Tangadan Falls, La Union Guide: A Hidden Gem 2024
Nestled in the mountainous town of San Gabriel La Union lies the hidden gem Tangadan Falls, a place we believe should be on everyone’s list when visiting the region. A two-tier waterfall sits between huge boulders and beautiful limestone cliffs, the bigger waterfall of the two is over 40 feet high with water pouring into the cold and refreshing pool below. Whether you’re in La Union for a weekend city break from Manila or for a long surf holiday to Urbiztondo beach, this place is a must see! Read on to find out everything you need to know before visiting Tangadan Falls In La Union.
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Where Is Tangadan Falls, La Union?
Tangadan Falls is located in the mountainous region of San Gabriel in the municipality of La Union, not too far from the bustling surf town of San Juan known for its famous Urbiztondo Beach waves. Below is a map of Tangadan Falls:
How To Get To Tangadan Falls, La Union?
There are multiple routes and modes of transport into Tangadan Falls in San Gabriel, we recommend being based in San Juan as that is where most of the restaurants and bars are based in the region.
If you have your own scooter or car with you (or a rental) then it should be straight forward! Just head straight to the San Gabriel Municipal Hall, only a 20 minute drive from Urbiztondo Beach.
Alternatively, if you do not have a private car, you could ride a tricycle or jeepney to San Gabriel Town Proper. A jeepney will be the slower and more budget friendly option, for roughly ₽15-20 a ticket, head to the ‘Peoples Park’ which is directly opposite the Municipal Hall. A tricycle on the other hand will be more convenient at a higher price, get dropped off straight at the hall for roughly ₽500-800.
For more detail on how to get to San Juan, read below.
Tangadan Falls Entrance Fee
Once you’ve made it to the San Gabriel Municipal Hall, you can then pay the environmental fee of ₽30 which covers your entrance to the falls. It is here you will be able to organise a tour guide if you haven’t done so online already.
Tangadan Falls Tour Guide Costs
No tour guide, no entry. You can find tour guides online or at the Hall, when we visited it was ₽500-700 per group, there were 5 of us for one tour guide which we thought was reasonable.
The Final Step of How To Get To Tangadan Falls
So you’ve made it all the way from Manila, to Urbiztondo Beach, to San Gabriel Municipal Hall, well done! You’ve paid your entrance fee and got a guide for the day, the final step to get to the actual falls to take a habal-habal or jeepney to the trailhead. We drove in our own car, following our guide on his scooter, the drive was roughly 20 minutes.
Habal-habal allows a maximum of two people per bike and should cost ₽400 for one or ₽600 for two
Alternatively a jeepney will allow for up to 15 people, costing ₽120-150 per person however these will sometimes wait until full. To rent the entire jeepney will be ₽1,800 suitable for big groups
Tangadan Falls Description
There are multiple reasons you should visit Tangadan Falls, for both adventure seekers and for relaxation, from hiking and cliff jumping to swimming in the refreshing pools, Tangadan Falls is paradise!
Tangadan Falls Hiking & Trekking
It’s worth noting that you have two options for the walk:
The short option straight down stairs.
The long option which takes you on a hike following the river up to the falls.
The short option
For those doing the shorter trail, you will be dropped off closer to the source of the falls at the top of a staircase. A 15-20 minute walk will bring you down to the top of the falls at the viewpoint.
The longer option
Anyone looking for a very sweaty adventure can choose the longer option by letting your guide know before you set off. A one hour hike, weaving through the jungle following the river finally gets you to Tangadan Falls. Cliff jumping spots and crossing the Barolo river multiple times makes for an amazing adventure, we chose this option and loved it. Make sure to bring plenty of water, hiking snacks and good water shoes with grip to avoid falling.
Tangadan Falls Cliff Diving
For any adventure seekers, there are multiple cliff diving spots at the base of Tangadan Falls.
Those doing the longer trail will also have the opportunity to do a 6m and 10m jump from the cliffs on the hike back. They’re a great way to cool off from the sweaty trek, Mike did both and would highly recommend them, just be careful when clambering out over the rocks, get your guide or a friend to give you a hand up.
Tangadan Falls Swimming
Relax in the refreshing pools at the base of the waterfall, at its deepest point our guide said the lower pool was 20 feet deep. There are also areas to swim in further up the stairs, at the less busy pools by the viewpoint.
Life jackets are also available to rent for ₽60 per person for those not comfortable swimming or want to lay back and relax.
Go Behind The Waterfall!
In the lowest pool with the largest waterfall our guide allowed us to get behind the falls! Feel the raw power of the water being thrown from high off the ground. We would really recommend getting behind Tangadan Falls if you can, make sure to be careful on the slippery rocks however it’s worth it.
Tangadan Falls Tour Guides
Our guides details can be seen in the image to the right, guides are mandatory for the falls so you'll have to get one on the day or pre-book online. We found ours through Facebook and organised it the day before.
Tangadan Falls DIY
Unfortunately you can’t do this waterfall without a tour guide. No tour guide, no entry. However you can bring your own transport to and from San Gabriel rather than doing an organised tour from San Juan. In our opinion, the guide isn't necessary for the short option as there is only a staircase to climb, however it's definitely necessary on the longer trail.
