HomeAsiaSoutheast AsiaPhilippines 7 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in the Philippines By Marcos Detourista. Updated on February 1, 2023. Do you love chasing beautiful waterfalls? Check out The Philippines’ most beautiful waterfalls + tips on how to get there. I love waterfalls! My cravings for visiting them are, oftentimes, stronger than how I feel about beaches. This is quite surprising since I grew up in the Philippines, and there are A LOT of gorgeous beaches to see here! The biggest, tallest, and strongest cascades in the Philippines may not come close to the list of the World’s top waterfalls. Even just in Southeast Asia, only a few in the Philippines, if any, would make the list. They may be dwarves among midgets in this context, but sheer size isn’t the only thing that makes waterfalls so special. Bigger is not always better. Sometimes, the best waterfalls are the ones where you can actually enjoy a rejuvenating natural hydrotherapy session to your hear’s content… the perfect waterfalls with a cascade gentle enough to swim under, at the right comfy cool, not-freeze-your-ass-off temperature. Also, many waterfalls in the Philippines are closely tied to the culture of the locals living nearby. They are shrouded with interesting folklore and considered sacred by mountain tribes. So, visiting waterfalls is also a fun way of learning about the people and culture in the area. Ready to go chasing waterfalls? Start a trip to these beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines. 1. Limunsudan Falls Overlooknig Limunsudan Falls from the forest viewpoint in Brgy. Limunsudan, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines Location: Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. Save on Google Maps. Limunsudan Falls takes the top spot by sheer size and WOW factor. The title of the Philippines’ tallest may be contested by another waterfall (that’s also on this list), but there’s no denying that Limunsudan, at first glance, is hugely more impressive. For the sake of superlatives, Limunsudan Falls is the tallest 2-tiered waterfall in the Philippines with a total height of 265 meters. It is also the most remote and hardest to reach on this list. It takes at least a 3–4 hour one-way drive on severely awful dirt roads from Cagayan de Oro, the most “convenient” jump-off-point. How to go: Limunsudan Falls is located in Brgy. Limunsudan, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines. It can be reached via Cagayan de Oro & Iligan City. The nearest airport is Laguindingan-Cagayan de Oro Airport. Philippines Travel Essentials: Where to stay in Philippines (click below to see rates and book online)Cheapest Rates | Best Reviews Philippines Fares & Transport Philippines Tours & Discounts Philippines WIFI/SIM Card See also: Best Places to Visit in the Philippines | Top Philippine Beaches | Places to visit in Cebu | Manila Tourist Spots | Where to go in Palawan | Siargao Attractions. To help with your trip planning, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app for easy reference. Follow me on Instagram 2. Tinago Falls Location: Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. Save on Google Maps. Tinago Falls, also found in Iligan City, could easily take the top spot if “swimmability” is the deciding factor. It’s impressive because of how utterly gorgeous it is. This curtain-type waterfall appears as multiple cascades falling gently side-by-side on a deep ravine, hidden in a lush forest. The best part about Tinago Falls is its waterfall lagoon, which is very swimmable and the most alluring on this list. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve seen, anywhere, and well-recommended for travelers looking for enchantingly beautiful places to visit in the Philippines. It’s also quite easy to reach from Iligan City Proper. How to go: Tinago Falls is located on the boundary of Barangay Purakan, Linamon, Lanao del Norte and Barangay Ditucalan, Iligan City, Philippines. It can be reached via Iligan City & Cagayan de Oro City. The nearest airport is Laguindingan-Cagayan de Oro Airport. Iligan Travel Essentials Where to stayCheck Fares 10 Places To Visit in Iligan & Lanao del Norte 3. Asik-Asik Falls Sprawling view of Asik-asik Falls in Upper Dado, Alamada, North Cotabato, Philippines Location: Sitio Dulao, Barangay Upper Dado, Alamada, 9413 Cotabato. Save on Google Maps. Asik-Asik Falls in Alamada, North Cotabato is the latest to be internet-discovered on this list. When I saw pictures of it online, I knew I had to see it for myself. It is closely ranked with #1 & #2 on this list, and could easily take the top spot for its obscure beauty. There’s something magical about how Asik-Asik’s whitewater looks like it appears from nowhere, over the verdant sprawl of a hidden ravine. Its location is quite remote and takes some effort to reach. Proceed with caution if you do visit, especially if you’re crossing conflict-laden areas in Mindanao. How to go: Asik-Asik Falls is located in Brgy. Upper Dado, Alamada, North Cotabato, Philippines. It can be reached via Midsayap, Cotabato City, Iligan City & Davao City. The nearest airport is Cotabato Airport. North Cotabato Travel Essentials 4. Maria Cristina Falls Maria Cristina Falls full view from the NPC building view deck in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines Location: Misamis Oriental – Maria Cristina Boundary Rd, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. Save on Google Maps. Maria Cristina Falls is the most famous and easiest to reach… well-recommended for the casual sightseer. It’s also found in Iligan City, along with almost half of the waterfalls on this list. Maria Cristina’s twin cascade only appears in its full glory when the dam gates along the Agus River are opened, at around 11 AM on weekends. How to go: Maria Cristina Falls is located on the boundaries of Barangays Maria Cristina, Ditucalan, and Buru-un in Iligan City, Philippines. It can be reached via Iligan City & Cagayan de Oro City. The nearest airport is Laguindingan-Cagayan de Oro Airport. 