Cebu is one of our favourite islands in the Philippines, seemingly made for adventure travellers. If you’re a fan of waterfalls like we are, then you’re in luck. There are literally hundreds of waterfalls in Cebu, and whilst we’re yet to visit them all – we doubt we ever will – we have rounded up 23 best waterfalls in Cebu. From north to south and even off the mainland, our guide to waterfall chasing in Cebu is bound to keep you busy. 

Best time to visit Cebu

You can visit Cebu year-round, but the best time to see the waterfalls in Cebu is during the dry season, between the months of January-April. Whilst you run a slight risk of some of the waterfalls in Cebu having little water, a weak stream is a lot better than flash flooding, which many of these rivers and canyons are prone to. 

How to get to Cebu

Cebu is located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, and even has its own international airport. You can fly in from abroad, from just about every major domestic airport in the Philippines, or you can catch a ferry from the surrounding islands. 

What to bring for the waterfalls in Cebu

Prepare for your trip to Cebu with our must-have travel essentials. (click for prices)

• Snorkel, mask & fins
• Quick-dry microfiber travel towel
• Insulated water bottle
• Hiking Sandals
• Waterproof backpack & phone case

If you’re interested in photography and/or videography this is the gear we can’t live without:

Professional camera: Sony a7iv (click for price)
Action camera: GoPro HERO10 Black (click for price)
Drone: DJI Air 2s (click for price)

23 Best Waterfalls in Cebu

South Cebu Waterfalls

We’re kickstarting this guide to the best waterfalls in Cebu with the one that put this island on the map – Kawasan Falls. Affectionately nicknamed the Gatorade factory, this incredible waterfall is known for its bright blue water, which attracts visitors from all over the world. An #InstagramFamous location, Kawasan Falls isn’t a hidden gem if that’s what you’re looking for, but it is a must-visit stop on your Cebu itinerary. 

There are two ways you can enjoy Kawasan Falls – the first is by simply driving to the entrance and walking the short distance to the main falls, but the second is way more exciting and by far the more popular option. It involves a 3-hour canyoneering trek downriver, jumping off cliffs, swimming through the canyon and scrambling over rocks.

The trek ends with the grand finale at Kawasan Falls, rewarding all your hard work with a chance to enjoy the falls, snap some photos and fuel up with food and drinks. The Kawasan Canyoneering is an unmissable adventure in South Cebu and one we’ve personally done 3 times already. 

Kawasan Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Aguinid Falls is an incredible series of cascading waterfalls in Samboan, South Cebu, that will leave you wondering ‘how can this be real?’. There are eight levels to Aguinid Falls, each more spectacular than the last. 

Witnessing each level of Aguinid Falls will mean climbing upriver, hoisting yourself up with ropes as your feet find footholds in the limestone. It might sound challenging, but you’ll have a guide to lead the way and keep you safe. 

Every level offers something unique, from trickling natural showers to deep pools of turquoise water. It’s an experience not to be missed and by far one of the best waterfalls in Cebu!

Aguinid Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Just in case you weren’t finished with all the canyoneering and adventuring, Wonderfalls in Alegria is a relatively new experience but one of the best waterfalls in Cebu to check out.

Unlike the Kawasan Falls canyoneering experience, Wonderfalls is far less touristy and offers just as surreal an experience. This stretch of river is a lot more rugged, not a sign of development in sight. When comparing it to Kawasan Falls canyoneering, Wonderfalls involves a lot more jumping, swimming and climbing.

Whilst the Wonderfalls Canyoneering isn’t for the faint of heart, it really is one of the best attractions you can experience in South Cebu – the sooner the better before tourism really kicks off. 

Wonderfalls Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Inambakan Falls is a stunning five level waterfall in Ginatilan, about an hour’s drive from Moalboal. It’s a popular waterfall for locals and tourists in the know, and as such, has been developed to make it more “comfortable” for visitors. 

The bottom level features the tallest waterfall as well as a large swimming area, where many people gather and sit around picnic sheds. The higher you climb, to level two and beyond, the quieter and more natural it gets – just you and the jungle. 

Inambakan Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Cambais Falls in Alegria is like two waterfalls for the price of one. This beautiful jungle oasis features two distinct levels, the first being an enormous swimming area, water trickling down a cascading rockface. It’s an ideal spot for a leisurely swim, but the second level is where all the excitement is. 

