I've visited Kawasan Falls before, and its beauty never fails to amaze me. I'm someone who prefers visiting different places, but when I went to Badian earlier this year, I couldn't pass up the chance to visit Kawasan Falls again. The charm and wonder of its aquamarine waters look surreal, and as cliché as this sounds, simply watching its magnificence brings me so much calm. I'm a Cebuana, born and raised in the city, and witnessing the beauty of Cebu always makes me feel proud and happy. 

Kawasan Falls: Paradise or a Tourist Trap

Whether you are a local or a foreign tourist thinking about visiting Kawasan Falls, you might be wondering if the place is a paradise or just another tourist trap. Let me save you the lengthy scroll: Kawasan Falls is a paradise. The photos below are proof, and nope, I didn't edit them because why would I?

Why is Kawasan Falls a paradise? It is clean, and the water is truly turquoise. The water is not a scam.

Yes, many tourists indeed visit the place. BUT the area is also very large, so the size of the crowd isn't something that would bother you.

Whether you love adventure or relaxation, you will enjoy the place. The falls themselves are a magnificent sight, and I'm not just saying this because I'm a Filipino. I don't know how to best describe how I felt just observing the water and enjoying the view. Let me just say that the place has a good energy. You know when you get to a place, and somehow, the heaviness in your chest instantly lifts? That's how it was for me, and I'm not being dramatic here. I highly commend the local government unit in charge of the place, especially for keeping it safe and clean at all times. 

Feast your eyes. 

Kawasan Falls: What You Should Know (Costs & Access)

You will hike for approximately 15 minutes before reaching the falls themselves. This depends on how fast you walk, but the hike isn't challenging, and the road leading to the falls is decent. You won't have to climb either, unless you want to avail yourself of their canyoneering activity, which I didn't.

Considering all these factors, though, I would say that the place isn't suitable for seniors or anyone suffering from osteoarthritis or similar conditions. I loved the short hike, though. It's part of the charm of visiting Kawasan Falls. I went alone, and it was such a serene experience, hiking while listening to the birds, the wind, and the flowing water.

There are no big restaurants, cafés, or modern establishments within the falls area because it is protected, so I suggest bringing your own water and snacks. There are local vendors selling local doughnuts, buko juice, bottled water, and banana cue near the falls, but that's about it. Don't expect a snack bar. However, there are proper restaurants along the highway and in the central part of Badian.

The water at the falls is cold AF. If that's not your thing, a spring would be a better destination for you.

You will have to pay a minimal fee. I didn't spend more than USD 5 on the entrance and environmental fees to access the falls area. This included the free use of a life jacket, which was handed to me once I reached the main falls area. I spent about USD 8 in total, including my motorcycle fare, which cost USD 4 for a round trip from the central part of Badian.

Kawasan Falls has three levels. The first is accessible to everyone who has paid the entrance fee, while the second and third are for those who avail themselves of the canyoneering package. If you're interested in canyoneering, the price is PHP 2,100, or a little over USD 40. That's the standard fee, which already includes a tour guide, safety gear, and shuttle transfers.

Is there a parking area near Kawasan Falls? Yes, but the designated parking area is along the highway and costs PHP 50. Just prepare some extra cash in case there are additional fees.

Depending on the number of visitors, the LGU may limit your stay to three hours to manage the crowd. Thankfully, I didn't experience this. In fact, they don't seem to be too strict about the time limit as long as the crowd density is manageable.

                                                    Same coin banks but made of bamboo tree. 

I also bought a cacao fruit. Just in case you don't know, chocolates are made out of cacao fruit - from its beans. 

Where to Stay in Badian

I am adding this detail because Badian is far from Cebu City. You will have to stay somewhere in Badian because travelling back to the city and exploring the place on the same day is almost impossible and exhausting. You want to remember being relaxed and able to enjoy the place, not how tired you are on your trip. 

