Tangadan Falls Travel Guide

Introduction

Tangadan Falls is a hidden gem located in Barangay Amontoc, San Gabriel, La Union. It provides a relaxing view and a thrilling cliff diving experience for the tourist and adventure seeker. Tangadan Falls has a height of 15 meters or 50 feet. Because of its majestic two-tier cascading waterfalls, the clear and cold water, it’s become one of the must-visit destinations in the Philippines.

Although the La Union province is popular for its beautiful beaches and is widely known as the surfing capital of the Northern Philippines, Tangadan Falls for the past years becomes a great destination for local travelers who want to experience its cold water. Also, it becomes a favorite attraction for swimming, cliff diving, and cliff jumping. There’s actually a 15 to 20 feet high rocky spot where tourists can do cliff diving.

Tangadan Falls came from the Tagalog word “Tangad” which means “looking up”. If you are a nature lover and adventurous person you don’t want to miss swimming and looking up in these gorgeous falls. However getting there is not a walk in the park, tourists must hike for thirty minutes to one hour to reach the falls. The trail going there is along the picturesque Baroro River.

San Gabriel is a municipality in La Union that is thirty-five minutes away from San Juan and is divided into 15 barangay. One of them is Barangay Amontoc where the falls are exactly located. Although Tangadan Falls is situated in a not-well-known town, the locals there are naturally kindhearted, and considerate. They could be somebody we could go around in case of help, emergency and something unfavorable happen.

Also, the cold water at the falls originating from the remote areas of the province juxtaposed to the Cordillera Mountain Range. The waterfall is a two-tier cascade. The lower cascade of Tangadan Falls is its main highlight. It has a width of about 100 feet. On the other hand, the upper level has a smaller drop but has a deeper pool excellent for cliff jumping. Today, Tangadan Falls is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines.

My trip to Tangadan Falls

In the past few days, I was searching for a La Union day tour because I’ve never been to the province of La Union. So when I found out that there was a day tour going to Tangadan Falls, I immediately contacted the organizer named Dhaize and she gave me the itinerary and the costs of the event. As a result, I joined the organized tour without hesitation.

The La Union day tour costs 999 pesos. However, the day tour is on Wednesday, November 29 so I filed my vacation leave on that day, knowing that the next other day is a regular holiday (Bonifacio Day) which I can rest. I considered this trip as my end-of-the-year trip. I arrived at our meet-up place in Mcdo Greenfield District, EDSA Shaw Boulevard at 10:45 pm. There are 26 people in the group for this event.

The tour is composed of 2 private vans with 13 people for each van. For this reason, we have enough space to relax and to sleep in the van comfortably. When everyone in the group has already arrived at the assembly place, our van Toyota Hiace commuter heads to La Union at 11:10 pm. I sleep in the van for two hours. We have a stopover at Leeza’s restaurant in Sison, Pangasinan around 3 am.

I ordered egg and rice for my early breakfast and since I was a solo joiner I ate alone at the table. It was early morning when our van arrived at La Union after six hours of land travel. Then we register, paid the monster jeep ride fee, and have a briefing of the trail going to Tangadan Falls. Then we boarded the monster jeep at 5:30 am.

This is the first time that I will experience the jeepney top load ride. Therefore I positioned myself on the roof of the monster jeep. I was so excited. First, it was a smooth ride on a paved road passing the simple towns and municipalities of La Union. However, in the middle of the trip, the ride became a thrilling adventure. Our group went on the road less traveled. The dangerous road has ups and downs. The ride in the monster jeep became so swift on a cemented road.

We have to bend down to avoid the direct hit of branches of the tree and the cable wire. Also, we need to stay grip at the handle in order for us to stay at the top and never fall on the ride.

We were shouting, joking, and laughing at each other as the ride went on. Nevertheless, we feel the joy of the extreme top load monster jeep ride. Smiling faces and happy hearts I’ve seen throughout the whole ride. Also, the mountain scenery is beautiful  It was such an amazing experience. All I can say is wow. It was an epic and unforgettable ride.

