Okay, we had enough with salty water, white sand and too much sun exposure. I have grilled skin already, too tired to apply sunblock on my skin multiple times in 1 hour. So now we headed to Bao Bao Falls in Lianga, Surigao del Sur to have fresh water and greenery surroundings. It was named
So we all agreed: time to trade the beach for something cooler. That’s how we found ourselves driving to Bao-Bao Falls in Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur — chasing cold freshwater and shade under trees instead of umbrellas. Our tour guide recommended this spot to us.
About Bao-Bao Falls
Bao-Bao Falls is a hidden gem tucked away in the mountainous part of Diatagon, a barangay in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. It’s not your usual developed tourist spot — more raw, more natural, more real. The name “Bao-Bao” actually came from the local word for “turtle,” because the shape of the rock formation in the middle of the water supposedly resembles a turtle’s back.
Honestly, when we arrived, I was instantly impressed. The place was lush, peaceful, and surrounded by thick greenery. The sound of rushing water was super relaxing. It’s just a small cascading falls.
But what I didn’t expect? A terrifying twist in the adventure. 😅 On the middle portion, deep water, there were strong currents coming from different directions, so it looks like a little hurricane. Seems fine. I was docking at the rock and was looking at it deciding whether to jump or not. But something strange, like there’s a whisper in my ear saying “jump”, a hypnotized feeling the more you look at the currents in the water. A friend of mine came towards me and called my name, so I turned and see who’s calling and seems like the spell broke. So in the end I decided not to jump.
We went back to the area near the umbrella cottages where locals hanging by. They said, they were watching me as if I would jump. So I told them what happened. They said that on that area, the current is really strong, because there was a huge hole underneath that rock, its like a cascade falls, but water going down on that hole and underneath. There was an accident happen as well before, a tourist was dragged down on the hole, he was carried away by the strong current. Creepy! Good thing, I really didn’t jump and dive.
The Path to Waterfalls
To reach the actual falls, there’s a cemented path going down and there was a bamboo bridge we had to cross where a you could see a fast flowing stream under the bridge. Cemented path going down.
How to Get There
We a hired a van for us by the time we went there. But for DIY or solo travel, here’s how to get there.
From Lianga town proper, take a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) or your own vehicle going up to Barangay Diatagon.
Ask locals for directions to Bao-Bao Falls — it’s well-known among the residents.
There’s a rough road that leads to the jump-off, and from there, it’s a 10–15 minute trek down to the falls.
Rates
- Entrance fee: Around ₱20–₱30 per head (depending on season)
- No fancy facilities, so bring your own food, water, and garbage bags (please don’t litter!)
- No comfort rooms or changing stations, so prepare accordingly
