Kawasan Falls is probably the most famous waterfall in the Philippines and one of the most recognizable in the world thanks to its bright shade of Gatorade blue. But is visiting these falls actually worth it? Although Kawasan Falls is surrounded by beautiful jungle, it has become very commercialized with cafes, picnic tables, chairs and giant rainbow umbrellas. The waterfall and jungle itself is beautiful, but the fact this natural wonder looks like a public swimming pool takes away a little of its charm. If you visit during the middle of the day I would also go prepared knowing that it will be busy and noisy. We visited at 7am on a Thursday and we were the only ones there and by 8am there were maybe at least 20 people. Despite how commercialized this location has become, there’s no denying the colour of the water makes it one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen.
Swimming At Kawasan Falls
All the waterfalls we visited in Cebu take the safety of visitors very seriously so you’ll be required to wear a life jacket even if you can swim. You can swim in the shallow ends of the falls without a life jacket but once you cross to the roped off area, which is closer to the waterfall you’ll be required to wear a life jacket. So if you want to swim underneath the falls, you’ll need to hire a life jacket that costs 50 pesos.
Don’t Miss This Other Viewpoint
If you’re facing towards the falls, you’ll see a staircase on the left hand side. Take those stairs and keep an eye out for the viewpoint in the images below. There’s no sign and you’ll have to climb over some large tree roots to get here.
There’s Actually More Than One Waterfall
If you keep following the staircase it will take you to the upper waterfalls. A lot of people don’t realize there’s more than one waterfall or they can’t be bothered with the uphill walk, but this means fewer crowds. The waterfalls here aren’t as epic as the main one but they still have the same turquoise water. It takes about 15 minutes to walk uphill to reach the other two falls.
The 3rd waterfall (the furthest one up the hill), is actually a dam and at 11am they turn the water on and it cascades over the edge of the dam. Unfortunately as we were there first thing in the morning we didn’t get to see this, so it was very anticlimactic once we finished our hike and realized it didn’t look like the photos.
The Bamboo Raft No Longer Exists
Many of the famous Kawasan Waterfall photos you’ve likely seen feature a very photogenic bamboo raft, that you could float on and row underneath the waterfall. Unfortunately this is no longer the case and they’ve since been removed. Apparently rafts were meant to be rented at a cost of 300 pesos per raft, which can fit 8 to 10 people. These were the official prices set by the local government. However, tour operators were instead charging 300 per person so the Mayor removed the bamboo rafts both at Kawasan and other waterfalls in the area. The waterfall still looks beautiful without the raft and it’s definitely easier to swim when you’re not trying to dodge groups of people on rafts.
Canyoneering At Kawasan Falls
Most of the waterfalls in Cebu offer canyoneering tours that last about 2-3 hours. You’ll be decked out in a life jacket and water shoes or runners and the guides will show you all the safe places to climb and where to jump. If you don’t like jumping into water from heights, then this activity might not be for you.
How Much Is The Entrance Fee
You’ll be dropped of at the entrance to the falls whether you have a private driver like us or take the public bus. From there it’s about a 15-minute walk along a paved track through the jungle and across a beautiful blue river. About half way you’ll reach the registration desk where you sign in with your name and nationality and pay the entrance fee of 45 pesos.
What To Do After Kawasan Falls?
I’d recommend taking a snorkeling tour in Moalboal to see the Sardine run. The sardines usually gather around Panagsama Beach, so it’s easily accessible to tourists. The run contains millions of sardines and is easily one of the most unique snorkeling experiences you can have in the Philippines. I’d also recommend a visit to Osmena Peak, which is about an hours drive from the falls.
How To Get To Kawasan Falls From Cebu City
Since we were staying in Cebu City we booked a private day tour that included return hotel transfers and a visit to Kawasan Falls, snorkelling in Moalboal, lunch at a local restaurant and sunset at Osmena Peak. We left Cebu City at 4am and reached the falls by 7am.
However, I’d highly recommend booking a hotel in Moalboal as it’s much more central and is the most convenient base for trips to different waterfalls and beaches. Moalboal is only a 45-minute drive to Kawasan, plus there’s plenty of other activities within an hours drive from the town. If you only have a day to explore then coming from Cebu City will be okay. If you’re planning on spending at least a few days exploring Cebu then I would recommend you fly into Cebu City and then drive down to Moalboal. A few suggested hotels are Ancelle Cristo Re for villas on the beach or Pawikan Resort for something more budget friendly.
