Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
Central Visayas

CEBU [Alegria]

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Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
Northern Cebu has been famous for its beaches while Southern Cebu is undoubtedly one of the best places in the country for chasing waterfalls. No wonder why backpackers all over the world flock to the southern municipalities of Cebu Province.
📍Cambais Falls
🇵🇭ALEGRIA ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
 
✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Alegria, Cebu:
⏺ Take a plane from Metro Manila to Mactan-Cebu Airport (e.g. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia).
⏺ Hail a taxi to get to South Bus Terminal.
⏺ Ride a bus with the signboard Bato via Barili and alight at the town proper of Alegria (travel time: 3.5 – 4 hours).
⏺ Hire a motorcycle that will take you to the waterfalls.
⏺ Alternatively, you may fly via Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific to Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport then ride a tricycle to Sibulan Port. Take the fastcraft bound for Liloan Port, Santander (travel time: 20 – 30 minutes depending on sea condition). Transfer to a bus en route to Cebu City then alight at Alegria (travel time: 1 – 1.5 hours).
 
🏄🏝🚴 Sites to Explore/Activities:
 
Montpellier Falls
Kawa-Kawa Falls
Cambais Falls
Cancalanog Falls
Canlaob Falls
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
It actually felt like I committed a sin for skipping Alegria and not including it in our 2015 Southern Cebu itinerary.
📍Cancalanog Falls
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We pretty much know that Badian has become popular because of Kawasan Falls but its sister town Alegria has equally beautiful waterfalls that its locals are proud of.
📍Cambais Falls
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
As part of my 2018 Cebu adventure leg, my friend and I checked out of our accommodation in Cebu City by 1:00 AM to travel from South Bus Terminal to Alegria. I was still sleepy so I just dozed off inside the bus throughout our journey.
📍Cancalanog Falls
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We arrived at D Alegre Traveller’s Inn by 5:30 AM. I informed our contact to pick us up after we checked in and freshened up. The weather that day was perfect for our waterfall circuit.
📍Cambais Falls
Montpellier Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We hired two guides, one motorcycle for each of us so it would be easier to drive through the steep portions of Cebu’s mountains. I already expected this based on my previous Cebu trips. We stopped by a bakery to buy some bread and water for our breakfast and snacks then continued our way leading to the jump-off to our first waterfall.
📍Montpellier Falls
Montpellier Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
After trekking for a couple of minutes, we finally reached Montpellier Falls. The emerald color of this waterfall was truly inviting for us to take a dip but it was still cold and early so I was not yet in the mood for a swim.
Kawa-Kawa Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We proceeded to our next stop, just a stone’s throw away from where we were. We parked our motorcycles outside a house then walked past it towards this amazing natural pool. You should ask my contact where this is situated as it’s not usually frequented by tourists visiting Alegria.
📍Kawa-Kawa Falls
Kawa-Kawa Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
One distinct characteristic of Kawa-Kawa Falls is its clean pool perfect for a refreshing swim. I didn’t take a dip though but I knew that this pool is deep judging from the water’s color.
⏰⏳ SAMPLE ITINERARY (Southern Cebu):
 
DAY 1
5:00 PM ETA Mactan-Cebu Airport
7:00 PM ETA accommodation
 
DAY 2
4:00 AM Check-out / ETD for South Bus Terminal
5:00 AM ETD for Sibonga
7:00 AM ETA Simala Church
9:00 AM ETD for Dalaguete
10:30 AM ETA Dalaguete / check-in
11:30 PM Osmeña Peak
1:00 PM Lugsangan Peak
3:00 PM Kandungaw Peak
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 3
5:00 AM ETD for Oslob
7:00 AM ETA Tumalog Falls
9:00 AM ETD for Bato Terminal, Santander
10:30 AM ETD for Samboan
12:00 PM ETA Samboan / check-in
1:00 PM Explore Samboan’s waterfalls
6:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 4
5:00 AM Wake-up call
6:00 AM Explore Ginatilan’s waterfalls
8:00 AM Check-out / ETD for Alegria
9:30 AM ETA Alegria / check-in
11:00 AM Explore Alegria’s waterfalls
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 5
5:00 AM Wake-up call / check-out / ETD for Badian
7:00 AM Kawasan Falls
8:00 AM Kabukalan Spring
10:00 AM ETD for Moalboal
11:30 AM ETA Panagsama Beach / check-in
1:00 PM Pescador Island
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 6
5:00 AM Wake-up call
6:00 AM ETD for Basdaku Beach
7:00 AM ETA Basdaku Beach
11:00 AM Check-out / ETD for Barili
1:00 PM ETA Mantayupan Falls
3:00 PM ETD for Cebu City
5:00 PM ETD for Mactan-Cebu Airport
 
