Splashing at Magkawas Falls in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur

GPS waypoint: N9 14.995 E126 06.936
Location: Sitio Cagmino, Brgy. Badjang, Municipality of Lanuza, Province of Surigao del Sur

Magkawas Falls
Magkawas Falls is one of many local gems in Lanuza tucked a kilometer into the forest from the main highway. The falls is about 40 feet high with a plunge pool that goes deeper than 7 feet - I didn't reach the bottom and I didn't bring my dive mask. Surounding the plunge pool is a constructed rip-raf that somehow dams the water to create that depth. The water then cascades over the rip-raf and into the stream. The water is both cold and refreshing!

Magkawas Falls

The Lanuza Marine Sanctuary is just across the highway from the Magkawas Falls junction. It's best to see both in one go. Snorkel and swim at the Sanctuary and then rinse it off at Magkawas Falls! Many thanks to the Lanuza Tourism Office for arranging this for me. Thank you Albert!

--- TheLoneRider

ps - If you want me to objectively cover the features of your city or municipality or barangay for this website (fiesta, waterfall, mountain trail, lake, river, cave, food, islands, beach, etc.), email me.

How to Get to Magkawas Falls from Lanuza Town Proper

1. you can make arrangements with the local tourism office, or if you want to do it yourself, take a jeep or bus bound for Tandag (south) and ask to be dropped off the bridge for Magkawas Falls, P10, 20 mins
2. from the junction, there is a path towards the mountain that takes you to the falls. It's about 1 km away, just follow the river upstream. No fees.

Tour Package for Magkawas Falls and Sanctuary Nature Trip: (optional)

1. Contact: Ms. Glenda Joy DC. Felix, the Tourism Operations Officer at 0939.916.9512 or email at lgu.lanuza@yahoo.com
2. 8:30 - 8:45am assembly time at municipal building lobby
3. 8:45 - 8:50 ETA Magkawas Falls
4. 8:50 - 9:10 briefing
5. 9:10 - 10:30 nature trip with welcome drink
6. 11:45 - 12:00pm ETA Sanctuary
7. 12:00 - 1:00pm lunch at Sanctuary
8. 1:15 - 4:00pm briefing and snorkeling
9. 4:30 - 5:00pm free time and shopping at Agsam Pasalubong
10. 5:00 - end of tour
11. package includes guide, snorkeling gear, lunch and users' fee

Travel Tip:

1. bring lotsa cash. There is no bank here. Others had to go to the next big city (no joking matter) just to replenish on cash
2. fyi, internet is slow and only 3 commercial establishments have wifi - Priz Cafe, Surf Camp and 'Tagalog'

How to Get to Lanuza

1. from Tandag - at the Balilahan Terminal in Tandag, board any jeep or bus bound for Surigao or Cantilan. Get off at Lanuza (market), P50 jeep, 1 hour 20 mins.
2. from Surigao City - take any Bachelor Bus going to Tandag, vans can go straight to Lanuza
3. from Butuan City - go to the bus terminal and board any bus bound for Tandag. From Butuan airport, there is a van going to Lanuza
4. from Davao City - take a bus going to Tandag and from Tandag, take bus or jeep going to Cantilan (or Surigao) but get off at Lanuza

Attractions in Lanuza and nearby area

1. surfing - beach break, reef breaks, great for hard core surfers, great for beginners too, surf competition mid-November
2. Campamento Cave and Silop Spring (N9 13.033 E126 02.756)* - N9 12.978 E126 02.743, stalactites and interesting rock formation, P500/3pax tour package
3. Magkawas Falls and Green Paradise* - N9 14.995 E126 06.936, great for taking a dip, photo op and just communing with nature, P450/pax, max of 5 pax for guided tour
4. River Cruise and Firefly Watching* - P650/4 pax, includes boat, guide and dinner
5. Lanuza Marine Park and Sanctuary - N 09 15.279 E 126 06.753, fish spawning area, view deck overlooking Lanuza Bay, coffee at the Sanctuary Cafe
6. Mangrove Forest - protected habitat for fish breeding
7. Lanuza Ancestral Home - built in 1898, the structure is well preserved and still functional
8. Lanuza Boulevard - take a stroll at sundown and catch the breathtaking sunset
9. Punta Beach - taller waves for more experienced surfers
10. Hubason River - located in Carmen, but only 15 mins away from Lanuza

* contact Ms. Glenda Joy DC. Felix, the Tourism Operations Officer at 0939.916.9512 or email at lgu.lanuza@yahoo.com

Homestay Sites in Lanuza
(in May 23, 2013, a request has been made to Ms. Glenda Joy DC. Felix, the Tourism Operations Officer, for the individual telephone numbers of these homestays)

