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The journey to Dao Falls in south Cebu, Philippines, is undoubtedly one of the best waterfall missions I’ve ever been on, and there’s been many!
The iconic colours of Cebu are on full display along this trail, with the dark jungle fauna and vibrant turquoise blues of the river creating an insanely mysterious natural landscape. In other words, trekking to Dao Falls is simply epic.
It is the tallest waterfall in the Samboan region of Cebu, and is one of those experiences where the quote “it’s the journey, not the destination” summarises it entirely.
That’s not to say that the destination is not incredible, because it is, but the truth is that it’s the trail that you’ll write home about and not actually Dao Falls itself. It steals the show here, and in this guide I’ll take you along the trail with information on how to visit, how to get there and everything to expect throughout your experience.
- Country: Philippines
- Population: Cebu = 2.2 million
- Language: Filipino
- Currency: Philippine peso. £1/$1 = 66.5/55 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 Dao Falls
Check it out on the interactive map below.
How to get there
From Moalboal it’s only a 50km (1 hour) drive to Dao Falls along the main road.
You can rent a scooter for around 400 pesos in Maolboal which is the most popular and fun way to explore South Cebu. Alternatively, travel in style and rent a car for your time on the island with RentalCars.com.
Entrance fee for Dao Falls
Dao Falls costs 60 pesos which includes a compulsory guide, and an additional 10 pesos for parking.
You’ll get a ‘guide’ whether you’d like one or not, who’ll lead the way through the forest at a brisk pace but probably not actually speak at all.
How long to allow
The trek to the falls takes around 20-30 minutes one-way.
Allow around 2 hours from parking your bike to returning to it, although this largely depends on how long you spend swimming and how often you stop for pictures.
The Dao Falls trek
Pick up your guide in the car park after you’ve paid the 60 peso entrance fee and off we go!
It starts off with a steep decline of 200 steps, but the path is paved and it’s not very long until you reach the jungle below. You’ll come to a bamboo bridge which, depending on its current state, your guide will either lead you over or take the more sensible (and far less sketchy) option to go through the river.
Across the river… the proper adventure begins!
After a brief ascent you’ll arrive in a magical Filipino wonderland.
Surrounded by high canyon walls dripping in lush green jungle fauna, follow the stunning blue river trail upstream, wading through knee-deep water for around 15 minutes..
It’s a beautiful canyon trail running with crystal blue cascades, small natural swimming pools and the type of adventure-vibes that you’ll want to enjoy wandering through forever.
For me, this section of the trail was even more magical than the main waterfall itself.
Around the corner you get your first glimpse of Dao Falls as the path begins to ascend slightly. There are bamboo handrails and a bamboo staircase the locals have made (this is the type of thing your entrance ticket fee goes towards)
I tried to fly my drone here from but I couldn’t get any GPS signal – a common problem I seemed to have at the waterfalls of Cebu. I’m sure it would like amazing from above though!
I really wish I’d taken more time to soak up the environment here, as I did feel a little pressured by the guide rushing ahead and constantly waiting. Should I ever return to Cebu (which is definitely on the cards one day) I will be sure to absolutely milk my time at Dao Falls!
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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