If you fancy the outdoors and taking uncharted path, then the municipality of Samboan will surprise you with pristine natural attractions concealed in its dense wilderness. Take for example AGUINID FALLS in Brgy. Tamboan, which I recently visited with my cousins and uncle. Aguinid Falls may not be as famous as Kawasan Falls but it is equally captivating and yes, definitely Instagram-worthy! This 8 level waterfalls with shamrock green water is making a name as one of the best eco-tourism destinations in South Cebu.
As of our recent visit, only the 5 levels of Aguinid Waterfalls are open and recommended for tourists. Exploring Level 6 to Level 8 is not encouraged as of now since they don’t have the proper gears yet. But my guides assured me that they are working on it.
Before the trek, travelers will be briefed for safety. 2 guides will be assigned per group, one will guide travelers while the other is tasked to carry your gears and bags.
Aguinid Falls consists of beautiful rock formations and a majestic multi-tiered system of waterfalls. As a matter of fact, it has 8 levels. Five of which is accessible to tourists. The falls has become one of the top natural attractions in Cebu. The trek is relatively easy. It will only take five minutes to reach the first level of the falls. Although, the trail is very slippery so be careful and always watch your step. Each level offers a different difficulty. The best part? Each level of the falls is very Instagram-worthy.
fantastic experience – so muh fun!
We went there with a mixed group of 7 people (grandparents, toddlers and adults). While the oldest and the youngest stayed at the beginning of the waterfalls and enjoyed playing in a natural pool only 30cm deep ( there’s also benches in the shadow to sit and keep your things dry) the rest of the group went on to climb the falls.
Our guide Erwin and his colleague were very enthusiastic and fun! They offered to take our phones to make all pictures for us (don’t forget to rent a see through dry bag for just 20p to keep your phone dry) and where joking around with us constantly while also ensuring that we were save at all times.
The „hike“ it not very difficult and the scenery is awesome!! The water is refreshing and the 3-4 metres jump at level 4 is vitalising (not mandatory).
Price wise it seems that the entrance fee is double for tourists. We paid 260p for the whole group being 1 tourist and 9 locals out of which there were 2 little kids and 2 senior citizens (discount).
For the guides we paid 600p. Please note that they are only allowed one tour per day and that they always come in pair. So even if you’re alone or a couple – you’ll always have 2 guides.
I’ll definitely go back! No wonder this is number 1 attraction on Cebu island!
Aguinid Falls is one of the best places where you can immerse with the beauty of nature and at the same time experience that tingling rush of adrenaline. Tucked in the beautiful town of Samboan in the South of Cebu, Aguinid Falls offers a different take to your usual adventure. This rarely spoken jewel has 8 levels of cascading waters which you need to pass through in order to get to the top. It’s like hiking a mountain but instead of the usual forested trail, you will encounter gushing water as another obstacle which is essentially a factor to spice things up.
Unlike the more famous canyoning (canyoneering) in Badian and Alegria where you jump to the water until you get to the lowest tier of the waterfalls, the adventure in Aguinid Falls requires overcoming gushing water while making use of the limestone rocks to pull yourself up to the next level until you get to the top most level of the falls. Each level is a challenge and the intensity of each gradually increases as you come nearer to the top. There are also parts of the waterfalls where the water is deep enough allowing you to do some exhilarating cliff jumps.
Aguinid Falls is definitely a must see as it not just let you marvel at the exquisiteness of nature but it is sure to take your adventure a notch higher. If that doesn’t convince you yet then sharing our story (me and my bestie) might help you make up your mind. Here it goes.
LEVEL 0: A Chill Kick Starter
The first part of our adventure was a walk along rugged path going to the falls. It was slippery which was made worse by soft drizzles. This part was probably the easiest of all levels. 2 minutes after we started, we reached level one.
LEVEL 1: The First Challenge
After taking the first level in a breeze, here comes the 2nd level. Here we experienced some uphill trekking and river crossing. We also passed through the gape between two (2) limestone rocks while trying real hard to keep our balance and avoid tripping. Jumping is not allowed since it has shallow water and trail here is slippery and peppered with rocks. So be extra careful. It’s an easy 3 minute trek from the trailhead. But you can take a dip at one of the basins.
