I always wanted to travel to Surigao del Sur and witness the so-called “Little Niagara of the Philippines”. Surigao del Sur has lots to offer from waterfalls to beaches. One day, together with my travel buddies, we decided to visit and explore Surigao del Sur. It was almost 8 hours of travel from Davao City to Bislig City. We travel late at night to maximize our time. It was already morning when we set foot in Surigao del Sur. The first stop is the Tinuy an Falls. There food stalls around. We had our coffee and breakfast in there.
We went in and paid entrance fee and we were mesmerized with the beauty of the Tinuy-an Falls. It was really breathtaking and truly admirable. The scenic view of Tinuy-an Falls can relieve all of your stress. It looks like a wide curtain of water falling down. We were lucky because when we get there, the weather is chilly, resulting to a thick water curtain of the Tinuy-an Falls. Other season specially summer, the water falls is thin. But regardless of the weather and season, the Tinuy an Falls is considered as the top wonders in Surigao del Sur province.
Tinuy-an Falls has four tiered curtain waterfalls. There’s a stair to reach the upper level of the waterfalls. The rushing water was crystal white, thick drop and was said to be 180 feet or 55 meters high and 311 feet or 95 meters wide as per the local. The location of the falls was also enticing because you could really feel the presence of the Mother Nature due to large trees that serves as protector of the gigantic falls.
We rented a bamboo raft to explore the entire water stream underneath the falls and if you are brave enough to face the surging falls, you can ask the guide to bring you at the curtain of the falls – water dropping on your body feels like a body massage. However, it’s dangerous if the surging falls are thick and strong especially during rainy season. It’s not a good idea to go near the curtain falls.
The upper part of the falls was around 5-7 minutes away; you have nothing to worry if you’re not into hiking because metal ladder and handles were set-up for an easier hike. Most of the team enjoyed this part of the waterfalls, because you can take a hid from the small waterfall curtain or simply lie or sit down for a very soothing massage. There is also a Borboanan Reservoir or lake located just along the path. A series of drums are connected from the falls towards the lake.
How To Get There:
From Davao City, you can reach Bislig City by riding a van from Ecoland terminal. If you have vehicle contacts, you can hire them. It will take at least 8 hours before you can reach the city.
Getting There From Manila:
Bislig City can be reached by air or sea travel from Manila or Cebu via Davao City or Butuan City or Surigao City. Commercial buses or vans for hire are available: 3 to 4 hours from Butuan City or 5 to 6 hours from Davao City. Within Mangagoy go to the Integrated Terminal and rent a jeep that will bring you to Barangay Borboanan, Bislig, Tinuy-an Falls. Single motorcycles are also available between 100-150php per head. From the national highway to Tinuy-an Falls it was around 14kms.
Contacts:
Goring Zarido – City Tourism Office
Mobile Number : +639207168379
Landline Number : (086) 853-6089; (086) 628-2112
Fax Number : (086) 628-2132
Email Address : bisligtourism@yahoo.com.ph
Mr. Almar B. Autida – Bislig Government Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BGEMCO)
Member, Board of Directors
Mobile Number : +639195954878
Email Address : almar_autida@yahoo.com.ph / hillside_vco@yahoo.com.ph
Expenses:
Single Motor @ 150php per Head
Jeepney@1200-1500 for the entire stay
Entrance Fee @10php per head
Cottage @ 100php
Gaket / Bamboo Raft @50php
Salbabida @30php
Additional notes: Network Signals are very weak in this place. So you might want to prepare all emergency devices and first aid kits.
