A local's guide to Cambais Falls, the two-level turquoise waterfall in Alegria that most Kawasan-bound travelers skip — fees, the short hike in, transport, and whether it's worth the detour.
TL;DR: Cambais Falls in Alegria is a two-level turquoise waterfall with a ₱50 entrance fee (under US$1), a 15-20 minute jungle hike from the trailhead, and cliff jumps up to about 10 meters on the lower pool. It’s about 30-40 minutes past Kawasan Falls and an hour from Moalboal — worth a stop if you’re already road-tripping south Cebu, not worth a dedicated trip from Cebu City on its own. Bring cash and aqua shoes. Verified July 2026.
Most people driving south from Moalboal toward Oslob blast right past Alegria without knowing there’s a waterfall a short detour off the highway. Cambais Falls is that waterfall — a two-level cascade dropping into a milky turquoise pool, tucked into farmland and light jungle in Barangay Valencia. It’s smaller and far less commercialized than Kawasan Falls, which is exactly the appeal: fewer tour buses, a caretaker-run entrance instead of a resort operation, and a genuine “found it myself” feel. This guide covers what it actually costs, how to get there without a rented scooter, and whether it earns a spot on your south Cebu route.
Cambais Falls at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Barangay Valencia, Alegria, southern Cebu |
| Entrance fee | ~₱50/person (~US$1) |
| Parking fee | ~₱20 (where charged) |
| Guide fee (optional) | ~₱100-150 for cliff-jump depth checks |
| Hike from trailhead | 15-20 minutes, mostly flat dirt path |
| Hours | Roughly 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (confirm locally — some report shorter hours) |
| From Moalboal | ~1 hour by scooter/habal-habal |
| From Kawasan Falls (Badian) | ~30-40 minutes further south |
| From Cebu City | ~4-5 hours by bus + habal-habal |
Prices vary by source and by season — this is a community-run site with no fixed rate card, so treat these as ranges. Verified July 2026.
How Do You Get to Cambais Falls?
Take a Ceres Liner bus from Cebu South Bus Terminal toward Bato via Barili, then a habal-habal for the last leg. Ask the conductor to drop you at Alegria — the ride runs roughly 4-5 hours with a fare somewhere in the ₱150-300 range depending on where exactly the bus terminates. From the Alegria junction or town center, hire a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) for the final 15-20 minutes to the trailhead; expect to pay around ₱150-200. There’s no jeepney route that goes all the way in, so the habal-habal leg is basically mandatory unless you have your own vehicle.
If you’re basing in Moalboal (the more common approach, and a good hub for stringing together several south Cebu waterfalls — compare places to stay in Moalboal on Agoda), it’s about an hour away by rented scooter (roughly ₱300-400/day to rent) or by hired habal-habal. Punch “Cambais Falls” directly into Google Maps or Waze — signage on the ground is minimal, and several travelers report missing the turn without GPS.
However you arrive, you’ll park near a small bridge at the road’s edge, where the trail sign points you into the farmland toward the falls.
What Does the Hike Involve?
About 15-20 minutes on a mostly flat dirt trail — easy in dry weather, slippery after rain. From the parking spot, the path winds through farmland and light jungle to a small entrance hut where caretakers collect the fee. It’s doable in sandals when dry, but the ground turns muddy fast during or after rainfall, so shoes with actual grip are the safer call if there’s been recent rain. Some travelers mention it’s easy to lose the trail if you’re not paying attention — following whoever’s ahead of you, or asking at the entrance hut, solves that.
What Does It Cost to Get In?
Entrance runs about ₱50 per person, sometimes with a small parking fee on top. That’s roughly what you’d pay across most recent reports, though a few visitors mention slightly different amounts or an additional ₱20 for parking — this is a barangay-run site without a formal rate card, so the number can shift. A guide isn’t required, but if you want to cliff jump, it’s worth the ₱100-150 to have someone check current water depth first; submerged rocks move around after storms, and that’s exactly the kind of detail a local caretaker knows and a first-timer doesn’t.
Is the Waterfall Itself Worth It?
Yes, for a quick, cheap stop — it’s a genuinely pretty two-level pool, just not a bucket-list waterfall on its own. The lower level opens onto a wide turquoise pool ringed by ferns and limestone boulders, with a cliff jump around 10 meters (about 33 feet) into deep water. A rope-and-bamboo-stair climb gets you to a second, shadier level with a smaller jump (around 5 meters) and a cooler, quieter swimming spot. It’s not a single dramatic single-drop waterfall — think “swimming hole with waterfalls feeding it” rather than “postcard cascade.” If you’ve already seen Kawasan or Inambakan Falls, Cambais won’t blow you away, but as a low-key stop on a longer south Cebu drive, it delivers.
How Do You Pair It With Kawasan and the Rest of South Cebu?