Tangadan Falls Common Questions
What To Bring To Tangadan Falls?
Make sure to bring Water Shoes that can get wet and have good grip to stop you falling over
Keep all of your valuables from getting wet with a Dry Bag
Take great underwater photos or from behind the falls with a GoPro
Don’t risk getting your phone wet! Use this Waterproof Phone Case instead
Take loads of Water and Snacks. The trek can be hot in the midday sun
How Many Steps Down To Tangadan Falls?
There are 365 steps down to Tangadan Falls, down a steep concrete staircase.
What Is The Tangadan Falls Cliff Jumping Height?
There are multiple cliff jumping spots at Tangadan Falls at heights of: 3m (9ft), 6m (20ft) and 10m (32ft).
Are Accidents Common?
All canyoneering can be dangerous, cliff jumping and trekking down steep stairs to get to the falls. The local authorities have takes precautions such as adding barriers and rope handles along the trail however there will always be risk of accidents at places like these. Take your time and be careful.
What Is The Tangadan Falls Entrance Fee?
₽30 each environmental fee
How Much Does Tangadan Falls Cost In Total?
Transport to San Gabriel Municipal Hall: private car (petrol), Rental Car (rental fee & petrol), jeepney (₽15-20) or tricycle (₽500-800)
Environmental fee: ₽30 per person
Tour Guide fee: ₽500-700 per group
Transport to trail head: jeepney (₽120-150), habal-habal (₽400-600) or private car (petrol)
How To Get To San Juan, La Union?
We recommend taking your own car to get to San Juan, this gives you the flexibility to plan your trip how you want and take it at your own pace. Alternatively if you’re on holiday you could rent a car. Or if coming from the city of Manila read below:
Public Transport To San Juan From Manila
Tangadan Falls is too far to do a day visit from Manila, however it is possible for a long weekend away, you can board the Partas or Viron buses from the Cuban bus terminal. Head towards San Juan and your hotel shouldn’t be too far from there.
Tangadan Falls Tips
You can reach out to the San Gabriel La Union Tourism Office on Facebook or call on the following number: +63 72 687 0125. Opening hours are 6am - 5pm
Tour guides are required to visit the falls. Although walk-ins are allowed, in order to guarantee a visit you can arrange a guide online before your visit
Visit as early as possible to avoid the midday heat and on a weekday to avoid crowds. The best time to see Tangadan Falls is in the rainy season (June to November) two or three days after rainfall to ensure the trail isn’t too muddy
Don’t forget to bring lots of water and some snacks
Make sure to wear comfortable shoes that can get wet, we recommend these Water Shoes
Take loads of pictures, we used both our GoPro and our phones in this Waterproof Phone Case
Remember to have fun! Enjoy your Tangadan Falls adventure
Top Things To Do In La Union
La Union is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, with its vast beaches, rich culture and plenty of things to do we can see why people come here. The local surf spot Urbiztondo Beach has vibrant bars and restaurants, it's the perfect place to come and relax and enjoy the sunshine.
If you don't have a car, getting to La Union via public transport would take a long time so we have included a link to a driver from Manila or Clark Airport to la Union.
Some of the best things to do in La Union:
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Where To Stay In La Union
For the best places to stay in La Union, we recommend checking Agoda, Asia's most popular hotel and apartment booking platform. We stayed in Urbiztondo Beach which is the perfect surf town with relaxed vibes.
Essential Travel Items You Need
 | Lifestraw - Filtered Water Bottle Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind plus you’re helping the environment! |
 | Jungle Formula - High Deet Mosquito Spray The weak sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high deet percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes. |
 | Water Shoes - Lightweight with Protection Stay protected from Sea Urchins with these, also useful for snorkelling, waterfall hikes and more. We also love our Microfibre Towels and Dry Bag. |
 | Universal Travel Adaptor With Multiple USBs Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country... game changer. |
Top Tips For Travelling The Philippines
If you’re visiting the Philippines here are our top travel tips:
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… oh and check your luggage allowance to skip expensive check in fees at the airport. Don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags
Agree on taxi prices upfront - when getting into a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, make sure you agree on a price or they have a meter, so many tourists get ripped off with a huge price tag at the end of the ride.
Take it slow - don't feel the need to see all the islands, we recommend picking a few and doing them properly. See the island in full, find some locals and sing Karaoke..
Embrace the chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
For a checklist of what's needed to pack for your trip, read: How to Pack for Backpacking to South East Asia: Backpacking Essentials and Accessories
We love our DJI Mini for all of our drone shots!
Final Thoughts on Tangadan Falls, La Union
Overall Tangadan Falls is an amazing adventure we recommend to everyone! Whether you would like to do the longer hike with cliff jumping spots or take the staircase straight down to the falls, this place is worth seeing. Although too far from Manila for a day trip, this must be included in your La Union itinerary, just a short drive from Urbiztondo Beach where you can enjoy bars, restaurants and great surfing.
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Philippine adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
For our Filipino friends: Maraming salamat sa pag babasa, hangang sa susunod nating pag kikita, mamimiss namin kayo, mabuhay ang pilipinas! Salamat
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