How to Go to Three of Iligan City's Waterfalls in One Day

During the last quarter of 2011, I had a chance of visiting three waterfalls found in Iligan City, also known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls. I only had a day so I tried to maximize my visit and researched on what are the falls located in the same area that is possible to see in justa day. Here's a guide on how to visit Ma. Christina Falls, Mimbalut Falls and Tinago Falls in one day when you're coming from Cagayan de Oro.

How to go to Ma. Christina Falls:

- dried fish stall in Iligan City Market -

• From your hotel in Cagayan de Oro, ride a jeep going to Bulua Terminal (Westbound Buses). Ride a bus going to Iligan City. Fare for an airconditioned bus is Php145 but the lady conductor said because it's their first trip, we only have to pay Php115 as a discounted rate. Not so sure why it works that way.
• The bus will have a final stop at their terminal in Iligan City. Ride a jeep that would take you to the market. There are queues waiting in the terminal. Fare is Php7.50.
• If you didn't bring lunch with you, you can buy it in the market There are local eateries (carinderia) that based on experience sell delicious, cheap and clean food. Bought kilawing tuna and lechon kawali and rice for a total of Php57. 
• Ride a jeep going to Buruun. These jeeps pass right across the street where the carinderias are located. Tell the driver to drop you off Ma. Christina Falls. fare is Php12.
• The driver will drop you on a highway, right after a bridge with a stunning view. From there, walk towards a street on the left that would lead you to the gate of Ma. Christina Nature Park.

How to go to Mimbalut Falls and Tinago Falls:

- the drop off point to Ma. Christina Falls -

• On that same bridge, ride a jeep with the same route (going to Buruun). Tell the driver that you're going to Mimbalut Falls. You will be dropped in a waiting shed where there are queue of motorcycles (habal-habal) that can take you to Mimbalut Falls. The path to the falls is not advisable for a walk, it's quite far.
• Negotiate with the motorcycle driver. We were charged Php125 each for both Mimbalut Falls, Tinago Falls and back to the highway where we can ride a jeep back to the terminal after the tour. 2 passengers in each motorcycle.

Tinago Falls: A Hidden Majesty in Iligan City

It all started when I saw the commercial for a local movie. There was a scene with a backdrop of a majestic waterfall, with cascades flowing right into a vast basin of emerald green waters. From then on, I was kind of hypnotized by the allure that I only saw in the TV so I won't be able to fully describe how I felt when I finally got to see Tinago Falls.

I started researching on how I could go to the falls. I was then amazed to learn that there are 23 falls just in the City of Iligan City, the capital of Lanao del Norte in Northern Mindanao. My mind was in a wishful thinking mode  hoping to have a glimpse of all the falls. As expected though, I have to wake up from my dream. These falls are scattered throughout the city and our limited time visiting wouldn't do any help. The truth is, I was a bit disheartened but my spirits were suddenly lifted upon reading some blogs giving me an idea that atleast three falls are in thesame vicinity and is possible to visit in just one day. Yey! We've then booked a flight to Cagayan de Oro. :)

The side of Tinago Falls where our habal-habal (a motorcycle modified to seat more than two persons) driver led us is the public side of the falls so we were not asked to pay for any fee. The other side is owned by a resort and they were asking for a Php10 entrance fee. We had to trek down to a series of cement stairs built on a sloping terrain. In about 10-15 minutes of walking, I heard a loud gushing of water and in just seconds, I was seeing the most beautiful falls I've seen so far.

Tinago Falls radiates a magnificent beauty. The main cascade is a towering 240 feet. The water drops strongly producing mists that reaches even up to several meters from the falls. It's like you're in an enchanted place. The sun doesn't fully shine as it is obstructed by the surrounding greens and the weather is always cool.  Swimming is truly refreshing for a soul who is thirsty of relaxation. It's also a good place for bonding with people you love.  They have picnic tables and benches set up although I'm hoping the restrooms can be improved soon. The place isn't just enjoyed by admiring tourists but by locals as well. When I was there, a very brave local jumped from the rocks the height half of the falls. Everybody was applauding after he resurfaced from the water. I almost had a heart attack though.

Tinago Falls is a must-see when visiting Iligan City. For me, it's even my reason for traveling to Northern Mindanao. I love the fact that even if it is called "Tinago" (a local word which means Hidden) it can now be easily reached. This is like a majesty of the Philippines that is just waiting to be visited.