The Kawasan Falls are some of the most incredible waterfalls in Cebu and are regularly voted as one of the best things to do whilst backpacking the Philippines, and for good reason!
As well as offering some breathtaking scenery and the opportunity to swim amongst some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Cebu, Kawasan waterfalls also offer some of the best canyoneering in Cebu – something I would definitely recommend!
So, let’s take a look at what these amazing waterfalls have to offer!
The Kawasan Falls
The Kawasan Falls Cebu is located in the southwest of the island. The falls are approximately 20 kilometres south of the amazing town of Moalboal in Cebu, 100km from the capital, Cebu City, and 30km from Oslob on the south coast.
The Kawasan Falls are part of the Kanlaob River which is renowned for its incredibly blue waters. The falls comprise three principal waterfalls all of which are worth a look at on any visit to the Kawasan Falls. The main waterfall is around 10-12 metres high!
The Kawasan Falls are easily accessible without the need for a tour or a local guide. However, the Kawasan Falls also offers some of the best canyoneering in Cebu and if you want to give canyoneering a go then I recommend the Kawasan Falls as the perfect place to try this out!
Visiting Kawasan Falls
The Kawasan Falls is a great place to visit for a day trip whilst in Cebu and one of the highlights of any trip backpacking the Philippines.
When you arrive at the Kawasan Falls, you cross a small bridge and then you arrive at the first of the three waterfalls that make up the Kawasan Falls. This is the most popular of the three waterfalls and as a result, can be the busiest.
The first waterfall at Kawasan Falls is around 8 metres high and has a huge, and beautifully blue, pool below for swimming and relaxing. The pool has a lifeguard as well as several areas which are roped off. You can only enter these roped-off areas, which include swimming under the waterfall itself if you are wearing a life jacket. I say more on these later!
To the left of the waterfall is a large café/restaurant with numerous tables to rent. The food at the restaurant is reasonable expensive (compared to the usual prices in the Philippines) as you may expect from a tourist attraction and the tables are expensive to rent; around P500 ($10, £7).
Once you have spent some time paddling around in the amazing waters of the first of the Kawasan Falls, you can move on to explore the other two waterfalls. These are some of the most picturesque waterfalls in Cebu and are much less crowded than the main waterfall.
To reach the other Kawasan Falls, there are some steps to the left of the first waterfall. If you head up the steps and then follow the jungle track, you will arrive at a beautiful viewpoint of the second Kawasan waterfall.
The second of the Kawasan Falls is much larger than the first, at around 10-12 metres in height. It is possible to jump from this waterfall, but you must have a guide and a helmet and so realistically the only way to do the jump is on a canyoneering tour which I mention below.
However, even without the adrenaline rush (or sheer terror!) of the waterfall jump, there are still pools to swim in and smaller waterfalls to duck under in this area. There is also a small picnic area all of which is much less crowded than the first waterfall.
Finally, the third waterfall is the hardest to access but well worth it for those that venture up further! Continue to follow the trail and you will come to a small bamboo bridge to cross the river (feel free to simply walk in the river if you don’t fancy a test of balance!) and then up through the rainforest to the dam which makes up the third of the Kawasan Falls.
At the third Kawasan waterfall, there are several natural rockslides and refreshing blue swimming pools, all of which are accessed when canyoneering the Kawasan Falls. There is also a large stone dam which looks very impressive when the water is flowing.
It is much quieter up here and the perfect place for a rest in the beautiful nature of the Kawasan Falls before you descend back down to the hive of activity at the first waterfall!
Entry Price and Fees at the Falls
The Kawasan Falls entrance fee as of 2021 is 45 pesos per person ($0.90, £0.65).
As the Kawasan Falls is a popular tourist attraction there are various other optional services offered including the rental of a Go-Pro, a helmet, life vest, aqua shoes, tour guides, porters etc.
If you are going to swim in the Kawasan Falls then I would strongly recommend hiring a life vest for P50 per person ($1, £0.70). As I mentioned above, various parts of the swimming pool at the first of the Kawasan Falls are roped off and only those with life vests are allowed to swim in those areas. That includes the waterfall itself and is enforced by the lifeguard on duty regardless of how strong a swimmer you are.
If you drive/hire a scooter to visit the Kawasan Falls, then there is a small fee of P50 to use the car park.
Otherwise, there are no other fees to be paid but you will want to take cash with you in case you want to buy food/drinks and/or in case you wish to rent any equipment or use any guides whilst you are at the Kawasan Falls.
Food and Drink at Kawasan Falls
As I mentioned earlier, there is a large restaurant to the right of the first waterfall at Kawasan Falls. This is relatively expensive when compared to usual prices within the Philippines but that is perhaps to be expected when visiting the most popular waterfalls in Cebu and one of the top tourist attractions in the Philippines.