• Babac Bungalows - accommodation, surfing and yoga
• Mami's Surf Haus - N9 13.932 E126 03.475, aka Avelina Rosil, P200/pax dormitory, 0919.923.9007
• Ma. Karissa Julve - N9 14.004 E126 03.492
• Offshore - fronting beach
• Valspeak - fronting beach
• Bamboo Homestay -
• Twain Homestay - N9 14.009 E126 03.468
• Elizalde Homestay -
• Raymond Cubero -
• Susa Orozco -
• Fedila Ariate -
• Poktoy Palm Haven -
• Lanuza Pastoral Center -
• Inday Dina - N9 13.954 E126 03.541, cell 0949.673.2121
• 3E Lodge -
• Priz Babak Beach Resort -
• Surf Lanuza Training -
• Surf Camp - N9 14.126 E126 03.674, fronting beach, P150/pax non a/c, P1200/room/2pax a/c

SUGGESTED ITINERARY
(along the Surigao coastline from Surigao City to Surigao del Sur)

Surigao City

• Rite of Passage on Cantrasa Shoal Jul 12, 2013
• Karma Yoga in Surigao City July 5, 2013
• The Wooden Footbridge and Waterfall of Cantiasay, Surigao City July 1, 2013
• Outdoor Adventure Tour in Nonoc Island, Surigao City Jul 1-2, 2013
• The Deadly Bitaugan Whirlpool of Surigao City Jun 26, 2013
• Beaching it at Pebble Beach and Looc Beach, Surigao City Jun 22-24, 2013
• Exploring Silop Cave of Surigao City Jun 22, 2013
• Free-Diving the Coral Reef of Birok Islet, Surigao City June 12, 2013
• Boat Ride through the Floating Village of Day-asan June 12, 2013

Surigao del Norte

• Island Hopping Adventures in Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte July 23-25, 2013
• Exploring Siargao's Cloud 9 July 18-20, 2013
• Judging Del Carmen's Beauty Pagent and Street Dancing July 15-16, 2013
• Diving the Reef of Cagtinae, Surigao del Norte Jul 7, 2013

Cantilan

• Ayoke Island May 27, 2013
• Casarica Island May 27, 2013
• General Island May 27, 2013

Carmen

• Sua Cold Spring - in Brgy Esperanza. From main highway, get off at Madrid terminal and take motorcycle ride for the spring. If coming from Lanuza, get off at crossing of Cangcaban then take habal-habal for the spring
• Hubason River May 18, 2013

Lanuza

• Lanuza Marine Park and Sanctuary May 17, 2013 - coral reef, snorkeling, cafe. Also a short walk to Magkawas Falls.
• Magkawas Falls in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur May 16, 2013
• Silop Spring May 16, 2013
• Campamento Cave May 16, 2013
• Herrera Ancestral Home

Cortes

• Lubcon Falls - from Tandag, take jeep for Cantilan or Cortes and ask the driver to drop you off at Lubcon Falls, P25, 30 mins, 15 kms
• Burgos Togonan Falls
• Laswitan - strong waves crashing against the rocks and spilling over to fill up a rock pool (while you're dipping in it)
• Campiri Rocks - going over huge boulders, dipping in a rock pool, standing on a rock summit as waves hits and splash against it, and to cap all, you rest on the base of the light house perched on top of the rocks in full view of the magnificent Pacific Ocean
• Bakwitan Cave - a refuge by the towns folk during the Japanese occupation and during the typhoon of 2004
• Buybuyan Beach - small beach, almost like a personal beach, fine white sand (there are no commercial establishments on the beach...its undeveloped)
• Sihagan Beach - fine white sand for long walks on a beach (there are no commercial establishments on the beach...its undeveloped)
• Uba Marine Sanctuaries - scuba dive with gear from the LGU. At P250 per dive, you can't beat it!
• Capandan Marine Sanctuaries - scuba dive with gear from the LGU. At P250 per dive, you can't beat it!
• Balibadon Marine Sanctuary
• Mabahin Marine Sanctuary
• Tigao Marine Sanctuary
• Poblacion Marine Sanctuary

Tandag

• Exploring Dayao Cave of Tandag, Surigao del Sur May 12, 2013
• Brgy. Bongtud - Twin Linungao Island, Mancagangi Island & MPA (Marine Protected Area - fish sanctuary)

Cagwait

• white sand beaches

Salvacion

• Britania Islets May 6-8, 2013 - small islets dotting the bay. Island tour, beach, mangrove forest.

Hinatuan

• Enchanted River May 6, 2013
• Sibadan Fish Cage May 5, 2013

Mangagoy

• Tinuy-an Falls

The following people like this:

Rufrucinni Nellas

Joni Gualvez Villamil

Reader Comments:

Joni Gualvez Villamil

Jove Benosa

»» next Traveling story: Free-Diving Lanuza Marine Park and Sanctuary
»» back to Traveling
»» back to Homepage

ARCHIVE: 2013 | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC

ALL YEARS | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014