Compostela Valley waterfalls add crystal glitter to land of gold

AWESOME AWAO The Awao Falls are said to be the other precious natural asset of Monkayo, Compostela Valley, which is known for its gold mines. The falls, estimated to be at least 20 meters high, dwarf tourists who go on a heart-stopping ride on steep hillside roads to enjoy these wonders. FRINSTON LIM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

MONKAYO, Compostela Valley—For the daring and adventurous, this land, more renowned for its gold mines, has another precious natural asset to offer.

Nestled among the hills of the farming village of Awao and accessed through a system of trails with sweeping mountain vistas, the two waterfalls of Awao should be on every tourist’s list of must-see places.

With waters remaining almost crystal-clear even after a downpour, they are the latest in the growing list of attractions offered by Monkayo, the northernmost town of Compostela Valley province in the Davao region of southeastern Mindanao

“Awao Falls is an ideal getaway for those who love nature and adventure,” said Jong Diel, Monkayo municipal tourism action officer.

Thrill of the journey

For starters, the journey to the entrance to the falls is a thrill in itself, as visitors and tourists are treated to an exhilarating ride on a skylab, a sturdy motorcycle fitted with a contraption that can seat up to eight people.

This contrivance is the preferred, if not the only, mode of transport from the national road to the drop-off point, some 5 kilometers from the center of the village, where the trek to the falls begin.

There are two routes to Awao village—via San Jose village from Monkayo or through Sta. Josefa town in Agusan del Sur. The Monkayo-San Jose route is shorter but more difficult, so the less adventurous are encouraged to take the Sta. Josefa route.

Heart-stopping ride

The bumpy and sometimes slippery climb to the drop-off point on a skylab or habal-habal (motorcycle for hire) is more than made up for by the breathtaking and heart-stopping sights along the way: various tree species, ferns and other lush foliage covering the misty hillsides hundreds of feet below.

The ride is expecially hair-raising as the skylab negotiates the narrow hillside road, its passengers’ feet dangling precariously off the deep, gaping ravines.

The trip to the drop-off point lasts only several minutes but for the uninitiated, these moments could be the longest ride of their life.

“A foreigner who visited months ago said (the skylab ride) was like a roller-coaster’s. Bumpy yet exciting,” said Diel.

Despite being well-known as a local destination since the early 2000s, the falls only started to receive attention and funds for improvements a couple of years ago, according to local officials.

Moises Bacolod, the village chief, says the two Awao falls are fed by another cataract further uphill.

“They say there’s a third waterfall which feeds water to the two, but we have yet to find that water source,” he said.

20-meter drop

The falls are estimated to be at least 20 meters in height, although no official measurement is known to have ever been conducted, said Diel.

To fully appreciate the grandness of the sight, a person wishing to take a photo usually asks someone to stand using the falls as a backdrop.

Falls 1 is the more picturesque because of its curtain-like appearance, with multiple drops on the side of a rock cliff providing a postcard-like tableau.

Visitors can take a shower from the white foam cascading down the cliff or take a dip at Falls 2 further downriver. The second waterfall is reached after trekking through a shallow river with protruding rocks and a 25-minute sweat-drenching and butt-aching ascent on a steep hill, with only thickets and stumps and roots of trees to grab on to.

Comprising a series of cataracts measuring more than a hundred feet high, Falls 2 drops into a lagoon ideal for swimming and bathing.

Rock-climbing options

The more intrepid visitor can explore further, by scaling the rocky formation splitting the waterfall, using the cracks on the boulders as footholds while grasping on to grasses that grow abundantly on the face of the cliff.

“Here, visitors can do rock climbing up to the topmost portion of the falls and follow the path of the water. Falls 2 is not only good for swimming but also for more strenuous and exciting activities such as boulder climbing,” said Diel.

Because they want to make Awao Falls appealing even to children, the local government intends to push the promotion of Falls 1, and reserve Falls 2 for the more experienced and adventure-minded trekkers, Diel said.

He said the trail to Falls 1 is easier and closer to the drop-off point than Falls 2 so that even children as young as 7 years can enjoy the experience.

“Actually, we wanted to package Awao Falls as an excellent site for minor climbing in which even children can participate,” he said.