Cambugahay Falls is without a doubt the most amazing waterfall on Siquijor island and possibly one of our favourite waterfalls in the Philippines.
Hidden in the jungle yet easily reached down a flight of stairs, Cambugahay Falls is one of Siquijor’s most popular tourist attraction.
3 tiered falls plunge down into milky blue pools surrounded by the island’s jungle landscape. These falls are a playground for anyone searching for fun activities in Siquijor.
Tarzan swings hang from trees over the milky blue pools and you can float on a bamboo barge right under the cascade while a local takes photos of you from a platform above.
Cambugahay Falls is in Lazi in South Siquijor and is where you will find most of the island’s waterfalls. You could easily spend an entire day waterfall hopping in Lazi.
More Tourist Spots? There are a few things in Siquijor (think of pretty cascades with transparent waterholes and tropical beaches) you just can’t miss! We have combined the best things to do in Siquijor in one guide.
Read the full post: THE BEST SIQUIJOR TOURIST SPOTS
Where is Cambugahay Falls
From Siquijor’s main tourist area in San Juan, it takes around 30 minutes drive to reach Cambugahay Waterfalls.
This waterfall is in the Southern part of Siquijor and in a part of the island named Lazi.
Other than Cambugahay Falls, Lazi is home to quite a few more waterfalls so you may need to plan ahead to get the most out of your day.
For an accurate location you can use Google’s online maps which we confirm has the exact location.
Visiting Cambugahay Falls on a Day Trip from Dumaguete?
Make the most out of your trip to Dumaguete and add a day trip to Siquijor where you will visit the island’s best spots in a day. This is the perfect addition to your Dumaguete trip since Siquijor is just a short ferry ride away from Dumaguete.
CHECK PRICE AND PRE-BOOK YOUR DAY TRIP HERE.
How To Get To Cambugahay Falls – Siquijor
One way to get around Siquijor is by scooter. It is cheap, convenient and you can go about at your own pace.
The island is easy to get around, you won’t find any traffic and roads are well paved throughout most of the island.
Scooters can be rented out in San Juan or at Siquijor Port or Larena Port. You will find scooter rentals in other parts of Siquijor but those are the most common.
Scooters cost between 250 Pesos ($5) and 350 Pesos ($7) per day. The price depends on rental period, bike condition and even your bargaining skills.
An alternative is to hire a tricycle. There are always trikes riding around and you can easily find them in San Juan. A 1 way ride from San Juan shouldn’t cost any more than 150 Pesos ($3).
However, it is best to hire a tricycle for the day which works out much more cost-effective if you plan visiting other tourist spots during the day and should be around 1500 Pesos ($31).
Cambugahay Falls Location on Map
The map above is interactive. You can click on the map for a live route from whichever part of Siquijor you are in.
Other Siquijor waterfalls located close to Cambugahay Falls;
Cambugahay Falls Entrance Fee
The entrance to Cambugahay Falls is free but you will need to pay 10 Pesos ($.20) for parking.
Once at the falls there are rope swings and bamboo barges at the different levels. Each have a fee of 50 Pesos ($1) for unlimited use.
Best Time To Visit
Official opening times to Cambugahay Falls Siquijor is between 7am and 5:30pm. However, the locals taking care of the place let us go in about 20 minutes before.
This tourist attraction is Siquijor’s most popular. Whatever time of day you come, you are bound to bump into other tourists. However early morning is the quietest time.
The falls are spread out over 3 levels with most visitors stopping in the first fall. So even if you come during the peak times or around midday, the falls surely won’t feel crowded especially on the second and third level.
We came early morning and were the first ones to enter but only for a few minutes. Once tourists arrived we moved up to the other levels which were pretty much all to ourselves and spent a good 1 hour swinging like tarzan and plunging into what seemed our private pool.
November to May are the Philippines dry season. Anytime between these months is good to visit Cambugahay Falls.
During days of heavy downfall, all that water ends up in the streams and waterfalls causing the magical blue pools to become brown with all the soily water that made its way through the jungle.
Although during the rainy months the rainfall won’t be constant and some days may be bright and sunny, you are bound to face days with not so appropriate weather. But you will get fewer tourists throughout the country and fewer crowds at popular tourist spots.
Cambugahay Falls.