Are you someone who doesn't like crowded places? Do you prefer staying in a quiet place? Do you value safety and cleanliness? Then we're the same. Also, I am someone who would rather spend more on my food and activities than on a fancy place. However, cleanliness is the most important feature of the place that I consider when I'm looking for a place to stay. 

I've been using a lodging booking app and found TGH Guest House Badian, a humble place to stay in  Sima, Poblacion, Badian, Cebu.

I love TGH because it offers clean and quiet accommodation with a touch of nature's goodness. It is located right next to a spring and a ginormous Balete tree - a great sight while you're having your breakfast, which I did, and I am not disappointed. The bedrooms are clean and spacious. TGH offers free drinking water and toiletries as well.

Though simple, the house is safe, well-maintained, and within walking distance from the heart of Badian, where everything is within reach. That includes the main supermarket and convenience stores. I'm not saying these are all next door, but a little walk of no more than 10 minutes is good. 

They offer delicious breakfast for only 275 PHP, a little more than USD 5, which you can enjoy on the terrace while listening to the birds' morning songs and the gentle lapping of the nearby waters.

‎The owners are very responsive to requests and questions, and very accommodating. While the house can be challenging to find and the road going to the main house is a little rough, don't take it negatively. It's actually a bonus that TGH is not right on a street. It's like a beautiful secret behind the noise of the main road. Also, the neighbors could get a bit loud, but it's not always the case. Welcome to the Philippines. lol You can still definitely relax while staying in TGH. 

TGH Guest House Badian is this big orange house. 

                                            So glad they gave me iced tea as a welcome drink

These come with the room for free, and I got two twin beds for a little more than USD 20 for a night!

I had grilled pork for my dinner. This is just a few meters outside the house. 

My 275PHP (per set) breakfast at the TGH Guest House Badian.

Lots of freshly cooked and fresh goods at the local market. 

 

The natural spring right in front of the house. This is a common place enjoyed by locals, especially children, for free.

If you are visiting Cebu, I highly recommend visiting Kawasan Falls. No, I am not from Badian, and I do not work for TGH or anyone from the LGU, lmao. Also, while you're in Badian, don't miss Lambug Beach. Not the best in Cebu, but a good one, especially if you just wanna chill. 

It's not difficult to get to Badian, Cebu. Just go to Cebu South Bus Terminal and buy a bus ticket for Badian. That is if you are commuting. If you have your own vehicle, Badian is ready to welcome you. From the town center, you may commute going to the Kawasan Falls area for 100PHP, around USD 2. 

I hope you'll enjoy Kawasan Falls and staying in Badian, Cebu just like I did. 

love lots,

Tin

This is my second blog about my trip to Baguio last year. I had to divide what I wanted to write about into two separate posts because combining everything into one blog would have been too lengthy and possibly overwhelming for readers.

By the way, I’m glad that my blog has consistent readers, most of whom are from outside the Philippines. I have no idea why, but it’s nice to know that people find my blogs worth reading. I hope that whatever people read here adds value to their lives, whether by informing or entertaining them. I know that short-form content, aka reels, and photo dumps with minimal captions are popular these days, and I enjoy posting them on my Facebook page, Bloom Cebu, too. Still, long-form content, like blogs, is something I find deeply satisfying as both a reader and a writer.

Now, going back to my trip to Baguio, I’ve already covered the place where I stayed and some popular spots in the central part of the city. I’ll still be featuring a few more places within the city proper, but in this blog, I’m highlighting Tam-Awan Village, a well-known art center in the City of Pines. It’s still within the city, though a bit farther from the areas around Session Road that I previously explored.

Here's a text coming from the village about the history of the place: 

HISTORY

During the years when the entire City of Baguio was still grazing land for large herds of cattle, Pinsao, location of the Tam-awan Village was one vast pastureland. A spring beside Tam-awan is the source of a body of water that once served as a watering hole for cattle. Thus, the place became associated with chanum, which in Ibaloi, means water. Adopting the name to symbolize its vision, Chanum Foundation, Inc. views its role to be as nurturing and life-giving as the spring in Tam-awan Village.

