Tucked away in the hills and rice paddies of Candijay in Bohol, Philippines, Can-umantad Falls cascades down the cliffside. Surrounding the waterfall are multiple turquoise pools, each of a different depth, providing distinct experiences.
Whether you want to relax in one of the waterfall’s serene pools, adventure behind the waterfall into its cave, or chill on the shoreline with some snacks and friends, Can-umantad Falls is an unforgettable destination.
Our Complete Guide to Can-umantad Falls
Can-umantad Falls is located in Candijay on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. With its turquoise waters and multiple pools, Can-umantad Falls is a perfect place to cool off after visiting the nearby Cadapdapan Rice Terraces or Kankoka Hills.
In this article, we’ll share everything you need to know about your adventure to Can-umantad Falls.
How to Get to Can-umantad Falls
Can-umantad Falls is about a 1-hour drive from Anda or a 3-hour drive from Panglao in Bohol. We visited Can-umantad Falls when we were based in Anda, and the ride through small towns up in the hills was enjoyable.
About 1km from the parking area of Can-umantad Falls there are signs and a small booth where you turn to visit the falls.
The road down to the falls is a little steep, but we took it slow so our ride down was calm and easygoing.
There are no cars allowed on this road and we quickly learned why. We passed a few landslide warning signs and saw some spots where the road caved in.
If you don’t want to ride your motorbike down, you can pay for a tuk-tuk to take you to the parking area at the falls. There were a few people who rode a tuk-tuk and their drivers were waiting for them to finish their adventure.
Can-umantad Falls: Our Experience
When we got to the parking area of Can-umantad Falls, we were surprised as it was pretty big and well-paved. There is even a toilet!
We checked in, paid our 30 pesos entry fee, and got assigned a mandatory guide. The guides here completely work off of tips so do what you may with that information. There is also no time limit when visiting the falls.
We then took a 5-minute walk from the parking lot to the waterfall. Along the way, we walked past 2 lower tiers connected to the waterfall. The first tier is under a bridge. This area has the largest jump which is 11 feet. Getting down there is slippery so be careful if you attempt this jump.
The second tier is a little ways past the bridge. It has a pool area to swim in and a small 7-foot jump. No one was swimming in either of these areas while we were there.
Overlooking the waterfall is also a covered area for people to hang out in the shade. It’s a good spot to post up for a few hours with food, drinks, and some friends.
Lastly, there’s a nice elevated terrace from where you can take photos of the falls.
Once we were done taking the signature photo in front of the falls it was time to get in!
There are 3 areas to swim near the falls. At the base of the waterfall, it’s only 4 feet deep so it’s perfect for hanging out and cooling off. This is the most popular pool to swim in. A few tourist and local groups were hanging out and enjoying the refreshing pool of water.
The cool thing here is you swim into a cave behind the waterfall. Since it’s only about 4 feet deep it wasn’t too hard to get into but I was a bit scared at first.
The waterfall was making intense water-hitting noises and kind of scared me but Trey reminded me that I could swim under the water to avoid the beating from the falls.
We spent a lot of time in the cave behind the waterfall as it was a pretty spacious area to hang out and not difficult to get into.
To the left of the main waterfall is a large pool area that is about 5 feet deep. This is the largest swimming area which was fun to hang out in but at the same it had the most algae though it didn’t bother me!
Just below the waterfall is another very shallow area – it’s 2 feet deep but SO nice to relax in. Here you can just lay around and play in the water. Just be careful – I slipped and fell there! 🤣
Thankfully I landed gracefully without any injuries. After visiting 15 waterfalls in the past two weeks I guess it was bound to happen.
Can-umantad Falls: Facts
Our guide provided us with some neat facts about the waterfall:
Firstly, he told us that the waterfall’s height is 79 meters. As I’m typing this, I’m wondering what the actual height of the waterfall is, since all of the sources elsewhere say that it’s either 60 feet or 60 meters. Trey says there is no way that the waterfall is only 60 feet, it looks much larger than that.
I’m wondering if an actual measurement was taken recently, and that’s where the 79-meters came from. If you visit the waterfall, please do us a favor and ask them whether the waterfall is 60 meters or 79 meters.
Our guide also told us that the source of water for the falls is 1.2 km away, in an underground spring. Between the waterfall and the source, there is a dam.
We came to the waterfall on a weekday and our guide mentioned that it only flows at 50% on weekdays. The other 50% goes to irrigation for the nearby rice fields. However, during the weekend the waterfall flows at 100% full blast.
Where to Stay in Bohol
Depending on how long you stay in Bohol we recommend splitting your stays between Panglao and Anda. If you are in Bohol for less than 4 days we recommend basing yourself out of Panglao, but if you are staying longer I recommend staying at least 2 nights in Anda. Here are recommendations on places to stay:
- Luxury: Amorita Resort (Panglao)
- Mid-range: Casa Amihan (Anda)
- Budget: Bluewaves Apartment (Panglao)
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Bohol.
What to Pack for Bohol
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Bohol.
- Crocs: During our time in Bohol, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring rocky terrain and chasing waterfalls. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Snorkel: With all the amazing snorkeling spots in Bohol, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one if you plan to do some underwater activities! Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a snorkel, which may be of… questionable quality.
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Bohol.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Bohol! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Are You Following Our Bohol Blog Series?
During our 11-day adventure in Bohol, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—epic waterfalls, caves, and incredible snorkeling spots. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Bohol Travel Guide
- Our Bohol accomodation/area guide: Where to Stay in Bohol
- Our Ultimate Guide to Bohol: 24 Awesome Things to Do in Bohol
- How to plan your Bohol vacation: Bohol 3 Day Itinerary
- Interested in chasing waterfalls?: 5 Best Waterfalls in Bohol During Dry Season
- Our favorite hike in Bohol: Alicia Panoramic Park Hike
- Our favorite day tour in Bohol: Balicasag Island Snorkeling
- Our favorite waterfall in Bohol: Dimiao Twin Falls (Pahangog Falls)
- Our favorite place to swim in Bohol: Cabagnow Cave Pool
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Can-umantad Falls in Bohol!