Climbing up and around to the upper level, you’ll find a rushing waterfall as well as multiple spots to cliff dive and a natural slide. It’s a jungle playground if ever we’ve seen one, and we spent hours there having a blast with the locals. If the water isn’t too strong you can even climb up onto the waterfall and take a seat in the natural tub. Definitely one of the waterfalls in Cebu you can’t miss!

Cambers Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Whilst #6 on our roundup, Mantayupan Falls actually takes first place as the tallest of all waterfalls in Cebu. As majestic as it is massive, Mantayupan Falls stands – or falls – at 98 metres, plummeting into a large basin below. 

Located in the town of Barili, Mantayupan Falls is incredibly easy to access, as it’s only a short drive from the centre of town. Due to its claim to fame as the mightiest of Cebu waterfalls and its proximity to town, Mantayupan Falls is very popular with local tourists. 

The area surrounding the falls has been developed for the convenience of tourists, and even includes a hanging bridge connecting the lower level to the upper falls. 

It’s our humble – and expert – opinion that Dao Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Cebu. We’ve visited this waterfall several times now, and each time we’re blown away by the river and canyon leading to the falls awaiting us at the very end. 

The hike through the jungle and upriver to Dao Falls is one of the most picturesque hikes you’ll encounter in Cebu, beginning with a hanging bamboo bridge. From there it’s upriver for a short while before reaching our favourite spot – the snake. 

Fear not, there are no snakes here, not that we’ve seen anyway. The snake is what we call the S-shaped section of river right before the final stretch of the hike. It’s a narrow channel of milky blue water, flanked by limestone walls on both sides. 

Dao Falls itself is also plenty picturesque, falling 40 metres from atop the canyon wall. The water at the falls is vibrant and inviting, making it the perfect place to finish your hike and freshen up. 

Dao Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Tumalog Falls is a magnificent curtain waterfall in the famous town of Oslob. You may know Oslob as the home of whale sharks, but there’s more to this town than this underwater experience. 

Just 2 kilometres from the main highway, Tumalog Falls is a popular side trip to add to your whale shark encounter. After swimming with the sharks in the early morning, most people head to Tumalog Falls afterwards to relax and enjoy the view. 

What it lacks in force it makes up for in sheer height, gently cascading over a mossy limestone wall. The basin below is shallow, made for wading rather than swimming, but beautiful no less.  

Tumalog Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

When it comes to Kabutongan Falls, looks can be deceiving. To access the falls, you have to enter through a private resort. This is usually a huge red flag for us, because it typically means the falls have been developed beyond recognition. This is not the case with Kabutongan Falls.

Despite entering through a resort, Kabutongan Falls is one of the most epic adventures you can have in Cebu. It was all very unofficial and we paid a teenager to take us upriver to the falls. It ended up being a DIY canyoneering trek that we were totally unprepared for, but it was well worth the trouble. 

After hurtling ourselves over boulders and swimming against the current for some time, we made it to the end of the canyon where Kabutongan Falls awaited us. As if we hadn’t had enough adventure for the day, Carson and our guide had fun cliff jumping into the bright blue lagoon.

You can explore Kabutongan Cebu Falls further by heading into the cave behind the waterfall. Keep in mind that if there’s any rumble of thunder even in the far distance, do not go into the cave. That’s your sign to head back to the entrance and get out of the canyon, just in case of flash flooding. 

Kabutongan Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Halfway between a waterfall and a lagoon, Cancalanog Falls is a true oasis in the jungle. This bright blue water hole in Alegria offers more than meets the eye. At first glance it might not look like much, but it’s actually incredibly deep and a perfect spot to get in some cliff dives. 

It’s definitely more of a local hangout spot than a tourist destination, but it’s been developed slightly to include a covered building and a picnic table, as well as bamboo bridges connecting the two banks. A word of advice – if you can avoid visiting on a weekend you’re likely to have Cancalanog Falls all to yourself.

Cancalanog Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

When it comes to waterfalls in Cebu, the little town of Alegria has been blessed. Montpellier Falls is yet another epic waterfall in Alegria, and one of the biggest in Cebu. The great thing about Montpellier Falls is that it’s surprisingly easy to get to, and only requires a short 15-minute hike.

Despite its beauty combined with ease of access, Montpellier Falls remains relatively low key. You won’t find many (if any) foreign tourists here, and if you avoid weekends there likely won’t be any locals either. We had the place to ourselves the entire time. 

At the bottom of the powerful single stream of water is a large boulder which you can climb onto and even dive off as the surrounding pool is deceptively deep. The semi-dammed off swimming area then flows into a series of smaller waterfalls before levelling out into the river below. 

