your name and nationality.
A canyoneering tour will cost you around $30 USD. You can either book it online, in Moalboal or on the spot.
Renting a raft at the first level will cost you 300 pesos ($6 USD).
IS IT WORTH VISITING?
Kawasan Falls is still a stunning place to visit in Cebu, but just know not to expect that ‘pristine waterfall hidden in the jungle’ vibe, as there’s a lot more going on. Of course, you will still enjoy swimming in the turquoise water, jumping from some waterfalls and sliding through the naturally created sliders.
Get there early in the morning if you want to have the place to yourself, and leave when it starts to get full. According to us, it is still a destination to include in your Cebu bucket list.
TIP: Consider combining or replacing Kawasan Falls with a visit to Montpeller Falls, Cambais Falls or Lambug Beach, which are all stunning and less popular alternatives.
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