The Kawasan Falls are, for many, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines. Their height, the color of the water, and their location completely surrounded by lush vegetation have made them over the years—whether they are the most beautiful or not—the most famous in the whole country. Whether from Moalboal or on tours that start in Cebu, many travelers pin this place on the map to come and explore it. On our last visit to these falls, we decided to add a touch of adrenaline and experience Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, one of Cebu’s most coveted tours.
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls: our experience
In this guide to Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, Cebu, we’re going to tell you absolutely everything so you can enjoy this fun adventure: prices, how to get there, tips, what to bring… But first, we’ll share our experience to whet your appetite and, if you had doubts, get you to include canyoning in Cebu on your list of things to do in the Philippines.
In our case, this adventure started from Moalboal, where we had gone to spend a week exploring the area at a relaxed pace. At 8 in the morning the person in charge of our tour came to our accommodation (the Beyond Island Hotel in Moalboal), and after picking up more travelers at other accommodations who had overslept and didn’t seem in much of a hurry, we headed for Badian, where most agencies have their bases.
There we were assigned the guide for our canyoneering and given the gear: a helmet and a life jacket, both mandatory to do the tour. The place has lockers where you can leave valuables you don’t want to carry during the tour, so we left practically everything there and took only the GoPro, a phone (with a waterproof case we bought right there for 100 pesos), a wallet with some money, a bottle of water, and a towel, all in a dry bag to avoid splashes. Once we had all the gear on and our things stored in the locker, we hopped into the van that would drop us at the starting point of this adventure.
Optional zipline to start
After writing our names in the register and listening to a brief safety talk that explains the basic rules, they told us that, on foot, the area where the Kawasan Falls canyoneering really begins is a 45‑minute walk away, but that there was the option to take a zipline that would mean we only had to walk 10 minutes.
Although this shortcut cost 600 pesos, the rest of the group unanimously wanted to go for the zipline, and so did we. What a rush! A few days earlier we had done something similar in Loboc, but this time the speed was much higher and this extra was worth it, both to save time and to start with a good shot of adrenaline.
Canyoneering all the way to Kawasan Falls
After walking the 10 minutes they had promised us, always descending in search of the riverbed, we finally reached the official starting point. We had seen hundreds of photos of the place, but once you’re there in person it’s impossible not to let out a wow! when you see it for the first time. Two huge vertical rock walls full of vegetation awaited us, sunbeams filtering through the branches, and spectacular turquoise water that left us all open‑mouthed.
From there, an itinerary begins that lasts approximately 4 hours and takes you, always following the river, through different areas where you can jump or swim. There are 7 medium‑to‑high jumps and, in addition, dozens of other places to jump from, climb down holding on, or even slide as if it were a natural water slide.
We were eager to live the experience, since Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls is one of the most famous Best day trips from Cebu City and we couldn’t miss it, but we didn’t have huge expectations either, as we’re very beach‑oriented and had never done anything like this. We were also afraid it would be very crowded or touristy and, although there were indeed quite a lot of people, we can say we loved it. After just 10 minutes of jumping and swimming, our smiles showed that we were having fun like two kids. So much so that the 4 hours the route lasted flew by.
Halfway along, in the middle of the river and with no sign of civilization other than the other groups doing Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, we noticed something odd: “hey, doesn’t it smell like chicken to you?”. And, after a couple more minutes, four stalls appeared ahead of us where they were cooking the typical Filipino skewers (a bit surreal, but business is business). We made a quick stop to have a drink (they also sell soft drinks) and continued with the adventure.
Near the end we reached the second‑to‑last big jump and, after mustering enough courage to leap, we landed in a part of the river where the strong current coming out of a sort of natural slide (don’t hesitate—jump from there too) forces you to stick to the wall to keep going and reach a large pool of crystalline water. Unfortunately, the day we went there wasn’t too much water, and we decided against jumping from the vine for fear of getting hurt.
The last jump of the canyoneering tour at Kawasan Falls is the wildest: 12 meters high and a leap into waters where, unlike the previous one, you can’t see the bottom. Trust the guides—they’ll tell you the exact spot to land safely. This will be the final step before reaching the goal of this adventure, the Kawasan Falls.
