This post is part 2 of 3 of our 3-waterfall, 1-day adventure in Iligan City.
- Part 1: Maria Crisitina Falls
- Part 2: Tinago Falls
- Part 3: Mimbalot Falls
- How much did I spend on that day?
2:33 PM – We were now riding the habal-habal that we hired to take us to Tinago Falls and Mimbalot Falls from Maria Cristina Falls for the rate of 350 Pesos for a half-day tour.
We went back to the national highway and passed by the bay, Timoga Cold Springs and the Macaraeg-Macapagal House. Then we turned left at one of the intersections.
At some point the habal-habal driver stopped the motorcycle and asked Lisa Marie (PinayTravelista.com) to go down as he will take me first up through the steep hill then go back to Lisa Marie and bring her up next. When they were back I rode the habal-habal again and went on our way to Tinago Falls.
The uphill road.
Rough road going to Tinago Falls.
2:52 PM – We then stopped at a place where there were planted trees in the area. This was not the stop that I remembered when we went there before. I remember stopping at somewhere where there were a concrete fence. The locals told us that it was no longer allowed anymore to reach up to that point. All transportations should stop there and everyone should go on foot. I’m glad that was the new protocol. Travel time of 19 minutes via habal-habal from NPC Nature Park (Maria Cristina Falls).
[sam id=”18″ codes=”true”]
The habal-habal driver that we hired would wait for us since we were just be visiting for a short while. Our estimate was around 2 hours.
Where we left our habal-habal driver.
While walking there were people offering to guide us to Tinago Falls. But since Lisa Marie already knows the way we opted to not avail of the guides.
We then stopped by a small store where we registered and paid for the life vest that we were going to use down below (25 Pesos/life vest). Though there’s no entrance fee to get to Tinago Falls life vests are requried when swimming since the drop of the waterfalls to the basin creates currents that could change anytime and is dangerous if you do not have a life vest. The lady at the registration area then gave us a paper that proves that we have already paid for our life vests.
Registration Area.
After registering we started walking again.
Lisa Marie told me that the guides does not only offer to guide you through the way, they would also take pictures of you and when you get to the waterfalls they would also be the ones to guard your belongings. I was thinking that maybe we should have hired a guide but we just continued walking.
We passed by the abandoned cottages of an old resort that was present before in the area. I remembered when we visited here when I was still a child when the resort was still operational. I remembered how busy and developed the aea was. I remembered the animals in their zoo. Somehow I liked it more now that nature has taken over. It makes the place has feeling of enchantment and much closer to nature.
3:01 PM – We passed by the concrete wall that I told you about earlier. This was when the stairs going down will start to descend. Starting from a wide pathway and slowly becoming narrow.
An old swimming pool.
I’ll show you lots of pictures of our way down so that you could imagine yourself going up those flight of stairs.
3:14 PM – I heard the rumbling of Tinago Falls telling us that we were near the basin. 13 minutes going down the stairs.
After a few short steps going down we were now in the basin.
We were extra careful when we got there because the floors are slippery.
Though the place looked like ruins, which I really liked, there was actually order. There were staff there that we approached and told them that we were getting a table (50 Pesos/table). He then offered us that if we would like we could ride the raft (10 Pesos/person) and we could hire one of their staff to take pictures of us. We agreed that we would ride the raft and hire one of them to take pictures of us while we were on the raft. But we first had to take pictures of the place before getting into the water. Payment would be to them.
I actually had hard time taking pictures of the place as the mist from the waterfalls was a lot and would create droplets in front of my lens, once in a while I would have wipe my lense for me to take pictures.
Even turning off my point and shoot camera was a task as I had to wipe off the mist on the side of the lens first so that when it retracts water would not enter my camera and short circuit the connections inside.
Waterfalls on the side.
3:30 PM – After changing into our swimming attire we told one of the staff that we were ready to go. We arranged our stuff and covered it with our towels to lessen the view of our stuff from other people in the area.
Not really our things but this is how our things looked like also when we went there.
We handed one of our cameras to the staff that would take pictures of us and he went to a place with a good vantage to take pictures of us during our time getting wet at the falls.
We rode the raft and one of the staff starting pulling the raft to the falls. When we reached the falls we had a good waterfall massage under it. Looking back of all the times that I have visited the waterfalls I’ve never even tried riding the raft up to the waterfalls. This is a must try!
When the raft was going back we decided to not join the raft. With our life vests on we jumped into the water and just swam around. This was a challenge though as the current above the waters was going out of the falls. This was also the farthest I have ever swam in the basin.
