Tiklas Falls: An outstanding waterfall to witness

One of the greatest and most impressive tourist destinations in Misamis Oriental is Tiklas Falls. Its form, shape, and structure appear to be the gate of Atlantis hidden in the middle of nowhere. With its spectacular scenery and view, local and foreign tourists cannot resist taking their time and diving into the stunning tourist destinations in the region. As well, the splish-splashing cascade, the cerulean-blue swimming pool, the lush green scenery, and the exuberant tourist attraction hook and captivate the hearts of holidaymakers to visit the place. As well, the well-crafted and well-designed cerulean-blue swimming pool in the middle of the area looks like the gate of Atlantis or the portal of the lost city somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle and enthralls holidaymakers owing to its cool and refreshing waters. Picture-perfect as it is, Tiklas Falls appears to be the Atlantis of Gingoog City. Located in the Lawit Town, Gingoog City, this spectacular tourist destination has been the prevailing tourist spot in Misamis Oriental. At present, the city government of Gingoog has developed Tiklas Falls as an Eco-Tourism Park. It means that Tiklas Falls has a lot of things to offer.

Local and foreign tourists from Cagayan de Oro and Butuan City can easily go to Gingoog City. From Cagayan de Oro, tourists will take 122 kilometers east to Gingoog City. From Butuan City, tourists take 74 kilometers to Gingoog City. In other words, local and foreign vacationers can enjoy themselves at Tiklas Falls since it is the most renowned tourist attraction in Gingoog City. Aside from Iligan City in Lanao Del Norte Province, Gingoog becomes the “City of Waterfalls.

An Inviting and Magnificent Beauty of Tiklas Falls in Gingoog City

Essentially, Tiklas Falls mesmerizes all holidaymakers with the captivating and catching cascade of dashing waters. It lets vacationers have their get-together gimmicks and picnics while exploiting the falls as the backdrop. Before arriving at the falls, holidaymakers take 15 minutes more or less on a murky and rock-strewn trail to Tiklas Falls. Just like any other tourist charms, the neighboring sites of Tiklas Falls have various resorts. The city government of Gingoog develops the area as part of the eco-tourism program so that local and foreign tourists can enjoy swimming in a pool. As expected, tourists can see some cottages obtainable for rentals, which cost around ₱200.00. The reasonably priced cottages, food and beverages, and other menus are remaining for the visitors. As well, travelers and visitors will pay ₱20 (adult) and P10 (children 12 years below) for their entrance fees. With these fees, vacationers can only enjoy the cool and refreshing waters. They can do a lot of excitement and fun. They can, also, take pictures as they stand on the concrete bridge. The picturesque view of the waterfalls permits holidaymakers and travelers to capture the picture-perfect photographs.

Additionally, local and foreign tourists knew that the city government of Gingoog and the management of Tiklas Falls did not allow littering in the area. In this case, they could preserve cleanliness, order, and peace of the place. However, local and foreign visitors also knew that Tiklas Falls’ management did not have accommodations within the area. They have to return to the metropolitan if they have a week-long experience in the place.

An Exciting Location of Tiklas Falls like the Gate of Atlantis in the Middle of Nowhere

How To Get There

Local and foreign tourists, who wish to visit Tiklas Falls, may take various means of transportation by air, land, and sea.

By Air

If tourists are from Manila and other countries, they can take airplanes. From Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to Laguindingan Airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, they can Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, and Philippines Airlines. Upon arriving at the Laguindingan Airport, they can take taxis or jeepneys going to Cagayan de Oro Bus Terminal. However, if money is not a problem for fair and if taxi drivers are friendly and fine, tourists from the airport can go directly to Gingoog City. On the contrary, if tourists are financially meticulous, they can take taxis from Laguindingan Airport to Cagayan de Oro Bus Terminal. From there, they take Rural Transit Buses or any buses going to Gingoog City.

By Sea

If sightseers and travelers are from Manila, holidaymakers can take 2GO (previously known as Superferry). This sea transport offers passengers some trips four times as the weekly sailing calendar from Manila seaport going to Cagayan de Oro. They can, also, choose 2GO two times as the weekly sailing calendar from Manila to Butuan (Nasipit seaport). If day-trippers and trekkers are from Cebu City, they take the ferryboat excursion going to Cagayan de Oro City and Butuan. Well, tourists know that they have a nightly sailing schedule to Butuan and Cagayan de Oro if they are from Cebu.

