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Aguinid Falls In Samboan Cebu: A Complete Guide

Aguinid Falls In Samboan Cebu: A Complete Guide

Aguinid Falls, located in the southern part of the island of Cebu in the Philippines, is a stunning destination for nature lovers. Set in the serene town of Samboan, the falls boast five tiers, each one offering a distinct experience. The waterfall cascades down into crystal-clear turquoise pools, surrounded by lush greenery, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

AGUINID FALLS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

Aguinid Falls has become one of the most popular waterfalls on the island of Cebu. While it may never surpass the popularity of Kawasan Falls down the road, the Aguinid Falls trek is a great, adventurous activity for explorers of all levels. In this blog post, I’ll share everything you need to know about visiting Aguinid Falls.

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HOW TO GET TO AGUINID FALLS FROM CEBU CITY

Getting to Aguinid Falls in Samboan from Cebu City requires a combination of road and local transport, and the trip typically takes about 3-4 hours depending on traffic. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Bus from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Samboan: Buses that head towards Bato via Barili are the ones that you should take. These buses pass through Samboan. The bus trip usually lasts around 3 hours or so. Buses typically leave every half an hour, starting early in the morning. Make sure to inform the conductor to drop you off at Samboan town proper or at the crossing going to Aguinid Falls.
  2. From Samboan to Aguinid Falls: Upon arrival at Samboan, you can take a motorcycle taxi, locally known as “habal-habal”, to get to the entrance of Aguinid Falls. The ride should be quick and take around 10-15 minutes.
a couple of people that are sitting on a motorcycle.

GETTING TO AGUINID FALLS FROM MOALBOAL

Traveling from Moalboal to Aguinid Falls in Samboan by motorbike is a convenient and adventurous option. The trip typically takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on the speed and the traffic conditions. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Starting from Moalboal: Start your journey from the Panagsama Beach area in Moalboal.
  2. Route to Samboan: You will need to head south on the Cebu South Road. Continue on this road which will take you through the towns of Badian, Alegria, and Malabuyoc.
  3. Arriving in Samboan: Once you reach Samboan, look for the junction with a sign that points towards Aguinid Falls. This junction is right before you reach Samboan town proper if you’re coming from the north.
  4. Final Stretch to Aguinid Falls: Turn right at this junction and follow the road. You will soon arrive at the Aguinid Falls Eco-Tourism Park.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN MOALBOAL

Moalboal is the best place to base for all your Cebu adventures. It is central to most waterfalls, canyoneering, snorkeling, beaches and within driving distance of the Whale Sharks!

a view of a beach with a thatched hut and palm trees.
a pool with a flamingo in the middle of it.

MY EXPERIENCE AT 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.

When we arrived at Aguinid we first took lunch. It is a local tip to know that the restaurants/cafes at Aguinid Falls are the last cafes for a long journey down the coast. We enjoyed a great spread of different typical Filipino dishes and relaxed before getting ready to head out on the Aguinid Falls 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!

The first level will go largely unnoticed as it is just the ground floor or the river. However, from this point on each level offers a beautiful cascade of the milky blue water Cebu has become so famous for.

Aguinid Falls isn’t an adventure to one big waterfall. The adventure to the waterfall is the attraction. You will walk through the water, along with bamboo bridges and at one point scale straight up the waterfall aided by a strong rope.

Don’t worry it isn’t vertical. It is more of a 45-degree angle and not slippery at all. This is one of the reasons you have a guide with you. Keep an eye on your guide, they will probably run up this section without even touching the rope!

The milky blue pools continue all the way up the trail until you reach a pool where you can do a small cliff jump of a couple meters. This is only about 1 minute before the main waterfall at level 5.

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After about half an hour we reached the level 5 waterfall, which pours down over the rounded waterfall. Caves inside can be explored and it is a great place for a refreshing dip.

You will definitely get wet on this hike so bring a dry bag or waterproof case for your phone. There are several sections where you walk alongside or even underneath the waterfall.

What are my favorite pieces of gear for waterfall adventures?

There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a waterfall adventure. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Here are my waterfall adventure essentials.

  • Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket: This is my go-to rain jacket. It’s super light, folds down into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one never leaves my backpack.
  • Osprey Ultralight Dry Sack: Waterfalls get wet and wild so having this ultralight dry sack for cameras, phones and valuables means you don’t have to hold back!
  • Quick-Dry Towel: A quick-dry towel is a must for travelers. It hardly takes up any room and dries in seconds.
  • GoPro Hero 12: The best and easiest way to capture your underwater and snorkeling adventures.

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The staff at the entrance had a sign saying trash deposit 50 pesos. This meant if you took possible trash onto the trail such as plastic water bottles you had to pay 50 pesos and you would get your money back if you proved you had brought your trash out. They seemed quite proud of their trail. Some of my local friends also told me not to bother with an adventure bag here because it was maintained by the government.

As I have found all over the world, locals are often missing what is right before their eyes. They did indeed keep this trail in awesome condition. It was beautiful and the regular adventurer would not recall seeing any trash.

Along with our driver, I collected two bags of trash. Two Adventure Bags. We found more than ten flip-flops and lots of plastic bottles just yards off the trail in the bushes. The staff at the entrance were shocked and I think they will be doing a bit of a sweep shortly!

ENTRANCE FEE FOR AGUINID FALLS

These prices are as of 2019 and will increase a little bit each year of course.