Going to the falls is already an electrifying experience. Our monster jeep ride adventure to Tangadan Falls was really worth it. I thought this was one of the ordinary jeepney rides but hell no, to my surprise it is an extreme ride to the max but special thanks to our driver, he was really great at driving the monster jeep. Therefore, I salute him.

Then we reached the jump-off point of Tangadan Falls. Our local tour guide said to us that we need to hike for thirty minutes going to the falls because it’s the only way to go there. We walk slowly in the cemented pathway passing some local houses and dogs. We noticed that the locals are informative and very friendly.

Then the trail descends a little bit. It becomes a lush green with great rice fields, towering trees, and mountain views along the way. It is amazing scenery as we go down. We feel the fresh air and start the river crossing. When our group hears the rushing cold water of the falls along the river, we walk fast towards the falls. After thirty-three minutes of walking through the green vegetation and river basin, we finally see the falls.

As soon as I arrived at the falls, all I could say was a good morning, God is great. Tangadan Falls is truly a majestic place created by God. To wonder and to witness it with my own two eyes is truly delightful. It’s a good thing that I joined this awesome trip to see this marvelous sight. It’s not crowded there because we go on weekdays. For this reason, I’m so very happy. I’ve never seen such gorgeous and stunning falls like this before. I feel like I’m in a paradise setting.

The water in the falls is fresh and crystal clear blue. Therefore, I’m totally speechless and I’m very impressed by what I saw. I stayed in one spot for a longer period of time to behold its full beauty. It’s higher than it looks in the photo. In my opinion, Tangadan Falls should be included in everyone’s travel bucket list. It is a paradise place hidden in La Union province. This fall has the charm to attract many local and international tourists. It is so beautiful. I thank God for this gift of nature. Indeed, there are a lot of beautiful places in the Philippines.

To be honest, my pictures don’t do justice to the beauty of this place. Also, there’s an area for cliff diving. Other members of the group swim and take a dip in the falls while others just savor and take pictures of the majestic Tangadan Falls. On the other hand, I noticed that there are some stores nearby where I can buy some food and cold drinks, so I take my late breakfast.

After eating, I noticed too that there’s a restroom nearby free of charge. Also, I haven’t seen any single trash in the area which is truly amazing. The place is so clean and well maintained.

We stayed at Tangadan Falls for two hours. We saw a lot of tourists coming from other countries. It was an enjoyable moment to be there. On the other hand, our group needed to go on another side trip to La Union. As a result, we left Tangadan Falls at 10 am. Our group hiked up to the cemented stairs and slopes going back to the jump-off point. In my opinion, this is the hardest part of our adventure. It was quite a hike, but the view and experience were all worth it.

We wash up and then our van heads to our next destination which is Ma-Cho Temple. Our group explored the temple and stayed there for nearly one hour. Then at 12 am we arrived at Baluarte Watch Tower. We snap pictures and we have our group pictures there. The view there is so lovely even though the sun was already high at that time. We can see endless bluish seas that are so mesmerizing for our eyes.

Then at 1:30 pm, we arrived at San Juan Beach Resort. We take pictures again at the stunning beach and other members swim again while others just have a great talk in the cottages. We stayed at the cottage near the beach for almost an hour. I love being there just relaxing and not worrying about anything. It was a great bonding experience and I love to visit this beautiful beach again.

Then we depart from the paradise beach and then at 4 pm we arrived in Halo-halo de Iloko restaurant in San Fernando City for our afternoon snack. We ordered french fries and halo-halo to satisfy our cravings. Even though the price was a little bit cozy, it was a rewarding afternoon snack. The food and drinks are so delicious.

Then at 5:30 pm, we arrived at Poro Point Lighthouse. We took lovely pictures of the sunset and we have our group pictures there beside the famous lighthouse. After that our van left Poro Point Lighthouse and headed back to Manila. Without a doubt, I had a great time in La Union.

