Tinago Falls, like a wonder drug, provides a soothing cure for any pounding headache. The flowing water, even from the tiniest cracks in its high-rise wall, appears to wash away all unsavory elements of the world. The cold, crystalline water creates an inviting natural pool completely surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Despite men's embarrassing attempts to build unnecessary infrastructure that slightly threatens the waterfall's bareness vibe, the place can still be described in all favorable adjectives.
At Tinago Falls
The Struggle for Preservation
But how long will this last? That is a frequently asked question. If the park's management continues to allow visitors to leave their decaying trash, the waterfalls may soon lose some of their pristine appeal. The caretaker explained that it was due to the unusually large number of visitors during the November 1 and 2 holidays. I genuinely hope the place is kept clean and well-maintained on regular days.
The only true disappointment of the trip to Tinago Falls was seeing the empty beer bottles and discarded plastics. However, the bright blue pool of water beckoned us right from the start. We were rushing through our lunch of fresh Marang and lechon so fast that we literally jumped into the water immediately after taking the last bite.
Along the pathway down to the waterfalls, you'll pass an abandoned resort with only the concrete ruins of what used to be luxury villas and cottages, now almost entirely cowered up under the heavy embrace of long jungle vines. A deserted swimming pool is currently inhabited by insects and frogs that swim freely in its dark, stagnant water. It appeared to be a complete ghost town of what was once an ambitious, luxurious resort. It truly wasn't supposed to be built in the first place, because any attempt to make a natural wonder like Tinago Falls "exclusive" should be heavily frowned upon.
Diving Into the Blue Basin
A circling concrete staircase leads you roughly one to two hundred feet below directly to the waterfalls. As we came closer to Tinago, we started to clearly hear the rapid swooshing of the water. A feeling of raw excitement instantly reigned over us. Visitors can safely swim by wearing a mandatory life vest and even ride a bamboo raft directly toward the crashing falls—which we happily did when we finally took a dip into the water. The result was a surprisingly soothing back massage courtesy of the dropping, heavy heaves of freshwater.
We took cover beneath the large rocks just behind the water curtain and listened to Dennis tell us the local legend of Tinago Falls. My girlfriend Lauren kept doing her signature jiggy moves while we mercilessly teased Lisa Marie about her secret admirer's out-of-this-world super "lakas."
Dennis then boldly urged us to climb a steep section of the rocky wall and jump directly into the deep water. We scrambled up to an eight-foot-high ledge and took turns diving. It wasn't nearly as high as where the local kids leap from, which was about twenty to thirty feet higher. Nonetheless, it was a totally thrilling form of attaining a natural 'high.' Crashing straight into the whirlpool and seeing nothing but small white bubbles for what seemed like an absolute eternity before finally surfacing was an incredibly memorable experience.
A Cleansing Experience
Tinago Falls definitely belongs permanently on my list of the best waterfalls I've ever been to. It is right up there alongside Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig. I just hope the place will be better taken care of moving forward, and that rules about bringing trash back out are strictly enforced.
After a couple of hours, we packed our things and mentally prepared to climb back up the hundred or so steep concrete steps. I took a brief moment to stare back at the majestic waterfalls and, yes, I physically felt all the negativeness of the world disintegrate at the mere sight of the rapid prowess of the white water flowing endlessly from its mouth. I was deeply glad to share it with Lauren and the wonderful company of new friends.
This is part of a series about my week-long Mindanao backpacking trip in 2012:
