PRINSESA FALLS: Getting to Know One of Caraga’s Jewels

Prinsesa Falls is one of the several waterfalls found in the town of Caraga in Davao Oriental. It is located in Barangay Santiago, the same way as Pusan Point. Currently fronted by a resort that serves as a perfect disguise, Prinsesa Falls enjoys ample attention from enthusiastic locals and a few adventurous guests from outside the town. Read on to know how I came to discover this precious gem and what I love most about it.

DISCOVERING PRINSESA FALLS

Since it was already late for us to explore Kapuka Falls one weekend, we opted to drive to Prinsesa Falls instead. The scenic ride took us another 30 minutes. We were familiar with the road as it was the same road we used to get to Pusan Point some months back. What got us lost though was the exact turn to Prinsesa Falls. There were markers but it was kind of confusing. Only when we asked the locals of its whereabouts were we pointed to the right direction (insert Jamir of Slapshock. Charot lang).

The narrow road leading to the resort was pretty rugged and there was a short part where it was a bit hard for a motorcycle to climb.  The road was at the side of the river and driving felt like going inside a dense forest full of wonders.  Not long after, we were ushered to a parking area where we found several other motorcycles. I could have easily mistaken them for abandoned vehicles if not for the faint sound of giggles and karaoke nearby.

We walked to the resort’s receiving area and paid the fees. I noticed that the place looked so simple. There was not much human intervention around except for two manmade swimming pools, a few picnic huts, and few small cottages. The place didn’t look too commercialized and it still provided room for Prinsesa Falls to stand out as it was left untouched. The setup made Prinsesa Falls a splendid backdrop to those enjoying a swim in the spring pools.

I walked passed the other guests and went straight to where Prinsesa Falls was located. I didn’t care about the pools nor the landscaping and other stuff in the resort. All I want to marvel at was this waterfall which the people around seemed to ignore.  As soon as I was near it, the melody of its waters gushing through made me unable to resist it. It waters flowing so delicately along the rough surface of a limestone rock painted a lovely image in my head. Its pool of cold greenish-blue water is what I live for. Prinsesa Falls is a stunner and it deserves more love and appreciation than just people who came to bathe in swimming pools.

HOW TO GO TO PRINSESA FALLS

From Manila – Fly to Davao. After arriving at Davao Airport, ride a cab/taxi to Ecoland Terminal then aboard a bus going to Cateel. Alight at the junction in Brgy. Santiago that leads to the Prinsesa Falls (5Hrs | P500/way). Ideally, you can alight in Caraga proper to not have any difficulty chartering a ride to every tourist destination in the area.

TIPS WHEN VISITING PRINSESA FALLS

• The rainy months are the most ideal time to chase waterfalls but avoid the months with the most rain. In Davao Oriental, these are February, March, and April but this could change so better check on the weather before you go.
• Prinsesa Falls makes a perfect side trip when visiting Pusan Point as they are just located within the same barangay and they share the same road to their locations.
• Reservations are not necessary and walk-in visitors are welcome. The entrance fee per person is P30. Guests are not required to get a cottage which costs around P300 for a full day of use.
• Toilets and baths are available and they are cleaned and maintained regularly.
• There are several other waterfalls in Caraga that you can explore such as Kapuka and Ugwad Falls so better to include them in your itinerary.
• There is no public transport nearby Prinsesa Falls so it’s better to alight in the town proper of Caraga. This way you will have plenty of options on how you would like to go on exploring. Single motorcycles (habal-habal) are the most ideal.
• The town of Caraga is worth a day or two of exploring. You can make use of this sample Caraga Travel Guide in planning your trip. This will help you narrow down the places to explore and help you with your budget.

There you have it, lovelies! I hope you enjoyed this post. Share this to your friends and plan that trip now. To keep tabs on my adventures, you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Until next time. Ciao!