The Tale of Two Falls: Ma. Cristina Falls: A Dream Fulfilled! / Tinago Falls: Hidden Delight
Finally seeing this great twin waterfalls right in front of me brings back my elementary years. I believe it was during my 3rd grade when our teacher taught us Banaue Rice Terraces, Hundred Islands, Barasoain Church, Rizal Park, Mayon Volcano, Chocolate Hills, San Juanico Bridge, Lake Sebu and this famed waterfalls- Ma.Cristina.
Ma. Cristina Falls: The Great Twin Falls
I didn’t know that those years were to be a foundation in my love for traveling. I must admit, all I can do those days was to daydream that someday I will be seeing these places for real (and not only on textbooks). I was telling myself that memorizing these tourist spots by name and location is futile without really seeing it, being awed by their beauty. All I can do was hope…
Until after ten years, I started ticking off these places, one by one. I found myself walking beside the paddies of Batad Rice Terraces; swimming from island-to-island in Alaminos (Hundred Islands); cam-whoring in Barasoain Church, taking post-card shots from Carmen with the Chocolate Hills on the background, traveling from Leyte to Samar via San Juanico bridge and…
Awestruck, I tweeted: “Amazed at the great twin falls- greetings from Ma.Cristina falls! The current is powerful, very powerful. Parang ang sarap tumalon!“
IT WAS A DREAM FULFILLED! Surreal as it maybe but the feeling was really indescribable. The sound of the cascading waters are so powerful all you can say is “WOW.”
I was quiet for a moment, trying to internalize the reality that I was here in front of the illustrious Ma.Cristina Falls. I was trying to think who among my classmates back then has seen this too. I’m just proud of myself having challenged all odds- budget not an alibi to see this forceful creation.
I was with a group of friends originally from Manila but have seen greener grounds in Iligan City, they volunteered to come with me and tour the City of Waterfalls. Props to you guys! Until I visit waterfalls-filled city again…
journeyingjames with Faith, Angeli, Patrick & Len
Thank you so much for a wonderful stay in Iligan City. See yah, say my regards to Tito Cesar.
Next post is about am underrated falls, very near Ma.Cristina, hidden and delightful to all senses…
How to go to Ma.Cristina Falls:
From CDO:
Go to Bulua Terminal (westbound buses), take the buses going to Iligan (Fare: Php 100.00)
Get off Iligan City, take the jeepney going to the public market (Php 7.00).
From the public market, take the jeepney going to Buru-un (Php 11.00) and tell the driver you are going to Ma.Cristina falls.
From the highway, walk towards NPC, about 3 minutes walk to the gate entrance of Ma.Cristina Falls.
Entrance & shuttle service fee: Php 40.00
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
NORTHERN MINDANAO ESCAPADE. This post is part of a series born out of my adventures in Region X last January 19-25, 2011. I also challenged myself to live within Php500 or less/day budget (food, transportation, accommodation, etc.) as I am preparing for my “The Cheapest 100 Days of Backpacking around the Philippines.”
Bukidnon- What Does a Backpacker Do In A Golf Course? / Zipline Crazy Philippines?
Camiguin- Cheapest Island Tour / Sunken Cemetery: From Top to Bottom Down / In Transit: CDO to Camiguin / Cheap Accommodations
CDO- The Ride of my Year / Divisoria & Night Market
Iligan City- Ma.Cristina Falls: A Dream Fulfilled / Tinago Falls: Hidden Delight
Wow, napuntahan mo pala to during your trip, parang sa textbooks ko lang din to nakikita dati, sana mapuntahan ko din ito someday 🙂
surreal ang feeling! yes, may kasunod pa yan… mas magandang falls 🙂
You captured it beautifully James! Ma. Cristina is no doubt a beauty and I’m hoping to really see it for real soon…. Thanks for taking there through your article. Cheers…:))
Okay that’s Ma. Cristina Falls! Geez!
so madami ka nang pupuntahan sa pinas pag balik mo. wait for the next waterfall
ako din… sa text books ko lang ‘to nakikita… black and white pa… hehehe!!! thanks for sharing…
haha, most of us did saw this sa text book, b & w. kaya super happy ako nung na-experience ko sya. sarap ngang tumalon!
waa. lapit lang sana ng ma. christina falls sa cebu. i need to drop by this beautiful spot!
same here. dream come true talaga! nagside trip kami from CDO last july. nakakapagod lang ang byahe but so worth it!
indeed, so worth it! have you seen tinago falls?
