An up-to-date travel guide featuring the 6 best waterfalls on Cebu Island, the Philippines.
Did you know that there are over 1000 Cebu waterfalls? Cebu island is one of the most popular places to visit in the Philippines. It really has it all, epic jungle hikes, amazing snorkeling and diving and of course, plenty of epic blue-water jungle waterfalls.
Although I didn’t seek out all 1000 Cebu waterfalls, I did visit a few. Here’s my roundup of my favorite waterfalls in Cebu.
Featured in: Cebu Island Travel Guide
Cebu Waterfalls Guide – Things to KNow
The below list of the best Cebu waterfalls will give you an insight into planning your adventures. Beneath each waterfall on this list I’ve also linked to individual posts covering details on how to get to each with more photos.
Before we dive into this epic list of the 6 best waterfalls in Cebu, here are a few things you should know.
- Most waterfalls are quite far from Cebu city – Instead, I stayed in nearby Moalboal to be closer to the action.
- Rent a motorbike to explore independently – Renting your own motorbike is by far the best way to see the Cebu waterfalls. This is quite cheap, and should only cost you about 300-400 pesos per day.
- Don’t be so quick to dismiss the guides – Paying a local kid a few dollars to take you to some secret Cebu waterfall levels or show you the best cliff jumps is a win win for everybody.
- Go canyoneering on Cebu – One of the best Cebu waterfall adventures you can have is the canyoneering trip above Kawasan Falls. This was my favorite activity I booked on the island and I’d recommend it to anyone.
- Buy adventure insurance – Cebu is an adventure playground. I swear by World Nomads insurance for my travel insurance because they cover things like motorbikes, cliff jumping and hiking and they’re usually cheaper than some of the regular options.
- Give back – visiting most of these waterfalls on Cebu is really cheap if not free. A good way to support the local economy and give back is to purchase snacks, food, or drinks at the smaller villages near the falls.
- Take your trash – This goes without saying. However, if you want to step it up, pick up at least 3 pieces of trash if you see any and take it with you.
Tip: You can book a very well-rated tour that visits three of the best waterfalls on Cebu in a single day if you’re short on time.
1. Kawasan Falls
Of course, no list of waterfalls on Cebu is complete without the famous Kawasan Falls.
This is the poster-boy for Cebu tourism, and it’s easy to see why. A 10+ meter waterfall flowing directly into a deep, aqua-blue swimming hole surrounded by tall limestone cliffs with jungle vines on each side.
This has made the list because it’s a truly fantastic waterfall. However, it is definitely not as quiet and secluded as some of the other waterfalls in this guide.
For this reason, I’ve made a complete blog post about the upper levels of Kawasan Falls (below). Usually, people who visit Kawasan Falls make the trip to the main waterfall or see the rest on their Canyoneering trips. However, it is possible to explore most of the upper levels without taking a tour. In saying that, you won’t get to go through some of the upper canyons, which is what makes the canyoneering experience worth it.
If you’re planning to only visit the main waterfall, definitely go early! We arrived at first light and had the whole place to ourselves for an hour in peak season!
Read More: Complete guide to Kawasan Falls (plus the upper levels)
Tip: There are many Kawsan Falls canyoneering trips to choose from, but they’re not all equal! This particular trip is by far the best, with the best guides and offering great bang-for-buck with all fees included– it’s so good I’ve actually done it twice on my visits to Cebu!
2. Aguinid Falls
Another epic, five-leveled set of Cebu waterfalls not to miss is Aguinid Falls.
Aguinid Falls is located roughly 1.5 hours from Moalboal in the Samboan Municipality. This is just south of Ginatilan, where you can find a few more epic Cebu Waterfalls.
Visiting Auginid Falls does require a guide. However, it is definitely worth it. There are several levels of deep jungle swimming holes and some small cliff jumps.
Aguinid Falls is great for a whole-day adventure. You will need to use ropes to climb up to the higher levels, tread through waist deep water and explore the deep Cebu canyons.
The top waterfall is a calcium-enriched limestone centrepiece that is one of the most unique Cebu waterfalls.
Read More: Exploring Aguinid Falls (Guide)
3. Inambakan Falls
If you’re looking for one of the best and most underrated of all the Cebu waterfalls, then you can’t miss Inambakan Falls.
Inambakan Falls is an incredible five-levelled waterfall. The lower level is a 10+ metre waterfall flowing into a deep, blue swimming hole that rivals Kawasan but without the crowds.
Inambakan Falls is located in the Ginatilan Municipality, only an hour ride from Moalboal. You don’t need a guide to enjoy this waterfall, however if you do visit, then I’d recommend tipping a local to show you the upper levels.
There are some small jump spots, incredible swimming pools and unique jungle landscapes that definitely shouldn’t be missed.
Read More: Exploring Inambakan Falls In Ginatilan
4. Montpellier Falls
If you want off the beaten path adventure with a tall, majestic waterfall nestled that looks like it’s straight out of the jungle book, then you have to check out Montpellier Falls.
