Here is my travel blog entry for the '2K WORDS BLOG WRITING COMPETITION Part 3' by sir 
Mindanao Travel Blog Post #5: MIMBALOT FALLS
How do you wake up a yawning soul?
Of course! With a giant splash of a cold water!
That is why I have been so lucky enough to live in a place where urban and nature gracefully dance and sync in together for me to easily get a sweet escape from all the uncertainties somewhere a few minutes off; and also to get the chance to discover the innermost side of me in a terrene of a splendid mother nature.
Apprehending and Knowing Mimbalot Falls More
One of the barangay in Iligan City, which is the Buru-un, is well-known for its amazing waterfalls - the Mimbalot Falls. And this Mimbalot Falls belongs to the 24 amazing waterfalls in Iligan City and most of all Mimbalot Falls is considered as one of the so-called Tourism Triangle in the city, together with Tinago Falls and Maria Cristina Falls. These places are the perfect spot to visit for people who love adventures and are nature lovers who appreciate such fascinating God-given milieu.
This pocket of astonishment is eleven kilometers drive away from the city center. And with its 90 feet tall water drop and 18 feet wide facade will surely put the excitement of your drowsy soul. The cold giant splash of waters of the Mimbalot Falls deluge down a path that has enormous rocks below it, tracing smaller channels of water which looks like mini waterfalls that will definitely remind you how raw nature is. Because of the large rocks that surround Mimbalot Falls and also with its heavy and vigorous force of watercourse it is treacherous to take a prompt dive under the waterfalls. Still and all, you can enjoy the beauty of the pounding cascades of the said waterfalls in a convenient close up look for a safe plunge beyond the unsafe area and also for a perfect photo remembrance. And if ever one is in a much eager state for a fun bathe of the cold waters, small safe pool lagoons down Mimbalot Falls are accessible. Extra precautionary measures are advice to all ages because pacing around with those large rocks is quite slippery on some trivial surfaces.
Deep-seated basins might confuse you from shallow ones that is why non-swimmers and kids should be attended well by adult supervisions. So it best for everyone to bring along their lifejackets and comfortable swimming outfits because lifeguards are not available in the Mimbalot Falls area and with that one might critically injure herself or himself if precautionary measures are not done appropriately. And I suggest to everyone to test the water first cautionly for any presence of sharp rocks within and also to know the depth of the cold water basin. Mimbalot Falls also naturally gives the visitor an organic hydro-massage while you are on its small pounding cascades and the pressure of the rushing waters from the mini waterfalls below feels good on the back that will evidently give you the relaxing feeling.
Before, the place was not yet fully developed, so looking for stores and restaurant in the area is quite not that easy. But now, there is available small store inside the Iligan Paradise Resort and Eco Park, wherein you can buy some goodies you will probably need. Still, you might need to bring your own food and favorite beverages because they do not cater some takeout meals suitable for a picnic. There are also picnic tables by the falls for the visitors to enjoy a refreshing outdoor meal at a beautiful view and the Iligan Paradise Resort and Eco Park management established cottages surrounding the whole area for rent for large family gatherings.
And the solidly detailed benches that are sitted in a shallow basin down the foot of the Mimbalot Falls are quite extraordinary because you can get to feast while the cold water gently touches your feet. The hoof part of the Mimbalot Falls is also a popular area for the locals to wash their clothes because of the free cold running water coming from the falls. Presently, the Mimbalot Falls is now added to the adventure phases of Iligan Paradise Resort and Eco Park, and I will tackle more about the other adventure phases of the Iligan Paradise Resort and Eco Park on my next travel blog entry.
The Best Time to Visit Mimbalot Falls
The cool and dry months of the year are the best time to visit Mimbalot Falls, and I suggest the month of February to March because you can definitely stake on to the weather to not give you the disappointments. Other summer months are also the best time to visit Mimbalot Falls, like the months of April to May, and that if ever you don't mind partaking your travel vacation with a big crowd. Another key to remember also is to visit the Falls succeding a rainy season but not forthwith after the rain immediately because waterfalls are at their most dazzling and gorgeous state when rains get to shower them too. During a stormy temporal length of a weather event, the water becomes brown and grubby, as well as the trail becomes muddy, unsafe and slippery. So that is why give the route the time to dry well. Lucky for us, we visited Mimbalot Falls in the mid of November, and it was drizzling a little. Still and all, the view was fantastic and I am so proud of my clumsy self because I didn't slip over, not a single chance! Not because I was wearing a hiking footwear but I was wearing a flat slipper with good friction and most of all I was cautious enough walking around the large rocks and slippery spots. I suggest to everyone not to walk on barefoot because it is much unsafe and you might get wounded with some sharp objects laying around.
Whatever month you favor much, you must keep these two things in mind:
Weekday visits are much convenient in order to avoid crowd rush.
