Kawasan Falls in Cebu, the Philippines is one of the most visited attractions in the whole country. In many respects, Instagram has played a major role in this growth. These twinkling turquoise falls are featured on nearly every Instagram or travel blog by anyone who has visited the Philippines.
How to get to Kawasan falls
Kawasan Falls can be found in Badian in the southern portion Cebu Island. To get to Bato from Cebu City take a South Bus Terminal bus with Bato as the destination. You can either swim with whale-sharks in Oslob or Barili.
You can also take the ferry from Dumaguete to Bato. To get to Kawasan falls from Bato you will need to take a bus going towards Moalboal. If you’re coming from Moalboal, you can take the bus in the opposite direction.
Ask the driver to stop at Kawasan falls. All bus drivers will understand where you mean. The bus stop is located opposite the church and car park, where the path leads to the falls.
You can visit Kawasan falls in one day from Cebu.
There’s a long path that leads through the jungle to Kawasan Falls. It’s easy to walk and you’ll see many locals pushing coolers with picnics. This walk could take up to 30 mins.
The best time to visit Kawasan Falls
Kawasan falls is best visited as early as possible in the day. We made a terrible mistake by going to Kawasan falls at 2pm. However, we had to wait until after 4/5pm before we could get the water all to ourselves. I was shocked at how crowded the picnic area and the water were. It was a very crowded place and not a good place to spend an afternoon.
The photos that you see might look idyllic, but I waited for a split second when no one would be around. Kawasan Falls are a popular destination not only for tourists, but also for locals. You’ll also find lots of children playing around, so you won’t be able to find peace and zen at midday.
Explore the other waterfalls in Kawasan
Don’t limit yourself to the main falls. Although it’s the most popular area, there are also other beautiful pools and falls to explore higher up.
If you take the path on the left hand side leading away from the main falls, it will lead you to a maze of other waterfalls and pools to bathe in – without the crowds and way more peaceful. This is something I would highly recommend. You can even climb up to the jungle and have the whole place to yourself.
Mainit Hot Springs is easily accessible. The 1.5km walk to the springs is a beautiful, winding route from the main road. The path takes you through lush vegetation and peaceful villages before you reach the hot springs. There were only 30 locals relaxing in the three pools. Some of the locals were fully submerged in one of the pools that was above 40c.
Exploring the Springs
We continued to climb up and away from the main area, and found the most beautiful (cool) pools for jumping into and huge boulders for climbing. This was an amazing spot, with no other tourists around and a peaceful atmosphere. Do not miss out.
Cebu is a popular destination in the Philippines. It has so much to offer, from beautiful beaches to endless waterfalls. Cebu City, a massive metropolis, has many things to offer. However, the best activities in Cebu can be found in the mountains or along the coast. Cebu is a popular destination because it has everything.
