From Pusan Point in Caraga, it took us almost two hours to get to Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel. We were quite up north that a few more municipalities and we would have reached Surigao del Sur already.
From poblacion Cateel, it took almost an hour to reach Aliwagwag Falls. From having seen pictures of Aliwagwag Falls so I was expecting to see gently sloping water across smooth limestone rocks. Behold when we got there, it wasn’t the usual picturesque Aliwagwag Falls that I’ve grown accustomed to.
Located in Brgy. Aliwagwag in Cateel, it’s a series of more than 130 cascading waterfalls. Aliwagwag Falls is such a unique sight dotted with different limestone rock formations of various shapes and heights. Each level different from another, ranging from six feet to 110 feet.
There is one measured at 72 feet and another is at 67. Overall, Aliwagwag Falls is 1,110 feet and 20 meters in width. When viewed from afar, Aliwagwag Falls would probably evoke the song “Stairway to Heaven”.
Still groggy from sleep, I rubbed my eyes at the raging whitewash that was Aliwagwag Falls! Unlike the calm and gentle one I hoped to bathe in, I was worried that we couldn’t swim because the waterfalls was raging.
I found out that if the waters were too strong, there were small rock pools you could swim in at the sides of the falls. Being used to the ocean, the fresh waters of Aliwagwag Falls was a welcome respite in the summer heat.
My other companions decided to try the Monkey Bridge which was perfect for adrenaline junkies. You’d subject yourself to a harness suspended a few feet above the surface of the raging waterfalls and cross the whole width from edge to edge.
On another day, I would have tried this but that day I was too tired from the previous day’s itinerary. The thought of climbing up a few hundred meters upwards to reach the bridge was too much so I opted to lounge in the cool waters of the rock pools beside the cascading waters.
It was a weekend and as expected, the rock pools were full. There was a smaller kid-friendly rock pool at the lower end. If you go upwards, there’s a bigger pool with more adults and teenagers having fun in the water. If the current isn’t strong, the zipline is open for those brave enough to glide through the falls for 47 seconds.
The staff at Aliwagwag Falls Eco-Park were so friendly and full of knowledge about their place. It was great that jobs were given to local folk and they themselves are their own ambassadors. They were also entertaining and shared a lot of what they know about other attractions in Cateel aside from what was in Aliwagwag Falls Eco-Park.
I thought that this trip would make me tick off Davao Oriental off my must-return-to list. I was wrong. This trip opened my eyes to a whole lot more attractions and natural wonders that I have yet to see and surf. I guess I’ll have to park ticking off Davao Oriental because there is still just so much to experience.
Read more at my blog: www.millennialmermaid.comefore.
