Can-Umantad Falls in Candijay is one of the most impressive waterfalls you will find on the incredible island of Bohol, Philippines! There are also two other great attractions to visit in Candijay, which will make it a great trip. Stop off to see the Cadapdapan Rice Terraces and cool off at Canawa Cold Spring afterward.
WHERE IS CAN-UMANTAD FALLS IN CANDIJAY
Can-Umantad Falls is in the Candijay region (pronounced ‘Candee-high’). I drove my bike up here from Panglao (popular tourist area) and it took about two hours. I was continuing on to Anda after so I made it the stop on the way. If you plan to return to Panglao it will be a long journey of 2-hours driving each way.
Once you arrive to the Candijay Region, it is actually not super easy to find with a number of dirt roads to follow. However, it is pinned accurately on Google Maps just like Canawa Cold Spring and Cadapdapan Rice Terraces. That made navigating these three attractions quite easy. I have embedded the map below with the Can-Umantad location pinned.
There is an alternate way to get to Can-Umantad Falls from the viewpoint and to be honest I kind of wished I had taken it. From the viewpoint/restaurant for Cadapdapan Rice Terraces is a stairway leading down the steep hill to the waterfall.
Years ago, there was no road that went all the way around to Cam-Umantad Waterfall. This meant you had to walk up and down the stairs from the restaurant to visit the waterfall. It was like a 2-in-1 attraction. Now, there is a paved road that leads you to Cam-Umantad but to be honest it is so steep that I would rather walk down from the restaurant.
You can see from the photo below how close the rice terraces are to the waterfall. I believe it is just a 10-15 minute walk to the waterfall down the steps rather than a 15-minute drive along a windy, steep, dangerous road.
CANDIJAY TOUR (Hotel Pick-up from Panglao)
There is a great tour that takes you from your hotel in Panglao to the beaches of Anda, Cadapdapan Rice Terraces and to Can-Umantad Waterfall. Honestly, it’s such a long drive if you do it by yourself that this is probably the way to do it. There won’t be crowds of tourists like at Chocolate hills and as you can see it’s a beautiful landscape.
If you are interested in booking the Candijay Tour you can see it has hundreds of bookings and reviews. Click Here to view the details of the Candijay Tour and make a booking for your group.
MY EXPERIENCE AT CAN-UMANTAD FALLS
When we arrived in Candijay, we decided to go to Can-Umantad Falls first and reach the rice terraces and hot spring on the way back. The road was pretty crazy, to be honest. It was new and in good condition but incredibly steep. It was very windy and took at least the same amount of time as it would have to take the stairs down in the first place.
At the bottom, we parked and paid the small entrance fee of 20 pesos. The local guys asked if we wanted a guide but to be fair that is a bit of a scam as there really is just one pathway that leads you for five minutes to the waterfall. There isn’t much guiding to be done. Having said that there are a few off-shoots that I’m sure they might show you some little pools and other cool things so if you negotiated that it may be worth it to explore the little hidden spots in the area.
We headed off and stopped at the number of different pools along the way to jump in and swim. The water is a very vibrant blue and very refreshing after the long drive to Candijay. Make sure you check the depth of the pools as the water isn’t quite transparent enough to see. My favorite pool was one that actually had Can-Umantad Falls in the backdrop.
From this pool, you can head on up to the main waterfall, which is apparently the tallest waterfall in the province. The main cascade is 60ft but hits a plateau before finally dropping down to the main pool. It is very impressive and it’s great to be able to hang out in the water below the falls although the water itself was very deep so it wasn’t the best swimming hole. There are a lot of great spots beneath the falls to make your own and hang out while reading a book or relaxing.
I’m sure you have heard about Cadapdapan Rice Terraces if you are looking into Can-Umantad Falls but in case you haven’t make sure you visit all three attractions on your visit to Candijay including the Canawa Cold Spring. It is very possible to do all three in one day and they are all unique and make a Candijay day trip an action-packed adventure with views, adventure, and swimming!
WHERE TO STAY ON BOHOL
Save money in Bohol by staying at an Airbnb! Get a FREE $40 Airbnb Coupon by using my code when you book! I use Airbnb on about half of my travels and find you always get more value than a hotel.
Read my full blog post: BEST AREA TO STAY IN BOHOL
Bohol Beach Club – Luxury: It’s everything you would expect from a luxury resort in a tropical location. It’s beachside with amazing pools, bars, and chill-out areas. Right near the restaurants, bars, and action of Alona Beach but hidden away so that you can relax after a day of island-hopping or adventures.
Venezia Suites – Value: The Venezia Suits present the best value on Bohol. If you are looking for luxury but only want to spend mid-range often you need to get lucky. Venezia will hook you up with a beautiful suite that comes with a pool and living space. It’s a damn good deal and located right near all the action of Panglao so you are in a good spot.
HM & B Backpackers Inn: As a backpacker generally you check the price, location, and cleanliness. HM & B ticks all those boxes as one of the cheapest hostels near Alona Beach but also maintains good reviews, cleanliness and is pretty cheap compared to everything else near Alona Beach.
If you want to have a look for yourself you can click here to jump over to Booking.com to check out all of the accommodation options for Bohol.
ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH MY BOHOL SERIES
I’ve been to Bohol twice and both times I explored extensively on my motorbike to the popular tourist spots and to locations many people have never heard of. I document it all in my BOHOL TRAVEL GUIDE: 27 Awesome Things To Do
Are you a waterfall chaser? I’ve put together a list of My Favorite Waterfalls and Cave Pools on Bohol with detailed directions and photos.
Maybe you are an adrenaline junkie like me and want to find out the Best Cliff Jumping spots on Bohol.
The popular tourist area where most people stay is Panglao Island. I’ve put together a blog post guide about the Best Things to do on Panglao Island
If you aren’t quite sure whether you want to stay on Panglao Island or venture north to Anda, I’ve written a blog post about the Best Places to Stay on Bohol, which helps you decide what region is best for you depending on your preferences.
One of the best activities on Bohol is the island-hopping to Balicasag and Virgin Island. I’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know about the adventure here: Virgin Island and Balicasag Island Hopping Tour Review