4:24 PM – We have now wiped some of the water on our bodies and were now ready to walk the stairs going up. We paid the one who took photos of us 50 Pesos and just to be fair to the staff who pulled the raft we gave him 50 Pesos too, even if we were only required to pay 20 Pesos to him.
Then we started our ascent. The walk was breathtaking, literally. I’m glad that I had two weeks of Pilates-Yoga session at Aerobics Jazz Fit Dance & Fitness Center in Iligan City before I did this. #SedentaryLifeProblems.
4:50 PM – We were now back at where we left our habal-habal driver. 26 minutes going up.
There were other habal-habal drivers there also that were waiting for other passengers. There were already a group of around 8 visitors in the area but they would not ride the habal-habals yet as it was not enough for their whole group.
We rode our habal-habal and started to leave. We’ve decided to call it a day and just go back to the city since it was already near 5 PM and sunlight was starting to fade but along the way we had a change of heart and do a short visit to Mimbalot Falls.
One of the photos taken by the staff of Tinago Falls from the camera of PinayTravelista.com
Tinago Falls Details
[sam id=”18″ codes=”true”]
Entrance fee: None, but you are required to avail of the life vest if you plan to swim.
Life vests: 25 Pesos/life vest
Tables: 50 Pesos/table
Raft: 10 Pesos/person
Guide: There’s really no standard rate for the guide. But I suggest that you pay him depending on the time that you had there. Around 50 Pesos/hour would do.
I’m not really sure the time that they are open but it would be safe to say from 6AM to 5:30 PM.
If this is your first time you should hire a guide.
Better bring food and drinks when you go down as there are no stores below. The last store will be the registration area.
The place near the falls is slippery so be very careful when walking. If you have a hard time walking better walk tip toe.
If you’re all going to leave your stuff at the tables, tell the staff there that you are leaving it at the table that they can watch over it. Better if you can cover your belongings over with a towel or shirts so that it would not attract attention from others.
Going on a raft to the drop of the falls is a must try. Tell the staff there that you would be riding the raft that they would be able to pull the raft to the waterfalls. I’ve tried pulling the raft myself but the current was strong that I was not able to even get me near the falls. You can help pull the raft to help the staff and gain experience and extra work workout.
Be careful when going down the stairs. Take your time.
Pace yourself going up. I’ve seen a lot of people going up push themselves too much to the point of blacking out. That is dangerous if you fall on the side. Don’t worry if you are slow and are limiting the pace of your friends behind you. You’ll bother more people if you lose consciousness. If there are people faster than you, give way for them to pass by.
First you need to be in Iligan City Proper. You can do that by checking my post here.
From Iligan City Proper walk to the intersection of Araneta St. & Roxas Ave, check the map here. There are Buru-un bound jeeps that would be passing by there.
Ride a Buru-un bound jeepney and tell the driver that you are heading to Tinago Falls and to drop you off where you can ride a habal-habal to Tinago Falls. Fare was around 13 Pesos/person (one-way). Travel Time was 25 minutes.
Note: The jeep above would be passing by the jump-off point of Maria Cristina Falls. You would go down somewhere the route of the jeep but if you continue on the jeep would also pass by the jump-off point of Mimbalot Falls.
When you go down, tell the habal-habal driver that you are visiting Tinago Falls. The rate was 35 Pesos/person (one-way). Travel Time was around 15 minutes.
When you go down ask your habal-habal driver if he could go back to fetch you again after your designated time. Around 4 hours would do. Better if you could get his number.
From where your habal-habal driver would stop there would be some people who would tell you to guide you to the waterfalls. If it’s your first time here better to hire them so you would not get lost. There’s no standard rate but I would suggest that you pay them based on the number of hours they are with you, 50 Pesos/hour. But it’s really up to you.
Register on the store that you would be passing by.
Then walk again goind down to Tinago Falls. Be careful going down. Walking time was around 30 minutes.
Just go back the same way you went there.
Don’t forget to pace yourself going up. Give around 45 minutes of walking time going up.
When you get back to the highway, you can ride again the Buru-un jeepney that is moving away from Iligan City Proper to get to the jump-off point of Mimbalut Falls. 7.50 Pesos/person (one-way). Travel time was around 5 minutes.
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’]
Thanks for putting up everything in a spoon. 1 page with all the must-see, accommodations and everything. I was in Iligan 7 years ago and I assume many things has changed. I miss their peanuts.
You’re welcome Rochie. I hope you get to visit Iligan again sometime soon. I miss their peanuts too. 🙂
Thank you for sharing very detailed itineraries of your trips! =)
For Tinago falls, what’s your reco for footwear? Would normal slippers do?
Hi Jem, normal slippers will do. Most of the time that I was there I was only wearing normal slippers.