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If you’re planning to visit Kawasan Falls in 2025 (but you are not going canyoneering) then this is the article for you. A lot of things have changed at Kawasan Falls in recent years; therefore, it is important to be well-prepared and equipped with all the latest knowledge and information before you visit.
In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to plan an independent trip to Kawasan Falls. This guide is primarily for anyone who wants to visit the waterfall, have a swim BUT is not planning to go canyoneering at Kawasan. There is so much to know about canyoneering we have written a separate article on this.
Whatever the reason that you want to visit Kawasan Falls, there are some important things you need to know before you go. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to plan a trip to Kawasan Falls, including transportation, facilities, parking, prices, entrance tickets, rules, and much, much more. So, please read this article carefully to make sure that you are fully prepared for your visit.
WHERE SHOULD YOU STAY? – Is it possible to stay at Kawasan? And is this a good place to stay?
What can you do at Kawasan Falls?
Kawasan Falls is best known for its adventurous canyoneering. This is such an epic and intense activity we have an in-depth guide to Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls. But canyoneering is not for everyone. Maybe you just want to see the waterfalls and take in the stunning scenery, or perhaps you just want a relaxing swim in the plunge pool, but you are not interested in the full canyoning activity.
We have written a full dedicated article for canyoning to help you plan your trip. However, if you’re planning to visit Kawasan Falls but you are not going canyoning, there are still plenty of other things to do in the area.
Firstly, the walk up the valley from the car park to the first waterfall is particularly beautiful. You can take in the scenery as a path follows a valley, crossing bridges, and you can also buy local Filipino food and gifts.
When you reach the first waterfall, you can also swim in the plunge pool. You are not allowed to swim without a life jacket, and you can borrow a life jacket free of charge. The water is cold and is deep in some sections. You are not allowed to trek past the first waterfall if you are not canyoning.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for an exhilarating adrenaline rush, it is possible to do the zipline without canyoning.
The zipline costs 600 pesos per person. If you are interested in doing the zipline, you will need to drive to the start of the zipline. We have marked the location on the map. (It is not possible to get to the zipline by parking at the lower car park and walking there). More on the zipline later.
How much does it cost to visit Kawasan Falls?
If you’re not planning to go canyoning but you want to see the first waterfall, you will need to pay a small entrance fee. It costs 200 pesos per person for adults (8 years and older), and children 7 years and below are free of charge.
What is the opening time at Kawasan Falls?
Kawasan Falls is open to visitors between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with a last entry at 3:00 p.m. The best time to visit is early in the morning when it is quieter and cooler. Officially, you are only allowed to stay at the waterfall for 3 hours, but this rule is not strictly enforced. In our opinion, 1-2 hours is plenty of time to enjoy the area.
Kawasan Falls – Visitor’s Map
What is the best way to get to Kawasan Falls?
There are several different ways to get to Kawasan Falls. In most cases you will need to travel from Cebu City to Moalboal – and from here you can arrange a trip to Kawasan falls.
If you are staying in Moalboal, you can travel to Kawasan using a tricycle taxi. The drive takes around 30 mintutes. Speak to a driver in town and negotiate a price. We recommend negotiating a price for the full return journey and also agree on a waiting time. This is likely to cost around 500 – 700 pesos (for your whole group).
Make sure that it is clearly agreed that the price applies to everyone in the group rather than a price per person. Alternatively, you can rent a motorbike in Moalboal. Motorbike rental starts for as little as 300 pesos per day. We recommend a little experience and a lot of caution if you are going to ride on the roads around Cebu.
Alternatively, if you are traveling with kids, you can rent a car in Cebu City. This is likely to cost at least 1,000 pesos per day. You can generally negotiate a cheaper deal for smaller cars, especially if you’re taking a longer rental period. There is a car park situated at the bottom of Kawasan valley. We have marked the location on the map. It costs 50 pesos to park for the day, and you need to pay for your parking ticket in the church office. Keep hold of your parking receipt because you will need to show it when you exit the car park at the end of the day.
Once you have purchased your ticket, you can then walk up the path into Kawasan Valley, where you will need to buy your entry ticket to the waterfall.