Am I correct that twin falls has a legend about the two sisters maria and cristina who jump-off the cliff and turn into waterfalls? Nice picture of the falls..
hmmmm…. i didn’t know this. thanks for sharing ian! thanks a lot!
wow, sir kainggit naman po kayo….gusto ko rin po marating yan…sana masama ko sa plan namin pagpunta namin ng CDO….thanks po for sharing…^_^
please do include this to your itinerary and also tinago falls… thanks for dropping by sir!
wow! I never been to any falls, sarap siguro pakinggan ang tunog ng bumabagsak na tubig. someday heheh
but WHY?? sarap talga, refreshing at feels like you are transported on a different place. relaxing din. you should plan your waterfalls getaway na
ganda ng falls… must be surreal nung andun ka talaga…
naaalala ko lang yan nung tinuro sa history when i was in grade school absent pa ata ako nun.. thanks for sharing =)
my pleasure bro! you really need to experience the beauty of waterfalls when in mindanao. i didnt say that there are ziplines here too.
my hometown’s pride…plus of course, a few more waterfalls to boot. Oh how I missed it. Saw it the 1st and last time when I was 7 years old. Believe me that was a looong time ago. LOL!
Thank you for featuring it. I hope to one day go back and retrace my roots including visiting the waterfalls.
you have a very nice hometown!
maybe, its time to go back and see the wonders of it again. your blog is nice too. thanks for dropping by!
happy travels
the last time i saw ma. cristina —it waterfall was a slug..hihi…and we’re going there too this sunday! nice one james ^^
same with my experience.
thanks sendo!
my husband and i plan to see maria cristina falls on january 2012. is it true that they only “open” the falls on sundays? you have a contact number that i can check the schedule?
thank you.
i dont think so. its open everyday, im so sorry i dont have a contact number ma’am.
enjoy the great twin falls!
KUDOS Sir! Your Northern Mindanao travel blogs/info is becoming very handy in preparation for our upcoming trip!
Keep it up po and more travel, more trails! 🙂
🙂 glad it was of help and i guess the fares have changed already. anyway, konti lang naman siguro ang tinaas
Kakainggit! Ilang hours po ba from CDO to Iligan?
2hours po
Ok, thanks po. Sana mkapunta ako ds weekend (fingers-crossed). 😀
Reading good stuffs about my hometown makes me feel happy. Some people say Iligan is a dangerous place because of the bombings. It’s not always like that. In most days, it’s peaceful here.I’m glad you liked Ma. Christina and Tinago,Sir. It is also called The City of Waterfalls :)I think the place have more or less 20 waterfalls.
thanks for sharing your thoughts about the blog michelle!
how i miss the relaxing waters of tinago falls
the first time i went to northern mindanao in 2011, i missed iligan city due to lack of time…so when i returned there in 2012, i really made it a point to include seeing ma. cristina falls. and just like you, i was awestruck. it was a surreal experience. we also did not miss tinago falls…but you should have tried eating their famous lechon (walang sinabi ang lechon ng cebu-pramis!).
agree with your lechon comment!
i’ve been there too though it was years ago but i still remember the feeling of being able to see maria cristina… 🙂
Hi! I find your blog very helpful. Me and my boyfriend are going to CDO on July 5,6 and 7, 2014. Is it possible we can visit 3 provinces (CDO, Iligan and Bukidnon) in 3 days and 2 nights? We’ll be leaving Manila at the earliest flight and will go back at 3:00pm on July 7. My planned itinerary is:
1.CDO white water rafting (1st day morning)
2.Maria Cristina Falls and Tinago Falls (1st day afternoon)
3.Bukidnon(2nd day morning until afternoon)
4.CDO again
Please advise us if this is possible and we’ll gladly appreciate your suggestions.
Thank you very much and more power!