More than a showcase of indigenous craftsmanship, the foundation envisions the Tam-awan Village as an ideal venue for art and cultural activities aimed to enhance the appreciation of Cordillera life, its culture and its history.

Uniquely blends indigenous aesthetics and exquisite Ifugao craftsmanship with an artist's concept for a village adapting the Baguio setting.

I went to Tam-Awan Village because I felt it had so much to offer in local culture and arts, which I’m very interested in. I was not disappointed and was truly amazed by every corner of the village.

It was drizzling when I visited, but it was all good. It was cold and wet, but I was thankful that it wasn’t raining heavily. The weather was good enough for me to explore the entire place, which, by the way, is built on rising terrain.

TAM-AWAN VILLAGE HISTORY

The Chanum Foundation, Inc., founded in 1998, began to reconstruct Ifugao houses in Baguio with the view of making a model village accessible to people who have not had the chance to travel to the Cordillera interior. Building on the land near an abundant spring, the foundation started out with three knocked-down huts transported from Banga-an, Ifugao. The village now has seven Ifugao huts and two Kalinga houses. Using the original materials and adding only new cogon roofs, traditional artisans reconstructed the houses and laid them out resembling the design of a traditional Cordillera Village.

Among the fascinating sights in the village is the reconstructed Cordillera village, showcasing traditional Ifugao huts, which are very different from how huts are constructed in other parts of the Philippines.

I did not know that visitors could go inside the huts, so I didn’t get inside any of them. Still, I was able to get a good look at the interiors. Also, it might have been better that way since I was the only one around most of the time, and being inside these huts felt kind of creepy.

Even though it was broad daylight, the huts provided good shade, making them noticeably colder and much dimmer inside. Recently, I saw a post on Threads where their camera suddenly shifted focus to a dark spot inside the hut. lol I wouldn't want that to happen to me. 

                                    Pinikpikan Soup with Kinudlay at the Tam-Awan Village Cafe

                                             I love these artsy signs on the café’s restroom doors.

Right across from the café is a craft shop and sketching area, where an artist can do a live sketch of you for a minimal fee. I didn’t let the opportunity pass and had my sketch made. It was kind of embarrassing, funny, and interesting to have your portrait drawn live. It was also another first for me in Baguio. I’m not showing you my portrait, though, because I look haggard AF. Haha!

This is another fascinating part of the village: its mirror installation. The conceptual art installation by artist Mark Tandoyog invites visitors to reflect upon themselves. It's a bit creepy, so I didn't stay long after taking photos in the area. 

Not far from the mirror installation is this giant dream catcher. 

I don't know what you call these vegetables in your area, but in the Philippines, we call them sayote. These are among my favorite vegetables because of their nutritional value and how easily they blend into different vegetable dishes. These two had just fallen to the ground. I would have wanted to pick them up, but I wasn't sure if that was allowed, and I didn't have time to cook them while I was in Baguio.

Another artsy painting in the bathroom. I love how whimsical it is! Look at that frog just sitting there. LOL!

Another captivating part of my day at Tam-Awan Village was witnessing this group of local dancers showcasing a traditional courtship dance called Dinuyya (or Dinuya). It consists of rhythmic movements that mimic the movements of birds. Traditional musical instruments, such as gongs, accompanied the dancers as they gracefully moved their bodies.

I planned to include my experience on Session Road, but I guess that’s for another post since this one would be too lengthy. Some people don’t include Tam-Awan Village in their itinerary, but I feel it’s worth visiting. To each their own, but I prefer exploring places where I can experience art and culture in one go. If you ever find yourself in Baguio, set aside a day to visit Tam-Awan Village.

Until next time. 

love lots,

Tin