Kandongos Falls, Marabut, Samar

We were already “exploring” the Marabut area in Samar even when the coastal road from Basey leading to Guiuan, Eastern Samar was still under construction about 5-6 years ago. There were still no resorts along the coast facing Leyte Gulf and on several occasions we would just park near secluded beach areas where we – family and Rotary firends – would have a picnic and spend the day swimming.

Among the things we discovered during these excursions was Kandongos Falls, about 6 kms from the picnic area of present-day Jasmine Resort, almost near the provincial border of Eastern Samar. It’s a 1.5-hour leisurely drive from Tacloban City to Kandongos Falls, crossing the San Juanico Strait via the San Juanico Bridge, and turning right heading to Basey and onwards to Marabut.

There is no big signage and one is sure to miss it unless you slow down and take a close watch on the left side of the road, about 6kms after passing by the Jasmine Resort picnic areas. The small sign is shown below:

There’s an open area where you can park and upon getting off, you’d immediately hear the sound of the cascading falls hidden from view by heavy vegetation and the forest area covering the scene.

It’s a short walk – about 50 meters from the road – to the falls.

The falls is not really big, but the water winds its way down the rugged mountain slopes from a height equivalent of a 4 storey building.

Sunset at Marabut…

~ by gerryruiz on 5 August 2008.