Is Kawasan Waterfall suitable for families?
A trip to Kawasan Falls is a great option for families. In fact, families with younger kids may not be able to go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, but you may still want to visit this area and see the waterfall. In general, kids under 8 years old are not allowed to go canyoning at Kawasan (although the exact rules depend on the tour company and guide).
So, if you want to take your kids to Kawasan Falls, you may need to visit without booking a canyoneering trip. In our opinion, this is a fantastic family activity. Our two boys (6 and 4 years old) really enjoyed their visit to Kawasan Falls.
There is a lovely family-friendly walk through the valley. The path is easy to follow, and the terrain is relatively easy and suitable for a pram. When you get to the waterfall, you can get free life jackets, and adults and kids are allowed to swim (wearing a life jacket is mandatory, and we recommend supervising kids carefully in the area). The water is pretty cold, and in some areas, there are strong currents. You can swim up to a safety line in front of the waterfall, but don’t swim past this safety line.
What are the facilities like at Kawasan Falls?
The facilities at Kawasan Falls are reasonably good. There is a car park situated at the bottom of the Kawasan valley. If you want to walk to the first waterfall, you will need to park here. The car park costs 50 pesos to park for a full day. There are a couple of tour operators situated close to the car park. It is possible to get a shower or use their lockers for a small fee (e.g., 20 pesos to get a shower or use the toilet).
There are also toilets situated next to the ticket office, a short walk up the valley (these toilets are not very clean), and there are also some portaloos situated next to the Kawasan briefing area before you reach the first waterfall. If you’re traveling with kids, we recommend bringing some wet wipes and some of your own tissue paper.
There are also several small stalls selling drinks, gifts, and snacks. It is not possible to buy hot food or meals in the area, but you can buy things to keep you going. It costs around 30 pesos for a bottle of water or 50 pesos for a coconut. At the first waterfall, there is a lifeguard station, and you can also borrow free life jackets (they have kid’s sizes available).
Is it possible to go rafting at Kawasan Falls?
The short answer is no, it is not possible to go rafting at Kawasan Falls. In the past, they also had rafts in the water at the lower waterfall; however, these have now been removed, and you are not able to go rafting at this location.
Things to bring to Kawasan Falls:
If you’re planning to visit Kawasan Falls, we recommend preparing well. Bring a small, light day bag including a water bottle and snacks. Here are a few other things you may consider bringing:
- Swimming kit – If you are hoping to swim, don’t forget to bring swimming stuff. If possible, we recommend having a rash guard as this will help keep you warm in the water.
- Towel – We definitely recommend bringing a towel. Having a towel is a great way to warm up, and you can also use it to give you a little more privacy if you need to change into something dry when you get out of the water (there are no changing rooms situated next to the lower waterfall).
- Sun protection – The valley is reasonably sheltered, so you don’t need to worry too much about sun exposure. However, if you are visiting at the hottest time of the day, we do recommend bringing a hat or umbrella and sun cream.
- Camera – If you are planning to swim, you may also want to bring a camera. You could use a small waterproof action camera in the water to get a close-up shot of the waterfall.
- Comfortable shoes – The walk from the car park is a couple of kilometers, so we recommend having some comfortable shoes.
How can you do the zipline at Kawasan Falls?
The zipline at Kawasan Falls is genuinely very impressive and exhilarating. There are actually two lines next to each other: one where you can sit down, and the other way you can face forward in the Superman position. We recommend the forward-facing zipline for that stomach-in-your-mouth flying sensation. One way to do the zip line at Kawasan Falls is to book a canyoning trip, which typically costs around 1,900 pesos (if you book from Moalboal). You can then opt to pay an additional 600 pesos to do the zipline.
However, if you do not want to do the canyoning trip, you can do the zipline independently (if you do it independently, the price is still 600 pesos). In order to do the zipline, you will need to drive to Zipstream Aerial Adventures. The opening time is 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and it is open every day of the week. To get to the Zipstream Aerial Adventures, you will need to drive up the road (the correct turning is marked on the map). If you do not have your own transportation, you could make a deal with a local driver to take you to the zipline.