Out of all of Siquijor’s tourist spots, we have 2 favourite spots. One is onland and the other is Tubod beach snorkelling spot. Cambugahay takes the spot for the most amazing tourist attraction in Siquijor.
We cruised down to Cambugahay one early morning. The sun had just risen and the Philippine morning sky was simply stunning.
Along the 30-minute ride we passed little sideroad houses. Chickens and pigs roamed freely in the front garden surrounded by tropical trees. And locals had just started their day transporting goods and animals, even cows, on their mopeds with makeshift side cars.
Arriving at Cambugahay entrance a few kids that collect a small parking fee told us we were a bit too early. But after a few minutes they let us go in. Probably because one of those in charge of the Tarzan swings and barges had just arrived, so we’d probably be paying a fee for one of the activities.
A 5 to 10 minute walk down a flight of stairs leads the way to the first cascade. This is where most of the tourists stop and we could definitely see why. The scene is stunningly beautiful.
A huge pool with milky blue water and a cascade dropping over a ledge from yet another blue pool and all surrounded in this tropical Philippine jungle. Tarzan swings with different heights sway over the pool and a big bamboo barge floats in the middle
Apart from 1 guy in charge of the swings and barge the whole place was to ourselves. And so I decided to pay the $1 fee for the barge and ended pulling myself right under the cascade. The waterfall is around 10 feet high and with the flow of water not being so powerful it was great to take a natural shower in the cool morning water.
Cambugahay Falls Second and Third Level
On my way back from the cascade, tourists had already arrived so we decided to check out the other levels. The other levels are less than a 5 minute walk away from the first.
Again these falls were deserted, only a Tarzan swing man. I thought I’d take a go this time, so I paid the fee for the swing and Jacqueline took the barge.
I’m still not sure what I was trying to accomplish but I must have swung over the pool 30 times. And almost every time I let go I ended up in some strange position. Probably I tried to create the perfect tarzan swing jump.
Beside the first level, Cambugahay Falls didn’t seem to get much attention. We basically spent over an hour at the third level and only a local couple came along after some time. At least this was the case when we were there. It may have been a bit early since we had already left by 9am.
Check this video for an aerial view of Cambugahay Falls.
How to Get to Siquijor
Getting to Siquijor is straightforward since it is close to Cebu and Bohol.
Both Bohol and Cebu are popular islands. So if you are already on one of those islands, you can easily get to Siquijor via ferry or bus + ferry, depending on where you are. Here we have written a detailed article on how to get to Siquijor from Bohol, Cebu and Dumaguete.
Where to stay in Siquijor
Almost all tourists in Siquijor stay on the south west coast in a seaside village named San Juan. This is the best place to stay in Siquijor if you want some of the best restaurants, resorts, bars hostels and accommodation options all close by.
Budget
HANNA’S PLACE: Located close to Paliton beach, this property offers exceptional clean rooms with a/c and hot water. Hanna’s Place is the best value for money option in Siquijor. Restaurants are within walking distance of this property.
BOOK HANNA’S PLACE ON AGODA HERE
Mid-Range
TROPICAL FUN TA SEA RENTALS: This property is perfectly located in central San Juan and the closest an accommodation can get to the sea. Offering very clean rooms, Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals is the perfect spot to enjoy a beautiful sunset from the balcony or terrace. On-site facilities include a restaurant, messages and watersports.
BOOK TROPICAL FUN TA SEA RENTAL ON AGODA HERE
High-end
COCO GROVE BEACH RESORT: Located off Tubod beach, this resort provides exceptionally clean rooms, great location and amazingly good food at its 3 onsite restaurants. Coco Grove Beach Resort is the best accommodation option in Siquijor. Facilities at the resort include a swimming pool, spa and a well equipped dive shop. If you’re after a peaceful stay with different options for things to do, this resort is your best bet.
BOOK COCO GROVE BEACH RESORT ON AGODA HERE
Are you missing something? Siquijor is a small island packed with tourist spots. (there’s something interesting behind every other corner!). That is why we created a list of the best things to do and combined them into an easy to follow 3 day Siquijor itinerary. You can click on the link below for a detailed guide that includes the very best waterfalls and pools, beaches, ways of getting around and the best area to stay in Siquijor.
Read the full post: SIQUIJOR ITINERARY | PERFECT 3 DAY TRAVEL PLAN
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