Montpellier Falls is probably one of the most underrated of the Cebu waterfalls. It seems most people in Cebu tend to skip it for popular Tumalog or Kawasan Falls. However, Montpellier Falls is definitely worth the trip.
This waterfall is located in the Alegria Municipality, just 25 minutes from the main coastal road. It will take you roughly an hour to get here if you’re coming from Moalboal.
Montpellier Waterfall is a tall, single waterfall gently flowing directly onto a large boulder sitting in a deep, blue swimming hole.
If the waterfall itself isn’t enticing enough, then the ride to get here will definitely convince you. Along the way you have opportunities to see incredible views over the coast and a sneak peek into the dense Cebu jungle interior
This is a great spot for escaping the crowds and enjoying an epic Cebu waterfall all to yourself.
Read More: Visiting Montpellier Falls in Alegria
5. Cambais Falls
One of my favorite waterfalls on Cebu is Cambais Falls. Similarly to Montpellier, Cambais is also located in Alegria. If you’re looking to hit two waterfalls in one day, then I’d suggest going to Cambais first, then finishing at Montpellier.
To get here, it will take roughly one hour from Moalboal. You can access this waterfall either by motorbike, tricycle taxi or car. There is a small, unmarked carpark with a short 15-minute walk to reach Cambais Falls.
Once you reach the waterfalls, you will see that it has two main levels. The first of which has two waterfalls both flowing into a deep pool.
The second, upper level has another waterfall and swimming hole, and will require a short rope-climb and walk to reach.
Like some of the other Cebu waterfalls, Cambais Falls has opportunities for cliff jumps. The tallest of which is over 10 meters. If you’re looking to jump, check out the full guide linked above.
Read More: Cambais Falls Guide
6. Tumalog Falls
The last on the round up of best Cebu Waterfalls is Tumalog Falls. Tumalog Falls is located in South Cebu, very close to the Whale Shark operations in Oslob.
The best time to visit this waterfall is early, as it can get very crowded from people taking Cebu waterfall tours after swimming with whale sharks.
It takes roughly 20 minutes by motorbike or tricycle taxi to reach Tumalog Falls from Oslob. There is also a steep and scenic walk from the top carpark before reaching the main waterfall.
Tumalog Falls is a single waterfall, trickling down a large, steep wall. This waterfall is more of a gentle flow than a raging waterfall like many others in Cebu. There is a large natural pool underneath for swimming. However, it isn’t too deep, so don’t expect any cliff jumps.
However, it is still a great place to swim, relax and is definitely worth visiting while in Cebu, if not just for the convenience of easy access.
Read More: Tumalog Falls Guide
The Best Time To Visit These EPic Cebu Waterfalls
The best time to visit any of the Cebu waterfalls will depend on the Typhoon seasons. There are two main seasons in Cebu; Dry and Wet Seasons.
Cebu dry season – December – June
Cebu wet season – June – December
The best time to go waterfall chasing is in the shoulder season, between late December and early June. This will have decent water flow, while avoiding the growing hordes of crowds.
In saying that, many of the below waterfalls are not too crowded. The most popular are Kawasan and Tumalog, where you will certainly see many tourists. You might find that you could have some of the other, lesser-visited falls all to yourself, even in peak season!
Where to Stay on Cebu To Chase Waterfalls
The best place to base yourself is in Moalboal as it’s close to all of the best things to do and all the epic attractions you’ll want to add to your Cebu itinerary. However, if you’re planning to travel around the island, then I’d also recommend staying at:
- Cebu City/Mactan
- Oslob
- Malapascua
- Sumilon Island
Here are the best hotel picks for each budget.
- Best Luxury Resort in South Cebu: Ancelle Cristo Re – the top-rated luxury resort situated on a private beach near Moalboal where you can snorkel with sea turtles. This hotel is run by three amazing sisters who use their proceeds to support a local orphanage.
- Best Resort in Mactan/Cebu City: Bai Hotel – a great mid-budget resort in Cebu City with large rooms, daily buffet breakfast, and rooftop swimming pool. Located verry close to the Cebu International Airport.
- Backpacker Hostel With a Vibe in Moalboal: Chief Mau – a great hostel with a relaxed backpacker vibe in the heart of Moalboal. Large rooms, an onsite bar, and tours can be booked straight from the front desk.
- Sustainable lodging in Malapascua: Villa Sandra – an awesome treehouse accommodation on Malapascua Island – an awesome place to scuba dive with Thresher Sharks
- …10+ More Top-Rated Hotels on Cebu
Stay on Sumilon Island
Sumilon Bluewater – stay on a pristine private island complete with a beautiful white sandbar and crystal-clear water for swimming and snorkeling.
More Philippines Travel Guides and Adventures
I hope that you’ve enjoyed this travel guide to visiting the 6 best Cebu waterfalls! While you’re here, make sure to check out some of my other articles for the island and the rest of the Philippines.
