Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Guide (2026): Tours, Prices, Tips & What to Expect

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering was one of the biggest highlights of our time in the Philippines. Between the cliff jumps, unbelievably blue water, natural rock slides, rope swings, and waterfalls deep in the canyon, it ended up being way more fun than we expected.

If you’re planning a trip to Cebu, this is one activity that absolutely deserves a spot on your itinerary.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know before booking including prices, what the tour is actually like, what to bring, how difficult it is, and whether it’s worth it.

Quick Information:

📍Location:	Badian, Cebu
⏰ Duration:	3-5 hours
💰Price:	2,100 PHP ($34) pp
🧗Difficulty:	Moderate
💪Experience Level:	Beginner friendly
🌤️ Best Time To Visit:	December-June
🎒Packing List:	sturdy water shoes, protective clothing (e.g. rashguard), towel, dry clothes, cash

What Is Kawasan Falls Canyoneering?

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering is one of the most popular adventure activities in the southern Philippines.

The route takes you through the Matutinao River canyon system, beginning near Alegria and finishing at the famous Kawasan Falls in Badian. Along the way you’ll jump off cliffs, swim through bright blue water, scramble over rocks, float through the canyon, and pass multiple waterfalls.

The full route usually takes around 3 hours depending on your pace and group size.

Who Is Kawasan Falls Canyoneering For?

Whether you are an adventurer or total beginner just starting to dip the toe – the Kawasan Falls Canyoneering is for you! Yes it’s an adventure but it only has to be as crazy as you want it to be. The guides adapt the experience to your comfort level. If you want to skip jumps or take easier routes, they’ll help you around them.

On the other hand if you’re an eager beaver seeking adrenaline, also let the guide know and they’ll encourage you to try the higher jumps and rope swings. 

The main thing is just being comfortable in water, willing to get a little adventurous, and listening to your guide – they do this everyday and know best and want you to have a good time!

Best Time to Visit Kawasan Falls

The best time to visit Kawasan Falls is during the dry season, roughly from December to June.

During this time

• The water is clearest
• River levels are safer
• Currents are calmer
• Weather is more reliable

We visited in mid-May and thought it was the perfect time. It was still busy, but nowhere near overcrowded.

Best Time of Day

We’ve heard early morning is usually best because there are fewer crowds and the lighting is great for photos.

That said, we arrived around 11am on a Monday and honestly thought the timing was ideal. We only experienced one small traffic jam in the canyon and it never felt overly crowded.

If you’re visiting on a weekend or public holiday though, earlier is definitely the safer option.

How to Get to Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

Kawasan Falls is located in Badian, south of Cebu on Visayas Island. Most people either visit from Moalboal or Cebu City.

Getting there from Moalboal

Moalboal is the best base for this experience, this is what we did. Most travellers spend 3–4 nights there and combine canyoneering with other activities nearby like the Sardine Run, turtle snorkeling, or Osmeña Peak.

The canyoneering starting point is around 20–30 minutes south of Moalboal.

To get from Moalboal to the starting point, you can:

• Rent a Scooter (what we did)

I would definitely recommend if you’re comfortable driving. The road is paved, relatively flat, and easy to navigate. Expect to pay 400-500 PHP ($6-8) per day for a scooter.

• Book Hotel Pickup

Most canyoneering tours include pickup and drop-off from accommodations in the Moalboal area for either no charge or minimal charge.

There are also tricycles and Grab in the area, but Grab can be unreliable this far south and tricycle prices around Moalboal can get expensive quickly.

Getting there from Cebu City

While a lot, it is possible to travel from Cebu to The Kawasan Falls Canyoneering in one day. We didn’t opt for this, however there are multiple tours to choose from here.

Top tip: If you do decide to go from Cebu I would highly recommend pairing it with another activity in Moalboal – like Osmeña peak, snorkeling the Sardine Run on Panagsama beach, and/or a lunch stop for lechon at the Carcar Market. It will be a long day but trust me so worth it! 

You can read our guides on:

• Osmeña Peak here
• Snorkeling the Sardine run here
• Our review of trying Lechon at the Carcar Market here

Choosing a Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Tour

There are more than 40 tour operators and around 2,000 guides operating in Badian, so there’s definitely no shortage of options.

One thing we’d recommend though is making sure your tour includes an English-speaking guide. 

Our guide mentioned that Kawasan Falls is especially popular with Korean and Filipino tourists, and some operators mainly cater to those groups. Since canyoneering involves safety instructions and a lot of trust in your guide, good communication makes a huge difference.