We have our late dinner on the way back. After almost seven hours of land travel, we finally reached Manila. We just got back to Manila and to our home safely and soundly. The trip is worth it. I thank God for keeping us safe and for the wonderful experience. Indeed, La Union was an absolutely amazing province that has a lot to offer. Also, I thank Dhaize for organizing this day tour event and to everyone for being part of this enjoyable year-end trip.

So far, I considered Tangadan Falls as the second-best waterfalls I’ve ever seen in the Philippines, next to Kaparkan Falls in Abra. I wish I can visit these falls again.

On the whole, my adventure to Tangadan Falls sums up with this beautiful quote “No road is long with good company”.

Things to bring on your visit to Tangadan Falls:

1 to 1.5 liters of bottled water
Trail food, snacks, and packed lunch
First Aid Kit and personal medication for emergency purpose
Extra money for personal expenses
Plastic bag for your trash
Cellphone, camera
Power bank
Toiletries
Extra clothes and sandals
Swimming attire
Alcohol
Personal hygiene
Sunblock (optional)
Neck pillow for the long road trip (optional)

Sample 1 Day Itinerary to Tangadan Falls

Day 0
11PM – Assembly, meet-up
11:30PM – Departure going to Tangadan Falls

Day 1
5AM – ETA La Union, register and briefing
5:30AM – Ride a monster jeep going to Tangadan Falls
7AM – Arrival at San Gabriel, start hiking going to the falls
7:30AM – Arrival at Tangadan Falls, swimming, free time, breakfast and take pictures
10:30AM – Tidy up
11:30AM – Arrival at Ma-Cho Temple
1:30PM – Baluarte Watch Tower
2:30PM – Kamay Na Bato Art Gallery
4:30PM – Arrival at Poro Point Lighthouse, San Fernando City
5PM – Departure going back to Metro Manila, dinner along the way
12PM – End of tour, Arrival at Metro Manila

Sample 2 Day Itinerary to La Union

Day 1
12AM – Assembly, pick up
12:30AM – ETD going to La Union
6AM – Arrival at La Union, prepare things, registration
6:20AM – Ride a monster jeep going to Tangadan Falls
8AM – Arrival at Tangadan Falls, photo-ops, and swimming time
10:30AM – Wash up
11:30AM – Arrival at Baluarte Watch Tower
12:30PM – Ma-Cho Temple (Taoist Temple), Pagoda Hill, Namacpacan Church
4PM – Accommodation, check-in, Arrival at San Juan beach, surfing, swimming, viewing of sunset
7PM – Dinner at Halo-halo de Iloko or other restaurants
10PM – Sleep

DAY 2:
5:30AM – Wake up call, breakfast
6:30AM – Swimming at San Juan beach, surfing, and snapping photos
10:30AM – Arrival at Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos Poro Point, lunch, photo-ops
3PM – Arrival at Poro Point Lighthouse
5PM – Grapes Farm, buy pasalubong
5:45PM – Dinner
7PM – ETD going back to Metro Manila
1AM – ETA Manila

Note: the sample above itinerary is not thorough or will not be 100% ideal due to many factors such as the group pacing, weather condition, unfavorable event, delay, traffic, etc.

How to Get to Tangadan Falls

By commute

Option 1:

1. From Cubao, ride a Partas bus going to La Union. Alight at People’s Park in San Juan, La Union. The approximate travel time is 6 to 7 hours.
2. From People’s Park, ride a jeep going to San Gabriel and drop off at the Municipal Hall. 
3. Register and secure a local guide. After that ride a tricycle going to Tangadan Falls jump-off point. Then hike for twenty to thirty minutes towards the falls. 

Option 2:

1. Ride a bus from Cubao bus station bound to Vigan. Then drop off at San Juan, La Union.
2. From San Juan, ride a jeep going to San Gabriel.
3. From San Gabriel, ride a tricycle going to Tangadan Falls jump-off point. Then walk your way towards the falls.
   
   
   

Reminders and Tips:

• Looking for adventure then Tangadan Falls is good for you. If you want to go swimming in the falls, for your own safety you can rent a life vest for 50 pesos each. 

• Bring enough water and food if you want to lessen your expense. There are mini-stores beside the falls but a little bit pricey. Restrooms are available nearby with a minimal fee. 