Always wear hiking footwear if you are in the interest of visiting waterfalls adventures, not only in Mimbalot Falls but also in your other adventurous trips. It will make your time a very well-managed, gives you the safety and comfort and much more of the enjoyable moments rather than the hazardous hassles.
How to get to Mimbalot Falls
The falls is located in Barangay Buru-un in Iligan City, Mimbalot is just thirty to forty-five minutes away from the city proper and less than ten minutes away from the highway, making it one of the most easy to reach cascades here in Iligan City. There may be public transportation available, but I highly suggest to bring your own car or take the possibliest car you can get because:
It will make things much easier for you to explore and tour the other magnificent tourist spots in Iligan City and most of all you can even easily make side trips to other tourist spots nearby without experiencing getting lost.
You can have the place to store your things safely and also for you to bring your favorite picnic delicacies. Remember, the place doesn't cater picnic meals yet.
Above all, if you are going to Mimbalot Falls of ten people or more, you will surely spend less because you only need to settle for the gas fee.
By Private Car
If you desire to take the taxi going to Mimbalot Falls, from the city proper you can tell the driver to take you to Barangay Buru-un up to the landmark wherein you can go directly to Mimbalot Falls. ( There's no fix meter fare at the moment going to Barangay Buru-un, fare agreement is estimated P200-P250. )
If you are driving, you can take the National Highway going Southbound and after a minute you pass through the place so called Timoga Spring Pools, you can ask the locals which road to take going to Mimbalot Falls, or you can just remember a certain landmark on which way you can take a detour, and the landmark is a school named Sgt. Miguel Canohoy Memorial School.
By Public Transportation
From the city center, you can ride a public jeepney with a signboard 'Buru-un' or a code of '1C'. This type of public jeepney roams around the city and also passes by the Iligan City Port Area if in case you are taking a boat coming from other places. The specific area wherein Mimbalot Falls is located is about thirty minutes drive from the city proper if you are taking a public jeepney with a fare of P14 per head. And the jeepney in route to Barangay Buru-un subsequently stops over at the Sgt. Miguel Canohoy Memorial School. And from the school, you can try walking going to Mimbalot Falls and you can also ask the locals living in the area for directions going to the falls. And by the time you reach the welcome signage of Iligan City School of Fisheries, you can continue the walking on the left side of it for a couple of minutes for you to get your feet wet in the cold water of Mimbalot Falls. But if ever you are not a fan of walking you can still hire a habal-habal driver from Sgt. Miguel Canohoy Memorial School to directly sends you off to the exact location of the falls.
And Yes! You're now in Mimbalot Falls!
OTHER TIPS FOR THE BUDGET TRAVELER
To my fellow adventurous souls who are on a budget for a trip to Mimbalot Falls, here are more tips to take considerations.
- Be careful about climbing the large slippery rocks. You can take a dip in their small cold water basins that are safe for a cold bath, you may have the access to get close to the cascade but there are also limited areas, so take precautionary measures at all times.
- You can bring your available waterproof camera, Mimbalot Falls is also a splashy kind of a waterfall.
- You can have your meal in the city proper before going for a trip to Barangay Buru-un as what I have mentioned above there aren't many food centers around the place. Along the side of Sgt. Miguel Canohoy Memorial School, you can see some carenderias during school days.
- Fruit stands are available along the side of the road when you are going to southbound and it is great for a picnic baon or if ever you want to eat them inside the car while going to Mimbalots Falls you can bring a small trash bag for your fruit peelings.
- There are shower rooms and restrooms at the Iligan Paradise Resort and Eco Park if you decided to take a dip and change dry clothes before going home. You will need to pay the entrance fee of P50 that is accessible for all the three phases adventure of Iligan Paradise Resort and Eco Park.
- If you have a sensitive skin you can bring your preferred mosquito repellent lotion. When we went to Mimbalot Falls, mosquitoes didn't like my skin but my nephew got some small rashes on his legs but eventually faded when he took a bath at home.
- Baggage counters and lockers are not available at the moment anywhere, that is why you should not bring too much stuff, just bring the things that you might use on this trip because bringing unnecessary things would weight you down especially when you are commuting.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Here are the cost of items you will be spending on.
| Activity | Fees |
|---|---|
| For Jeepney fare ( one-way | P14/head |
| For Habal-Habal/Motorcycle sidecar fare (from SMCMS to Mimbalot Falls, one-way) | P7/head |
| For Taxi fare | P200-250 |
| Entrance Fee | P50 (accessible to other three phases adventure of Iligan Paradise Resort and Eco Park) |
| Cottages | P100-P200 |
| WHAT TO PACK |
|---|
| Water & Snacks |
| Shoes/Slippers good for slippery/muddy places |
| Comfortable Swimwear |
| Mosquito Repellent (optional) |
| Camera and Tripod |
| Adventure Photographer’s Backpack |
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