Cambais works best as a detour, not a destination. It sits roughly 30-40 minutes past Kawasan Falls, so it fits naturally into a longer south Cebu loop: Moalboal or Badian in the morning, Kawasan’s canyoneering or the basic falls trek around midday, then Cambais as an off-the-beaten-path add-on before continuing toward Oslob or Malabuyoc. Don’t try to slot it in on the same day as an Oslob whale shark tour and Kawasan canyoneering — that’s too much driving and too many wet activities crammed into one day. Pick two, not three.
The Honest Take
Cambais Falls is a legitimately nice, quiet alternative to the Kawasan crowds, and at ₱50 a head it’s one of the cheapest waterfall stops in Cebu. But be realistic about the trade-off: it takes real effort to reach by public transport, the trail is unmarked enough that you can get turned around, and the falls themselves are modest compared to Kawasan or the multi-tier hikes further north. It’s worth it if you’re already driving through Alegria or basing in Moalboal for a few days and want something off-script. It’s not worth a dedicated day trip from Cebu City by itself — the four-plus hours each way don’t pencil out against what you’ll see when you arrive. Go on a weekday if you can; weekend crowds from nearby towns do show up, especially in dry season.
Sources
- WeSeekTravel — Cambais Falls, Alegria, Cebu
- The Coastal Campaign — Cambais Falls, DIY Waterfall Adventure
- Sugbo.ph — Cambais Falls, Alegria
- JourneyEra — Cambais Falls in Alegria, Cebu
- No Postcode — Cambais Falls in Alegria, Cebu
- Entrance fees, transport fares, and hours confirmed against multiple 2024-2026 traveler reports; these are community-collected fees with no official rate card, so confirm locally before you go. Verified July 2026.
Cambais is one stop on a much bigger south Cebu waterfall run — see our hidden waterfalls in Cebu and best waterfalls in Cebu guides for the rest of the list, or check waterfalls you can swim in Cebu if that’s your main criteria. Planning the whole southern loop? Start with our south Cebu travel guide. If you’d rather book a driver for the day than deal with buses and habal-habals, compare private van and tour options for south Cebu on Klook.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the entrance fee at Cambais Falls?
Entrance runs about ₱50 per person (under US$1), with some visitors also reporting a small ₱20 parking fee at the trailhead. It's collected by local caretakers at a hut near the entrance, cash only. Confirm the exact amount locally before you go, since these small community-run fees drift over time.
Do you need a guide at Cambais Falls?
No, a guide isn't required to get in — it's a marked trail and caretakers point you the right way. Most travelers skip it. If you plan to cliff jump, though, it's worth paying a local (roughly ₱100-150, negotiable) to check current water depth first, since submerged rocks shift after heavy rain.
How do you get to Cambais Falls from Cebu City?
Take a Ceres Liner bus from Cebu South Bus Terminal toward Bato via Barili and ask the conductor to drop you at Alegria — figure roughly 4-5 hours and a fare in the ₱150-300 range depending on how far the bus runs. From the Alegria junction, hire a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) for the last 15-20 minutes to the trailhead, around ₱150-200. Confirm current fares with the conductor and driver, since these shift.
How far is Cambais Falls from Kawasan Falls and Moalboal?
Cambais Falls sits roughly 30-40 minutes past Kawasan Falls in Badian, and about an hour from Moalboal by scooter or habal-habal. Most people visit it as a detour on the Moalboal-to-Oslob run, not as a standalone day trip from Cebu City.
How long is the hike to Cambais Falls?
About 15-20 minutes from the parking area, on a mostly flat dirt trail through farmland and light jungle. It's an easy walk doable in sandals in dry conditions, though the path gets slick after rain, so shoes with grip are safer.
Is Cambais Falls worth visiting?
Yes, if you're already road-tripping through south Cebu and want a quieter, cheaper waterfall stop than the Kawasan crowds. It's not worth a dedicated trip from Cebu City on its own — the payoff (a pretty two-level turquoise pool) doesn't match a half-day of one-way travel unless you're combining it with Kawasan, Oslob, or a longer south Cebu loop.
Can you swim and cliff jump at Cambais Falls?
Yes. The main pool is deep enough for swimming, and there are cliff jump spots on both levels — roughly up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) on the lower level and around 5 meters on the upper level. Check depth before jumping, since water flow and submerged rocks change with the season.
What should you bring to Cambais Falls?
Aqua shoes or sandals with grip, a dry bag for your phone and wallet, cash for the entrance and any habal-habal fares, and a change of clothes. There are no ATMs or real shops out there, so bring what you need with you.
More Places to Explore
Waterfalls Cambais Falls
Moalboal
A multi-tiered waterfall with turquoise pools and cliff jumping up to 10 meters in a peaceful jungle setting.
Waterfalls Kawasan Falls
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Waterfalls Inambakan Falls
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