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler exploring Southern Cebu): Php 10,000 – Php 12,000 (exclusive of airfare)
***Expenses may vary depending on the type of accommodation you will avail and personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the guide fees, tricycle/motorcycle transfer and tour rates and boat rental fees.
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
When someone asks me what Southern Cebu is about, all I could think of is its waterfalls. They may not be as high as the waterfalls found in other parts of the Philippines but the enticing color and clean water of these natural wonders will absolutely strike you in awe.
📍Cambais Falls
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We drove towards our next waterfall, Cambais Falls. We walked a few meters to reach this first level.
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
I noticed some locals frolicking by the cold water. We were then accompanied by one of the guides as we needed to scramble our way up to the tallest cascade.
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We were greeted with a lot of picturesque pools and small cascades along the way.
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
The trek was relatively short but it was fun as there were portions where you need to scramble. Just be careful with your steps since some parts of the trail are slippery.
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
The place was deserted when we reached this last level of Cambais Falls with the highest cascade. Boy were we so lucky to have the waterfall all to ourselves. The aura of the rich vegetation covering us was an added element which made the experience precious and indeed memorable.
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We stayed for quite some time and savored the serene ambience of nature before deciding to return when another group arrived.
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We took a breather and stopped by this spot with the splendid view of emerald water and took some more photos.
Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
It was freaking cold but hey, I thought it’s about time that I took a swim. I already skipped doing so in the first two waterfalls we visited. We then continued our trek back to the jump-off where our motorcycle drivers were waiting for us.
📜✏️ Tips/Reminders:
📌It is possible to visit all these waterfalls in one day.
📌The trek to get to each waterfall is relatively quick and easy.
📌You may inquire with your motorcycle driver if you opt to do canyoneering.
📌Please keep in mind that buses with “Bato via Oslob” signboard will pass by Sibonga, Dalaguete and Oslob while buses with “Bato via Barili” signboard will pass by Barili, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Ginatilan and Samboan. Both routes meet at Bato Terminal in Santander.
📌You can hire a van if you are traveling with a group to save on time.
📌Expect rain and muddy roads/trails during monsoon season (June-February).
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
 
☎️ Contacts:
📌Van for hire: Kuya Tata (09776350200)
📌Motorcycle Driver/Tour Guide: Kuya Reynolds (09754673305)
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
Our fourth destination that day turned out to be my most favorite spot in Alegria. This is known as Cancalanog Falls.
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
The moment I saw this with my own eyes, it finally dawned on me how regretful I was for not being able to explore the town of Alegria back in 2015.
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
Cancalanog Falls may not have any strong cascades unlike any other waterfalls out there but the stone wall surrounding its pool is definitely one the best features of this attraction.
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
I really love this shot because it looks so surreal as if the only thing missing are faeries flying and playing above the enchanting water.
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
I actually lost track of time while we took photos in this natural pool of Cancalanog as if the energy surrounding the waterfall was hypnotizing us to ignore everything around us. According to our guides, the place is normally full of locals and tourists on weekends but we were fortunate enough that the pool was devoid of people because it was a weekday.
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
At first, I was having second thoughts whether I should take a dip since I would be going alone as my friend is not a swimmer. For someone with a sixth sense, Cancalanog may be purely magical and beautiful but it frightened me at the same time. Yet the experience would be different and incomplete had I decided not to get into the water. So I mustered all my courage and gave in. I enjoyed treading as the sunlight touched the water’s surface which pretty much was a delightful phenomenon.
Cancalanog Falls, Alegria, Cebu, Philippines
We bid farewell to Cancalanog Falls and ended our Alegria itinerary in Canlaob Falls which serves as the jump-off point for canyoneering in Alegria. There were loads of kids swimming in its pool so I was not able to take any photos though. I didn’t mind at all as I was already satisfied with the pictures we got from the waterfalls we previously visited that day. We went back to the town proper where we had our late lunch. It was indeed an awesome day filled with fun and adventure.

***For other destinations in Cebu and Central Visayas, you may visit this link.

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