Located in the stunning landscapes of Cebu Island in the Philippines, Montpellier Falls is without a doubt a true hidden gem. This captivating waterfall cascades down the tall cliffs covered in green. It offers a relaxing escape from the crowds of Moalboal.
When we decided to visit this place we had no expectations. After almost getting lost thinking this waterfall was impossible to find we finally arrived at a paradise. The falls certainly became one of our favorite places on Cebu Island.
In this guide, we’d like to share with you all the necessary information to visit this stunning place. Learn where to find it, how to get there as well as a few more practical tips.
Where is Montpellier Falls ?
Montpellier Falls is located right on the southwest coast of Cebu island in a town called Alegria. If you’re staying in Moalboal it’s 35km from there. On a motorbike, it will take around 40-50 minutes to get here.
This place is not very touristy. That’s both great and bad news. Obviously, it’s perfect because you’ll likely be completely alone here. But the disadvantage is that the path is not well marked and it’s rather hard to find the trail leading to the waterfall.
Tip: If you are short on time and want to see as much of Cebu as possible, take a look at this Cebu highlights tour. It’s also a great option if you don’t feel confident riding a motorbike.
I will describe the whole trail below in “Hike to Montpellier Falls” section.
You can also save the location of Montpellier Falls to your Google Maps app.
How to get to Montpellier Falls
Parking fee: no
Finding the trail to Montpellier Falls can be rather challenging. We spent quite some time searching for the trail that leads to the waterfalls. However, if you plan to go there, it’s recommended to use a motorbike as the road leading to the waterfalls is very narrow.
In brief, I will describe how to get to the starting point of the trek. You will find more details about the hiking trail in the section “Hiking trail to Montpellier Falls“
Despite the difficulty, once you get there, the view is absolutely breathtaking. You can get the furthest only on a motorbike.
First of all, you need to make your way to Alegria. Once there, you need to turn left from the main road. Make your way to this crossroad. Keep going straight at this point. Follow the two concrete lanes.
On a motorbike
The easiest way to get to Montpellier is definitely on a motorbike. The road is really narrow and the car wouldn’t fit there. And there’s also no space for parking the car.
As you keep following the road to this point, the wide concrete road will gradually change to two narrow lanes of concrete made to fit car tires. First, you will pass a few houses where locals live. Then, as you continue, you’ll be surrounded by a jungle full of lush green and palm trees from both sides.
A few minutes along this road and one lane will disappear. Soon you will only have one narrow concrete lane which is about 50 cm wide. This road leads to a small village in a jungle where you can find 2 or 3 houses. Locals live here together with their animals so be respectful.
If you don’t feel like driving here, simply park your bike at the side of the road and keep walking instead.
By a car
Traveling to Montpellier by car is certainly not the best idea. It will be way more complicated and you will have to walk a lot.
If you decide to do it anyway, then you’ll have to park somewhere in Alegria. As mentioned before, the road leading to the waterfall trailhead is very narrow, and almost no space is around. Therefore even if you can actually get closer to the waterfall by car, you won’t be able to park or turn around anywhere.
If you would like to rent a car with a driver, take a look at this car charter on Klook.
Where to stay
Even though Moalboal is quite far from Montpellier Falls, we recommend staying there. From here, you can also easily organize a day trip and explore multiple tourist spots on the same day. Moalboal offers the biggest selection of hotels and restaurants in the area.
Optionally, some people stay in Oslob. This area is known for the possibility of snorkeling with whale sharks. However, the way it’s done is not ethical at all. So, we would like to ask you not to support this despite how beautiful it sounds.
Best hotels on Cebu
Check availability
Montpellier Falls entrance fee
Entrance fee: no
When we visited there was no official entrance to the falls hence there was no one to collect the entrance fee. This might change soon since almost all the waterfalls require you to pay the entrance fee as well as a guide.
Do I need a guide?
When visiting many waterfalls on Cebu Island, you will notice that a guide is almost always required. This doesn’t apply to Montpellier Falls and you don’t need the guide. Since the path to the waterfall is not completely clear, someone could think that there should be a guide.
Since you’re not paying for the entrance fee, parking fee, and the guide. Therefore, Montpellier Falls is the best choice for low-budget travelers.
Tip: Are you already on Cebu? Don’t miss the opportunity to swim with milions of sardines. Moalboal Sardine Run is something you should certainly experience.
Hiking trail to Montpellier Falls
Once you reach the jungle village, find a trail leading through the jungle toward the right side. If you are not sure where to go, ask the locals. They are really friendly. Keep following the narrow trail along the forests and plains.
There is just one path so you shouldn’t get lost. As you come closer to the waterfall you will hear the water. You will pass a place with a small house on your right side. In fact, this section only takes around 10 minutes. Before long you will reach the Montpellier Falls.
