Before our trip to Cebu, I had been on several outdoor trips in our country, mostly hiking, and I realized that getting the timing right is a huge deal for such activities. That includes canyoneering in Kawasan Falls.
If you head out during the dry season, the experience can be really incredible. Like when I first saw the stunning sea of clouds in Mount Pulag. But if you head out when the weather is unpredictable or rainy, expect the worst. Take the day we went to Marlboro Hills during our 3 day trip to Sagada as an example.
Bad weather can even prevent you from having the adventure altogether!
So whenever I tell people that we visited Cebu and we had canyoneering in Kawasan Falls in mid-November, they give me a confused look and ask, “Isn’t it still the rainy season in the Philippines?”
Yes, June to early December is the rainy season, but that doesn’t mean it’s a no-go.
In our case, we are thankful the weather worked out well for our trip. In fact, we only experienced some drizzle, particularly during our canyoneering adventure at Kawasan Falls. No major weather issues ruined our plans.
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Hi reader! It’s Eljon, and before we continue, I want to welcome you to my blog, Explore to Thrive. Here, I share my experiences with traveling, reflections on spirituality, personal growth and insights on building an online business, all to make a difference. But my mission goes beyond that. You can learn more about what I do by visiting my homepage.
That said, if I’m going to be really honest, our decision to visit during the rainy season felt like a gamble. We traded guaranteed sunshine for the chance to see the sights with fewer crowds. Every night before I slept during our trip, I was praying hard that the weather would play nice.
Having fewer people around was, which by the way, the main reason why we picked the rainy or off-peak season.
I mean, you really would want to avoid the crowd that you can see during the peak season.
Like, have you seen the long queues on the different cliff jumps and natural slides throughout the canyon on those reality vs expectation photos posted online? It is just not worth it, at least for us.
For context: there were seven of us on the trip.
Now, if you decide to visit Cebu and tackle the Kawasan Falls canyoneering during the rainy season like we did, please don’t forget to have a Plan B.
Did we have a backup plan?
Well, we did not have a concrete Plan B. Or maybe we did, but I cannot remember if Erick, our main organizer, shared anything with us.
What I am sure of is that we had a personalized tour and a private vehicle instead. And that gave us a flexible itinerary. If canyoneering at Kawasan Falls was suddenly unavailable, we could easily head to a nearby alternative.
On the other hand, if you choose to visit during the height of the dry season from March to May, keep in mind that it is the peak time for tourism. You should expect large crowds, particularly at Kawasan Falls since it is such a famous attraction.
Still, you can definitely avoid the bumper-to-bumper foot traffic at the slides and cliff jumps along the canyoneering trail.
There is a simple trick which is scheduling your adventure for a weekday and starting very early in the morning, ideally between 6 am and 7 am. Be the earliest bird out there and finish your trek before the tour groups from Cebu City begin arriving around 8 am or 9 am.
This trick, however, requires staying at a home base closer to Kawasan Falls. The ideal location is Moalboal because it is only 30 to 45 minutes away from the jump off site, or you can stay right in the town of Badian where the canyoneering actually happens.
For more tips on canyoneering in Kawasan Falls, check out my blog posts on what to expect and how to prepare before you head out on this adventure.
If you’re now decided when to have your canyoneering in Kawasan Falls, you can check the availability on the travel planning page I’ve prepared for anyone visiting Cebu.
Planning to Visit Cebu?
I am here to help you plan your journey and ensure you have an incredible time. You should check out my travel maps, planning tools, itineraries and tips, which are all derived from my own adventures in Cebu.
Click the maps below to view or download them:
Cebu City
South Cebu
Central Visayas
My travel planning resources page contains everything you need. Find the best hotels, cheap car rentals, affordable flights, and travel insurance.
From this page, you can also book the top 3 unmissable activities in Cebu. You can find alternative experiences in Oslob, Badian, Sibonga, Moalboal, Bantayan, and Malapascua as well.
Of course, if you’re visiting Cebu City, I also have tips for you. And if you want to go beyond Cebu, you can discover nearby destinations like Bohol, Siquijor, and Dumaguete.
Thank you for reading
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