  • 30 Pesos for Filipinos
  • 60 Pesos for Foreigners
  • 50 Pesos garbage bond

FACTS ABOUT AGUINID FALLS

  1. Location: Aguinid Falls is located in Barangay Tangbo, Samboan, on the southwest coast of the island of Cebu, Philippines.
  2. Composition: Aguinid Falls is composed of multiple levels or tiers, typically described as a five-level waterfall, but some sources claim it has as many as eight levels. Each level offers a different kind of waterfall and swimming experience.
  3. Accessibility: The first couple of levels are quite accessible to most visitors, with clear and beautiful pools for swimming. The higher levels require some adventurous spirit as they involve a bit of climbing with ropes and alongside the waterfall itself.
  4. Biodiversity: The falls are surrounded by a lush, green jungle that hosts a variety of plant and animal species, providing a vibrant and refreshing atmosphere.
  5. Cultural Impact: Aguinid Falls is a significant site for local tourism in Samboan and plays a crucial role in the local economy.
  6. Eco-Tourism: The local government promotes eco-tourism at Aguinid Falls, focusing on sustainability and conservation. Local guides are available to assist visitors, providing local employment opportunities.
  7. Activities: Aside from the thrill of climbing and swimming, visitors also enjoy photography and picnics. The clear water, surrounding greenery, and the rugged appeal of the multi-tiered falls offer a perfect backdrop for memorable photos.
  8. Geology: The captivating terraced formation of the falls is a result of millennia of water erosion. The waters of the Tangbo River flow over the falls, creating pools and natural “steps” through layers of limestone.

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!

Tag your @adventurebagcrew on Instagram and mention @adventurebagcrew in your Instagram stories to be featured and inspire your friends, family, and followers to join the movement!

I hope you enjoyed this complete guide to visiting Aguinid Falls in Samboan, Cebu

WHERE TO STAY IN CEBU?

I really think that if you are going to be exploring Cebu, the best place to stay is in Moalboal. There are a few reasons why!

Cebu City might be where you land at the airport but if you are looking for adventure, you will need to head south as soon as possible. Most of the best waterfalls, whale sharks, snorkeling with sardines and turtles are all down in the south of Cebu. So where do you stay to do all of these adventures? Moalboal!

Moalboal is a cool town, which is the free-diving and scuba capital of Cebu. There are tons of hostels, hotels, and hostels here as well as being close to all the waterfalls and hikes in the region.

Here are my recommendations on where to stay in Moalboal depending on your budget.

  • Teobas HomestayValue: You need to click on that link just to see how rad this place is. It has a staircase down to the ocean into crystal clear water. I can tell you, I have snorkeled out the front of this place with turtles many times. For about $30 USD you get a private room with all of the facilities you need. There is not much better than having ocean access and a bit of a sunset view!
a set of stairs leading down to the water.
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Teobas Homestay

  • Best Value
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  • Beachfront
  • Dolphin House ResortLuxury: If you are looking for a nice resort, Dolphin House is a 5-star resort with a huge pool for less than $200 USD per night. It has ocean access, great restaurant, chilling areas and a beautiful garden throughout the property.
a view of a beach with a thatched hut and palm trees.

Dolphin House Resort

  • Luxury
  • Private Pool
  • Beachfront

MORE CEBU TRAVEL GUIDES

a person sitting on a rock in front of a waterfall.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT CEBU

When considering the weather, the best time to visit Cebu, Philippines, is generally during the dry season which runs from December to May. During this period, the weather is more predictable, with less chance of rain disrupting outdoor activities. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

  1. Dry Season (December – May): This period is characterized by less rainfall and more sunshine. Among these months, February to May are especially good as they tend to be hot and dry, making them perfect for beach-related activities.
  2. Cool Months (December – February): The months of December to February are part of the dry season but are slightly cooler compared to other months. This makes it a good time to visit if you prefer more moderate temperatures.
  3. Hot Months (March – May): These months can get quite hot, but if you’re planning on spending time at the beach or by the pool, this could be the ideal time for you.
  4. Rainy Season (June – November): These months have more rainfall, which can disrupt outdoor activities. However, the rain can also bring cooler temperatures and fewer tourists, which some visitors might prefer.
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esr ramos

Monday 9th of March 2020

How tall is the Aguinid Falls , it would be more informative if the description is added , it is a wonder beauty it self not justifiable with out proper Information. Thank you

Jackson

Tuesday 10th of March 2020

Haha you will have to go down and take the measuring tape yourself... it is not really a waterfall known for it's height so it's not really relevant although if you use your detective skills I have included photos with people next to the waterfall so essentially I have shown you how high the waterfall is you have just failed to analyze the relative scale of the waterfall to the man standing directly underneath it :P take care and enjoy ... PS let me know how many inches tall the waterfall is so I can update this blog post with the relevant info haha

Aiste

Tuesday 3rd of December 2019

Been following your suggestions in Cebu! Thanks!

Aguinod falls are now 300 pesos, but they provide the gear and take you up all 8 levels! It was loads of fun!

Go John

Saturday 7th of September 2019

Entrance fee to aguinid falls is now 300pesos per person..

shira

Tuesday 20th of August 2019

hi! your blog is my to-go guide for the philippines trip i'm planning in Dec 2019. I have 1 quick question- i read somewhere that water flow in aguinid falls might not be impressive during Dec. This has got me all worried since i can't find more information on this anywhere. can you give any info regarding this?

Wednesday 17th of July 2019

Hello is it okay to bring 11 years old