The reasons we chose them:

• 4.9-star Google rating with strong reviews 
• cheaper than our accommodation’s tour
• very responsive on WhatsApp
• 1:1 guide-to-guest ratio

For our tour we paid 2,100 PHP ($34) per person which included:

• canyoneering tour
• helmet and life jacket
• locker
• water
• light snack
• lunch afterward
• two guides for the two of us

This was the cheapest tour we could find (incl. of Moalboal pickup). We also saw 2,200 PHP, and as high as 2,600 PHP for the same service so expect to pay somewhere within that range assuming you’re traveling from Moalboal. 

One of the best parts for us was that our guide carried my phone throughout the entire canyon and filmed everything for us.

Before going to the Philipinnes we heard great things about the camera skills of guides and they blew our expectations out of the water! They’re ridiculously good at taking videos and they carried the phone through waterfalls, swims, cliff jumps, and scrambling sections, then handed it back completely dry and still working perfectly afterward.

Contact Information

• Website: https:/www.kawasancanyoneering.com.ph/
• Email: kawasancanyoneering@gmail.com
• WhatsApp Number: +63 906 440 7691 
• Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WhpNqUftDNe1TSQY9?g_st=ic

What’s Not Included?

The 2,100 PHP price did not include:

• pickup from Cebu City
• optional zipline

Optional Zipline

• Cost: 660 PHP (~$11) per person
• Length: 1km
• Duration: around 1–3 minutes

The zipline takes you over the jungle directly toward the canyon entrance.

We skipped it because…budget! But if you have the money, do it! 

If you don’t do the zipline, you must walk 20–30 minutes to the starting point instead. We didn’t mind this at all as the path is paved the entire way and you’re looking over jungle and coast. Also, we worked up a sweat so by the time we arrived at the starting point we were ready to jump into refreshing water. 

Booking Tips

We booked one day in advance and still had no issue getting spots, but:

• we visited on a Monday
• it was late in the season
• we were only two people

If you’re visiting on a weekend, holiday, or peak season, I’d book at least 1–2 weeks ahead just to be safe.

To reserve our spot we paid a 30% deposit through GCash, although they also accepted Wise and Revolut for international payments. We were able to pay using GCash using the MORETA pay app. Our guide to using MORETA pay in SEA is here. 

The remaining balance was paid on-site also using GCash but if you don’t have the app, you can use cash. 

What to Expect During the Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Tour

After paying our deposit, the company told us we could arrive anytime between 7am–1pm. There’s no strict start time, but they stop allowing people into the canyon after 1pm.

We arrived around 11am and checked in at their headquarters where guides were waiting for new groups. Since they operate with a 1:1 guide-to-guest ratio, we had two guides just for the two of us.

We paid the remaining balance, stored our belongings in a locker, got changed, received our helmets and life jackets, and then hopped onto a jeepney to the canyon entrance.

The drive was only around 10–15 minutes.

The Starting Point

Before entering the canyon, everyone watches a short safety briefing video.

This is also where the zipline starts if you choose to do it.

If you skip the zipline like we did, you’ll walk around 20–30 minutes along a paved trail to the canyon entry point.

The Route Through the Canyon

In the best possible way, you’re thrown straight into the deep end. 

The very first jump is the only mandatory one at 4m (13ft), and you pretty much have to commit immediately. Trust us when we say that it ended up being the perfect introduction because after that first jump, the nerves disappear pretty quickly.

As you move through the canyon, the guides constantly stop at the best photo spots. Ours even created fake waterfall “special effects” behind us and we were very happy with the result! 🤣

Most of the cliff jumping happens during the first half of the route and ranges from around 2–7m (6-22ft) high. There used to be a 15m (50ft) jump before a typhoon changed the canyon route.

Along the way you’ll:

• slide down natural rock slides
• scramble over & squeeze between  rocks
• float through bright blue water
• swim with currents & beneath waterfalls

At one point the guides formed a human chain and pulled us through the current so we could just float through the canyon without smashing into rocks underneath.

There were also mini waterfalls that the guides called “water massages” which felt amazing after all the climbing and scrambling.

Around halfway through we stopped for snacks and water for about 10 minutes.

There are small shops and BBQ stands here too if you want extra food or need the bathroom, but bring cash.

The second half of the tour shifts away from cliff jumps and more toward waterfalls, swimming, rope swings, and walking.

