Cavinti Falls (Pagsanjan Falls) — Attraction in Cavinti

The natural beauty of this place is breathtaking. It’s absolutely a gorgeous place. However, my wife and I’s experience was not very pleasant.

First, it was a 3 hour drive from Manila; and Philippine traffic is horrendous.

Upon arriving to the location, we were told by a staff member that we had to pay 75 pesos each person for parking. We had 6 people with us, so it would have cost 450 pesos just for parking.

However, then they changed it and said that parking is free, but it costs 75 pesos for whoever wants to use the swimming pools; 75 pesos per person.

We asked about the price to ride the canoes and go to the falls. Our guides were local Filipinos and they have been here before. They recall the price being 500 pesos per person. The price now was 1,500 pesos per person. My wife and I did not have much money but we paid a total of 3,100 to go on the canoe to the waterfall. The rest of our group did not go; just my wife and I.

The first thing our boatmen asked when they saw us was, “where are you from?” (Which I know that they are really trying to figure out how much money you have). We thought they were trustworthy enough so we told them our home countries. (Two very western countries).

Sadly, depending on your answer, what country you are from, you will be asked for money more than others.

The boatmen worked hard and the scenery was beautiful! But we took 2 breaks before the halfway point and the boatmen wasted no time asking for money and tips. It was uncomfortable to be surrounded with such beauty and nature, and yet have boatmen asking you for money.

We were foreigners alone, out in the middle of a river, and vulnerable to strange men asking for money.

We came to the halfway point where there was some makeshift shelter and several boatmen there eating. One of the boatmen there asked if our boatmen, the ones guiding our tour, could eat and have something to drink. Of course we said, “yes.” Very confused by the question. And then they asked, “could both of your boatmen eat and have a drink?” To which again, we replied, “yes of course.” Then they said, “ok. That will be 480 pesos.”

They scammed us into giving them more money. It was very hard to say, “no.” We were in the middle of the river tour, within a makeshift shelter, surrounded by unknown men. We were Two foreigners alone. So I gave them 500 pesos.

Now a total of 3,600 pesos.

Eventually we get to the falls, but not before the boatmen take another 2 breaks and ask for more money. They even asked specifically for exact amount of money they each wanted. It was very off putting.

We get to the falls, and they look beautiful, but in all honesty, I have seen better falls in other countries. It was very beautiful but after all the hassle and people constantly looking to scam you, it was definitely not worth it.

To get to the falls took about 1 hour or so. And to get back took another, maybe 45 minutes.

Our drive back to Manila, due to traffic and a few bathroom breaks, took us 4.5 hours.

In short, I do not believe it’s worth it, the natural beauty is amazing, but you will be questioned, misled, and scammed out of money.

These tourist attractions in these kinds of countries are often not visitor friendly. Sadly, they see you as rich suckers who should be taken advantage of. Specially if you have white skin, light hair, and colored eyes.

Beautiful place, hardworking people, but not visitor friendly;...

Pagsanjan Falls is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking natural attractions in the Philippines. The majestic waterfalls, surrounded by lush greenery and towering cliffs, create a truly mesmerizing experience. The thrilling boat ride through the rapids adds an exciting adventure, making the journey as memorable as the destination itself. The raw beauty of the falls and the refreshing cool mist that envelops you as you approach the cascade make it a must-visit for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

However, the one major downside that significantly tarnishes the experience is the aggressive behavior of the boatmen when it comes to asking for tips. While tipping is a common practice, especially for services like this, the constant pressure and outright begging for extra money become uncomfortable and frustrating. Some boatmen even go as far as making passive-aggressive remarks or giving guilt-tripping speeches about how hard their job is, making visitors feel obliged to give more than they intended.

This persistent solicitation takes away from the otherwise magical experience. It would be much better if there were a fixed, transparent fee system or at least a more professional approach to tipping, rather than putting visitors in an awkward position. Despite this issue, the natural beauty of Pagsanjan Falls remains unmatched, and with better management of the boatmen's conduct, it could easily be a flawless destination.

Final Verdict: ⭐ 4/5 – Stunning waterfalls and an exhilarating ride, but the tipping culture needs improvement to make the experience...

We chose one of the many companies around to do our tour. This one had a restaurant that you could order from so that your food was ready after the tour (not included in the price). They also had showers available to change in after the tour so make sure to bring an extra set of clothes as you will get wet. The boat ride was quite long - approximately 8km both ways. The return journey was much faster because it goes with the current. You don’t do any rowing as the people from the company do the work for you. Be ready to give them a tip as they work really hard during the entire journey and assists you in any way possible by taking pictures, answering questions, etc. This is a really adventurous experience and is not for the lighthearted as there were a couple of dangerous moments whilst going up the river. The views along the way will make it worth it though and the waterfall is breathtaking. When you get there, you sit on a raft that’s immersed in water and the workers there will pull the raft directly under the water of the waterfall.

Tldr: absolutely...