There are however plenty of cheaper options at Kawasan Falls. There is LRR Café which is near the main bus stop for the waterfalls (so back outside the waterfalls themselves) which serves a delicious Filipino breakfast. So, if you are planning to arrive at the Kawasan Falls early I would suggest popping in here before you head into the Kawasan Falls proper. A traditional breakfast with coffee will set you back around P100-120 ($2, £1.60) and will give you plenty of energy to tackle the three waterfalls of Kawasan Falls!
Equally, there are various street vendors outside the Kawasan Falls selling buko (young coconut) juice, corn on the cob and various snacks and treats so you will find plenty of options to boost your energy levels!
Best Time of Day to Visit Kawasan Falls
You will often read that you need to get to Kawasan Falls super early to enjoy the first waterfall without lots of crowds.
It may depend on your definition of early, but don’t worry, you do not need to be there at sunrise! If you arrive between 8.30 am to 9 am, you have a good chance of having the swimming pool to yourself!
The Kawasan Falls do get busier as the morning goes on and then you will see a spike in people in around 2-3 pm when the canyoneering tours all start to arrive at the Kawasan Falls (at the end of their canyoneering tour).
So, get there at 8.30 am to get the best of the Kawasan Falls. That said, the first waterfall, whilst the most popular, is also very big and so even with a crowd it will not likely feel overcrowded at any point in the morning, it’ll just be trickier to get that beautiful Instagram shot!
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls
If you are staying in nearby Moalboal, then you will probably be inundated with tours for Kawasan Falls canyoneering. Ordinarily, I am slightly weary when a tour or activity is heavily advertised and pushed by tour companies; I often feel these types of tours will be overcrowded and not that authentic.
That is certainly not the case here though. I have to say that Kawasan Falls offers some of the best canyoneering in Cebu if not the Philippines and I would highly recommend a day trip canyoneering at Kawasan Falls.
There are different tour companies all offering slightly different tours but, generally speaking, you will have transport to and from Kawasan Falls, around 3-4 hours of canyoneering and then a fresh grilled lunch after the tour.
You don’t necessarily need to book in advance; there are tour companies at Kawasan Falls offering you places on their tours that day. However, if you do book in advance then you benefit from being picked up and dropped off from wherever you are staying.
To avoid overcrowding at the falls, groups tend to be kept fairly small. We had 8 people in our group including ourselves plus a guide. We didn’t see any ridiculously large groups on our tour, and tour companies seemed to take a sensible approach here.
We started our tour in Moalboal, so we were picked up at Planet Action Adventure and driven to their ‘base camp’ near the Kawasan Falls. Here we had a safety briefing, left behind anything that we didn’t need in lockers and were equipped with life vests, helmets and aqua shoes.
We were then taken up to the start point of the canyoneering tour on the back of halal-halals (single motorcycles) to begin our descent to the Kawasan Falls.
The tour lasts around 3.5 hours, and you will slowly descend the Kanlaob River. We started off following a jungle trail before reaching our first waterfall jump which was about a metre or so into some amazingly blue waters.
Our guide showed us exactly where to jump from and helped anyone who didn’t fancy it. We then continued through the water downstream either floating along in the incredible waters, sliding backwards over some natural rockslides, taking on some more jumps or adventuring over bamboo and natural bridges.
The final act of the tour is to jump from the top of the highest of the Kawasan Falls; a height of around 10-12 metres into the amazing water below.
Don’t worry! There are workarounds for all the cliff jumps and rockslides on the way so if you don’t fancy any of them, you will still make it down! In addition, the guides appear very professional and at every obstacle or jump, they made sure we were happy to proceed and helped anyone who wanted to walk down.
At one point, one of our group needed some water and the guide ran to the end of the trail, bought some water and ran all the way back up – they certainly go above and beyond (but don’t be like this guy and made sure you take water with you!).
Once you reach the bottom, you have some time to enjoy the clear waters below the Kawasan Falls before we were taken back to the ‘base camp’. Here we dried off and got changed whilst our tour guides cooked a delicious BBQ lunch of grilled fish, rice and salad coupled with a cold beer or two (with soft drinks available!). Once we were all fed and watered, we were taken back to Moalboal to conclude a great tour.
The canyoneering tour of Kawasan Falls will cost you around P1,700 per person ($30, £25) and in my view, if your budget allows, this is a tour not to be missed; we had a fantastic time.
Getting to Kawasan Falls
As I mention, if you are doing an organised tour to go canyoneering in Cebu then your tour company will arrange transport to and from the Kawasan Falls (or more precisely, to the start of the canyoneering tour which begins a few miles from the main entrance).