LEVEL 2: The Unanticipated Torture
The first two levels were obviously easy peasy but level 2 completely took us by surprise. This time we had climbed our way through a 90 degree rock that stretches to about 10 meters. What made it extra challenging was the gushing water sprinkling all over us and the fact that our only point of support to pull ourselves up was the rope tied on top and at the bottom of the rock. This level requires stamina as you need to climb a 90 degree rock. But don’t fret because there is a rope and some holes where you can step on while making your way up or down and the guide will be at your side to assist you.
LEVEL 3. Beutiful rock formation
After overcoming the first set of challenges, we were then taken to one of the beautifully carved pieces of nature. The rock formation was one of the most magnificent I’ve seen and the water.. It was pristine and cold. It was like another heavenly place I wouldn’t trade with anything else. This is one of the most enchanting levels. You can sit here and take a shower as the water flows from the top of a beautiful, naturally carved rock. This is one of my favorite spots for photo op!y
LEVEL 4: The Sensational Cliff Jumps
This level was one of our favorites. Here we had the chance to do some amateur jumps from a 10-feet cliff plunging to a cold waterfall basin. It was my bestie’s first ever waterfall cliff jump but certainly not her last. The jump actually wasn’t at all that scary but if you are a scaredy cat like me then the mere thought of it might make your bones tremble.
We had to climb again to reach Level 4 and hold onto small holes while ascending. If you like to cliff jump, you can do it here. Not as high as other waterfalls in Cebu though, about 6 feet only, but it is definitely worth a try. I enjoyed swimming in the basin here!
LEVEL 5: The Stunner Of The Day
The adventure should have been over when we reached level 5 but given how it was so stunningly beautiful made us look forward to a more promising reward ever we pursue the advanced levels of 6, 7 and 8. That limestone rock and the sprinkle of water flowing so delicately to its basin was such a beauty that was worth every ounce of difficulty we had encountered.
The crown jewel of Aguinid Falls. Here you’ll find a massive limestone rock overflowing with shamrock green water. A perfect place for taking a dip. And it’s probably the most Instagrammable spot in Aguinid Falls (I’ve yet to see Level 6 that has a natural infinity pool).
LEVEL 6: Infinity Pool In The Middle Of The Woods
As we went further to reach the end of our adventure were a more challenging obstacles complimented by an equally fulfilling rewards. Getting to level 6 was the most difficult part of this adventure. It was another 90-degree climb scrambling through slippery limestone rocks which stretched to about 20 feet. There was no rope whatsoever as support and we had to rely on our instincts to decide where to put our hands and feet next as one miss could probably cost us a limb or two.
LEVEL 7: Things Keep Getting Better
Getting to level 7 was another challenge but this time we were not at all surprised. Instead we conquered ourselves and in doing so also conquered the challenge of climbing another yet again 90-degree rock with water gushing towards us.
Level 8 was a precious little paradise with a mini pool that was as big as a moderate size jacuzzi. Here we took the time to get to know other tourists and regain our strength as in order to go back to the jump off was another 20 minute hike down a slippery trail.
Did our story make you want to pack your bags and fly? Then here’s how you can get there.
From Manila – Fly to Mactan Airport in Cebu. Ride a cab to the South Bus Station. Ride a bus going to Bato via Barili and alight in Samboan town proper. In Samboan, hire a tricyle or a motorcyle (habal-habal) to go to Aguinid Falls and other waterfalls in Samboan and Ginatilan.
From Oslob – From Oslob town proper, ride a jeepney going to Samboan. Travel may take about 30-45 minutes. Once in Samboan, hire a tricycle or a motorcycle to get to Aguinid Falls.
From Dumaguete – Ride a jeepney going to Sibulan Port then ride a ferryboat going to Liloan Port. From Liloan Port, ride a bus going to Bato or the bus going back to Cebu City and alight in Samboan. Once in Samboan, hire a tricycle or a motorcycle to get to Aguinid Falls.
Anything you should know before the trip?
