Kawasan Falls Canyoneering in the Philippines

Nestled in the heart of Cebu, Philippines, Kawasan Falls is not only a stunning natural wonder but also a hotspot for one of the most thrilling adventure activities in the country—canyoneering. From cascading turquoise waters to lush green surroundings, Kawasan Falls offers adventurers the opportunity to explore nature in a uniquely engaging way. This blog will walk you through everything you need to know about Kawasan Falls canyoneering, including how to prepare, what to bring, and the highlights of this exhilarating experience. Oh, and lots of Kawasan Falls photos!

While traveling in the Philippines I heard about the amazing Kawasan Falls cayoneering activity located near Moalboal in the Cebu Province. During my trip in February 2024 I finally decided to see what all the excitement was about and made my plans.

Oslob Whale Watching Before canyoneering at Kawasan Falls

I actually started my journey on the east side of the island at the Seafari Hotel. After a morning of swimming with whale sharks in Oslob, we quickly changed clothes and made our way into the van for a 3 hour drive across the island to Moalboal. The drive is actually quite nice and you get to see much of the island. I recommend starting very early if you decide to go this route as the whale watching tours can get busy very fast!

Grabbing breakfast at Base Camp before canyoneering at Kawasan Falls

We booked through a tour company called Dante’s Peak who has their own base camp for preparing for the Kawasan Falls Canyoneering journey. Our package included breakfast which consisted of rice, shrimp, spam, eggs, and a salad mix. It was the perfect meal as the Kawasan Falls canyoneering journey lasts approximately 4 hours. The crew at Dante’s Peak packed a high calorie granola bar into our gear though just incase we needed to recharge along the way.

The Ride to Kawasan Falls!

Once our bellies were full we were introduced to our guide, Darrel! He was a fun gentleman who not only grew up at Kawasan Falls but had been a guide for the previous 12 years. He really knew what he was doing and what he was talking about which would come in handy thoughout the excursion!

Darrel helped us get fitted up with our helmet, safety gear, and promptly collected our phones and anything else we wanted to bring for his dry bag. We actually brought our own dry bag, but he rolled it up and tossed it into his so that we wouldn’t have to worry about it while jumping off those amazing cliffs!

Base Camp for Kawasan Falls is not exactly where the canyon entrance is and is actually where you will come out at the end of the journey. When you are ready, there will be a motorcycle called to take you the rest of the way to the entrance. The ride in is a wonderful scenic ride that will give you an incredible mountain view of the Philippines. It’s truly worth it! Our guide was on a motorcycle next to us making jokes and ensuring that the ride in was a fun experience as well.

Ziplining at Kawasan Falls

After arrival and safety briefings you have the option of a 45-minute hike into the canyon area or a super fun ride on the 2nd longest dual cable zipline in Asia! We chose the zipline! The cost is only 600 Filipino Pesos per person which equates to roughly $10.61 at the time of this post. Don’t worry if you forgot to bring cash! After you’re finished canyoneering at Kawasan Falls your guide can give you a quick ride over to the ATM so that you can withdraw some cash.

The line for the zipline moved along very quickly given that they are able to send so many people zipping through at one time! You will climb a closed staircase up the tower until you reach the top. Here you’ll see the last few groups of tourists getting strapped in for their ride across the valley. If you have a GoPro or a phone camera, feel free to bring it for this! You can also hand it over to your guide if you want to capture some great shots of you from a distance. I kept my GoPro and handed off my phone so that I could capture multiple perspectives!

What to wear and bring for canyoneering at Kawasan Falls

Once you’re in the canyon things really start to get fun. Expect to be in and out of the water, but mostly in the water. I was there in February 2024 and the weather was in the mid 80s to low 90s (Fahrenheit) and the water was a bit on the cooler side which was actually nice and refreshing.

Here is my list of what to bring to Kawasan Falls for canyoneering:

Water Shoes or Strap Sandals I wore my Chacos and they did absolutely fine but I did notice that most people were in some sort of shoe. I think this comes down to preference but make sure you are comfortable climbing in them.

GoPro or Smartphone + Waterproof Case We ended up bringing the GoPro Hero 10 alongside two Samsung Ultra S 23’s. While I held on to the GoPro most of the trip we handed off one of the Ultra’s to our guide who documented the trip along the way. Not only did he simply record, but he was actually taking action shots and staging cinematic shots of us. It was so awesome!