5. Hikong Bente Falls Hikong Bente Waterfall viewed from the trek jump-off point in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines Location: Rd to 7 Falls, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. Save on Google Maps. Also known as Lake Sebu’s Second Falls. The single cascade is still quite sizable and has something unique that no other waterfall on this list can match — amazing view from The Seven Falls Zipline. How to go: Hikong Bente Falls is located in Barangay Lake Seloton, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. It can be reached through the cities of Koronadal, General Santos & Davao. The nearest airports are General Santos-Tambler Airport & Davao International Airport. Lake Sebu Travel Essentials Where to stay 11 Places To Visit in Lake Sebu 6. Aliwagwag Falls Lower cascades of Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel, Davao Oriental, Philippines Location: Compostela – Cateel Rd, Cateel, Davao Oriental. Save on Google Maps. At a purported 338-meter height, Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel, Davao Oriental is considered as the tallest waterfalls in the Philippines. That’s not the most impressive thing about it, though. What truly makes this waterfall special is its staggering number of tiers, over 130 smaller cascades. I loved how easy you can have one corner of Aliwagwag all to yourself. There’s too many to choose from and most of them are perfectly swimmable! A nice view of the lower cascades can be seen from a highway bridge built near the base, but you can’t see an entire view of the waterfall because of how sharply the river bends through the lush forest. Getting there from Cateel town proper is quite easy, but it takes a long journey by land to get to Cateel from either Davao City or Butuan. How to go: Aliwagwag Falls is located in Barangay Aliwagwag, Cateel, Davao Oriental, Philippines. It can be reached via Davao & Butuan. The nearest airports are Davao International Airport & Butuan Airport. Davao Travel Essentials Tours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Davao (DVO) Airport to Hotel/City Private Transfer Davao 24hr COVID-19 RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing Davao COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing 14 Things to do in Davao + Tourist Spots 7. Tinuy-an Falls Overlooknig Limunsudan Falls from the forest viewpoint in Brgy. Limunsudan, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines Location: Borboanan, Bislig, Surigao del Sur. Save on Google Maps. Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur is known as the little “Niagara Falls of the Philippines.” It is the largest curtain-type waterfall in the country. It may not be as spectacular as others on this list, but it’s still worth a visit if ever you find yourself in this part of Mindanao, perhaps visiting nearby Aliwagwag Falls or the Enchanted River in Hinatuan. How to go: Tinuy-an Falls is located in Brgy. Burboanan, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. It can be reached via Davao & Butuan. The nearest airports are Davao International Airport & Butuan Airport. Surigao Travel Essentials Tours + discountsCheck Fares Siargao DOT-Accredited Hotels 5 Places To Visit in Surigao See more waterfalls in the Philippines You might have noticed that all waterfalls mentioned have one thing in common — they are all located in Mindanao Island, the biggest island in the southern third of the Philippines. Mindanao is definitely THE destination for waterfalls in the country. It’s not the only place you should keep an eye on, though. There are still a lot of beautiful cascades scattered throughout the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Philippines that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts! Beautiful Waterfalls in the Philippines 1. Limunsudan Falls 2. Tinago Falls 3. Asik-Asik Falls 4. Maria Cristina Falls 5. Hikong Bente Falls 6. Aliwagwag Falls 7. Tinuy-an Falls See more waterfalls in the Philippines Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank. Where to Stay in Philippines Click below & search recommended Philippines hotels/hostels/home rentals within your budget. Remember to set your min/max price, travel dates, and sort by review ratings. I often book online with these trusted booking sites below for rock-bottom prices & convenient bookings. AgodaBooking.com Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons. Philippines Essentials & Top Discounts Philippines Mobile Data SIM card/Pocket WIFI Travel with ease & confidence throughout your trip. Get a data SIM card or pocket WIFI device! Access Google Maps and all your favorite travel apps. Share your travel stories instantly with all your friends. Click below and choose your pick-up location: Philippines 3G/4G SIM cardPocket WIFISee all discounts Popular discounts and tours booked by other travelers: Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour