HomeAsiaPhilippinesMindanaoSurigao del SurTinuy-an Falls of Bislig, Surigao del Sur 180 shares By Marcos Detourist on February 4, 2012Finding out about a waterfall unofficially tagged as the “Niagara of the Philippines” made me want to visit the Tinuy-an Falls during my 12-day trip in Northeastern Mindanao.I was curious to see how it measured up, if its cascades were really comparable to the famed Niagara Falls … at the very least, to see a waterfall in the Philippines that had a more prominent width. I’ve never seen one since most of the waterfalls in the country have like a vertical orientation.The Tinuy-an Falls was located in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur and since Bislig was majorly out of the way from the rest of my itinerary route, I made it my first stop after arriving in Butuan City. Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Surigao del SurI reached Butuan by flying from “Iloilo to Cebu” then “Cebu to Butuan City.” AirPhil Express operates Iloilo-Cebu flights 3x daily and Cebu-Butuan flights 2x daily. Aerial view of Camiguin Island Rain over Butuan City, Agusan del Norte Arrival in Butuan Airport (BXU)Butuan to Mangagoy, Bislig CityBislig is the biggest city in Surigao del Sur. I got very confused when I was at the terminal in Butuan and couldn’t find any buses or vans with “Bislig” on their signboard. Turns out, everyone there was more accustomed calling the place “Mangagoy”, which is a barangay of Bislig.Brgy. Mangagoy is the most populated area and commercial center of the city. Bislig City also has a new(er) urban district in the making, where most of the government offices are located. This newer urban area is what probably comes to mind when someone mentions “Bislig.”Since we landed in Butuan in the afternoon and it takes around 3 hours land travel to Bislig City, I had to spend the night in town. It was already dark when I arrived in Bislig City … in Mangagoy specifically. I hailed a tricycle and asked the driver to take me to a “cheap place to sleep in town”. He took me to Casa Babano.Wandered around town and found a small homey eatery. Ordered chicken inasal / grilled chicken with unli rice (P60), chicken skin (P50), coke … yes I was that hungry.Casa de BabanoCasa de Babano had an aircon room with double bed, private TB, and free breakfast for P400 a night. I’d be interested to know if there are cheaper alternatives in Bislig :) Casa de Babano in Brgy. Mangagoy, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur Casa de Babano in Brgy. Mangagoy, Bislig City, Surigao del SurGetting to Tinuy-an FallsWalked to the market and approached one of the habal-habal drivers. He agreed to take me to Tinuy-an Falls and then to the van terminal for P300 (including waiting time). Travel time was around 45 minutes to an hour per way. This way to Tinuy-an Falls Tinuy-an Falls of Bislig City, Surigao del SurThe caretakers of the Tinuy-an Falls charged P10 entrance fee for visitors (I heard it’s now P20). There were some developments on the grounds like picnic tabes, a sari-sari store, a small playground, a wooden bridge, and even a floating inflatable raft so visitors could get close to the main cascade. First view of Tinuy-an Falls Floating raft at the wooden bridge Wooden bridge to get to the main viewing area Picnic tables PlaygroundNiagara? or uniquely Tinuy-an?Located in Brgy. Burboanan (Bislig City, Surigao del Sur), Tinuy-an Falls was composed of three major cascades measuring approximately 95 meters wide and 55 metres (180 ft) high. There was another smaller cascade near the entrance.Even though it rained the day before, there wasn’t as much water flow as I would’ve hoped / seen in photos :(The Tinuy-an Falls was really beautiful, one of the most picturesque I’ve seen in the Philippines … but I was expecting more, to be honest, especially since people (and Wikipedia) have been tagging it as a “Niagara” of sorts.Spent the remaining time to take souvenir photos and wander around.Durian? and Marang?Bislig to Butuan CityThe habal-habal driver dropped me off at the “Batchelor” bus/van terminal along the highway at 11:55am. Waited for almost 30 minutes for the van to fill up. I sat at the front seat so I could take photos along the way. On our way to Butuan City River beside Bislig City Proper Hinatuan Public Market Hinatuan Land Terminal This way to Enchanter RiverI wanted to visit the Enchanted River in Hinatuan so bad after seeing photos of its alluring deep blue waters online … but I still have a lot of places to go and limited time. All the more reasons to come back!The view during the van ride was only interesting for the first 30 minutes (up to Hinatuan) and then things got unremarkable. I wondered what else was there to explore in that area.Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Bislig (Surigao del Sur) and Butuan 2-Day DIY ItineraryIligan Waterfalls and Cagayan de Oro 2-Day DIY ItineraryMalaybalay and Bukidnon 2-Day DIY Itinerary19 Days Northeast Mindanao Itinerary — Surigao,…12 Days Northeast Mindanao Itinerary - Surigao,…15 Days Eastern Visayas & Sorsogon ItineraryComments Gladys | WanderingTandem.com saysFebruary 4, 2012 at 1:00 pmgreat photos! wish i can go there within in this year :) Marcos saysFebruary 6, 2012 at 4:28 amthanks. Tinuy-an Falls is also accessible from Davao if ever you’re in that area. ayan saysFebruary 7, 2012 at 11:14 pmwow.nice catches Billygar saysFebruary 12, 2012 at 9:41 amWow. Excellent photos. I wish I could go there…:) Jay R saysFebruary 22, 2012 at 11:58 pmsee Bohol’s waterfalls, also spectacular Marcos saysFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:57 pmOMG! I didn’t know Bohol had waterfalls this big! You just made me want to visit Bohol again, ahah :D Jay R saysFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:04 amit was a huge swell when we visited Tinuy-an and that was really spectacular. waters were thundering from pressure and volume. you should come and see Tinuy-an in that state maybe so you could appreciate it at its best. here’s my video: Marcos saysFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:56 pmwhoa! now that was more like the waterfalls I was expecting :) Cmbarinan saysMay 5, 2012 at 8:12 pmthanks for this blog. it really helped a lot when i will go to tinuy-an falls, one of my dream place to visit. anna saysMay 20, 2012 at 3:58 pmHello! kung from Manila kami saan ang pinakamadali na route to reach Hinatuan and Bislig? Thanks po…. Mrs.LEE saysAugust 17, 2012 at 4:53 pmIf youre from Manila, best is….plane to Davao City..take van or bus going Mangagoy…then in Mangagoy,you can rent Van or single motor depending on how many person will come along with you. Bislig Tamabayan saysNovember 1, 2012 at 1:45 pmthis is the most amazing and beautiful falls in the Philippines and im proud to be Bisliganon. Miles Gonzaga saysNovember 24, 2012 at 4:56 pmI am currently in these areas in Mindanao. I am a living witness to the sooo many beautiful spots here, there and almost everywhere. The Tinuy-an falls in Bislig and Awao falls in Monkayo are top on my priority list.Thanks for sharing photos and info. Marcos saysDecember 4, 2012 at 6:34 pmYou’re so lucky. Mindanao is blessed with so many interesting places to explore. Julie saysJuly 11, 2013 at 1:34 amGaleng… I wish maging katulad mo ako… backpacking and just traveling around kasi sa Pilipinas lang. Ambot ah, so…. bisaya? =) Lovely travel blog. Marcos saysAugust 13, 2013 at 3:40 pmThanks Julie! I’m Ilonggo :) Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Gladys | WanderingTandem.com saysFebruary 4, 2012 at 1:00 pmgreat photos! wish i can go there within in this year :)
Marcos saysFebruary 6, 2012 at 4:28 amthanks. Tinuy-an Falls is also accessible from Davao if ever you’re in that area.
Marcos saysFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:57 pmOMG! I didn’t know Bohol had waterfalls this big! You just made me want to visit Bohol again, ahah :D
Jay R saysFebruary 23, 2012 at 12:04 amit was a huge swell when we visited Tinuy-an and that was really spectacular. waters were thundering from pressure and volume. you should come and see Tinuy-an in that state maybe so you could appreciate it at its best. here’s my video:
Marcos saysFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:56 pmwhoa! now that was more like the waterfalls I was expecting :)
Cmbarinan saysMay 5, 2012 at 8:12 pmthanks for this blog. it really helped a lot when i will go to tinuy-an falls, one of my dream place to visit.
anna saysMay 20, 2012 at 3:58 pmHello! kung from Manila kami saan ang pinakamadali na route to reach Hinatuan and Bislig? Thanks po….
Mrs.LEE saysAugust 17, 2012 at 4:53 pmIf youre from Manila, best is….plane to Davao City..take van or bus going Mangagoy…then in Mangagoy,you can rent Van or single motor depending on how many person will come along with you.
Bislig Tamabayan saysNovember 1, 2012 at 1:45 pmthis is the most amazing and beautiful falls in the Philippines and im proud to be Bisliganon.
Miles Gonzaga saysNovember 24, 2012 at 4:56 pmI am currently in these areas in Mindanao. I am a living witness to the sooo many beautiful spots here, there and almost everywhere. The Tinuy-an falls in Bislig and Awao falls in Monkayo are top on my priority list.Thanks for sharing photos and info.
Marcos saysDecember 4, 2012 at 6:34 pmYou’re so lucky. Mindanao is blessed with so many interesting places to explore.
Julie saysJuly 11, 2013 at 1:34 amGaleng… I wish maging katulad mo ako… backpacking and just traveling around kasi sa Pilipinas lang. Ambot ah, so…. bisaya? =) Lovely travel blog.