Philippines Nature / LULUGAYAN FALLS (Chasing Waterfalls In The Philippines)

Pea takes viewers on a travel vlog to Lulugayan Falls in Calbiga, Samar, walking through the full logistics of getting there — from crossing the famous San Juanico Bridge to hiring a motorbike tour guide — and gives an honest on-the-ground look at both the stunning natural beauty and the safety realities of the site.

What's Covered ​

• Getting to Lulugayan Falls

  • Located in Calbiga, Samar, about a two-hour drive from Tacloban (the main city in the region)
  • To reach Samar, you cross the San Juanico Bridge (also called the "Love Bridge"), the longest bridge in the area at 2.16 kilometers
  • The bridge was said to be a gift from former President Ferdinand Marcos to his wife Imelda, a Tacloban native; took four years to complete and opened in 1973, connecting the islands of Leyte and Samar

• Costs and logistics at the eco-tourism site in Calbiga

  • Entrance fee: 100 pesos per person (~$2)
  • Mandatory tour guide: 300 pesos (~$6)
  • Cottage rental at the falls: 500 pesos (~$10)
  • Registration required at the tourism office before entering
  • From the tourism office to the actual falls, you take a habal-habal (motorbike) through a small community

• The road and surrounding area

  • Pea notes the government spent a lot of money paving roads to the falls to improve tourist access
  • The community along the way is clean with many people living close together — she speculates they're farmers or rely on tourism from the falls
  • Some narrow bridges along the route barely fit a small car, making the motorbike the ideal transport
  • As you climb the hills, the air is clear and crisp; you can hear the falls before you see them
  • The river is surprisingly wide with fast-flowing water

• The falls themselves

  • 30 meters high and 50 meters wide — nicknamed the "Mini Niagara Falls of the Philippines"
  • Breathtaking views from the cottage area; restaurants are available on-site for food
  • The water is extremely cold ("ice water") and the current is very strong
  • Pea gets close to the falls and notes the current was "sucking me" toward the dangerous area

• Safety restrictions

  • People used to jump from the highest point, but someone died recently and jumping is no longer allowed
  • There's hydraulic action near the base that sucks everything down — swimming in that area means drowning
  • Tour guides restrict visitors to the shallow areas away from the falls

• Pea's experience and observations

  • She visited on what appears to be a weekday and essentially had a private tour — the guide confirmed most tourists are locals from different parts of Leyte plus some foreigners, mainly on weekends
  • Found a "pillow rock" area where the water gives a natural head massage; she lay back and let her hair flow in the water
  • She sunbathed and noted that while many Filipinos prefer lighter skin, she likes getting darker
  • Suggested that water rafting or a floating bamboo cottage would be great additional attractions for the area

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