Getting there, however, is a bit of a pain if you aren’t used to hiking. Once you arrive in Don Salvador, head for the waterfalls viewing deck. Normally you’ll find it quite crowded, but it is such a beautiful sight.
From there, you will be asked to sign their registry and if you want a tour guide (it’s free, but they ask for a donation). Two hundred pesos is normal gift but if you can give more, please do. The money is used to keep the park clean, safe, and beautiful.
Actually, I was quite amazed at just how clean the entire area is. Absolutely no trash! This is unheard of in most parts of the Philippines.
Moving on, the hike downward takes about 2 hours. Don’t wear tennis shoes. Use hiking boots or a nice pair of trekking sandals. It gets quite muddy and you’ll have to walk through a couple springs along the way.
The guide will give a small break at a rest house about 15 minutes away from the falls. There you can have free water and coffee (again, please leave a donation).
Once you are there, you can swim, bathe, and enjoy the scenery. Wild monkeys live at the top of the waterfall and you can see them playing and even jumping down part of the falls.
The way back to civilization is a bit more difficult, though. The area is extremely steep and slippery. I literally slipped 40 times during my trek. The trek can take as much as three hours but as little as one and a half for experienced hikers.
