The plan was to meet at Jollibee Aguinaldo in Iligan City around 10 AM and go to Dodiongan Waterfalls. At 10:30 AM our group of 3 was completed (PinayTravelista.com and Iligan Inquisitor). We walked to Ramiros Eatery to buy our food to bring at the falls. After, we walked to the highway across the Post Office to wait for a jeepney bound for Sta. Filomena or Dalipuga.
11:15 AM – We finally got to ride a jeep headed to Sta. Filomena. We asked the driver to be drop us off at Barinaot. Which is the next intersection (fork) at the right after the big Mandulog Bridge. Or you can say to the driver to drop you off at the intersection to Brgy. San Roque. Fare was 7.50 Pesos/person.
11:28 AM – When we arrived at the intersection, habal-habal drivers quickly approached us with their motorbikes and told us to hire them. When we said that we were headed to Dodiongan Falls, they said that their motorbikes could not handle the rough road going to the jump-off point of the waterfall. That’s when the habal-habal drivers with bigger motorbikes approached us and we hired one of them.
Since we were 3, we were reluctant to ride a single motorbike but the habal-habal driver told us that it was okay. So all 3 of us orderly rode the motorbike, the biggest in weight should be the one closes to the driver, that would be me. The lightest should be the one to seat at the farthest end of the motorbike. (35 Pesos/person, minimum of 3 persons)
Habal-habal ride
When all 3 of us were on the motorbike the Personal Space Factor was already -1. When we passed through roads that were going down I was literally becoming closer to the driver. But then the habal-habal stopped along the road and the driver said that we should go closer to him because the road was steeply going up, we all obliged since we really wanted to get to Dodiongan Falls. (Personal Space Factor = -3)
The space between the habal-habal driver and me. (Personal Space Factor of -1)
But when we reached the top of the climb the habal-habal driver stopped again for us to be able to go back to the Personal Space Factor of -1 seating arrangement.
[sam id=”18″ codes=”true”]
11:47 AM – We finally arrived at the jump-off point of Dodiongan Falls. I checked on my phone to see if there was a signal, unfortunately, both Globe and Smart had no signal there. We talked to our driver so that he would fetch us  at around 3PM at the jump-off point. Then we started walking.
Our trek started with a river crossing.
According to Lisa Marie we just have to follow the river and once in a while crossing it, and at the end we would arrive at Dodiongan Falls.
Another river crossing on the same river.
12:08 PM – We finally saw a glimpse of Dodiongan Falls.
12:17 PM – We stopped by under the shade of a tree for us to have our lunch. (30 minutes trek)
Lunch under the shade.
Our lunch that we bought from Ramiros Eatery. All in all this cost 270 Pesos to be divided among us 3.
I’m sorry that there’s a lot of plastic bags. Next time we’ll prepare more for us to use reusable containers to lessen the trash.
After lunch it was time to explore and experience the waters of Dodiongan Falls.
2:30 PM – After 2 hours and 13 minutes when we arrived at Dodiongan Falls and spending time to swim at the basin we decided to go back.
2:40 PM – After fixing our stuff we started walking back.
Nearing the jump-off point.
3:04 PM – We arrived at the jump-off point and our habal-habal driver was already there. We rode his habal-habal going back to Brgy. San Roque intersection.
3:23 PM – We were back at the intersection along the highway. We paid our habal-habal driver 210 Pesos (35 Pesos/person – one-way) + 40 Pesos (tip).
Back at the intersection.
Since it was still early, we decided to ride a jeep going to the Centennial Park to watch the sunset.
How much did I spend on our trip to Dodiongan Falls?*
Let’s assume that we went back to the city proper of Iligan City after our visit below would be my expenses.
| 7.50 Pesos | Jeepney Fare from Iligan City Proper to Brgy. San Roque intersection | 7.50 Pesos/person |
| 35.00 Pesos | Habal-habal to Dodiongan Falls jump off | 35 Pesos/person – one-way |
| 35.00 Pesos | Habal-habal back to Brgy. San Roque intersection | 35 Pesos/person – one-way |
| 13.33 Pesos | Tip to habal-habal driver | 40 Pesos |
| 7.50 Pesos | Jeepney Fare from back to Iligan City Proper | 7.50 Pesos/person |
| 90 Pesos | Food bought at Ramiros Eatery | 270 Pesos |
| 188.33 Pesos | TOTAL |
- From the city proper ride a jeepney bound for Sta. Filomena or Dalipuga and tell the driver to drop you off at the intersection to Brgy. San Roque or at Baratoan. Fare is 7.50 Pesos/person. Estimated Travel Time is 15 minutes. Jeepneys are available from 5AM up to 7PM daily.Better ask around the city where you can ride the jeepney bound for Sta. Filomena or Dalipuga. But these will pass by Gaisano Mall, D’Morvie and Iligan Institute of Technology (IIT) to give you an idea on where you can ride.
- There would be habal-habals that are waiting for passengers at the intersection. Ask around who would be willing to take you to the jump-off point of Dodiongan Falls. The rate when we went there was 35 Pesos/person (one-way). Minimum of 3 persons. Therefore if you are only 1 person then you would have to pay for 3 persons. Estimate Travel Time is 20 minutes.
[sam id=”18″ codes=”true”]
- From the jumpoff point you would start walking from here. But don’t get too excited to start walking. As there are no habal-habals waiting there and there’s no cellphone signal too. You would need to arrange your pick-up with your driver. For us we asked our driver to come back after 3 hours. But the length of time you would be spending depends on who you are with and how much you want to experience.
- On our visit there, there was no entrance fee yet so we started our trek immediately.First you would need to cross and follow the trail across that is parallel to the river. Once in a while you would need to cross the river as the trail passes by there. At the end of the river Dodiongan Falls is there. Estimated Trekking Time is 30 minutes.
You’ll just have to back track on how you got there.
Since Dodiongan Falls is a waterfall, weather is a big consideration on safely going there as the river could become really strong if there’s a strong rain.
The last store that you would pass by will be at the Brgy. San Roque Intersection.
One our visit there there are no entrance fees yet. But there’s a small community there. May be you can ask them if some of them could guide your group to Dodiongan Falls. Don’t forget to pay them too.
Please bring back all your trash when you go there. You did have the ability to bring the containers there when it contained your food and drinks, therefore it would be easier for you to carry it back when it is empty. If you leave your trash there, then by reasoning you are timid or tamad. Let us all help each other on maintaining the beauty of nature at its cleanest.
What I love about Dodiongan Falls is that the trail going there are still not concretized. Plus the cows and carabaos there makes the trail’s vegetation less dense.
Also no developments has been made there. I hate waterfalls and nature parks that has concrete pathways that is why I am happy with my visit to Dodiongan Falls.
As my friend told me why Dodiongan Falls was her favorite falls, it was because with a short travel time and enough short effort you would be able to enjoy the raw beauty of nature with Dodiongan Falls.
Disclosure: My travel to Iligan City was not sponsored. I went there on my own decision and with my own money. Though I did have help on planning my visit there with Lisa Marie of PinayTravelista.com.
* Details may change without prior notice.
[sam id=17 codes=’false’]