Waterfalls rappelling: A new high

EXTREME sports enthusiasts can enjoy waterfall rappelling at the iconic Kawasan Falls in Badian, southern Cebu province. JOE SANTINO BUNACHITA

Excitement swept the faces of young couple Maureen Aranas and Almyr Caminade when told that they would rappel 40 meters down to the second level of the famous Kawasan Falls in Badian town, 97.6 kilometers southwest of Cebu City.

The adrenaline rush was worth it, they said.

“It was really a breathtaking experience,” Aranas said. “I enjoyed the activity with just a little bit of anxiety because you are depending on the durability of the rope as you hop down the waterfall.”

Aranas and Caminade learned about waterfalls rappelling through the Facebook page of Raymund Gaudiano Sande, who was their guide when they tried canyoneering in Cebu before.

Sande, a licensed canyoneering operator in Cebu, was the first to introduce waterfalls rappelling in the province. The idea was born after the province suspended canyoneering activities at Kanlaob River in the towns of Badian and Alegria in June, pending review of safety procedures. It was reopened only on Sept. 1.

Kawasan Falls

Sande thought of another activity to attract tourists and bring income to 16 tour guides and assistants. “I looked for other activities that we could do here in Badian. I researched on the internet and found that waterfall rappelling was popular in Costa Rica,” he said.

It may just be what he was looking for at Kawasan Falls in the southern town of Badian, three hours by land from Cebu City.

Waterfalls rappelling is safe, Sande said. Guides would go down the waterfalls alongside guests. The path for rappelling has also been cleared to make sure that rocks and rock formations are not damaged to alter the appearance of Kawasan Falls.

Sande and his guides had undergone training with Habagat, a mountaineering group in Cebu. Their gear, including harness, descender equipment, vests and helmets, “are branded (and of good) quality,” he said.

Before the start of a rappel, the guides check the area for spots to anchor the ropes.

Safety checks

Guests are given a short briefing on safety and how to control and regulate their descent through rocks alongside the cascading waterfalls. They are provided helmets and life vests, get into the harness and are buckled up to the rope which will hold their weight while scaling down.

Levi Pasilan rappels alongside guests to ensure their safety. He can also take photos or videos for guests while rappelling for top view shots of the unique activity.

Using another camera, Sande takes a different and wider angle of the descent aboard a bamboo raft on the river below the waterfalls.

Some guests would take selfies halfway down. Among them is Maureen, though her boyfriend, Caminade, was more nervous than she was.

Their favorite part is the “monkey drop,” the last three meters where guests cling tight on the descender, a gear that controls the velocity of the drop.

“I’m a huge fan of extreme adventures and I’m always game,” Almyr said. “But when I stepped on the cliff, while looking down to where the waterfalls were and realizing how high it was, that was when I felt my spine tingle,” he said.

“I thought, this was scary, but at the same time, I was very excited to try it,” he added.

The fear melted away during the drop and the adrenaline rush took over, Almyr said.

Other activities

Waterfall rappelling costs P1,200 per person, but the price goes with lunch and other activities, that include waterfalls and cliff jumping and bamboo rafting.

When the adrenaline starts to subside and hunger pangs set in, guests can feast on pork in sour soup, noodles, chicken simmered in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic, sautéed mixed vegetables, rice and soda in one of the cottages beside the waterfalls.

Sande said he tried to encourage other canyoneering operators to try waterfall rappelling but they declined because it required a big investment and proper training.

Since he opened his venture in June, at least 200 guests have tried it. They usually come in groups of five people who have something in common—the search for adrenaline rush.

Sande also offers an island-hopping tour in the nearby town of Moalboal, which is famous for Pescador Island—a popular diving site.

That would be for another adventure.