However, if you prefer to visit these amazing waterfalls in Cebu yourselves then you have a few options to get to Kawasan Falls
Moalboal to Kawasan Falls
Moalboal is the nearest town to Kawasan Falls and is the most popular place for travellers to stay when visiting the best waterfalls in Cebu. This is where we were based, and we cannot recommend Moalboal highly enough. Take a look at my Mini Guide; Moalboal in Cebu: A Complete Guide for more information on this amazing place.
The Kawasan Falls are approximately 20km south of Moalboal in Cebu and are easily accessed by road.
There is a local public bus heading to nearby Badian which stops at Kawasan Falls. It is scheduled to run every half an hour, although timings can be flexible in the Philippines. The bus ticket is around P20-25 ($0.50, £0.30). Ask the conductor to let you know when you reach the Kawasan Falls stop. Make sure you specify the waterfalls as there is also a stop for the canyoneering which is several miles away from the Kawasan Falls themselves. The bus will take around 40 minutes and you will be dropped at an obvious entrance to a car park with a sign for Kawasan Falls so you can’t miss it (famous last words!).
Equally, you could take advantage of one of the many trikes or halal-halal drivers in Moalboal who offer a ride to Kawasan Falls. These can be hired for around P600 ($12, £9) for the day and they will not only take you to Kawasan Falls but wait until you are ready to return and then drive you back.
Finally, if you prefer to hire a scooter you can expect to pay around P300 ($6, £4.50) for the day and you can head to the Kawasan Falls yourself. It is an easy drive on the main road south of Moalboal in Cebu and the falls are well signposted from that road. There is a parking charge of around P50 ($1, £0.75) at Kawasan Falls.
Once you arrive at the Kawasan Falls, it is a 15-minute walk down to the falls themselves. There will be guides offering to take you down to the falls, but the walk is well signposted so it isn’t necessary to have a guide if you prefer to go it alone.
Cebu City to Kawasan Falls
Cebu City is just over 100 kilometres from Kawasan Falls so I would suggest that you stop over in Moalboal on your way instead as it is much closer.
However, if you want to make the trip to Kawasan Falls from Cebu City then there is a public bus destined for Bato (via Barili, make sure you don’t get on the bus via Oslob as this doesn’t pass the falls!) from the Cebu South Bus Terminal which will stop at Kawasan Falls if you ask. This is the same bus that goes through Moalboal in Cebu and is operated by Ceres.
The journey is around 4 hours depending on the time of day and therefore the traffic. The first bus leaves around 5 am (but do check the timetable the day before to make sure) and so you can make it to Kawasan Falls for around 9-10 am before it gets too busy.
A ticket will cost around P150-P200 ($3-4/£2-£3) per person.
If your budget allows then the easiest and most convenient option is to take a taxi to Kawasan Falls. Generally, taxis in Cebu City charge by the meter but if you ask you can find a driver who will take you for a fixed price. I would expect to pay around P1,500 to P2,000 ($30-40, £22-£30) one way but prices are negotiable.
Oslob to Kawasan Falls
If you are in Oslob to visit the whale sharks (which we don’t recommend due to the reported ethical concerns over their treatment) then Kawasan Falls and Moalboal in Cebu are great places to aim for when you leave.
From Oslob, you can catch the public bus headed for Cebu City and ask the conductor to stop at the Kawasan Falls entrance. Again, make sure you specify the main entrance and not the canyoneering stop! This is the return version of the bus from Cebu City to Bato mentioned above.
The bus should take around 1.5 hours and cost approximately P100 per person (£2/£1.50).
The journey is probably too far for a trike or halal-halal but you could take a taxi. If you are going to take this option, I would suggest hiring a taxi for the day with the driver waiting in the car park to take you back when you are ready. Prices for a day are negotiable and I would expect to pay up to P1,500 (£22/$30) for the day.
Where to Stay when Visiting Kawasan Falls
As I mention above, I strongly recommend a stop in Moalboal in Cebu when visiting the Kawasan Falls.
Not only is it the closest traveller destination to these amazing waterfalls in Cebu but it also has some great sights of its own to see including the famous sardine run, island hopping tours and some great beaches. It also has some great accommodation options!
I have picked out a couple of my favourites here but for more information check out my Mini Guide; Moalboal in Cebu.
Chief Mau Hostel
Chief Mau hostel is a superb hostel right in the heart of Panagsama Beach in Moalboal. Chief Mau offers dorms and private rooms as well as an on-site bar and restaurant.
It is a great location and close to the bars, restaurants and sights of Moalboal making it a great budget choice.
Tipolo Beach Resort
Tipolo Beach Resort is owned by Planet Action Adventure Company, a great tour company offering fantastic tours for canyoneering at Kawasan Falls.
