La Union is famous for its surfing waves; however, it also has other attractions that make it a noteworthy province to visit. One of the places to add to your itinerary is Tangadan Falls.
Exploring Tangadan Falls
I had half a day off during a work-related writing assignment for a travel magazine. So another travel blogger and I decided to visit Tangadan Falls in San Gabriel, La Union.
Since we were pressed for time, instead of taking public transportation, my travel buddy (Kara of Travel Up) and I rented a tricycle to get us to the jump off point of the waterfalls. It was an uneventful ride through the countryside.
The path going to the waterfall was mostly flat, it's easy for everyone, regardless of fitness level. The walk to the different spots was also quite scenic.
Along the way, you'll get to a spot where you can go cliff diving. Our guide told us that the highest place you can jump off in is around 20 feet high. You have the option to ride a makeshift 'cable car' to get you to the other side. You can also walk by crossing a mini waterfall and some rock formations.
After a short walk, we finally made it to the waterfalls and pool!
It was quite popular with locals and those traveling from nearby provinces. We didn't have much time to really enjoy the place or ride the bamboo rafts.
Our guide told us the point where I'm sitting in the photo above and to the waters below is around 50 feet. They used to allow visitors to jump from there, but they now prohibited it because there was one person who got into an accident.
We settled for jumping off a cliff that was around 15 feet high instead.
Although our trip to Tangadan Falls was short, we still had fun. I'd recommend a visit to this place whenever you're in La Union.
How to Get to Tangadan Falls
My travel buddy and I paid P500 each for the tricycle rent (from San Juan, La Union) and guide. Other fees include:
- P30 entrance fee
- P50 life vest
- P20 one way ride on the makeshift cable car
If you're traveling by public transport from Manila, board a bus bound for La Union. The fare is approximately P400 one way and may take around 5 to 7 hours. Alight at either San Juan or San Fernando, and board a jeep bound for San Gabriel. The fare for that leg of the trip is P19 one way; tell the driver you want to go to Tangadan Falls, he will then drop you off at the tricycle station. The tricycle ride to the jump off point costs P50.
