Tumalog Waterfalls Looks Healthy!

It's been years since we had visited Tumalog Waterfalls again. I believe the last time was when my husband and I toured my siblings to the waterfalls after we got married so that was year 2015.

My little one is fascinated with waterfalls, whenever we are in the shower, he'd ask to turn on the shower and call it waterfalls. His bathtub, we also set up a sprinkler and he thought that was a waterfall. So now that we are in Oslob and it doesn't take a lot of effort to come to Tumalog Waterfalls, we decided to bring him.

Our first attempt was actually a failure as we arrived after 4 PM and the LGU closes the access at 4 PM. We went again the next day during a holiday on October 31st.

From the main highway, it takes around more or less 10 minutes drive to the entrance gates. Vehicles are not allowed anymore here so we have to walk to the waterfall. Motorcycles are also available to those who want to skip the walking part. It costs Php 50 for the roundtrip ride while if you go one way going up from the waterfalls to the entrance, it's Php 30. The entrance fees are Php 20 for local Oslobanons but it's Php 50 for tourists. This is priced per adult, kids five years and below are free.

We decided to walk going to the waterfalls, the road here is steep and we must walk in the right side as the motorcycles going up are using their full gear to climb the uphill path.

I noticed that the LGU had planted ornamental plants. Back then, this was just empty, just pure cement and rocky sidewalks. There were a few pinetrees at the side too! It's nice that we can see the waterfalls from here!

Walking may take around ten minutes as well, we have reached the waterfalls. We could hear the water rushing and we could see the veil-like waterfall from a distance. There were already many people around at 8:30 AM!

I have been to Tumalog quite a few times, first was back in 2011 I guess when the Whaleshark watching was first introduced, we came with friends and colleagues. It was in its natural state. The water was not too deep, we were able to get to the base of the waterfalls and felt its water massage on our backs.

The second time that we visited here, we were with another group of friends and it was I guess in the year 2014 and there were developments done in the vicinity. They made pools and excavated the area thus making the water deep and it was not anymore that safe going into the base of the waterfalls.

Then the third time was with my brother and sister-in-law after James and I got married, we brought them here after their Butanding experience. In fact, most of the tourists will visit the waterfalls after swimming with the whalesharks. That's the normal itinerary then they'll go to Sumilon after the waterfalls so it is indeed expected that there will be many visitors in the morning as whaleshark watching operates until 12 nn only.

On of the things that was added as well this time is the presence of cottages. They got at least five bamboo made cottages now which can be rented for Php 350, that's a full day use already. We rented one near the fish spa.

There's also a shower and comfort room here for changing and a dining area for those who want to eat but didn't rent a cottage. Food is not allowed near the waterfalls unless you rent a cottage!

As soon as we arrived, Matti was already asking me to go near to the waterfalls. This waterfall has a height of approximately between 80 meters to 100 meters and its waters look like a veil thus when dropping, the wind brings its mist around the vicinity, this also makes the area cold and very dangerous to those camera gears which are not waterproofed.

Matti and I left our companions and went near but as we wer close, there were so many people at the rock which was a good spot for taking photos so we decided to move back and just observed the waterfalls from a far.

Just watching it from here was really amazing and enchanting. Everyone were appreciating its beauty, taking photos here and there. There were many foreigners and it makes me happy seeing that tourism is definitely alive again!

It is still different getting photos just with a mobile versus the photos taken with a real camera gear. I asked the husband who brought his camera to take photos so I can post it here in the blog.

He can't get near to the waterfalls although the camera and lens are waterproofed because the lens isn't wide enough to capture the height of the waterfall.

So he stayed at the distance and just tried capturing some long exposure shots. The bamboos bending looked like an entrance gate to the waterfall. And even if it was already really hot outside at ten in the morning, the area is still shaded!

There's a fish spa area too and I have seen a lot of small fishes even in the other pools. The family enjoyed their time at the fish spa! The water here is calm compared to the other pools. It isn't cold here too so it's a great spot for just relaxing and enjoying the view.

Matti's favorite thing to do here was to just pickup pebbles and rocks and throw them. Of course, I had to make sure he throws it to a safe place. He somehow liked it when the rocks hit the water and the current would drift that rock down to the next pool.

I had to just stop him and said enough after hours of playing. He was about to cry but he has no other choice. We have to change to dry clothes and say goodbye to the waterfalls.

Due to the rainy season, the waterfalls is now looking healthy compared to last summer before the election. My in-lass said it was like a dripping faucet at that time but now, it has become pretty again.

We took the habal-habal ride going up back to the entrance because it's an uphill climb. I suggest that you take the habal-habal ride too if you visit the waterfalls because there's an adventure to it too! The drivers here are also very accommodating and friendly. The ride only took three minutes perhaps going up so that saves you time and prevents having muscle pains afterward. But if you are into hiking, then there's no problem at all.