Aguinid Falls adventure levels are categorized into 2. The easy or beginner friendly levels of 1-5 and the advanced levels of 6-8. If you would choose to just go for the easy levels then after reaching level 5, you will just trace your way back to the jump off. However, if you would pursue the advanced levels then after reaching level 8, you will have to pass through a trail leading down to the registration point
After registration, you will then be given 2 guides. These 2 guides are mandatory and can cover a group of 5-10. As of July 2016, the local tourism office in Aguinid Falls has not yet set standard rates for their guides so it’s up to the visitors to give their guides the appropriate amount they deem fair enough for the given service.
The adventure in Aguinid Falls may consume an hour or two of your time at most. After which, you can explore the nearby Binalayan, Dao and Candayvic Falls but please note that entry to the last 2 falls are prohibited during days with moderate to heavy rainfall.
HOW TO GET TO AGUINID FALLS FROM CEBU
STEP 1: From Cebu, take a jeepney, cab or Uber/Grab to South Bus Terminal near E Mall. Ride the bus to Samboan or Bato via Barili and tell the conductor to drop you off at the trail to Aguinid Falls in Brgy. Tangbo in Samboan town proper. There is a signage at the basketball court and there’s another way after the court for private vehicles.
The bus to Bato via Barili leaves hourly starting at 2:00 AM and the last trip going back to Cebu City is around 7:00 PM. Fare is approximately PHP 175/US 3 (EURO 3/SGD 4/MYR 14) for adults and PHP 135/US 3(EURO 2/SGD 4/MYR 11) for students. Travel time is about 3.5 to 4 hours.
STEP 2: You can walk or hire a habal-habal (motorcycle) to take you to the registration area of Aguinid Falls. If you have a private vehicle, you can take your car or motorbike to the registration area and just park your vehicle. There is a parking fee of PHP 10 – PHP 25.
STEP 3: Register and pay the entrance fee + environmental fee:
Locals: PHP 40/US 0.78(EURO 0.66/SGD 2/MYR 3)
Foreigners: PHP 60/US 1(EURO 1/SGD 1/MYR 5)
Seniors: PHP 32/US 32(EURO 0.53/SGD 0.84/MYR 3)
STEP 4: Two guides will be assigned to you or your group (1-5 persons). One guide will serve as the technical guide, assisting you as you trek and climb the waterfalls while the other guide will take your photo and carry your stuff. There is no standard guide fee so it’s up to you much to pay. But me thinks a minimum of PHP 150/US 3(EURO 2.46/SGD 4/MYR 12) per guide should be okay, so PHP 300/US 6 (EURO 5/SGD 8/MYR 25) total for 2 guides.
AGUINID FALLS
150km away from Cebu City is the region of Samboan. Here you will find three beautiful waterfalls and if you look harder you will discover many others. The three most popular waterfalls are Aguinid Falls, Binalayan Falls, and Dao Waterfall. You can easily do all three on one day as we did on our Samboan adventure.
Aguinid Falls costs 60 pesos as the entrance fee. However, your guides will be expecting a tip for their expertise along the way, which is their wage. You need to respect this system and understand that the tip is actually the wage of the guide and the entrance fee goes to the municipality/government who are the landowners of this natural asset.
Aguinid Falls is split up into multiple levels. The adventure used to take you to eight levels. However, since there were a few accidents and fatalities on the higher levels, you are now required to take a guide and you will only reach level five. Don’t worry this is more than enough adventure!
ADVENTURE BAG FROM AGUINID WATERFALL TREK
This is an adventure bag. It is full of trash. Every time I go on an adventure I collect one adventure bag full of trash. It’s my small way of saying thanks to mother nature for allowing me to enjoy her beautiful creations. If we have time to go on an adventure we have time to collect an adventure bag on the way back out of the trail once we have enjoyed the waterfall, the hike or the beach. Adventure hard!
Reminders
The following are some reminders to allow you to enjoy your visit to the Aguinid Falls:
All visitors should register and pay for an entrance fee.
Eating or drinking close to the river or falls is not allowed. There is a designated area where you can take your meals away from the river. Only trail food and water is allowed while traversing the river up to the different levels of the Aguinid Falls.
Trash should be thrown in designated areas.
Collecting plants or animals from the areas is forbidden
Always practice caution when climbing the rock walls of the falls to prevent accidents. The Aguinid Falls is indeed one place people should not miss if they happen to visit Samboan.
AGUNID FALLS VIDEO –> click here
©SHAYNNE DUMABOK
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