Kawasan Falls, Cebu’s iconic waterfalls
Kawasan Falls, the end point of this canyoneering excursion in Cebu, didn’t earn their fame for nothing. The place—with that combination of the huge drop, the rocky walls, and the turquoise water—is overwhelmingly beautiful.
That said, don’t expect the idyllic, postcard‑perfect spot you see on Instagram where you’ll be alone at the waterfall. As the most famous waterfall in the Philippines, hundreds of people want to enjoy this place every day, and it’s usually a bit crowded. In addition, accommodations and restaurants have been built around them and, together with the plague of colorful umbrellas, they make the place lose some of its magic.
Traveler to traveler: weekends are usually when there’s the most local tourism. If you do the canyoneering tour to Kawasan Falls on a weekday, you’ll find a little fewer people.
Final walk and lunch
Kawasan Falls are approximately a kilometer and a half from the main road, and access is permitted only on foot. That means you’ll have to walk about fifteen minutes to officially call the excursion finished.
Many canyoneering tours at Kawasan Falls include lunch for an extra fee. So, after 4 hours of jumps in a wonderful place and lots of adrenaline, we arrived back at the starting point. They were already waiting for us there with lunch ready (there’s a vegetarian option), and we wrapped up the experience by exchanging photos with some travelers we met between jumps. In short, a highly recommended excursion.
Price and how to get to the Kawasan Falls canyoneering
Kawasan Falls, the end point of the canyoneering excursion, are located in the south of Cebu Island, about 115 kilometers from Cebu City. Although a large majority of travelers base themselves in Moalboal to do this excursion, more and more are choosing to do the Canyoneering tour at Kawsan Falls from Cebu on a day trip. Here’s how to do it in each case.
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls from Moalboal
Moalboal is the main town closest to the start of this excursion, so from here it will be extremely easy to do it.
- From your hotel: This is the easiest option. Most hotels have contacts with agencies that offer this activity, but if you don’t want any hassle, you can book with this reliable company through THIS LINK. You simply book there and they’ll come pick you up in the morning. They pick up other participants at their hotels and then head for the starting point. This option is around 2,100 pesos (including lunch) and the schedule is from 8:00 (hotel pickup) to 16:00 (approximately when they bring you back).
- Going on your own to Badian: if you want, you can ride your motorbike directly to Badian, the area where the canyoneering agencies are located. As you get closer you’ll see people on the roadside shouting and signaling for you to stop (it can be a bit intrusive). Just stop at the one that inspires the most confidence and negotiate the price with them.
- Going on your own to Badian with a reserved tour: If you don’t want a tour that picks you up from your hotel, but you also don’t want to have to look for agencies in Badian and waste time haggling or risk it going wrong, you might be interested in booking your excursion before heading there. The price is a little cheaper (1,800 pesos) than from Moalboal, but it doesn’t include food.
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls from Cebu City
You may not be planning, in your Philippines itinerary, to get to Moalboal, but you really want to do canyoneering. If so, you can book one of the tours that depart from Cebu. A perfect option if you’re passing through the city on your way to another destination but don’t want to miss this experience.
- Canyoneering tour from Cebu: this tour will pick you up at your hotel in Cebu around 5:00 and drop you back there between 16:00 and 18:00 (depending on whether you choose a private or group tour). When booking you can choose between “participation canyoneering” (shared tour) or “canyoneering” (private tour) and the day. Depending on the number of people and the tour you choose, you can get it from just 4,400 pesos, a more than acceptable price.
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls from Cebu with CIVITATIS
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls from Cebu with KLOOK
- Canyoneering tour + island hopping in Moalboal: Another very interesting option is this tour that, in addition to canyoneering, offers an “island hopping” in Moalboal that will take you to Pescador Island, some snorkeling spots, and Moalboal’s famous sardine run. Considering the long haul to get to Kawasan Falls and back the same day, it’s a perfect plan to add this visit to Moalboal to make the most of the outing. For two people it comes to about 7,000 pesos per person; with larger groups you can get it from just 4,400 pesos. As in the previous case, you can also join a group, which is around 5,000 pesos—just choose the “group” option and the day.
