When I set out for my adventure in Candijay, I had no idea I would end up in a tree 10 meters above the Canawa Cold Spring ready to jump into the beautiful blue water. After exploring Can-Umantad Waterfall and the Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, it was the perfect way to cool off.
WHERE IS THE CANAWA COLD SPRING
The Canawa Cold Spring 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 Can-Umantad Falls and Cadapdapan Rice Terraces. That made navigating these three attractions quite easy. I have embedded the map below with the Canawa Cold Spring location pinned.
Keep in mind that these roads are in pretty poor condition once you get close to Canawa Cold Spring. I would not advise a beginner drive to head out here as there are some steep, crumbly sections. It is nothing too dramatic but there are many opportunities to slide off your bike if you are unsure. I do believe it can be accessible by car although I only saw bikes out that far while I visited.
MY EXPERIENCE AT CANAWA COLD SPRING
You really never know what you are going to stumble upon in the Philippines. Sometimes a cold spring can be a little pool of water, other times it can be a magical oasis. As I navigated the crumbly road towards Canawa Cold Spring, I was honestly just hoping I could swim as it was incredibly hot!
I rolled into the parking lot and the old couple was a little surprised to see a foreigner although I’m sure a few visits most days by the looks of the setup. It was, however, all locals enjoying the spring. The entry fee for Canawa Cold Spring was 20 pesos, which is about 40 US cents.
The first part of the Canawa Cold Springs is very man-made and not particularly beautiful. It’s like a narrow quarry with a benches and table on either side. It is set up for local families to come and swim on the weekends not to be some sort of natural, tropical oasis.
However, at the end of the channel, there is a huge swimming hole, surrounded by beautiful trees. ‘Cawa’ means Pan in the local dialect, which perfectly describes the shape of this miniature amphitheater. In windy moments the wind would blow some of the leaves off the trees and they would swirl around in the sunlight, slowly floating down to rest on the surface of the water. As light crept in between the gaps in the foliage, this swimming hole section of the Canawa Cold Spring was beautiful!
On the far side of the natural pool, I spotted a rope. I checked the depth and then swam over to the rope and climbed it all the way up to a branch about 10-meters high. I was there by myself, so there was no-one to capture a photo, but it was a great cliff-jump and a really magical spot. I hope to see a photo from here in the future so let me know if any of you visit and jump.
Don’t worry too much about the depth in the middle of the pool. Many of the locals have tried reaching into the depths but no-one has ever touched the bottom.
As I went to head off, an old man who was there with his son and grand-daughter told me to come over and join them for lunch. This was classic Filipino hospitality and to be honest, I was hungry. I hadn’t eaten all day and there wasn’t much food around Candijay. He offered me rice and jackfruit in a nice sauce and some rum and coke.
It was a great way to top off a sweet little adventure to Canawa Cold Spring.
I’m sure you have heard about Cadapdapan Rice Terraces and Cam-Umantad Falls if you are looking into Canawa Cold Springs but in case you haven’t make sure you visit all three on your visit to Candijay. 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