Candayvic Falls in Samboan, Cebu is an incredible jungle oasis with some of the clearest blue water we’ve ever seen. A bit of an odd name, apparently it was named after the Samboan Mayor’s wife, Marivic, who also happens to be the head of tourism. It’s supposedly a contraction of the words “Kang Inday Marivic” or “For Dear Marivic”. A bit cute.
We’d never heard of Candayvic Falls prior to visiting, which is because it was only recently “discovered” and put on the local map. We were in town visiting Dao Falls when our guide suggested we make a stop and check out Candayvic Falls just above. Always ready for an adventure, we thought “why not?”. Safe to say we made the right call.
HOW TO GET TO CANDAYVIC FALLS
Candayvic Falls is yet to be added to any map, so you’ll need a guide to get here. Also we forgot to pin the trailhead, our bad. We have a fantastic Samboan guide, Natskie, who’ll be more than happy to take you to Candayvic Falls, and any other Samboan waterfall for that matter. You can contact him on 0915 491 0670.
Since we can’t pin Candayvic Falls, what we can do is put Dao Falls into the Google Map above. Candayvic Falls is right above Dao, so you can get a rough idea of where you’ll need to go. It’s at least 4 hours from Cebu City to Dao Falls, so we absolutely recommend staying in Moalboal or Oslob and exploring the south from either of those bases. Check out our South Cebu series here for some inspo.
WHAT TO BRING TO CANDAYVIC FALLS
Prepare for your trip to Candayvic Falls with our must have travel essentials.
Waterproof backpack & phone case: Earth Pak 35L or 55L Heavy Duty Backpack, IPX8 Waterproof Phone Case Included (click for price)
Quick dry microfiber travel towel: Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Towel (click for price)
Insulated water bottle: Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle (click for price)
Hiking Sandals: Teva Women’s Hurricane Hiking Sandals (click for price), Teva Mens Hurricane Hiking Sandals (click for price)
If you’re interested in photography and/or videography this is the gear we can’t live without:
Professional camera: Sony a7iii (click for price)
Action camera: GoPro HERO9 Black (click for price)
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro (click for price)
To see our complete camera gear read this post here.
HIKING TO CANDAYVIC FALLS
The hike to Candayvic Falls was fairly short, only around 20 minutes. We trekked downhill through coconut fields and bamboo groves, so be prepared for an uphill climb coming back. Since Candayvic Falls hasn’t been developed (yet), it was a very natural hike.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT CANDAYVIC FALLS
Don’t go expecting a raging waterfall at Candayvic Falls. It’s more of a trickle with a cascade coming from the river above, but what it lacks in height it makes up for in sheer beauty. Candayvic Falls has a narrow passage with ultra clear, deep blue water. Luckily, we had a mask so we could check out the deepest end up close. It had extremely good water visibility.
If you want to get your heart rate up, you can jump from the top of Candayvic Falls into the crystal clear water. It’s plenty deep enough, but the passage is quite narrow so we don’t recommend flips!
We followed the water downriver as far as we safely could but it eventually leads to a massive drop off and another waterfall after that. This is the water source for Dao Falls, so you definitely don’t want to get swept over the edge. Instead, we packed things up, hiked back to the car and sent up the drone for a better look.
VISIT DAO FALLS
You’d be crazy not to visit Dao Falls while you’re in the area, so be sure to check out our guide to Dao Falls here before adding this epic waterfall to your itinerary.
Check out the 23 most epic waterfalls in Cebu
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WHERE TO STAY IN SOUTH CEBU
Southern Cebu is where all the adventure is at, from waterfalls and whale sharks to island hopping and diving. When visiting anywhere in the south, the best place to stay is Moalboal. It has the most accommodation options, and is a fun little town with dozens of cafes, restaurants and bars. Check out our top four picks below for where to stay in Moalboal.
BUDGET/HOSTEL: CHIEF MAU
Right on the main strip of Panagsama Road you’ll find Chief Mau, a fun and social hostel that dubs itself the chillest place in town. Clean, modern and affordable, boasting a restaurant, bar and billiards, Chief Mau is a favourite amongst backpackers
MIDSCALE: ADAM’S VIEW HOTEL
Simple but with all the amenities and facilities you need – including a massive pool – Adam’s View Hotel is our top pick for those looking for a little more luxury than a backpackers. Located in the main town, Adam’s View Hotel is right next to Gaisano Mall, but still close enough to the action of Panagsama Beach to remain convenient.
LUXURY: TURTLE BAY DIVE RESORT
If you have deep pockets and an appreciation for the finer things in life, Turtle Bay Dive Resort is the place for you. Tucked away on a private cove in the quieter part of town, this luxury resort is perfect for couples looking for a little exclusivity.
AIRBNB: LRS APARTMENT
We can personally attest to how great LRS Apartment is, having spent two weeks there. Aside from a beautiful private pool, the apartment itself is modern, well furnished and spacious enough for a couple. (And a cat!) It’s just a 5 minute drive from the hustle and bustle of the restaurants and bars along Panagsama Road, but far enough away to offer a little peace and quiet. We can’t recommend LRS Moalboal enough!
SEARCH ALL HOTELS & RESORTS IN MOALBOAL
MORE CEBU TRAVEL GUIDES
Dao Falls Samboan
Kabutongan Falls Malabuyoc
Inambakan Falls Ginatilan
Badian Canyoneering
Kawasan Falls Badian
Montpellier Falls Alegria
Cancalanog Falls Alegria
Binalayan Falls Samboan
Balaygsawa Falls Samboan