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls + Moalboal island hopping, from Cebu
- Canyoneering tour + Osmeña Peak: this is a very cool mountainous area in the heart of southern Cebu. Doing both separately would be a slog unless you hire a car with driver, so going with an excursion that combines both is great. The one below lets you select that option.
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls from Cebu + OSMEÑA PEAK
Tips for canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, Cebu
To make your experience a success, here are some tips for your Canyoneering adventure at Kawsan Falls:
- Wear appropriate footwear. You’re going to be getting in and out of the water, with wet feet, and scrambling over slippery rocks. Water shoes are the best solution (in the article The Philippines Packing List: What to bring we talk about this in more depth), and if you don’t have any, anything is better than doing the canyoneering in flip‑flops. Where they have the helmets and vests they usually rent them for 100 pesos a pair.
- Before starting the canyoneering, make sure both the helmet and the life jacket are in perfect condition. Buckle it, pull on it, and simulate some sudden movement right where they give it to you. We were given a helmet that didn’t fasten properly, and it would have been dangerous to do the excursion with it.
- If you have a padlock, you can take it to lock the locker yourself for extra security. They’ll charge you the 100 pesos anyway, but you ensure only you can open it.
- Although you can do canyoneering in Cebu all year round, the waterfalls are at their most beautiful during the rainiest months. That is, from June to September is when the river level is highest and, therefore, the jumps are more comfortable.
- Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, as beautiful and fun as it is, is an adventure sport. It is imperative to have travel insurance that protects you and covers activities like this. The Mochilero policy and the Estrella policy are the only ones with adventure‑sports coverage. You can read more in our article on Travel Insurance for the Philippines or purchase it directly with a 5% discount here.
- Anyone with a minimum level of fitness can do this activity. Really, you don’t have to be an athlete or anything like that. It’s a very easy route with many options to make it even easier.
- Don’t do canyoneering in Cebu on your own. For two reasons. First, it’s totally illegal. Second, it’s dangerous. The least that can happen is you get lost. A guide is your perfect ally to know where and how to jump without risk of injury.
- Bring only what’s necessary. A GoPro‑style camera or a phone with a waterproof case—if you want to capture the experience—is more than enough. Bringing any other kind of camera is extra weight and a death sentence for it. At most, take a dry bag with some water and money to pay for food along the way or to have something at the Kawasan Falls restaurant. Everything else is unnecessary.
- This is more of a warning than a tip. It’s highly likely that the next day you’ll have muscle soreness all over your body. With the adrenaline of the moment you might not notice, but spending 4 hours jumping, climbing rocks, walking, and swimming will make your body remember it for a while.
Where to sleep to visit the Kawasan Falls
From our point of view and experience, Moalboal is the best place to stay if you want to try this experience. After spending a week there, we looked into moving to accommodation in the towns near Kawasan, but options are very scarce, prices are sky‑high, and quality is quite low. These are some of the places we recommend, but you can find more in our guide to the Best hotels to stay in Moalboal:
- Beyond Island: Highly recommended. We spent more than a week there and loved it. It’s very well located and the place is clean and modern. You can read our review in Where to stay at Beyond Island Moalboal. You can check availability and prices by clicking here.
- MAAYONG HOSTEL: If you’re looking for a hostel in Moalboal where you can meet other travelers, this is the one. Good price, excellent Wi‑Fi, personal lockers to store your things, and 12‑bed rooms at really affordable prices. They also have some very nice bungalows for 2 people. From here you can see prices and dates for this accommodation.
- Tongo Hill Cottages: Beautiful bamboo cabins, super Instagrammable, with open‑air bathrooms—very top! Delicious breakfasts and memorable sunset views. Always a good choice, although a bit farther from the center (5 minutes by tricycle). Have a look by clicking here.
Likewise, if you’re thinking of doing the canyoneering from Cebu, you can also check these out: Recommended hotels in Cebu.
What do you say? Do you feel like taking the plunge?
