Waterfalls: Mahayahay, Karaha, and Tinago

Mahayahay Falls

Location: Caridad Norte, Matalom, Leyte

Matalom, Leyte doesn’t only brags its famous Canigao Island, but it also boasts the majestic Mahayahay Falls located in Caridad Norte, which is still undiscovered by many.

Our August trip last 2015 was destined to Canigao Island but unluckily the assigned coastguards did not allow the boat operators to travel because of the unfavorable weather; sturdy winds steepened the waves (making it rough and unstable that time), which isn’t safe to cross to the nearby island.

Since I don’t want to waste a day waiting, I convinced my friends to otherwise visit the Mahayahay Falls, an unexplored tourist destination in Matalom, Leyte. 

TRAVEL GUIDE

IF YOU ARE FROM MANILA OR CEBU:

There are actually daily flights from Manila to Tacloban and Cebu to Tacloban. If you're from Manila, the flight takes at least an hour and twenty (20) minutes. If you're from Cebu, air travel takes about forty five (45) minutes or less. After you arrived at Tacloban Domestic Airport (San Jose, Tacloban City), go to Tacloban City Bus Terminal via taxicab or transfer service. 

Airlines that travel from Manila to Tacloban: (9+ flights per day)

• Cebu Pacific
• Air Asia
• Philippine Airlines

Airlines that travel from Cebu to Tacloban: (3+ flights per day)

• Cebu Pacific
• CebGo
• AirAsia
• Philippine Airlines

Tacloban City

At Tacloban City Bus Terminal, look for vans or buses which transports to Maasin City. Tell the driver to drop you off at Matalom, Leyte.

Reaching There:

We went to the town market to ask some habal-habal drivers to take us to Mahayahay Falls. It was a thirty (30) minute-drive from the town proper and a twenty (20) minute trekking adventure. The drivers actually served as our local guides to this tourist spot.

Note: Steep, rough and uneven road going to the destination. You need to walk or cross a river or stream so be sure to wear proper outfit.

CEBU CITY VIA ORMOC CITY

If you are from Cebu City and would like to get to Leyte via ferryboats, you can take the Cebu-Ormoc route and purchase tickets from ferry outlets in Cebu City (via large transports or fast crafts). Sea travel takes at least seven (7) hours for large passenger ships and just three (3) hours for fast crafts. The city’s bus terminal is just beside the port area so you can directly go to the terminal and ask drivers which vans travel to Matalom, Leyte.

Matalom’s Gem: Mahayahay Falls

When you visit Canigao Island, make sure to visit Mahayahay Falls, too. It was worth the hike and time to visit this beautiful cascade, which was immensely attractive, dropping its cold waters widely down to the surface, a great spot for swimming. 

I just hope the municipality of Matalom, Leyte funds and allocate some budget for the road to this tourist destination. This explicitly a great spot for tourists or travelers to visit, and this can certainly boost tourism in the local area.

Karaha Falls 

Location: Caibiran, Biliran

So glad I got a friend who was from Caibiran - a chance to visit the Karaha Falls and the famous Tinago Falls in Biliran.

Before we head up to Tinago Falls, we first visited the Karaha Falls which is just meters away from the former. The falls was named “Karaha” because the water first drops at a basin on the upper level which looks like a ‘cooking pan’, which also means karaha in Visayan dialect.

Tinago Falls

Location: Caibiran, Biliran

We walked down to a concrete stairs leading to the waterfalls. Upon arriving to the destination, I was truly rapt by this lofty water cascade, such a piece of art! Many of the locals would climb up to its topmost to jump off the ridge, dropping 90 feet into the cold waters. The water falls from the center of a rock outcrop and is surrounded by large rocks, then flows into low-lying areas, making up a stream.

Entrance Fee: P10 

CEBU CITY VIA NAVAL

If you are from Cebu City and would like to get to Biliran via ferryboats, you can take the Cebu-Biliran route via large sea transports and purchase tickets from ferry outlets in Cebu City. Sea travel takes at least seven (7) hours for large passenger ships. The city’s bus terminal is just near the port area so you can directly ride vans or buses bound for Caibiran, Biliran. Upon arriving, you can ask some habal-habal drivers to take you to Karaha and Tinago Falls. 

Related articles:

Busay Falls in Babatngon, Leyte

Higatangan and Sambawan Island, Biliran

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