w/ Buffet Lunch Bohol Countryside Tour w/ Buffet Lunch El Nido Tour A – Lagoons and Beaches Island Hopping Sunset Paraw Sailing in Boracay Bohol Private Car Charter Port Barton Island Hopping from San Vicente (Join-In Tour) Manjuyod Sandbar and Twin Lakes Tour Davao (DVO) Airport to Hotel/City Private Transfer Balabac Tour A – Islands Zoobic Safari Admission Ticket in Subic Click below to see more on: KlookGetYourGuide Don’t Stop Here Click below for more travel inspiration: 32 Things to do in The Philippines + Tourist Spots Philippines Beaches Boracay Itinerary + Travel Guide Cebu Itinerary + Travel Guide Philippine Airports – Terminal Fee, Travel Tax & Flights Guide 32 Things to do in The Philippines + Tourist Spots Philippines Beaches 20 Things to do in Thailand + Tourist Spots 11 Things to do in Abra + Tourist Spots Don’t leave yet. There’s more! 26 Most Beautiful Beaches in the Philippines16 Beautiful Countries in Asia & Territories to Visit32 Things to do in The Philippines + Tourist SpotsAirasia Philippines Flight Schedule 2022 Discover more blogs and travel tips in: PhilippinesDavaoIliganLake SebuSouth Cotabato Southeast AsiaAsia See all places Find more posts about:FeaturedBest TravelBest PlacesBest Things To DoNatureWaterfalls Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Comments oashyll says November 22, 2015 at 8:13 am Calbayog City in Samar is a City of Waterfalls. Try to visit some of those falls, esp. Bangon & Tarangban Falls. Reply Ana says September 3, 2016 at 12:40 pm Great photos and information! There’s just so much to see here in the Philippines. I love waterfalls and beaches, so definitely looking forward to visit some of them. Reply Capt. Benny says November 13, 2016 at 7:32 pm I love South Asia, specially the Philippines islands Reply Hardy says May 4, 2017 at 7:30 pm I’ve heard Mindanao Island is quite dangerous as of late and tourists show stay away. Is this true? I would love to explore the waterfalls there. Thank you! Reply Marcos Detourist says May 5, 2017 at 5:15 am Many of the waterfalls listed, especially the ones in Lake Sebu, Davao, Surigao and Iligan are located on the peaceful side of Mindanao. It’s just as safe to travel there as the northern thirds of the Philippines. If you are really concerned with the security situation, a quick way to check is to make a search on Google News. Make sure to include the specific province you want to visit and sort the results by date. Enjoy your trip! Reply Fatima says October 6, 2019 at 6:36 pm Sir sobrang ganda po ? Pwede ko po ba itong i ctto na pic po? Isi shar ko lang din po ? Reply Marcos Detourista says October 7, 2019 at 6:55 am Salamat! Credit to Detourista.com :) Reply Michael says April 7, 2020 at 9:52 pm Hulugan falls is not yet here in the list but it sure looks majestic! Reply Dimitrios Fanourios Pischinas says February 18, 2021 at 3:12 pm Cambugahay Falls Lugnason Falls Cangbangag Falls Locong Falls kawasan Falls Lagaan Falls Cabugsayan Falls Check out these waterfalls on Siquijor Island. Reply Elaine Lat says February 22, 2022 at 5:06 pm Limunsudan and Tinuy-an Falls have the same photo. They have the same caption as well. Reply Frederick Rainier Barilla says April 7, 2023 at 8:41 pm Hi Marcos, Thank you for the list. We are trying to fill in chasing waterfalls on our bag of tours. Hope that Hulugan Falls reach your heart to travel it with us and get it on your list too. Great thanks! Reply
oashyll says November 22, 2015 at 8:13 am Calbayog City in Samar is a City of Waterfalls. Try to visit some of those falls, esp. Bangon & Tarangban Falls. Reply
Ana says September 3, 2016 at 12:40 pm Great photos and information! There’s just so much to see here in the Philippines. I love waterfalls and beaches, so definitely looking forward to visit some of them. Reply
Capt. Benny says November 13, 2016 at 7:32 pm I love South Asia, specially the Philippines islands Reply
Hardy says May 4, 2017 at 7:30 pm I’ve heard Mindanao Island is quite dangerous as of late and tourists show stay away. Is this true? I would love to explore the waterfalls there. Thank you! Reply
Marcos Detourist says May 5, 2017 at 5:15 am Many of the waterfalls listed, especially the ones in Lake Sebu, Davao, Surigao and Iligan are located on the peaceful side of Mindanao. It’s just as safe to travel there as the northern thirds of the Philippines. If you are really concerned with the security situation, a quick way to check is to make a search on Google News. Make sure to include the specific province you want to visit and sort the results by date. Enjoy your trip! Reply
Fatima says October 6, 2019 at 6:36 pm Sir sobrang ganda po ? Pwede ko po ba itong i ctto na pic po? Isi shar ko lang din po ? Reply
Michael says April 7, 2020 at 9:52 pm Hulugan falls is not yet here in the list but it sure looks majestic! Reply
Dimitrios Fanourios Pischinas says February 18, 2021 at 3:12 pm Cambugahay Falls Lugnason Falls Cangbangag Falls Locong Falls kawasan Falls Lagaan Falls Cabugsayan Falls Check out these waterfalls on Siquijor Island. Reply
Elaine Lat says February 22, 2022 at 5:06 pm Limunsudan and Tinuy-an Falls have the same photo. They have the same caption as well. Reply
Frederick Rainier Barilla says April 7, 2023 at 8:41 pm Hi Marcos, Thank you for the list. We are trying to fill in chasing waterfalls on our bag of tours. Hope that Hulugan Falls reach your heart to travel it with us and get it on your list too. Great thanks! Reply