Inambakan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
Central Visayas

CEBU [Ginatilan]

Inambakan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
Back in 2015, I promised myself that I would return to Southern Cebu to witness again its beautiful waterfalls. By April 2018, there I was again. It took four years but at least I was able to keep that promise.
📍Inambakan Falls
🇵🇭GINATILAN ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
 
✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Ginatilan, 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 Ginatilan (travel time: 4 – 4.5 hours).
⏺ Hire a motorcycle that will take you to the jump-off.
⏺ 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 Ginatilan (travel time: approximately 1 hour).
 
🏄🏝🚴 Sites to Explore/Activities:
 
Inambakan Falls
Kampael Falls
Bugnawan Falls
 
Inambakan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
The waterfalls of Ginatilan was included in my 2015 Southern Cebu itinerary but back then, I had not invested in a good camera so the photos I got were not that great in terms of quality. I also didn’t have any basic knowledge yet when it comes to photography during this first Cebu visit. That’s why when I visited Ginatilan again in 2018, I returned all prepared for my awaited comeback.
📍Inambakan Falls
⏰⏳ 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.
 
Inambakan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
It was May 2018, my third time in the province of Cebu. My friend and I traveled all the way from Siquijor to Dumaguete then to Sibulan Port where we rode the fastcraft en route to Liloan Port in Santander. Our guide picked us up and we left our huge bags first at his place then we headed straight to the town of Ginatilan.
📍Inambakan Falls
Inambakan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
Considering it was my second visit, I was already familiar with the place but our guide insisted on accompanying us. We walked the concrete path towards Inambakan Falls and passed by this small pool of turquoise water on our way to the waterfall.
Inambakan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
Nothing has changed, I thought to myself, upon seeing Inambakan Falls for the second time. The beauty of this place made me feel nostalgic.
Inambakan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
We climbed up and took photos by the right side of Inambakan. We were lucky to be the only visitors during that time.
📜✏️ Tips/Reminders:
📌The trek to reach these three waterfalls only takes about a few minutes from the jump-off. Just walk upstream from Inambakan Falls to get to Kampael and Bugnawan Falls.
📌It is possible to visit the waterfalls of Ginatilan and Samboan in one day but make sure you start your tour early.
📌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: James Gerzon (09229379005) – you may hire him to take you to the waterfalls of Samboan and Ginatilan.
Bugnawan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
We walked upstream and followed the current to see Bugnawan and Kampael Falls. They’re relatively smaller than Inambakan but equally mesmerizing nonetheless.
📍Bugnawan Falls
Inambakan Falls, Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippines
After a couple of minutes, we descended back to Inambakan Falls and captured a few more shots before finally leaving. It was time to continue our waterfall adventure in the nearby municipality of Samboan since this side trip to Southern Cebu was just a day tour and we needed to return to Negros Oriental then travel all the way to Bacolod City in the evening.

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

One Comment

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Backpacking Philippines

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading