Aguinid Falls, Cebu: A Travel Guide for Weekend Warriors

Contributed by Deetoxify

Aguinid has been on my bucket list for so long. And last weekend, we finally had the time to visit (what people call) the “Natural Wonder” in Samboan.

Samboan, which used to be part of Alegria’s jurisdiction, is located in the southern part of Cebu province and is about 150 kilometres away from Cebu City. Samboan is known for its beautiful crystal clear waters and rich marine ecosystem. One of its natural attractions is Aguinid Falls.

Aguinid Waterfalls, a unique body of water in Barangay Tangbo, comprises of five different tiers or “levels”. Each tier has a unique waterfall. To move to the next one, you will have to climb limestone walls and rock forms from the bottom going up.

At first, I thought it was hard but when I saw the trail, it wasn’t at all.

Aguinid may not be as famous as Kawasan Falls in Badian, where visitors can do cliff jumping and canyoning, but it is beautiful on its own and is equally captivating as Kawasan.

Also read: Chasing Waterfalls in Ginatilan and Samboan, Cebu

How to get there

From Cebu

You can easily ride a bus going to Samboan or Bato at the South Bus Terminal near Elizabeth Mall in N. Bacalso Avenue. It will take you three to four hours to reach Samboan (if the traffic is smooth).

Ask the conductor to drop you off at Aguinid Falls’s trail in Barangay Tangbo, Samboan. Public buses travel round south from 2am to 7pm. The fare costs around ₱175.

There are two signages along the street. You can see the larger signage near a basketball court and the smaller one at a corner intended for private vehicles.

There’s no need to hire a motorcycle to take you to the registration area of Aguinid falls. Just walk, it’s part of the experience. Anyway, it’s just really near.

If you’re bringing your own car, you can park it near the registration area for a fee.

You need to log in at the registration area and pay the necessary fees — ₱40 for locals, ₱60 and ₱32 for senior citizens.

From Dumaguete

I think this route is nearer for those who are not from Cebu.

From Dumaguete, head to Sibulan Port, Negros Oriental, which is a short jeepney ride away. From there, ride the ferry or fast craft to Liloan Port in Cebu. The fare costs around ₱70 and you’ll reach Liloan Port in just 25 minutes. Note that these sea vessels are intended for passengers only.

If you are bringing a private vehicle from Dumaguete, head to Tampi Port instead and take the larger ferry of Maayo Shipping Lines that goes to Bato Port in Cebu. I’m not quite familiar with how much it will cost if you’re bringing a car though. It varies depending on the size of your vehicle.

From Liloan Port, hail a bus to Bato and tell the conductor to drop you off at Aguinid Falls’ trail in Barangay Tangbo, Samboan.

If you’re coming from Bato Port, again, just look for the two signages of Aguinid Falls along the street. The larger signage is near a basketball court and the smaller one is at a corner meant for private vehicles. Proceed to the registration area and go through the same process explained earlier.

Technical guides will be assigned to you or your group. Before you start trekking and climbing, you’ll have to undergo a quick briefing or orientation session. Then, you are good to go!

Note: Since Aguinid Falls is yet to be regularised by the local government, there is no fixed rate for technical guides. It’s really up to you on how much you are willing to pay. Our group of four gave our guide ₱400. You might think that’s a lot — we just thought he deserved it.

Handy tips

1. The best time to visit Aguinid Falls is from Jul to Oct as the water flow is in full blast.
2. Trekking is only allowed until 5pm.
3. Bring your own aqua shoes, trail shoes or trek sandals.
4. If you plan to bring some things, place them inside a waterproof bag.
5. Wear comfortable clothes.
6. Pack light! There’s no need to bring your entire bag unless you have no other option but to bring it with you.
7. Avoid using sunblock as it may contaminate the water.
8. Bringing of food is not allowed. If by any chance you brought food, you can leave it at the registration area.
9. Leave nothing but footprints! Don’t throw your trash anywhere!

Also read: If You Only Have Two Days in Cebu

I hope this helps you plan your next weekend getaway to Aguinid Falls. If you like this article and want to see and know more about my trips and tips, follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Here’s how my weekend looked like. What about yours? (Watch in HD!)