Kimatahay Falls was part of my preparations for climbing Mt. Apo. However, since I had hiked Mt. Capistrano and Panimahawa Ridge in the weeks leading up to this, I decided to explore waterfalls instead this particular week. The notable waterfalls were quite far away, so I turned to Google to find a destination. That’s when I discovered Kimatahay Falls, which is conveniently located in the nearby town of Valencia.
From my rented room in Malaybalay City, I took a jeepney to Valencia and got off at the junction in Bagontaas. This is one of the major stops for passenger jeepneys, making it easy to find. There is a waiting shed with the name of the junction displayed on it. Several motorcycle drivers are lined up at the intersection, and you can hire them to take you to Brgy. Upper Lilingayon. The usual fare is ₱80 per person one way. Since I was traveling alone, I thought ₱150 was a fair price for the ride.
The ride was smooth, taking me through some stunning views along the way. The roads were concrete all the way to the barangay hall, and they weren’t very steep either. Overall, it was quite relaxing, except for my driver’s occasional comments about why I was alone. I often receive this kind of inquiry, and while I know I should get used to it, it sometimes gets on my nerves and makes me anxious.
After about an hour, I arrived in Brgy. Lilingayon, where I was greeted by friendly locals. They seemed surprised to see me that day since it was a weekday, and visitors didn’t come by often, even on weekends. After discussing who would accompany me to the falls, they decided to call a young man named Charlie to assist me.
The trailhead is still quite far, deep within the banana plantation, so we rode a motorcycle to reach it. This was the first bumpy ride of our adventure, but it wasn’t too nerve-wracking and lasted only about ten minutes. The hike down to Kimatahay Falls, however, was a different story. It began with a walk along the first part of the trail, which was covered in thick bushes. The path was not only obscured by tall grass but branches were also scattered everywhere, making it difficult to see.
The trail steepened as we descended. With only shrubs and grass lining both sides, there was little to hold on to for support. It would have been easier if the path had been rugged, with rocks to step on. Instead, it was primarily soft earth, which was extremely steep and slippery. I felt like I was going down a cliffside. And just when I thought the trail couldn’t get any more challenging, I encountered a 90-degree descent.
Much like before, there wasn’t much for me to hold on to. Charlie did his best to assist me with my descent, ensuring his foot was there whenever mine slipped or failed. The descent was at least six feet tall, and it didn’t get any easier after that. The treacherous hike continued until we reached Kimatahay Falls. The base was filled with large rocks, and the mist from the waterfall drenched them whenever the wind blew.
Kimatahay Falls is a breathtaking waterfall with a drop of no less than one hundred meters. All the waterfalls in Bukidnon seem to share this majestic and beautiful quality. The water cascades gracefully in a single tier that is no more than a meter wide. I truly enjoyed its captivating allure, especially since I had the place all to myself. It was worth all the trouble I went through to see it.
I washed away my anxiety and distress in the cold water, spending a good hour soaking in the experience before heading back up the same trail we had used to descend. The hike back was more manageable; while it took me an hour to go down, the return trip took less time. Surviving Kimatahay Falls motivated me to seek out another waterfall called Pinamalogtuhan. Unfortunately, the trail was impassable due to a landslide. While this was disappointing, I was still happy, as I had witnessed another beautiful sight that was enough to carry me through the week.
