Kawasan Falls Recreation and Adventure Park: New Guidelines for Guests Starting May 1, 2021

Ahhh, the South is calling and I must go.

It’s been more than a year since my last excursion to the Southern part of Cebu and to say that I miss adventure is totally an understatement. I’ve been very busy with work deliverables and school requirements that I feel the need to have a break and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. When the news broke that Kawasan Falls will be reopening on May 1, 2021, me and my adventure buddies Elei (@matioramon) and Junfer (@iamjumper) couldn’t hide our excitement and spontaneously planned for a weekend jaunt.

How To Get to Kawasan Falls in the New Normal

Kawasan Falls is located in the municipality of Badian, South Cebu. For private vehicles, you will easily be guided with waze or google maps. A carpark is available at the jump-off point. You can also commute from Cebu City by taking any bus bound for Bato-Barili. Just head to the Cebu South Bus Terminal and enjoy the convenient automated ticketing system.

Kawasan Falls Recreation and Adventure Park is home to three-layered eleven waterfalls collectively known as Kawasan Falls and is an award-winning and world-class tourism destination in the highlands of Badian, Cebu, Philippines. It is famous for its steep and enormous canyons and clear turquoise blue waters that stretches from the Kabukalan spring (Kawasan Falls Level 3) and endlessly streams towards Tañon Strait. It is also rich in biodiversity heritage and a promising eco-tourism nature park that traverses from three Badian barangays, namely: Sulsugan, Balhaan and Matutinao, home of tropical and endemic flora and fauna.

Now that Kawasan Falls Recreation and Adventure Park is now open to welcome tourists again, there are a couple of things that every guest should know. So, here’s the new park guideline effective May 1, 2021.

Upon arrival in Kawasan Falls jump-off point (you’ll see a sign board next to Sto. Thomas de Villanueva Parish Church), head directly to the first station (just a few meters from the high way) and hire a guide (it is now mandatory). One guide can accommodate up to 5 persons per group. Guide fee is fixed at Php 200.00.

You’ll then be accompanied by your guide towards the next and most important station, the Tourist Information Center. Registration and briefing are conducted in this area. Every guest is subjected to mandatory temperature check, disinfection measures and hand washing. All guests will have to line up at a designated mark while waiting for his/her turn and to maintain social distancing. The DO’s and DONT’s while at the park should be familiarized and entrance fee and life jacket rental will be collected in this area (see rates below). 

DO’s

• Wearing of Face Mask before and after eating, drinking and swimming.
• Observing social distancing.
• Regular handwashing and disinfection.
• Eating and serving of food and drinks at the designated areas only.
• Health check and registration at the Tourism Information Center.

DONT’s

• Diving at the First and Second Falls.
• Destroying the flora and fauna.
• Vandalizing and destroying the natural rock formations.
• Throwing of garbage anywhere.
• Drinking of alcoholic beverages.
• Playing of amplified audio devices.
• Carrying firearms and deadly weapons.
• Possession, selling, or use of prohibited drugs.
• Gambling, indecent exposure, and immoral conduct.
• Grilling, outdoor cooking, and bonfires.
• Smoking and vaping.

KAWASAN FALLS ENTRANCE RATES

• Foreign Guests: PHP 75.00
• Local Guests: PHP 55.00
• Children/ Senior Citizen: PHP 40.00

KAWASAN FALLS PARK HOURS:

• OPENING: 6:00 AM
• CLOSING: 6:00 PM

If everything has been complied with, you can now focus in your main agenda – sightseeing and swimming at Kawasan Falls. Well, nothing much has changed since I last visited Kawasan Falls way back 2017. To give you an idea what’s in store for you inside the park, let’s have a virtual tour!

Sitio Ilaya (Designated Dining/ Picnic Area)

Food and beverages are served in this area. Picnic is also allowed so you can actually bring your favorite food and drinks without corkage fee.

Old Stone Arch Bridge

This bridge is hard to miss as you cannot reach leve 1 of Kawasan Falls without passing by this old structure. The old stone arch bridge is no longer used but it may still have some historical value.

This old bridge has already survived several earthquakes and typhoons, but the physical structure remains undamaged. This stone bridge appears to have been designed by foreigners, judging from its architecture.

First Falls (Level 1)

The first cascade stands at approximately 40 meters. It boasts a wide and deep basin that’s just perfect for swimming. Please note that rafting is not yet operational as of travel date. Food stalls stationed near the First Falls are still closed during the first day of reopening.

While swimming in this area, you are not allowed to take off the life jacket. Be careful with the slippery surface though.

Second Falls (Level 2)

The less crowded second level has a height of approximately 20 meters and can be reached within ten minutes of trekking. It is also perfect for swimming and sightseeing. There are a lot of cottages for rent wherein you can put your belongings.

There is a bridge made of bamboo that connects the Second Falls’ cottages to the park’s room accommodation for guests staying overnight. This artificial structure is also instagram-worthy I tell you.

Random Spots between Second Falls and Third Falls

Enjoy the exclusiveness of this secluded spot along the route going to the Third Falls. The mini-cascade is actually very long with snake-like shape flowing towards the top area of Second Falls. Be careful with the strong current though.

The water is very clear in this area you can vividly see the rocks submerged in the river surface. TIP: Float like there’s no tomorrow.

The Otherworldly Dam

Aside from the natural allure of the waterfalls, this man-made dam is likewise picturesque. We spent almost two hours in this area, taking photos and enjoying its otherworldly setting. It is actually one of the highlights of Kawasan Falls tour so don’t miss this spot.

The hue of the water near the dam is like gatorade blue but don’t be fooled in drinking it. You can feast your eyes on various shades of cyan, turquoise and aquamarine blue waters that extends up to the Third Falls and Kabukalan spring.

Third Falls (Level 3)

The third and last falls is where Kabukalan spring is located. You can enjoy diving, cliff jumping, sliding and canyoneering (half-course) in this area. Don’t get distracted with some locals doing some laundry though.

The farthest portion of the park is not actually part of the entrance fee noted above. If you want to include the activities exclusive for the Third Falls in your tour, then you have to pay additional Php 200.00 per head.

Overall, I really had a great time in Kawasan Falls. Together with my outdoorsy friends, I can honestly say that we enjoyed the reopening of one of the best waterfalls in Cebu. This is something we really needed to start the month right! ’til next adventure, folks!