TANGADAN FALLS
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Location: Amontoc, San
Gabriel, La Union, Philippines
Major Jump-Off Area: Poblacion,
San Gabriel, La Union
How to Get There:
·
Public transportation:
1.
Via San Fernando City, La
Union. Take a PUJ (terminal at the northern side of the San Fernando City Round
Market bound to San Gabriel. The regular fare is Php26.00. All San Gabriel-bound PUJs will stop at Barangay
Poblacion with 30 minutes to an hour duration depending on the traffic. Preferably,
you need to go to the San Gabriel Municipal Hall for arrangement of tour guides
and transportation bound to Tangadan Falls parking area in Barangay Amontoc.
For DIY transportation arrangement, you can ask the locals where to hire a PUJ or a motorcycle. Round trip hire including waiting time is Php1500.00-Php2000.00 for PUJ and Php350.00 for motorcycles. PUJ ride usually takes about 20 minutes; this is typically
shorter when riding a motorcycle. From the parking area, you need to hike
downhill on uneven [some parts are paved] foot path at least 10 minutes
[for fast hikers] or [usually] longer depending on your pace. Going back may
take thrice as much since you’ll be hiking uphill. (Take note that there are no PUJs going to the area on an hourly basis.
Usually, there is a single Poblacion to Amontoc trip during or after lunch
hours and Amontoc to Poblacion trip only in the morning. Thus, there is a
need to hire a PUJ or motorcycle in a round trip basis if you don't have your own transportation.)
2.
Via San Juan, La Union. Wait
for San Gabriel-bound PUJs at the national hi-way crossing north of the San
Juan Municipal Hall. There is a small sign “→ San Gabriel” along the crossing. Fare is around Php16.00
3. Via Bacnotan, La Union. Take a
PUJ from Poblacion, Bacnotan to Poblacion, San Gabriel. This is the least
suggested itinerary since there is a limited Bacnotan-San Gabriel trips.
4.
Via Bucao, San Gabriel, La Union. This route is highly advisable when your transportation budget is limited. Take a tricycle from Poblacion, San Gabriel to Duplas, San Juan (via Bucao). Tricycle fare is PhP80.00. The hike, however, may take about an hour or even much longer to those who have a slower pace. This has a longer hike time than via Amontoc and thus not advisable to those who have no patience in exerting physical effort. On the other hand, this route might be more interesting to adventurous pips.
·
Private car: Google map suffices for direction. Also, asking the locals is highly advisable.
1.
Via San Juan, La Union.
2.
Via Bacnotan, La Union.
Description
Tangadan
Falls is located in Amontoc, San Gabriel, La Union, a predominantly mountainous
municipality in Region I. The name of Tangadan Falls is derived from an Ilokano
root word “tangad,” which means to look up, probably due to the about 40–feet
high water plunge.
Via Amontoc: Strenuous
the hike as it may be, your physical effort will be rewarded with the
mesmerizing cascade-to-pool and waterfall-to-pool series. From the parking
area, you need to traverse a downhill footpath for at least 15 minutes. This
may take longer depending on your pace and the condition of the path. Halfway,
you will hear the roar of the water. During rainy season, the unpaved parts of
the path tend to be muddy and slippery. Also, during this season, you may be
rewarded with green vegetable gardens and rice paddies in you trek. Your bodily
exertion during the hike will be rewarded when you reach your destination:
clean, clear and invigoratingly cold water in a short
cascade-to-pool-to-waterfall-to-pool series.
Via Bucao: About an hour walk from the turning point, you will pass by farms, irrigation dikes, and generally the river snaking up to the glorious Tangadan Falls. To nature-lovers, the rivulet, naturally-occuring pools, fishes (especially the abundant locally-termed "Bunog"), underwater grasses, diving cliffs, and low-height falls are but a few of the many delights en route.
Tangadan
river could be divided into two levels: upper and lower. The upper level is
composed of a short cascade of about 7 feet high and 4 feet wide. The width of
the cascade narrows or widens depending on the season and amount of rainfall.