Sunscreen While there is a canopy that will protect you from the sun for part of the day, as it moves over the trees you will start to feel it beating down on the back on your neck pretty quick. Make sure you either apply ahead of time or bring some just incase!

Filipino Pesos dYou will have an opportunity to support the local community by purchasing some souveiners or shirts on your way out of Kawasan Falls. I highly recommend bringing a few hundred pesos with you to pick up something you might like. We ended up buying some shirts for 500 pesos each. Your guide can keep your cash in your dry bag for you.

When to go to Kawasan Falls for canyoneering?

I think this will come slightly down to preference because there are slightly difference experiences depending on the time of year you attend the canyoneering at Kawasan Falls. If you go during the dry months which are March – May the cool mountain water will feel much more exhilerating throughout the trip. However, if you go during the less dry months you may experience fuller rivers and more water overall to enjoy throughout the canyoneering excursion.

I last went in February and while the water was slightly on the cooler side it felt wonderful as the sun started to rise up into the sky. We acclimated very quickly and found ourselves excited to get back in at every opportunity.

Caves and Jumping off Canyon Cliffs at Kawasan Falls

Throughout the canyoneering excursion at Kawasan you will experience several levels of cliffs and obstacles. Before super typhone Odette hit the Philippines, the site actually offered far more levels that visitors would get to explore throughout the day. With that said, you will still experience quite a full day so don’t worry!

The guides will warm you up with a few very small jumps and passes through rocks and running water. In no time, you will find yourself being pushed backwards over ledges, jumping from cliffs, and floating through glowing caves as your guides lead you through the canyon.

If you brought cameras, your guide will stop at several points along the way to film and photograph you and/or your party. If they do not, simply ask! Make sure you tip at the end of your journey if they do a great job. Don’t forget, $20-40 can go a long way in the Philippines and most of these guides only make around $100 a month!

Food and More Kawasan Falls Photos

We were equipped with a granola bar and a bottle of water incase we needed a bit of extra energy or felt dehydrated along throughout the activity. However if you did miss breakfast and you’er a bit more on the hungry side, you will have the chance to eat either at the midway point or at the end.

About half way through the Kawasan Falls canyonering excursion the local village has food stalls setup to sell you local delicacies. Most of this will consist of some sort of protein-on-a-stick option such as chicken, pork, or intestines. Is this isn’t for you or you’re a bit worried about how your stomach will react to the food (or how long its been waiting there for you) you can go ahead and skip this part and march on towards the end of Kawasan Falls.

At the end of the journey you will not only have a chance to take some photos of final tier of the famous Kawasan Falls but you will have a chance to eat a delicious Filipino meal cooked fresh from the kitchen. This was ultimately the route we ended up going. While I was feeling a bit hungry mid way through, I knew we had a meal waiting for us at the end up the journey so I held out!

How to get to Kawasan Falls from Oslob

If you are planning to do the Whale Watching tour in the morning and then Kawasan Falls canyoneering in the afternoon, here is how you do it!

It’s around a 2 hour drive from Oslob to Kawasan so regardless of the direction you decide to come from (Kawasan Falls or Oslob Whale Watching) make sure you start the day early! I started on the Oslob side and I was out of the hotel door by 6am and on-site for the whale watching tour by 6:30am local time. Even by this time the crowds were starting to form though it was a Saturday so that probably had something to do with it.

As soon as you are finished with the activity make sure you board your transporation and get back on the road as soon as you can. You don’t want to waste any time so that you can take full advantage of the day and great weather! As long as you are not spending too much time in town at either place, you can do both with no problems at all.

 Directions to Kawasan Falls

• From Oslob Cebu, Philippines
• Continue to Natalio Bacalso Avenue 18 min (7.9 km)
• Turn right onto Natalio Bacalso Avenue 9 min (5.8 km)
• Continue to Ginatilan 46 min (23.2 km)
• Turn right onto Santander – Barili – Toledo Rd 40 min (30.2 km)

Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls offers more than just an adrenaline rush; it’s an opportunity to connect with nature and experience the raw beauty of the Philippines. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a first-timer looking to step out of your comfort zone, Kawasan Falls provides an unforgettable experience that combines adventure, natural beauty, and the joy of overcoming challenges.

Are you ready to embrace the adventure and thrill that Kawasan Falls canyoneering has to offer? Prepare to dive into an experience that will not only test your limits but also reward you with stunning views and lifelong memories.