“Water is the most perfect traveller because when it travels it becomes the path itself!”
—Mehmet Murat ildan,Turkish playwright, novelist, and thinker
It's a new week and I am back with a new entry for my Chasing Waterfalls series. In my previous post, I showed you the beauty of Mantayupan Falls. As I have mentioned, there were two other waterfalls James and I went to after Barili. One is in Badian and no, it is not the famous Kawasan Falls — though I will definitely write about it next time. The one we explored is a hidden waterfalls in one of town's mountain barangays. But, as the place remains unknown to many and untamed (thankfully), I've decided not to blog about it here and keep it a secret. Because as what
said, some places should remain secret.
No worries though since the next waterfalls I will be sharing with you is an absolute gem in the province of Cebu.
The Cascades of Ginatilan
Nestled in the outskirts of Ginatilan is a series of interconnected waterfalls that offer an amazing treat for adventure-seeking guests. This multi-tiered waterfalls is said to have five layers, each with its own name. But collectively, they are referred to as Inambakan Falls.
Inambakan stems from the root word “ambak” which in Cebuano language means “to leap or to jump”. As the name implies, this place is famous for cliff jumping/diving.
To get to Ginatilan, one needs to travel 140 kilometer southwest of Cebu City via PUB that runs daily from Cebu South Bus Terminal. Bus fare is around ₱150-₱190. Once in the drop off area, you can either hail a motorcycle or rent one for you to drive yourself. However, the latter choice is inadvisable to first-timers and inexperienced drivers since the road here is steep and, at times, slippery.
Side Story:
In a recent news, the Cebu Provincial Government has allocated a total of ₱58.82 million to pave the road going to Inambakan Falls. Hopefully, this action will not only attract more toursist but also make everyone's experience easy and worthwhile.
First Level
Inambakan Falls is open to visitors from 6 AM to 5 PM daily. After paying the ₱50 entrance fee, you will be offered to take a local that will guide you through each waterfalls. My friends and I did not get one though since it is not mandatory and the trail is visible and short.
Once you enter the premises, the first thing that will welcome you is the final drop of Ginatilan’s cascade — Inambakan Falls. Often compared to Kawasan Falls because of its natural turquoise-colored catch pool, this 100-feet punchbowl waterfall boasts of its exclusivity that you rarely get in Kawasan.
Surrounded by verdant greens and lit by sunrays, Inambakan Falls is indeed a picturesque heaven on earth. This natural combo even gave James and I a quick sight of a rainbow arching in front of the plunging water.
Activities like cliff jumping or cliff diving is allowed on one side of the falls. However, one must do so at his/her own risk. There is also an interesting cave behind the curtain of water but, sadly, we were not able to get close to it. Meanwhile, when getting a natural massage from nature, guests are warned not to swim beneath the plunging water as the force of the falls is too strong and will push them downwards.
Second Level
The second level of Inambakan is called Bugnawan Falls. This a slightly secluded mini chute waterfall that is surrounded by nearby trees, plants and some boulders. The place derived its name from the local word “bugnaw” which means “cold”. And, indeed, it was.
There is a boulder at the base of the waterfalls where my friends and I took turns in taking pictures. After almost 20 minutes, we decided to move along since other tourists started coming in and we had to explore the rest of the levels.
Third & Fourth Level
The trail going up then led to the two connected cascades (one of which is named Kampael Falls) which make up the third and fourth levels of Inambakan Falls. When we got there, there was no one swimming in the area and we had the pool to ourselves.
Despite being connected, the two falls were quite opposites. One pool was shallow and still while the other was deep and flowing. This area is not well shaded though and, despite the surrounding coconut trees, it tends to be hit directly by the sun.
Fifth Level
As we hiked further up the river, we heard the familiar gush of waters and soon saw a four-meter high cascade. This fifth level of Inambakan Falls is tucked in the midst of the forest which gives it an enchanting feel. Personally, I believe it is the best spot to flaunt those cliff jumping/cliff diving talents because the cliff is high (but not too high for you to cower) and the water is deep.
Unlike the main Inambakan Falls, the water in this falls is deep green which reminded me of the river back in my home province. My friends and I found ourselves feeling like kids again as we enjoyed the pool. Sin e there were only two foreigners and us in that level, we felt at ease being our playful selves. 
Final Thoughts
If I could summarize this experience with one word, that would be JOY. The joy of spending time with great people. The joy of being one with nature. The joy of being blessed with a beautiful day. The joy of exploring.
Inambakan Falls never disappoints. Its a perfect spot for those who want a blend of adventure and serenity. For those who want to hear the joyous screams of water as it falls down the cliff. Here’s to more travels and waterfalls to chase! Until next time. 🙂
Hello! I'm Maria, a hopeless romantic who travels in pages and places. I hope to share my love for words and the world with you here in HIVE.
If you like this content, don't forget to follow, upvote, and leave a comment to show some love. You can also reblog if you want to. Let's connect! 🤍