Cambugahay Falls: Siquijor’s Epic Waterfall

The Cambugahay Falls are one of the top attractions on one of our favorite islands in the Philippines, Siquijor. This island, steeped in mystique thanks to its female healers, enchanted trees, and endless legends, is, as we explain in Things to Do in Siquijor, a destination that offers plenty of variety for your trip. Spectacular snorkeling, historic sites, caves…

Let’s take a closer look at Cambugahay Falls, a beautiful set of waterfalls you’ll definitely want to include in your itinerary once you see their stunning turquoise waters.

Where Cambugahay Falls Is and How to Get There

Siquijor is a large island compared with others like Panglao or Malapascua. Luckily, though, most of its sights are concentrated in the central and southern parts of the island. This means your visit to Cambugahay Falls doesn’t have to be one of those trips to a faraway spot that takes up your entire day and leaves no time for anything else. You can easily combine it with other experiences on the same day.

Cambugahay Falls are located about 2 kilometers from the town of Lazi, so you can easily visit them on the same day as other places such as Lazi Convent and Church or the enchanted Century-Old Tree. In fact, as we’ll explain later, you can enjoy these epic waterfalls in the morning and then head farther afield to round out your day.

The most convenient way to get to Cambugahay Falls is by riding your own rental motorcycle. You can rent one at most accommodations, and the daily rate is usually between 300 and 400 pesos. If you’re up for it, leave us a comment and we’ll put you in touch with our trusted contact in Siquijor.

Once you enter the town of Lazi from Siquijor’s main road and reach the church, simply turn right at the first intersection and then left at the next one. Then follow that street straight ahead until you reach the entrance to the waterfalls. You can’t miss it! We’ve marked it on the map:

If renting and riding a motorcycle in the Philippines doesn’t quite fit your plans, you can always hire a tricycle driver on the island to take you around the main sights, after agreeing on a price for the whole day that is usually around 1,000 pesos. To save you the hassle, we also have a contact we can share with you if you leave us a comment below.

Cambugahay Falls Entrance Fee and Opening Hours

Entrance Fee

Don’t worry about a visit to Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor making a dent in your Philippines travel budget—it won’t! The fee is really just a token amount, and part of it goes toward keeping the surroundings in the wonderful condition you’ll find them in. Once you reach the steps leading down to these waterfalls, you’ll need to pay just 50 pesos.

Meanwhile, the parking area where you’ll leave your motorcycle while you take a dip is free, but you’re expected to leave a donation as a courtesy to the guys who look after it. 10 – 20 pesos is enough as a thank-you, so you can leave your helmets on the motorcycle without worrying.

Opening Hours

Cambugahay Falls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but the swings and jumping platforms we’ll talk about later close at 5:00 p.m.

If you’re a very early riser and want to have the falls all to yourself, you can go earlier. The waterfalls themselves don’t really have opening and closing times, but the ticket counter is open during the hours listed above. We know travelers who have gone as early as 5:30 a.m.

What to Expect at Cambugahay Falls – Things to Do

Now that you know how to get to Cambugahay Falls, their opening hours, and the entrance fee, it’s time for us to take a refreshing dip together.

Once you’ve paid the entrance fee, you’ll start down a set of steps leading down through lush vegetation that quickly transforms the scenery around you. You’ll soon leave Siquijor’s road behind, and suddenly, through the tree branches, you’ll start to catch glimpses of water in a mesmerizing shade of turquoise as you hear it crashing down over the first waterfall.

On our most recent visit to Cambugahay Falls, 4 years had passed since we’d last been there, and although a few things had changed, this is a place that always leaves you speechless.

The entrance steps lead straight to the first of the 3 levels that make up these waterfalls. This is usually the busiest level and, for good reason, the one featured in all those photos of the top spots in the Philippines on Instagram. Years ago, there was nothing here but a vine you could swing from to jump into the water whenever you liked, but as tourism in Siquijor has gradually grown, there are now several platforms you can jump or swing from more comfortably. To use one of these jumping platforms, you’ll need to pay 50 pesos, but that gives you unlimited jumps all day from whichever one you choose.

Either way, you certainly don’t need to jump from there to enjoy a place as idyllic as this. You can relax with a swim, sit by the water and enjoy the wonderful scenery created by the waterfall, the turquoise water, and the towering palm trees surrounding it, swim through the curtain of falling water to find a small hidden cave, and—why not?—jump from the top for free.

Once you’ve explored the first level to your heart’s content, it’s time to move on to the second, which could easily be called the “chill” level. While the first and third levels stand out for their waterfalls, the second is much more laid-back, with one shallower area and another where you can sit in small natural pools.

We definitely love this second level of Cambugahay Falls too, but its main drawback is that the surrounding vegetation makes it a little less sunny. If you’d like some sunshine while you enjoy a good swim, you’ll probably love the first and third levels even more.