By Land

If sightseers and travelers are from Butuan and Cagayan de Oro City, they take the Rural Transit schedules going to Gingoog City. If tourists are from Butuan City, they can take buses bound to Gingoog City with travel time around two to three hours. they just need to tell the car owners to dewdrop them off at Eskina Santiago or the junctures going to Tiklas Fall. They can see a massive signboard indicating Tiklas Falls’s directions.

A Picture-Perfect Spot of Tiklas Falls in Gingoog City

On the other hand, if tourists come from Gingoog City, they take motorcycles to Eskina Santiago. If they are from CDO, they take buses bound to Butuan or Gingoog for two to three hours. In Gingoog, they can drop off at Eskina Santiago. At Eskina Santiago, they can take motorcycles or tricycles locally termed as habal-habal going to Tiklas Falls. Well, they can negotiate the motorcycle drivers paying them ₱150.00 for the trip. Excitingly, they can take a walk for 350 meters from the entrance to the bravura gate of Atlantis or the splendid waterfalls of Gingoog.

Tinago Falls: Iligan City’s hidden wealth to see

Iligan City’s waterfall pride gives us an exciting wet adventure. Wikipedia, which is an open dictionary, provides us the location of Tinago Falls. Bloggers, as well as vloggers, mention that the cascades of water of Tinago Falls on the Agus River fall in between the town of Linamon and Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte. Local travelers and holidaymakers know that this place is in the northern part of Mindanao in the Philippine islands and that they love the location where they can spend their long weekend adventure. Tinago Falls appears to be the City of Majestic Waterfalls and one of the significant tourist attractions of Linamon town or Iligan City.

Despite the odds in the world today, we can still find joy in nature…

We may be wondering where we get the term “Tinago.” Well, “Tinago” means “hidden” or “concealed,” which translates hidden falls for “Tinago Falls.” Based on the geographic location of the tourist spot, Tinago Falls is being hidden in a subterranean gorge in which all tourists and vacationers must go through roughly 500 zigzagging stairways. The descending steps toward the falls allow vacationers do their physical exercises by walking and make them keep this beautiful spot. This concealed tourist attraction, which is hidden from the strangers at first, slowly gains its guests and visitors. As well, only those who know the area and those who keep on visiting the place can enjoy the cold cascading waters. However, we need other people to visit the place and experience swimming. We can tell that Tinago Falls gives us an exciting feeling as we descend through the winding staircases into the calm and deep basin-like structure of the pool.

Surprisingly, we can witness the miracle of the place. The cerulean blue lagoon in the basin-like pool beautifully enchants us, as well as compels us to dive into it. A writer from Wikipedia mentions that the presence of a small cave veiled somewhere in the cascading waterfalls adds wonder of some legends and the unknown. As pointed out, tourists can listen to the echoing and reverberating waters as they enter into the cave.

Before we forget, we want our readers to know the location of Tinago Falls. They have to check the cavernous ravine in Barangay Ditucalan, Iligan City where they can find the dropping waters from the falls that plunge 240 feet high from a cliff. This measure seems inviting that we can take our time partaking into and swimming in Iligan City’s best waterfall in the country. As one of the urban centers of Northern Mindanao, Iligan City becomes the metropolis of imposing and magnificent waterfalls like the well-known Maria Cristina Falls.

Embracing happiness with nature even keeps us going forward…

So, what are we waiting for? We need to check the Tourism Office of Iligan City if everything is set due to the changing guidelines and instructions from the local and national governments. Once all are set, we have to pack our things up, get ready for our swimming gear, and plunge into the cool and refreshing waterfalls.

Oh, how do we get there?

    • If we are from Luzon and Visayas, Laguindingan Airport gives us the best entry point. Laguindingan Airport provides us a comfortable and pleasurable trip to both cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. From Laguindingan Airport, we can get a shuttle vehicle service to Iligan City. When we arrive, we can see various booths for the shuttle vehicle services like the Super 5 buses or vans to the city. We only need less than two hours for travel. 
    • If we are from Cagayan de Oro City Proper, we have to head to Westbound Integrated Bus and Jeepney Terminal. We take the non-stop or not non-stop bus to Iligan City. We just need ₱150 plus or minus for bus fare.