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Cambais Falls on Cebu in the Philippines is one of the most underrated waterfalls on the whole island, offering up a breathtaking visual blend of lush forest greens and vibrant turquoise pools.
You’ll find this beautiful twin-levelled waterfall after a short hike to a mystical jungle setting that’s ideal for a refreshing swim or some cliff jumping for any adrenaline junkies out there. You could quite easily spend an entire afternoon just kicking back by the pools and shaded picnic areas that are found here, and best of all is that you’ll likely only have to share this gem with a handful of friendly local kids. One thing’s for sure, this is definitely a location not to be missed on your Cebu itinerary!
In this quick guide I’ll explain everything you need to know before you go like how to get there, what to expect and what to take with you as well as some thoughts from my experience.
- Country: Philippines
- Population: 2.2 million
- Language: Filipino
- Currency: Philippine peso. £1/$1 = 66/55 PHP
- SIM cards: You can pick up SIM cards from many small stalls and shops in the Philippines. I got a 30 day Smart SIM for 500 PHP with 8GB of data when I arrived which was reliable and affordable. Alternatively, get an eSIM online here: Philippines eSIM Data Plans
- Visa info: Most countries can get a 30 day visa on arrival for the Philippines at any international border. Find out your country’s visa information here.
Where to stay in Cebu
The town of Moalboal is the ideal base for adventures in South Cebu.
Moalboal is the most popular place to stay as there is an abundance of accommodation, food and transport options in town to go along with the cool vibe. It is also the scuba-diving capital of the island, so there are many things to do during your stay here.
Browse the best budget accommodation options in Moalboal on Booking.com here.
Where is Cambais Falls
Check out the location on the interactive map below.
How to get there
You can rent a scooter for around 400 pesos in Moalboal to get to the falls which is the most popular and adventurous way to explore South Cebu. Alternatively, travel in style and rent a car for your time on the island with RentalCars.com
Cambais Falls is around an hour south of Moalboal down the main coastal highway to Alegria. From the parking area you’ll need to walk around 15 minutes towards Cambais Falls before you reach the actual ticket office, which is located just 1 minute before the waterfall itself.
Entrance fee
Entrance to Cambais Falls is 50 pesos.
At many waterfalls in Cebu you’ll be escorted by a local guide, but Cambais is one of the few where no guides are provided, which is quite refreshing.
How long to allow
From parking your bike to returning to it you’ll want to allow a minimum of 1 hour. The hike takes around 15 minutes one way and you’ll want to spend a decent amount of time at the waterfalls too, so I’d recommend allowing 2 hours in total.
What to expect at Cambais Falls
The forest trail is extremely straightforward and will only take around 15-20 minutes.
Once you’ve parked up your scooter you’ll see a small sign marking the beginning of the trail and after 15 minutes you’ll reach the tiny bamboo ticketing office where a friendly local will charge you 50 pesos.
After that it’s just a short push to the waterfall itself.
Cambais Falls has two levels and both are worth checking out for sure. On arrival you’ll be at the first level where there’s a large waterfall on the left with a smaller waterfall to the right.
This is the best location for swimming and the most popular spot overall. There are shaded places to chill under tall trees and plenty of photogenic locations in the small area.
The iconic tropical colours of Cebu are on full display here, with the striking turquoise waters and dense shades of green dominating the area.
If you’re a new arrival to Cebu or the Philippines you might be shocked to see kids absolutely sending it from the top of the huge waterfall into the blue pool below, but that’s just normal here. Filipino kids are crazy… but in a really good way!
There are fixed ropes leading to the top of the main waterfall for anyone who wants to go cliff jumping. Make sure you aim for the correct spot to land in to avoid touching the rocky bottom because even though the pool is much deeper than the one at Binalayan Falls, you definitely don’t want to break a leg here! Ask one of the locals for tips if you’re unsure and they’ll happily show you where to land to avoid the rocks.
The total drop from the top is around 10 metres but you can jump from half way too.
To the right of the smaller waterfall there are ropes provided to pull yourself up and get a view over the first level. From there you can continue walking deeper into the jungle to find the second level two after climbing over a bamboo staircase. If the main area of Cambais Falls wasn’t quiet enough for you, this area certainly will be!
My experience at Cambais Falls
Cambais Falls was one of the best surprises I had during my trip to Cebu as I simply wasn’t expecting much from this waterfall.
I seemed to have almost every waterfall to myself on this island, and Cambais was no different. The only other people I met were a few friendly local kids who absolutely loved to see me and my partner. It felt like we were visiting their private secret paradise!
I spent some time swimming in the large pool and climbing up to the main waterfall as well as taking some time to just sit back and soak up the environment. I was mesmerised by the local cliff jumpers for a while who seemingly didn’t have a second thought about their own safety, but they are seasoned pros. The waterfall-kids of Cebu are proper full-senders and you have to applaud them!
Packing essentials
- Dry bag: Dry bags are great for water-based activities to keep everything safe and, you guessed it, dry. Try one of these.
- GoPro: Capture the surroundings in stabilised high quality with a trusty waterproof GoPro, perfect for wet adventures. Get the new GoPro HERO 11 here.
Water: Make sure you pack a reusable water bottle and plenty of water as it will likely be a sweaty day.
- Travel towel: Having a compact and fast-drying travel towel is essential for obvious reasons!
- Drone: The Philippines is somewhere that deserves to be seen from above. With the pocket-sized Mavic Mini 3 you’ll be amazed at the quality of shots you get.
- Portable charger: Charge you tech on the move with one of these long lasting, high speed portable chargers.
Thinking of visiting Southeast Asia soon? Don’t miss these essential guides to help planning your trip:
Best tours in Cebu
Thank you for reading this travel guide – I hope you found it helpful! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible 
Happy travelling!
HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Accommodation: Booking.com, Hostelworld
Tours: GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook, TripAdvisor
Transport: 12Go, Omio, Trip.com, Rome2Rio
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