Candayvic Falls is a tropical oasis located above Dao Falls. It was only recently discovered by locals during the pandemic, so it’s maintained its natural charm until now. You won’t find Candayvic Falls on any map, so check out our full guide here for instructions on how to get there, or if you plan on visiting Dao Falls you can ask your Dao Falls guide to take you to Candayvic next. 

Whilst the actual waterfall at Candayvic plummets off a sheer cliff face, the main attraction isn’t the fall, it’s the blue lagoon before the falls. Surrounded by vibrant flora and fauna, it gives off major Garden of Eden vibes. Believe it or not, it’s actually incredibly deep so you can even have some fun cliff diving here! Safe to say this underrated gem is one of our favourite waterfalls in Cebu. 

Candayvic Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Lusno Falls is a majestic hidden gem 30 minutes out of Moalboal. The hike to Lusno Falls will take you through scenic farmland, of fields being tended to by local farmers with water buffalo. At the end of the short hike sits Lusno Falls, a beautiful fan-shaped waterfall. 

A makeshift picnic hut sits on the upper level overlooking the falls, and a narrow pathway leads down the slope to the river below. We were fortunate enough to have the place to ourselves for the most part, except for when a local family came to cool off and fill up their water bottles. 

Whilst the swimming area is minimal below the falls, the rocks are grippy enough so that you can climb up and have a refreshing natural shower under the stream of water.

Affectionately known by the locals as Adidas Falls after its triple stripe stream, Binalayan Falls is the ultimate jungle playground in Samboan. Still sometimes referred to as Binalayan Hidden Falls, this waterfall isn’t exactly what we’d call hidden, with many tourists frequenting it. Despite this, Binalayan Falls is still one of our favourite waterfalls in Cebu.

It’s a gorgeous hike to Binalayan Falls, through coconut groves and along the river. The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive is a smaller waterfall with a rope swing in front. This is the first level and a great first stop. Take the steps on the right and you’ll be led to the main level of Binalayan Falls. 

We shared our time at Binalayan Falls with a group of local children who were having a blast jumping off different platforms. It’s an awesome spot to explore and cliff jump, but keep in mind the water depth is only 7ft at the best of times after heavy rainfall. There are lower vantage points to jump from where it won’t be so critical should you hit the bottom. 

Binalayan Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

15. Balaygsawa Falls

Not far down the road from Binalayan Falls is the lesser-known Balaygsawa Falls. Already somewhat developed to accommodate locals, Balaygsawa Falls is yet to grace the tourist map.

The hike to Balaygsawa Falls was easy enough, as the path was cemented to the bottom. However, coming up is a different story as it’s quite a steep incline, so just something to keep in mind! 

Our guide had told us it was a little waterfall and not to expect anything quite as crazy as Binalayan Falls, so we were pleasantly surprised to discover there were multiple levels of Balaygsawa Falls, one even possible to dive off!

Located in Barili, home of the towering Mantayupan Falls, Ibo Falls is a newly discovered hidden gem. It was a long and winding journey to reach Ibo Falls, and you won’t find it on Google Maps, so we recommend getting in touch with the local Barili Tourism Office to arrange your visit to Ibo Falls. 

There’s more than meets the eye at Ibo Falls. The first level is a small fan waterfall cascading into a bright blue swimming hole, deep enough to cliff jump from atop the falls. If you continue upriver to the next level, you’ll find an even larger waterfall in somewhat of a cave. 

There may not be many tourists visiting Ibo Falls just yet, but we can see it gaining popularity in the near future. You’ll definitely want to visit this waterfall in Cebu before that happens. 

Iso Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

San Miguel Falls is a small but beautiful waterfall in Samboan, South Cebu. Our visit to San Miguel Falls was an unexpected addition to a day already full of exploring the more famous waterfalls in Cebu, Samboan. We had no idea about this hidden gem, but thanks to our trusty guide we were able to stop for a quick visit.

If we’re being honest, it’s possible San Miguel Falls is privately owned by the giant estate across the road, but there were no signs telling us to keep out. The waterfall is a small but beautiful rainforest oasis surrounded by lush tropical foliage. The basin is small but still spacious enough for a refreshing dip, and there’s a larger lagoon where you can have a swim as well. 