• It’s better to go on weekdays so you can avoid the large crowd.

• Bring comfortable sandals and slippers. 

• You can rent and ride a bamboo raft boat to the base of the waterfall to enjoy the refreshingly cool water and to get a water massage from the falls. The Tangadan Falls is approximately 25 to 35 feet deep. Also, there are cottages to rent beside the falls. 

• Follow the Leave No Trace principle. Clean as you go. Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints. Please dispose of your trash in an appropriate manner.

• Be cautious of your step while in the river basin as the rocks are slippery.

• If you’re a group coming in at the falls, you can bargain the fare for a monster jeep ride. 

• Before proceeding to Tangadan Falls, visitors are advised to register and coordinate from the Municipal Hall or local government for safety purposes. 

• The top-load monster jeep ride is an exciting and scary experience for visitors. The ride to the falls is an adventure already. 

• Avoid swimming and cliff jumping on the falls during the rainy season to avoid any accidents. The river crossing is hard because the water current is strong. Prevention is better than cure. Tangadan Falls is only a perfect place during the summertime. Also, the falls are closed during the wet season. 

• Tangadan Falls accident happen when a visitor from San Fernando City drowned while doing a cliff dive in the falls in the year 2017. According to the companions of the victim, they were on a hiking adventure at the waterfalls when he suddenly jumped from a cliff diving spot. Upon landing in the deep water, he was swept away by the strong current and drowned. His relatives try to save him but it didn’t work well. Rescuers from San Gabriel and San Juan spent a day searching for his body and late afternoon when his dead body was found out from the water. 

• Hire a local tour guide if you want to do a DIY (Do it yourself) for your own safety.

• If you are planning to bring a private vehicle, just leave it near the Barangay as the road is too dangerous and steep for private vehicles. Then ride a tricycle or a jeep going to the falls.

• Last but not least, I highly propose getting a packaged tour when you plan to visit Tangadan Falls for comfort and amenity. Included in the La Union day tour package is round trip van transfer from Manila to La Union and vice versa, tour coordinator fee, monster jeep ride, drivers fee and meal, toll fee, parking fee, local guide fee, cottage, entrance fee for a beach resort and Tangadan Falls. On the other hand, excluded in the package tour is an entrance fee for Thunderbird Resort, personal meals, and restroom fees. 
  
  

Notable fees:

• The tour guide fee going to the falls is 500 pesos good for 5 people. 
• The entrance fee in Tangadan Falls is 30 pesos. 
• A monster jeep ride cost 150 pesos per head.
• Life vest or life jackets rental cost 50 pesos.
• Habal-habal ride cost 150 pesos per head.
• The cottage rent is 50 pesos.
• The bamboo raft cost 25 pesos.
• The environmental fee is 30 pesos. 
  
  
  

More Notable Places to See in La Union

Baluarte Watch Tower – The 400-year-old watchtower facing the West Philippine Sea. The tower was built during the pre-Spanish times that served as a lookout point for an impending attack by pirates from the sea.

Ma-Cho Temple (Taoist Temple) – The first Taoist temple in the Philippines. It is a huge compound of stone sculptures of Taoist adherents, lions, fountains, pagodas, gardens, towers, and a residence hall. It offers a stunning view of the West Philippine Sea.

Poro Point Lighthouse – Well known in the past as San Fernando Point. It was built during the Spanish era. 

Gapuz Grapes Farm – Grapes picking. It is a pick and pays grapes farm. Nice side trip. 

Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos Poro Point – Santorini Greece-style-inspired luxury resort that offers a panoramic view of the West Philippine Sea.

There you have it. Remember it’s all about the experiences. Never miss a chance to enjoy life and never be afraid to try something new. In general, I hope this Tangadan Falls travel guide and reference has been helpful to you and inspired you to try visiting the falls. Also, don’t forget to share this with your companion, family, loved ones, friends, groups, and workmates if you ever plan to visit Tangadan Falls. God bless you in all your local and international travels. Until the next time. Have a good day. Thanks for reading.