Less than an hour away from Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte is the Portabaga Falls in Cagayan, where water cascades down beautifully into a stream and connects to three man-made pools, hidden inside a natural forest in the hilly part of the town of Sta. Praxedes.
Portabaga Falls is probably not included in your bucket list, yet, but we’re telling you, this natural wonder gives off a unique northern charm that you don’t want to miss. If you want to swim in cold and clear natural water, you can do that here.
The waterfall is about 15 meters high. Below it is an area converted into a park and resort with huts and rooms that can be rented. There are three pools where kids and adults can swim. Do take note, however, that they don’t have a lifeguard on duty (there might be, but we haven’t seen them at the time we went there) and there are really slippery stones at the bottom of the falls, so be sure to take extra care of yourself.
The best thing about this is that you can enjoy this beauty at a really cheap price. Entrance fee is only PhP 10 for each person, and it’s been like that for years. For tourists who came from far places, they have available rooms that can be rented during the night. The room rate ranges from PhP 1,200 to Php 3,000.
We know that Portabaga Falls isn’t your typical go-to destination (yet), but if you happen to be visiting the north, why not take some time to go here, too? From what we’ve gathered, they are planning to develop the place more, which can mean a better service for locals and tourists alike.
Have you been to Portabaga Falls? Let us know in the comments!