San Miguel Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

18. Bugasok Falls

Bugasok Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in the town of Argao in South Cebu. We actually found this waterfall by accident after a failed attempt to visit Agta Cave. Don’t make our mistake – if you want to visit Agta Cave you’ll need to arrange it beforehand with the Argao Tourism Office. You can’t visit without a guide. 

After being turned around from Agta Cave we decided to head to Bugasok Falls instead, since we were already in the mountains. If you plan ahead you can visit both the cave and the falls in one day. 

It’s a very short 2-minute hike from where you’ll park your motorbike to the falls. It’s a stunning spot for a refreshing swim, as it’s very secluded and not popular with non-locals. Multiple waterfalls make up Bugasok Falls, but you’ll want to keep far from the edge of the top fall as the water isn’t deep enough to jump. 

Bugasok Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Cebu Falls from City & beyond

The beauty of Cebu is that you don’t have to venture far from the city to experience nature. One of the best waterfalls in Cebu is found right on the outskirts of the city in Busay. Budlaan Falls is only 25 minutes from Lahug, and makes for a great day trip if you’re not wanting to go all the way down south.

The hike to Budlaan Falls from the car park is another 20-30 minutes along a well established path. After a short descent down the mountainside you’ll come out on a platform overlooking Budlaan Falls.

There are different levels along the surrounding rocks where the brave local kids were cliff jumping, but the water is pretty shallow so we wouldn’t recommend it! This is a popular local hangout spot, so if you find that the main waterfall is too crowded, there’s a lower level that may be less busy.

Budlaan Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

South Cebu may have been blessed with the majority of the waterfalls in Cebu, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t gems to be found in the north. Danasan Falls is a huge cascading waterfall deep in the rugged rainforest of Danao, about 2 hours north of Cebu city. 

Danasan Falls is an absolute mission to get to, but if you’re up for the challenge it’s well worth the effort. Danasan Falls is located within the Danasan Eco Adventure Park, which itself is no small feat to get to, but from there you still have to travel some way on a tractor to the actual falls. 

From where we parked the tractor it was a short trek down to the river, and a little farther still to the top of Danasan Falls. The falls cascade down several levels, and we started on the very top. There are multiple areas to swim in, or find a spot on the banks and enjoy the view. 

Danasan Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

21. Himbabawud Falls

Another gem just out of Cebu city is Himbabawud Falls, in the hillside town of Busay. You’ll need to start your trek at Lava Mountain River Farm, where you can arrange for a guide to take you to the falls. We’re the first to try and shrug off hiring a guide, but having hiked it on our own, we do actually recommend getting a guide as it’s quite a tricky trek. 

After around 45 minutes – 1 hour of hiking through the jungle, up the Mananga River and past multiple smaller falls, we made it to Himbabawud Falls. It’s a two-level waterfall with a basin at the bottom where you can cool off after a long hike. It may not be the biggest waterfall in Cebu, but it’s an awesome adventure if you’re looking for something off the beaten path. 

Himbabawud Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

22. Kawa Falls

Kawa Falls is a hidden waterfall in Cebu, around 30 minutes from the city centre. Secret though it may be, you’ll actually be able to find Kawa Falls on Google Maps, and we’ve also pinned the road you’ll need to park at here.  

After parking your car or bike, you’ll need to hike for 45 minutes – 1 hour. Whilst fairly remote, you’ll still hike past small houses and even a local basketball court, so if you have any trouble following the path, you can always ask a local. 

Fortunately, we met a family along the route who were heading home, close to Kawa Falls, so we followed them. As if showing us the way wasn’t kind enough, the father even climbed a coconut tree and cut us down a fresh coconut to drink.

Eventually we reached Kawa Falls. There are two levels to the falls, an upper and a lower. At the upper level there was a group of local kids diving into the pool.  We visited after some very heavy rain so the water was brown and uninviting, but it’s usually quite clear! 

Kawa Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

23. Busay Falls Camotes

Busay Falls is our last waterfall and it’s found on Camotes Island, off the mainland of Cebu. Camotes can be accessed by fast cat from Mactan, or if you have a car and want to bring it to the island, you can take the roro ferry from Danao. 

Busay – literally meaning waterfall – Falls is a beautiful little waterfall and the only one on the island. It’s small but magical, surrounded by lush jungle. There’s a very obvious waterfall cascading into the blue pool, but if you climb up a little farther you’ll see another waterfall in the cave. 

There were a few kids and teenagers hanging out at Busay Falls, but Camotes Island remains relatively lowkey in terms of tourism. 

Busay Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

Busay Falls – Best Waterfalls in Cebu

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