Planning to book the canyoneering experience in Philippines, but don’t have time to read through the whole blog? We have got you covered! Our speedy scoop section gives you important details about the activity in a quick and concise manner.
Now that you have the basic details, read along as we take you through our experience and give you the best tips!
If you landed on this page, it means that you are planning a vacation to Philippines and want to get the best out of your PTO days. As a couple that loves travelling and spends hours planning the perfect itinerary so that we don’t miss out on amazing life experiences, we can assure you that you are in the right place! By the end of this blog, you will have enough information to take a decision whether you would want to plan this experience in the Philippines.
Philippines is special to us for multiple reasons- first international vacation, first vacation as husband and wife, first trip where we decided to splurge a little. We chose this beautiful country for it’s pristine secret white sand beaches, relatively undiscovered islands and a bio-diverse underwater world. This country offers much more than that. We discovered canyoneering while researching things to do in this country. We had never heard of it or experienced it before.
Naturally, that meant we started reading up more about it. That’s when we heard about ALEGRIA/KAWASAN FALLS CANYONEERING. Philippines is a land of beautiful waterfalls, that will stun you with it’s vibrant blue waters. Before we get to the actual experience, how to book it and whether it was worth the journey, let’s quickly look at some essential details that you would need to consider before planning the trip.
What is the best season to visit Philippines?
The best season to visit Philippines is from December to February when the country experiences it’s dry season. You can also plan this trip from November-May. Philippines transitions from wet season to dry season in the month of November. You can expect rainfall in November, though it’s not constant. We travelled in mid-November and with heavy rains welcoming us on our first day. We didn’t have to cancel any plans, so all was well.
Pro Tip: Try planning activities by looking at general weather conditions around the time that you will be travelling. Canyoneering is generally not advised in bad weathers.
How can you get to the Canyoneering site once you reach Philippines?
You can experience Alegria/Kawasan Falls canyoneering in a small town called Badian near Moalboal. A municipality in the province of Cebu, Moalboal is roughly 3-4 hours (~100 km) southwest of Cebu. If you are flying in from a different country, you can pre-book a rental car to drive you from the Cebu International Airport to Moalboal. We were staying at Turtle Bay Dive Resort, and chose to book airport transfers through the resort. In 2023, it cost us 5000 pesos one way (10,000 pesos both ways) for the transfers.
There are also buses and vans that run on the route from Cebu to Moalboal which are a much cheaper alternative. Buses depart from the South Terminal in Cebu city and drop you off at Moalboal public market.
Now that we have explored how to reach Moalboal, it’s time to discuss more about Canyoneering.
What is Alegria/Kawasan Falls Canyoneering?
Kawasan Falls was closed for the tourists during our visit. We were able to book the Alegria Wonderfalls Canyoneering. The entire activity takes up half a day with tours starting from 6:00 AM to 1:30 PM. You can start at any time between these hours.
The adventure starts right from the headquarters if the tour operator, where they take you to the top of the mountain vis bikes. You will zip-line through a section of forest once you reach the top, where you can enjoy stunning views of the coast and hills from the top. This definitely sets the tone for the day. Once you reach the end of the zip-line, you have to walk down a set of stairs before you reach the water.
You will spend the next 3-4 hours swimming through clear blue waters, sliding, jumping off cliffs (completely optional), swinging by ropes and jumping into the water, standing under the waterfalls and some bit of trekking.
How can you book the Canyoneering experience in Kawasan?
We booked directly through Kawasan Canyoneering website by filling up an inquiry form. Post this, they reached out to us on WhatsApp to discuss the further details. The tour operators were very prompt in answering all our queries and guiding us through the inclusions.
At the time of booking in 2023, we paid 1500 pesos per person (which could have changed now). This cost includes the safety gear fee (life-vests, helmet, dry bags), Tour guide fees, All entrance and Government fees, transportation fee from gear-up to jump-off into the water, luggage counter, shower rooms and a delicious lunch.
The tour operator offered us pick-up and drop-off to our resort since we were staying in the Moalboal area. Do note that other people will also be picked up along with you, in case they are in the same route. The transport is extremely comfortable with a van that is equipped to seat enough people.
How should you prepare for your travel to Philippines?
Apart from sorting out the travel requirements like passport, visas and shopping for instagram-worthy clothes, you should also take the following things into consideration:
- Water shoes or Sandals (Closed shoes protect better against any sharp edges or slippery surfaces in water )
- Reef-safe sunscreen (Philippines still has some of the most protected underwater life in the world. Let’s try to do our bit and leave no trace)
- Philippine pesos (Cash transactions are still a big part of local life in Philippines. It’s best to carry cash for emergency situations. Plus, you also end up getting discounted prices when you pay with cash). You will come across many vendors selling fruits and local delicacies while canyoneering. They only accept cash.
- A dry bag to carry all your electronics, wallet and other important stuff that you do not want getting wet
- Pro tip: Carry a go pro/ water-proof video recording device, if possible to capture all the wonderful moments while canyoneering. A water-proof phone would also do the trick.
The verdict: Was this experience worth travelling to Moalboal, Philippines?
We also ended up doing a snorkeling tour in Panangsama beach to experience the sardine run during our stay in Moalboal but the canyoneering experience tops our list of things to do in Philippines. It is a once-in-a-lifetime fun experience that everyone should absolutely go for. While the activity itself was so much fun, here are a few things that made this extra special.
1. Expert Guides
The guides that are with you throughout this activity are some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. We handed them our go pro so that they could take our pictures and videos and they did not disappoint. These tour guides will go to great lengths to make sure you have the best pictures/videos to go along with the memories that you make during this activity. They will keep you thoroughly engaged for the entire 3-4 hours trying to learn about your culture and language while teaching a bit of their language.
My husband does not know how to swim but he was able to jump off of cliffs (wearing life-jacket) because of the support of our tour guide. Their enthusiasm will surely rub-off on you.
2. Food according to dietary needs
The lunch that they serve you at the end of your activity will be some of the best local food you have had. They are very considerate of your dietary needs. I am a vegetarian and when I told them this in advance, they prepared a meal for me according to my preferences. Eating lunch with the view of beautiful falls and people having fun in the water is something that will stay with you for a long time.
3. A Hidden Gem
While people have started visiting other places in Philippines due to growing popularity, Moalboal still remains majorly a diving destination. This truly is your golden chance to experience something beautiful and unique before it gets popular and over-crowded.
For us, this experience was worth every penny we paid for it and the long journey we had to take from Cebu to Moalboal. Let me know in the comments if any of you have done this and how was your experience of it. Would love to hear more in case of any queries.
