Limunsudan Falls may as well be one of the hidden gems of Iligan City with it being one of the grandest waterfalls in the country, and it being very difficult to visit — until we found a quicker way to get there. You may have heard that it takes a 3-day trek to see Limunsudan Falls from Iligan City city proper, but if you travel to Cagayan de Oro – Talakag, Bukidnon – pass by part of Lanao del Sur – enter Iligan City through Sitio Limunsudan, Bargy Limunsudan – it will only take you 5-6H of travel. Now don’t get me wrong. A shortcut is never an easier, and less stressful route. Prepare yourself to travel half of that duration in cemented road, and other half over rough road you would wish you have a chopper to fly you over it.
By the time the Iligan City – Bukidnon road will be finished, and open, locals say the waterfalls will be accessible to that highway in ~3km. For those of you brave souls out there who could not wait for that, please know that this route may not require a military escort like some other places that you may have heard of, but like any other travel one should always put safety as a priority. So if you can, you must contact the local community, or the Tourism Office of the city.
Here is a detailed post on How to Get to Limunsudan Falls:
Date Posted: April 2014
1] Iligan City – Cagayan de Oro
145PhP – bus (one way)
2H
2] Bulua Terminal, CDO – Cogon Market
12PhP – Jeepney (one way)
15- 20mins
3] CDO – Talakag, Bukidnon
65 PhP – Jeepney (one way)
30 -45 mins
4] Talakag – Mamaon, Bukidnon
350PhP – Habal – Habal (one way)
45mins – 1 H
5] Mamaon, Bukidnon – Sitio Limunsudan, Brgy. Rogongon, Iligan City
350 PhP – Habal – Habal
30 – 45 mins
Break for ritual (please prepare loose change for offering), and to ask permission from the community leaders at the small town proper. Just ask anyone about visiting the falls, and who to ask permission from. A set of community leaders will be assigned to accompany your group for the second ritual done at the viewpoint. Offer to pay for their habal-habal ride if you do not have private vehicle with you.
6] Sitio Limunsudan, Brgy. Rogongon, Iligan City – Limunsudan Falls jump off
50PhP – Habal – Habal
15 – 20 mins.
7] Limunsudan Falls jump off – Limunsudan Falls high viewpoint
20-30 mins trek
Limunsudan Falls Jump off – Limunsudan Falls water basin
10 – 15 mins + 3 H
Don’t leave anything behind. Please pick up after yourself, and follow the trails, and walk path to lessen environmental impact. Sometimes the community leaders won’t allow any visitors to view the waterfalls – respect it, and ask when the best time would be.
NOTES:
– Please check the travel time, and always assume a 30 minute to 1 hour difference for bus/vans transfer.
– This trip can also be done in a day trip. However the author did so ( in two occasions ) had a private service from Iligan to bridge near Mamaon Bukidnon & took habal-habal from there to Sitio Limunsudan, Iligan on the first visit, and a military escort from Iligan & vice versa on the second but the details are from the locals at sitio Limunsudan, and research.
– It is possible for a day trip, just your jump off time should be early. Best to stay at Cagayan de Oro or at Talakag, Bukidnon. Should you be staying at CDO, make sure to ask for the last trip for Talakag, Bukidnon – CDO bus/van/jeepney.
– ALWAYS leave Brgy. Limunsudan at 12NN-1PM so you can still make it back to Talakag, Bukidnon, or even CDO before dusk.
– Agree a back and forth transport service, as well as rate with your habal habal driver.
– Should you ask assistance, please contact Iligan Tourism
