Cancalanog Falls isn’t the dramatic, thundering cascade you might picture when you hear the word ‘waterfall.’
Hidden in the hills of Cebu, this spot feels more like a natural swimming pool. Clear, deep blue water cuts through a narrow valley, with endless opportunities for cliff jumps.
In this guide, I’ll share what you need to know before visiting Cancalanlog Falls in Cebu, including how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
Cancalanog Falls Complete Guide
Cancalanog Falls is more of a natural swimming hole than a massive waterfall, but that’s exactly what makes it special. It’s tucked within a lush valley surrounded by trees and ferns.
The waterfall itself is tiny. In fact, it’s more of a gentle stream.
But Cancalanlog Falls has some of the clearest blue water we’ve seen, and its real attraction is its deep basin. If you love cliff jumping, you’ll find plenty of opportunities around the basin. The jumps range from small ledges to massive dives.
The local kids here are the real experts, and they always seem to know the best jump spots. If you’re unsure whether it’s safe to jump, just follow their lead.
There used to be a large wooden pavilion beside the pool, providing shade and a place to hang out. Unfortunately, Typhoon Odette tore through the area in December 2021, leaving only its concrete foundation behind. Despite this, Cancalanog Falls is still worth visiting, with its natural beauty and adventurous atmosphere still intact.
- Cancalanog Falls entry fee: 50 pesos per person
- Parking fee: 20 pesos per motorbike
How to get to Cancalanog Falls
Cancalanog Falls is located about 50 minutes from Moalboal, up in the hills of Alegria. It actually shares the same river system as Kawasan Falls and is located just a little further upstream.
The journey to Cancalanog Falls starts along Cebu’s coastal highway, winding along the seaside highway before turning inland at Alegria. From there, a narrow road leads up into the hills.
Once you turn onto the driveway that goes down to the falls, the entire thing is unpaved, except for two narrow concrete strips. If you’re riding a motorbike, you’ll need to straddle one of these strips carefully. The road goes downhill, and sharp, blind turns make it a little dangerous.
If you’re not confident in your riding skills, it’s safer to park at the top and walk down. The trek is a bit long, but it’s worth it to avoid the risk of losing control on the uneven road.
The turnoff to Cancalanog Falls is kind of easy to miss, even though it’s marked by a sign. If you’re using Google Maps, the location below is accurate, so you can use it to navigate there.
Cancalanog Falls: Our Experience
Cancalanog Falls was the very first spot we visited in the Philippines, and we had no idea what to expect.
That turned out to be the best way to experience it.
After we pulled up to the sari-sari at the end of the road, we parked our motorbike and paid our entry fee before starting the walk downhill.
The walk downhill was short, and as we neared the end of the slope, we caught a glimpse of its clear, blue water. We’d seen photos of the water in Cebu before, but it was surreal seeing it for the first time in person. The water looked even better in real life.
As we approached the falls, I saw a group of kids surrounding the river, taking turns jumping in. I didn’t see any waterfall at first, maybe it was a bit further?
It turned out that no, that was it.
The waterfall consisted of a tiny cascade, built out with concrete inside the river. It wasn’t so much of a waterfall as it was just the flow of the river continuing its course downstream.
But that didn’t matter to us.
In fact, we preferred it that way because it made for an even better swimming experience without having a huge waterfall creating a current to fight against.
Now, let’s talk about those jumps.
There are a bunch of cliff jumps at Cancalanog Falls, at all different levels. So no matter your skill level, you’ll find an exciting way to enter the clear blue pool of water. Sometimes with a splash, or sometimes without. It’s your choice.
One jump, in particular, stood out.
A kid named Jake walked over to a rocky perch overlooking the pool. This was a massive jump, and he had to clear a good distance to land safely in the pool. No one else dared to try it.
Even the bamboo bridge across the river served as a jump, where a group of boys lined up to jump in all at once. They couldn’t get enough of the jumps.
We met a boy named Stephan, who instantly became Chloe’s friend. He showed her all the best jump spots and even taught her how to climb back up the rocks after each jump. I appreciated it because as much as I wanted to show her the way, I was in completely unfamiliar territory.
We all had an awesome time together, jumping countless times in the water.
Cancalanog Falls isn’t the biggest, the most famous, or the easiest place to get to—but that’s what makes it special.
For us, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best adventures are the ones you least expect.
Photos of Cancalanog Falls in Alegria, Cebu
Where to Stay in Cebu
For most travelers, Moalboal is the best place to stay. It’s close to the Sardine Run, White Beach, and within range of Kawasan Falls Canyoneering.
Moalboal has a good mix of resorts, hostels, and food spots, making it a solid base for exploring Cebu.
If you’re planning to stay longer than 5 days, I recommend doing what we did by splitting your time between Moalboal and Oslob.
Oslob gives you easier access to whale shark watching, Sumilon Island, and nearby waterfalls like Tumalog and Binalayan. This way, you cut down on travel time and get to see more.
Here’s where we stayed at and recommend in Cebu:
- Moalboal: 3 Sisters Guest House 2 is just off the main strip in Moalboal, but still within walking distance of everything. We appreciated the security and cleanliness of the accommodation and ate breakfast there every morning of our stay.
- Oslob: Melronz Inn is situated a bit outside the town center, making it quieter and more relaxed. And the best part is that it’s located right on the water, with its own private ocean access.
What to Pack for Cebu
- Water Shoes: If you plan to go canyoneering, a solid pair of water shoes like these are needed. If not, you can always wear crocs or even your sneakers if you don’t mind them getting wet!
- Snorkel: With sardine run in Moalboal and whale shark watching in Oslob, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one for the best experience! 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 Cebu.
- 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 Cebu! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Our Free Cebu Google Maps Locations
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Need more Cebu travel ideas?
During our 7-day adventure in Cebu, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—milky blue waterfalls, limestone hikes, 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 your planning here: Cebu Travel Guide
- Our Ultimate Guide to Cebu: 15 Incredible Things to Do in Cebu
- Our Moalboal accommodation guide: Where to Stay in Moalboal
- Our favorite waterfall (+ secret adventure) in Cebu: Inambakan Falls
- Hike to the highest point in Cebu: Osmeña Peak
- Our favorite hike in Cebu: Casino Peak
- Our favorite day tour in Cebu: Kawasan Falls Canyoneering
- The hottest hot spring we’ve ever visited: Mainit Hot Spring
- How to see the Moalboal Sardine Run without a tour
- Oslob Whale Shark Watching Complete Guide
- How to get from Cebu City to Moalboal
- How to get from Moalboal to Oslob
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Cancalanog Falls in Alegria, Cebu. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