Through the steep stone slope, water cascades to the narrow pool below. The
pool is deep and about 30 feet wide by 90 feet long. It is surrounded with
steep stone walls. The lower wall is easily accessible and serves as the diving
and jumping point. The water from the first pool exits through a narrow outlet
that splits into two. The smaller outlet exits as a narrow cascade to the right
of the precipice. The bigger outlet flattens as it moves above the rock ledge
and plunges down to the wide pool of the lower level. The size of the pool
could easily engulf two basketball courts. As of the beginning of 2016, there
are three bamboo rafts (“raket” or “balsa”) which can be hired. You may ask the
operator to take you near or under the falls, which tourists usually do. This
is common because the jets of falling water gives a natural massage. Unlike in
hand massage, you control the pressure by your proximity to the waterfall. You
can also exhaust yourself swimming in this pool because of its size, thus the
need for life vest for those who are not good and non-swimmers. The water from
the second pool flows out through slippery rocks and exits to a gentle, wide,
long, and 2-4 feet deep basin. Somehow, this is more conducive to children who
does not know how to swim and those who wants to learn how to swim.
Amenities (rental prices may vary or increase without
prior notice):
· Parking fee: Php10.00
Cottage: Php200.00-300.00.
·
Life vest or salbabida:
Php50.00.
·
Bamboo raft (“raket”):
Php400.00 (maximum of 10 pax)
Reminders
- Cancel your trip if there is a
continuous heavy downpour in the municipality.
- Registration is a must to all
tourists.
- Wear comfortable walking or
hiking shoes and clothes.
- Strictly no cooking, grilling,
and the likes. Take pre-prepared foods including water.
- Life vest is a must for those
who cannot swim in fresh water. Drowning is higher in fresh water than sea
water.
- Do not vandalize the stones by marker
pens or etching upon it. As of late February 2016, the extent of etches upon
stones have yet to abate.
- Eating and throwing of garbage
or food scraps along the river is prohibited.
- The Municipality of San Gabriel
is a Red Orchid Awardee and also awarded by the Civil Service Commission and
the Department of Health as the Best LGU Implementer of Smoke-free Program in
Region 1 (CSC, 2013). Most of the tourists in Tangadan Falls do not know this
and are unendingly a-huffin’ and a-puffin’ clouds of cigarette smokes in and
around the cottages.
- When riding a PUJ to or from
Tangadan Falls, “topload style” is allowed, as this is not uncommon among PUJs
bound to the municipality’s mountain barangays. Make sure that you are secure
and to always be vigilant in your grips. Take note, however, that the locals
are used to this and are aware to strengthen and secure their grips in parts of
the ride. Though, no accidents involving tourists on “topload style” is reported
yet, do not be the first in the local statistics.
- Do not go or cross cordoned
areas (barricaded with bamboos or branches).
- Stones along the river could be
slippery.
- If there is a sudden heavy
downpour during the rainy season, do not linger in the river as it may swell to
a dangerous level at any point in time.
Gallery
This
is the start of the downhill trek. The surface of the unpaved footpaths can be
easily powderized under your shoes during summer. However, it is muddy during
rainy season. In both cases, you need comfortable walking or hiking shoes.
Non-hikers need to be careful in these unpaved footpaths.
The
stretch of paved footpaths is increasing each year as Tangadan Falls visitors
increase. There is even a plan of extending the paved road nearer to the
waterfall.
This
is the first view which invites you to go nearer.
The
upper part consists of a short cascade and a narrow pool. The lower wall of the
pool serves as a diving and jumping point.
The
upper pool narrows down towards the water exit.
A complete view of the upper level.
The water
from the first pool exits through a narrow outlet that splits into two. The
smaller outlet exits as a narrow cascade to the right of the precipice.
The
shallow part as the water exits from the upper pool towards the plunge.
The
water from the first pool exits through a narrow outlet that splits into two.
Above is the bigger outlet before it flattens near the ledge.
The
water from the first pool exits through a narrow outlet that splits into two.
The bigger outlet flattens as it moves above the rock ledge and plunges down to
the wide pool of the lower level.
The
great plunge and the narrow cascade.
View from near the water exit of the second pool.
Two
of the three bamboo rafts (“raket” or “balsa”).
You
can hire a bamboo raft and try the back massage under the waterfall.
A
closer look at the narrow cascade.
This cascade has a more brute force and greater volume during rainy season.
Careful! The rocks are slippery.
The
water from the second pool flows out through slippery rocks and exits to a
gentle, wide, long, and 2-4 feet deep basin. Somehow, this is more conducive to
children who does not know how to swim and those who wants to learn how to
swim.
The
organic cottages is but one of the reasons why cooking with fire is prohibited
in the area.
The
shower facility. But then again, why do you need one? The water you’re going to
shower is the same water you’ve waded minutes ago!
Well,
don’t get too tired while swimming. Remember, you’ve got a steep climb ahead!
REFERENCE
LIST:
CSC (2013). Best Practices [PDF File]. Retrieved from http://www.csc.gov.ph/phocadownload/PMU/bestpractices.pdf.
