Badian, Cebu is one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines to visit—a 3rd class municipality with lots of lush greenery and nature. But the definite star of the show is the Kawasan Falls, a stunning three-layered waterfall which is a popular tourist destination, known both locally and abroad.
Located in Barangay Matutinao, the small paradise is hidden in an enclave within the jungles of Cebu, far from the city life. The waters are a beautiful aquamarine shade and the mere sight of it immediately relaxes the spirits—it’s even known to be one of the cleanest bodies of water in the entire country. Given this, it’s no wonder the falls have become an international—and Instagram-worthy—hit.
 |
| The refreshing aquamarine water of Kawasan Falls |
Personal Notes
It’s around 7:00AM and we’re just having our complimentary breakfast in Uncle’s Tom’s Cabin. I know, we’re already late! We actually set our departure from Cebu City at 4:30AM - first trip by bus going to Bato in South Cebu. We’re scheduled for Kawasan Falls in Badian but i woke up late (6:30AM). Forgive me, it’s because of Airasia’s delayed flight. Our night flight from Manila was delayed for more than 2 hours. No hurt feelings, they treat us with 2 food packs of jolly chickenjoy!
After 30 minutes of waiting, we board in a Ceres bus headed to Bato via Badian. Chicharon vendors in Carcar area transform wifey’s sleepiness into full smile! I hate the smell of pork chicharon, forgive me!
We only had 1 stop-over for more or less half an hour in Barili area to have our lunch. Our lunch : fried squid, 150 pesos- worth of lechon (yep, in Cebu, lechon is just a usual dish in a karenderya!), steamed shrimp and 2 cups of rice - all for less than 500 pesos.
After, more or less, 4 hours of “snoring” (correction: beautiful bus ride), we reach the junction in Barangay Matutinao where we started our 30-minute walk going to one of the most famous tourist destinations in the province, the Kawasan Falls.
It’s my 5th visit and wifey’s first time. BTW, I was assigned in Cebu (particularly in the south) for work for more than 3 years, but, my apologies i only have few posts - I was not a serious travel blogger during that time hehehe.
It’s weekend, so we expected the crowd – local tourists, Chinese, Koreans, Americans. I would love to visit and shoot some long exposure frames in the 2nd and 3rd tier but dark clouds warned us not to proceed...
 |
| Part of the river connected to Kawasan Falls |
Kawasan Falls
The falls have a total of three tiers, all of them connected to the beautiful Kawasan river. The first tier is rather crowded, filled with locals, other tourists, as well as vendors selling goods and lots of food stalls. The second tier is a bit less filled with people. Finally, the third tier—while small, has a sparser crowd making for a very serene experience. Be sure to have some good shoes and energy when walking up the tier, however, since the road up can be rugged.
Travel Notes
- Prepare for a little bit of hiking! In order to reach the falls from the road, you have to walk around 15-30 minutes. The walk is pretty easy, however—not to mention the smell of the fresh trees is rejuvenating.
- Make sure to buy some coconuts from the locals as a refresher. At just 10 pesos each, they’re very cheap, yummy, and filling.
- Take a swim at the hidden lagoons. The water is more calm here that at the actual waterfall tiers, making it more safe for children and those who struggle with swimming. Swimming is also completely free.
- If you’re tired of swimming and just want to relax in the clear waters, you can rent a raft for a total of 300 pesos.
- Changing rooms and restaurants are available at the location—be sure to have some change on you, however, since the entry fee can cost around 5-10 pesos per person.
- Cottages are also available for rent, ranging from 1000-3000 pesos.
- Canyoneering is also one of the most popular activities in Kawasan Falls.
 |
| Expect the crowd during weekends |
 |
| The old stone bridge before the first tier of Kawasan Falls welcomes the visitors |
HOW TO GET THERE
From Luzon
There are plenty of airlines that fly direct to Cebu from NAIA in Manila as well as Clark International Airport. Tourists also have the option to go to Cebu by ferry. 2Go travel offers this route, however the travel time lasts about 10 hours.
- After arriving, take a jeep or taxi to the South Bus Terminal and take a bus heading to Bato (via Badian) —this costs around 150 pesos. You can ask the conductors to point you towards the correct bus.
- Be warned, lines can get pretty long especially during the summer season! So, it’s best to get there off peak hours or early in the morning.
- Get off the bus and follow the signage pointing words the Kawasan Falls and pay the entry fee (40-50 pesos)
There are direct flights to Cebu from the following airports: Puerto Princesa in Palawan (Luzon); Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo, Roxas City in Capiz, Caticlan in Aklan (Visayas) ; and Davao City, General Santos, Cagayan De Oro City, Butuan City, Surigao City and Siargao Island (Mindanao).
READ MORE
- Interesting Spots and Things to Do in Cebu City for One Day
- The Marian Temple in Simala, Sibonga
- Bojo River Cruise in Aloguinsan
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow TRAVELING MORION's Journeys and Travels
Twitter| @travelingmorion
Facebook Page| Traveling Morion
Instagram | @travelingmorion
It’s my 5th visit and wifey’s first time. BTW, I was assigned in Cebu (particularly in the south) for work for more than 3 years, but, my apologies i only have few posts - I was not a serious travel blogger during that time hehehe.
ReplyDeleteIt’s weekend, so we expected the crowd – local tourists, Chinese, Koreans, Americans. I would love to visit and shoot some long exposure frames in the 2nd and 3rd tier but dark clouds warned us not to proceed...