The Tale of Two Falls: Ma. Cristina Falls: A Dream Fulfilled! / Tinago Falls: Hidden Delight
Try walking under the heat of the sun, just about 20 minutes of treading would make you sweat like crazy all you want to do is drink or maybe have some frozen delight.
And so I thought Ma.Cristina Falls was enough, already a highlight of my side trip to the City of Waterfalls, Iligan. But then it keeps getting better.
The tweet was: “the best waterfalls i experienced so far- tinago falls. have a nice weekend, wow philippines in lanao del norte”
Maybe because I wasn’t able to jump into Ma.Cristina Falls, my feet are itching to finally have a cold dip. I wasted no time, I even forgot to take photos, wore my goggles and jump into the vast natural basin.
The hike up and down was worth it and this less-traveled falls should be on everyone’s list. Missing this hidden delight is unforgivable. The water majestically cascades over deed green foliage making considerable amount of mist that fills the space from the basin up to the heavens.
Goodness, the gods must have chosen this falls as a place of relaxation and only the brave and the keen can experience. The white water from the mountains turns greenish blue tempting even non-swimmers to take a plunge. This is the only way to pay homage to this wonderful creation God has given man. I was antiphonally humming, WOW! WOW! WOW!
I was having a me time, over the gentle cascades on the right side of the falls. This is also the place where local kids perform acrobatic jumps. I met Jacry & Jet-jet, two locals who have grown up here and has made this falls their playground. I mean they were walking on rugged cliffs up to my place as if it was straight and then jump in aerial exhibition without any hint of fear, happy to show what they can accomplish to the eager tourist. And they do this for free. You must love the free spirit in this kids and I told them I would visit them again, play and jump from the 40-feet high cliff coz I only did it once. Will be back and do it again, maybe go up further for a dose of adrenaline.
Chillin’ with Jacry, Jekjek and Patrick
How to go to Tinago Falls:
From Ma.Cristina Falls, you can ride a habal-habal (motorcycle) for Php 25-50, or ride a jeep again going to Buru-un and tell the driver that you will go to Tinago Falls. From the highway, take the habal-habal (motorcycle) to Tinago Falls (Php 10-20), the motorcycle will bring you to the jump-off point where you have to trek about 15minutes most downwards, you will see the entrance asking for a Php 10.00 payment.
Every thing you use in Tinago Falls entails additional cost- Php 5.00 for the restroom, Php20.00 for the life vest, Php40 for the kiosk, etc.
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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, wow , wow indeed, sana may video ang pagtalon 🙂
di ako marunong lumangoy kaya dun lang kami sa gilid. pero true! tinago falls is breath taking! 🙂
akala ko error ang post ko pumapasok pala lahat! sorry napa flood pa yata ko sa post mo na to hehe
ok lang, ierased nalang yung duplicate comments 🙂
sana makakita din ako ng falls in real-life… hindi pako nakakakita eh…
ikaw talaga james—itinago na nga yung falls hinanap mo parin.hahaha.joke.so, habal habal lang talaga ang sasakyan to get here? walang van or something? di sya foreigner friendly pala.:D
wuuuhhhh…pinaka the best is our lanao del norte guyz,,,,,,that is part of lanao del norte……hndi pa yan marami pa dito….sa lanao del norte,,,,,,,,,mga falls na mkapagpagaan ng loob at mkaka amase tlgang tngnan pag may falls …..tyak para kanang nkakapunta sa ulap hehehe…that i inspired living there in our province..the province of lanao del norte the land of beauty and bounty…..lets come and surf guyz……u very very inventing here so plz……hehehehe….ganado lng po mag comment….
galing talaga ng tinago falls james. we’ve been there in 1996. Cold and chilled bluish water. If I may call this falls, I would call it as “DIWATA FALLS”. Parang may mga fairy kasi ano?
huwaw tlga! ang gang ng falls James. napanganga nlng ako! at tlgang w. matching arrow pa ang lugar kung saan ka tumalon ah. haha
haha, its gives me a different high when i jump sa mga waterfalls. love it much!
wala na akong masabi ikaw na …. nakakainggit .. thanks for sharing =)
pinuntahan ko talaga ito dahil sinabi mo napakaganda….
mpapa wow ka talaga!!! kaso ang hirap umakyat pabalik sa taas..pero its worth the effort..
yeah! glad you enjoyed your tie there.
nice one ^ this is a perfect guide to tinago falls..we’re going there on sunday and i’m basing our itinerary with all the infos here…thank you james ^^
pleasure is mine sendo! let me know how your trip went ha!
safe travels!
uyyy nakita ko rin ang post! salamt ngenjoy ka sa tinago falls. Im from Iligan CIty by the way and kakauwi ko lang last Oct. yay! ganda talaga ng tinago I would say it is the best waterfall I have seen so far. I visited several waterfalls every climb sa malalayo pa talaga pero lapit lng pala ng isang to! hehe Happy travel James
the best waterfalls ive seen so far too!
envy of you, the falls is just in your backyard. i will definitely go back to its refreshing waters. missing tinago falls. hope to see yah again when im back sa iligan kat
huwaw! gusto ko pnta ditooooooooo!
ive been to tinago thats really a good place.. 😀
congrats james… am from cdo and i always passed by iligan city but never been to tinago falls . . . . 🙁 .. next time puntahan ko na to … heheheh maganda pala…
i hope you can visit it sometime, go there on a weekday para less tourist