You will reach the first of two optional Rope Swings early on into the second half. There’s an extra cost to ride the swings:

• Cost for Rope Swing #1: 10 PHP ($0.16) for unlimited swings
• Cost for Rope Swing #2: 30 PHP ($0.50) for unlimited swings

This first one is a little less intense than the second because it swings into a calm pool of water – the second swings into a pool at the base of a waterfall so there’s spray and current. 

We opted to swing on both and had a blast! The guides even joined in and started teaching Harry how to backflip off it.

After another short walk and swim, we reached the first major waterfall. You swim across the pool at the bottom before climbing behind the waterfall itself and diving back out into the water below.

This ended up being one of our favourite parts of the whole experience. Our guide, Ryan instructed us the entire way and somehow got one of the best videos of the day while we jumped back into the pool.

Afterward, you’ll arrive at the second Rope Swing. Harry finally landed his backflip here which became the highlight of his entire day!

Kawasan Falls

The final waterfall is Kawasan Falls itself, definitely the most impressive waterfall of the entire route but the busiest. 

After some final photos, we walked around 15 minutes out of the canyon back to the road where the jeepney picked us up again.

Cliff Jumps: What to Expect

If you’re nervous about the jumps, that’s completely normal — I definitely was too at the start. Below are brief descriptions on the jumps that we experienced to hopefully help put your mind at ease.

First Jump

• Height: 4m (13ft)

This is the only required jump and is mainly designed to get you comfortable.

Natural Rock Slide

• Length: around 5–6m (15-20ft)

Not technically a jump, but definitely fast enough to wake you up. Cross your arms over your chest, keep your legs straight, and enjoy the ride.

Second Jump

• Height: around 6m (20ft)

This one looks higher than it actually is. As always, follow your guide’s instructions carefully before jumping.

Third & Largest Jump

• Height: 7m (22ft)

By this point your confidence will probably be much higher.

And remember — every jump except the first one can be skipped if you want to. The guides always have alternate routes.

What to Bring Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls

Do Bring

• swimwear plus a rash guard or t-shirt
• sturdy water shoes or trainers with grip
• towel
• dry clothes for afterward
• waterproof camera if you have one
• cash for snacks and rope swings

Don’t Bring

• jewellery or valuables
• delicate clothing
• shoes you care about ruining

Is Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Worth It?

Wholeheartedly yes!

It ended up being one of the highlights of our Philippines trip and completely exceeded our expectations.

The guides honestly made a huge difference too. Ryan and Jonathan constantly checked in on us, encouraged us during jumps, took amazing videos, and kept the whole thing feeling safe and fun at the same time.

If you’re visiting Cebu and only have time for a few activities, I’d absolutely prioritize Kawasan Falls canyoneering.

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering FAQs

1. Is Kawasan Falls Canyoneering beginner friendly?

Yes. Even if you’ve never gone canyoneering before, the guides are very good at adjusting the experience to your confidence level.

2. Are the cliff jumps mandatory?

Only the very first 4m jump is required. Everything else can be skipped if you’re uncomfortable.

3. How high is the highest jump at Kawasan Falls Canyoneering?

For us the highest jump was 7m (22ft). There used to be a 15m jump, but it was ruined during a typhoon. This can change on year to year basis. 

4. Do you need a guide?

Yes — guides are mandatory and you cannot do the route independently.

5. How long does the tour take?

Most tours take:

• 3–5 hours in the canyon
• plus transport and briefing time

Realistically, expect the activity to take around half a day.

6. Is Kawasan Falls Canyoneering safe?

Generally yes, but it’s still an adventure activity. Safety depends heavily on:

• following your guide’s instructions
• weather and river conditions
• not rushing jumps
• wearing proper footwear

Serious accidents are rare, but it’s still natural terrain with strong currents and slippery rocks, so caution is important.

7. Do you need to know how to swim?

Not necessarily. Life jackets are provided, and the guides help throughout the route, but being comfortable in water will definitely make the experience more enjoyable.

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We hope this helps you get prepared for an amazing adventure of your own down the Matutinao River! Thanks for reading and for being here.

Cheers and Safe Travels,

Julie & Harry

If you’re headed to the Philippines, you might also find our other guides helpful:

Read our guide on getting a visa for the Philippines here

Read our guide to Kawasan Falls Canyoneering here

Read our guide to snorkeling the Sardine Run in Moalboal here

Read our guide to hiking Osmeña peak here

Read our guide to finding the best Lechon in Cebu here

Read our ideal 2-week Siargao itinerary here