Casaroro Falls — An Adventurous Hike That Was A Little More Than I Expected

Casaroro Falls — An Adventurous Hike That Was A Little More Rigorous Than We Expected

During our recent trip to Dauin, my daughter and I decided to take a tuk-tuk ride up to the nearby town of Valencia to see Casaroro Falls. I had spotted it on a map and started asking locals if it was worth the trip. Every single one said yes — just be prepared for “a lot of stairs.”

I figured, no big deal. I had climbed plenty of stairs during my trip to Europe last fall. What they didn’t explain was that these weren’t normal stairs. These were steep, and often slippery, steps — roughly 335 of them — leading straight down into a gorge. Going down wasn’t too bad. But coming back up? Let’s just say I had to stop and catch my breath more than once.

Casaroro Falls sits inside a narrow volcanic gorge in Valencia, just outside Dumaguete and about a half-hour from Dauin. The water runs off the Mount Talinis range, which is why it stays cold even in the middle of the tropical heat. The drop is a little over 100 feet, but it feels taller because the canyon walls are tight and vertical around it.

What makes this waterfall special is its shape. Instead of spreading into a wide curtain, the water funnels into one thin column and slams straight into the pool below. The rock walls trap the sound, so you hear a deep echo before the falls even come into view. Down at the base, huge boulders surround the basin and block a lot of sunlight, keeping the air cooler and the water noticeably colder than most waterfalls in the area.

It’s one of the signature natural sights in Negros Oriental, and standing in that enclosed canyon gives it a scale that photos can’t really capture.

The locals warned us about the stairs, but what we weren’t prepared? – the river crossings. Not just once — but four times we had to cross that same river before reaching the waterfall. We had no idea the hike involved a river at all until we arrived and our guide mentioned it as we started the descent. He also explained that because it had rained the day before, the water was higher and rougher than usual.

As soon as he told us this, we almost turned around before we even got started. My daughter isn’t a fan of stepping into water when she can’t see the bottom. But she decided to go anyway — and by the end was incredibly glad that she did.

So, if you’re visiting Dauin and want a little bit of adventure- and a good workout, I’d highly recommend checking this place out.

What to Know Before You Go

Location: Valencia, Negros Oriental — about 30 minutes from Dauin

Open: Daily, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Entrance fee: ₱40/person (~ $0.70 USD) and a mandatory guide which costs ₱250 (~$6.50 USD) per group.

Stairs: ~335 steep and sometimes slippery.

Waterfall height: ~30 meters / 100 feet