It’s also worth visiting the third and final level of Cambugahay Falls and spending some time in the water. Once you’ve climbed the path (it’s very easy and doesn’t require you to be fit or have any special equipment), you’ll find a beautiful waterfall similar to the first, but a little smaller. This level is a popular spot for jumping from the top of the rocks and, if you’re after that kind of photo, posing on its bamboo raft—after paying 100 pesos, of course.

These are the 3 levels that make up Siquijor’s most spectacular waterfalls. A large first level where the sunlight streams in and brings out that unique turquoise color, where you can jump, swim, and even pass through the falling water; a more laid-back second level where you can enjoy a peaceful swim; and a third that’s also perfect for a freshwater swim among palm trees, complete with jumps and photos. Which one would you choose?

Tips and Useful Information for Visiting Cambugahay Falls

You’ve only become more eager to dive into Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor since you started reading this guide—we get it! But before you go, take a look at these tips to make your visit a perfect 10:

• Keep in mind that this area has plenty of tall, dense vegetation. This means the sunlight filters in at an angle for much of the day. If you go around 12:00 p.m., the sun will be at its highest point and, besides keeping you warmer when you get out of the water, it will help make the water’s color even more spectacular.
• Although we’ve mentioned that you don’t need any special equipment to get around the 3 levels of Cambugahay Falls (other than your swimsuit, of course), a pair of water shoes will come in very handy to help you avoid slipping and move around more comfortably. We cover these and other essentials in our article on what to pack for the Philippines.
• As with all tourist spots in the Philippines, there are usually far more local tourists on weekends. So, if you can fit it into your itinerary, try to visit Cambugahay Falls on a weekday.
• When you arrive, you’ll find several stalls selling the meat skewers you see all over the country, coconuts they’ll open for you so you can drink them fresh, and even a stall or two with cold drinks. If any of that appeals to you, go ahead and enjoy it. If you want water, we always recommend traveling with a reusable bottle like this one [affiliate link]. That way, you’ll generate much less plastic waste (a real problem in the Philippines), save money by not having to buy water several times a day, and keep it nice and cold.
• This place is especially tempting for those of us who love taking drone photos. If you fly, be very careful, as you may find it difficult to land here, and you could lose some signal if you move far away from the palm trees. These two articles may interest you: Flying a Drone in the Philippines and Best Travel Drones.
• There are plenty of people around, and the Philippines is a safe country, but be careful, as there may be thieves here. Keep a close eye on your belongings.
• As we mentioned at the start, you can easily combine Cambugahay Falls with other sights on the island. You can start the day by visiting the Century-Old Tree and Lazi Convent + Church, and then head to the waterfalls around 12:00 p.m. Afterward, you’ll have the afternoon free to do whatever you feel like: snorkeling in Tubod, visiting the Cantabon caves, or going for a swim at some of Siquijor’s beaches.

A Safe Trip to Siquijor

We never get tired of saying this, and we’re speaking from personal experience. Traveling to the Philippines and having good travel insurance should always go hand in hand. Unfortunately, we’ve had to use ours more than once, and besides taking care of us, it has saved us more than $32,000. Siquijor awaits with roads you’ll need to explore by motorcycle, waterfalls to jump from, snorkeling, and plenty of adventures where travel insurance will be your best friend if anything happens. You’ll find information about the one we use in this article: Best Travel Insurance for the Philippines.

And through this link, you can get a 5% discount with our referral:

Where to Stay When Visiting These Waterfalls

In our comprehensive guide to Where to Stay in Siquijor, you’ll find detailed information about the different areas to stay in and which are the most recommended hotels, resorts, or hostels. But to give you a few places to check out, here are some appealing options:

White Villas Resort: This is one of our favorite resorts on the island. Right by the sea, renovated modern rooms, a pool, a fantastic location near restaurants… On our last visit, we stayed here for a couple of weeks and wrote this article about it: Staying at White Villas Resort in Siquijor. You can find more information, prices, and availability by clicking here.

Tropical Fun Ta Sea: Another of the most recommended hotels in Siquijor. Right by the sea, with very spacious, comfortable rooms, super friendly staff who will make you want to stay longer, and all kinds of beach games available. You can find more information, prices, and availability by clicking here.

Lazy Lizard Hostel: If you’re looking for an inexpensive backpacker option, this could be just what you need. Simple private rooms and shared dorms in small nipa huts. Ideal for meeting people and heading out to explore Siquijor. You can find more information, prices, and availability by clicking here.

This article is part of our extensive, up-to-date Siquijor Guide. You’ll find loads of useful information about the island there. How to get there, where to stay, where to eat, and much more!

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Love waterfalls and still want more? Our article Best Waterfalls in the Philippines features the country’s best, with detailed information about each one.

What do you think of Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor? Spectacular, right?
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll help you out. Oh! And when you visit and upload your photos to Instagram, use the hashtag #travelaroundthephilippines so we can see them and share them with our wonderful travel community. We look forward to seeing you!