Tipolo has some fantastic beachside rooms which are all modern, clean and with air conditioning and has its own on-site restaurant, the Last Filling Station, which is worth a visit even if you aren’t staying!
With Planet Action Adventure, the Last Filling Station and Tipolo Beach Resort all in one place, this really is a one-stop shop for Moalboal!
Pescadores Seaview Suites Resort
If you want an upgrade on accommodation the Pescadores Seaview Suites Resort is a great option.
It is located on Panagsama Beach in the heart of Moalboal but a few minutes walk from the main bars and restaurants offering you easy access to the nightlife but a quiet and tranquil hotel setting when you return!
Pescadores has a range of options from private rooms with shared bathrooms to villas and suits. The resort has its own infinity pool and pool bar together with a spa complex for the ultimate indulgent stay!
Food and Drink when Visiting Kawasan Falls
After a great day canyoneering at one of the best waterfalls in Cebu, take a short trip to Moalboal for some well-deserved food and drink!
Moalboal in Cebu has a fantastic range of bars and restaurants to suit any budget and taste. I round up a few of my favourites here but take a look at my Mini Guide; Moalboal in Cebu for more details.
Smooth Café Moalboal
This very popular café is tucked off the main street but is worth the trip. Excelling in both its carnivorous and vegetarian and vegan options, this great lunch and dinner spot is one of the most popular places in Moalboal.
To go with all that great food is some great drinks, with excellent coffee and a good choice of draft beers. This place comes highly recommended!
Three Bears Restaurant
If you want a burger, look no further! It is not a stretch to say that these could be the best burgers on Cebu Island! The chicken and vegetarian burgers come highly recommended, as does the relaxed and friendly atmosphere offered by the staff at this great restaurant.
Ven’z Kitchen
If you want authentic Filipino food in Moalboal in Cebu then look no further than Ven’z. The menu is huge and again vegetarian and vegan options are plentiful.
Its popularity is evident from the queues outside in the evening, but the service is quick and it is definitely worth the wait!
Kugita Seafood and Charcoal Grill
From some of the best sushi on the island to perfectly grilled steaks, Kugita’s Seafood and Charcoal Grill has some of the best food in Moalboal. Coupled with the amazing menu is a very friendly staff and a great atmosphere.
This is a great place for a treat meal!
Chilibar
Chilibar offers a great selection of classic bar food including a good selection of burgers and pizzas. But the real draw here is the great range of beers and cocktails and one of the best views of the ocean in Moalboal.
Grab a cold drink, sit on the edge of the veranda, and watch the sunset over the horizon. Once the sun has set, have a few games of pool and if you stay a little longer, the volume goes up and Chili bar becomes a place to dance away the evening!
Mayim Beach Bar
Another fantastic place to watch the sunset, Mayim Beach Bar offers a great outdoor vantage point to watch the sun dip over the horizon whilst you celebrate another day in paradise with a well-earned drink. The pizzas here are also amazing.
Keep an eye on their socials @mayimbeach and @mayimbeachbar for updates!
When to Visit – Moalboal Weather
The Moalboal weather is broadly split into wet and dry seasons as with the rest of the Philippines.
The dry season runs from March to September with the months of March, April and May seeing the hottest of the Moalboal weather with temperatures reaching 36 degrees.
The dry season runs from October to February and whilst the Moalboal weather during this period remains hot and sunny, there is an increased chance of rainfall as well as the occasional typhoon, especially towards the end of the year.
As always, the best of the Moalboal weather also brings the most tourists and the highest prices at Kawasan Falls. Also, during the dry season, the water levels at the falls will be lower than during other parts of the year for example the stone dam at the third waterfall can be dry during the dry season.
This doesn’t however impact any canyoneering tours which run all year round but with higher numbers in the dry season.
Have fun at the falls!
The Kawasan Falls are some of my favourite waterfalls in Cebu and offer some of the best canyoneering in Cebu.
I had never done canyoneering before this trip, but I absolutely loved it and would definitely recommend this tour, or at least a visit to the Kawasan Falls, whilst backpacking the Philippines.
In my opinion, a stay in Moalboal in Cebu is a MUST whilst you are in this part of the world. It was one of my favourite places to stay in the Philippines; take a look at my Mini Guide to Moalboal in Cebu to find out why.
If you are planning a trip to the Philippines, do check out my guide to Backpacking the Philippines as well as my Mini Guides.
I hope you have found this Guide to Kawasan Falls in Cebu useful and if you have any questions, just let me know!
If you have been, let me know what your favourite experiences were – I would love to hear from you!
Disclaimer: My blog contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these, I get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you x