About Montpellier Falls
Montpellier Falls is an impressive tall waterfall. The water descends in a steady stream, landing on the rocks below. It’s not too strong, so you can easily stand underneath it.
Around the waterfall, there’s a beautiful blue lagoon, surrounded by lush green jungle and towering cliffs. On the other side, you can enjoy views of numerous palm trees and the ocean in the distance.
Water is dropping right on the huge rock that is in the middle of the blue lagoon. When the water hits the rock, it sprays in a wide area. The water is not very deep, so just be careful while jumping from the rocks. Yeah, and the rocks are slippery.
It’s not among the most visited waterfalls on Cebu Island. Therefore, there’s a huge chance you’ll have it all to yourself. We were completely alone for more than 1 hour and it was around 12 pm. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty all around you.
The water temperature is refreshing, a little cold, but that’s great because at least it cools you after a hike in the scorching sun. You can lie down on the pebble “island” which is right in front of the lagoon.
Remember that there are no facilities near the waterfall. You won’t find anyone selling water or snacks. Prepare yourself properly and bring enough water, and food with you. Weather on Cebu Island can be very hot so you’ll need to make sure you stay hydrated.
Travel Insurance
One of the worst things you could do is travel without insurance. We never go on a trip without travel insurance. Anything can happen during your adventures.
Our go-to company is SafetyWing. They will save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
If you purchase the insurance through our link, you still pay the same, and we will earn a small commission. This helps us run our blog. Thank you ❤️
Best time to visit Montpellier Falls
Dry season: December – April
Rainy season: May – November
The best time to visit Cebu island in general is definitely during the dry season. Days are sunny and there’s almost no rain. March till May are becoming too hot and humid so it might be slightly unpleasant to travel around the island.
When coming after the monsoon season, there’s a chance the water flow will be too strong and the waterfall will be closed. The amount of rain and occasional typhoons might cause dangerous landslides and make the waterfall unaccessible.
Day-wise I would suggest coming either in the morning or in the afternoon. Just try to avoid coming at noon when the sun is the strongest. Since there aren’t many tourists you don’t need to try to avoid crowds.
Best Restaurants around
You’ll find a few local restaurants and eateries around Alegria. We personally recommend Cosina Organica. They serve local Filipino dishes as well as fresh fish and seafood. The prices are slightly higher when compared to food stalls around.
However, you can enjoy your lunch sitting on a terrace with ocean views. That’s probably my favorite part. The views are just stunning!
Tip: When visiting Cebu island you can’t miss swimming with whale sharks! Check out this awesome Oslob whale shark snorkeling adventure!
Other places to visit nearby
There is many other beautiful places you should also visit on Cebu island. When traveling from Moalboal to Montpellier Falls, I recommend adding 2 or 3 more attractions and plan a day-trip full of adventure.
Head out to Lambug Beach to enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches on Cebu.
Dao Falls
We fell in love with Dao Falls immediately. To reach the waterfall, you must do a short but beautiful trek along the turquoise river through the canyon. It’s surrounded by lush green jungle.
At the end of the trail, you will be greeted by mesmerizing water cascades and a pool! Don’t hesitate and jump right into the pool to cool down your body. The water temperature is perfect. Unfortunately, you won’t find any good spots for cliff jumping.
When flying a drone be careful since you might lose signal easily in this area. We were told that many tourists lost their drones. Just don’t fly long distances and stay over the canyon. Your drone should be fine.
Tip for photos: Use the cascades for taking mind-blowing pictures.
Osmena Peak
Osmena Peak is the highest point on Cebu Island and one of the top tourist spots. No wonder, because the views from Osmena Peak are simply incredible. Do they remind you of something? They remind us of the famous Chocolate Hills on the island of Bohol.
In fact, these hills have a specific shape that you simply cannot find anywhere else. A short 15-minute hike leads to the top.
A guide is mandatory in this case and you will not reach the top without the guide, even if the trail is marked and easy. At least this way you support the local people and their community.
Kabutongan Falls
Kabutongan Falls is for adventure and adrenaline seekers because it’s considered as semi-canyoneering. We didn’t even know it before we came, but luckily we were prepared. The path to the waterfall leads through a canyon. A river flows in the canyon.
We recommend hiking in a swimsuit. For example, in some places, you will have to get completely wet and swim. You also have to swim through some sections. Kabutongan waterfall is at the end of the trail and looks like something out of a fairy tale.
Tip for photos: If you want to take several things with you, we recommend that you bring a water bag. Take a waterproof camera (like GoPro) to capture photos.
Kabutongan Falls is less visited and we were there the whole time only with our guides. They won’t even let you go to the waterfall without a guide. However, they have a slightly strange rule. Every tourist must have a guide.
It’s a bit unusual, but if you go there in a group of four, each of you will have to pay separately for a guide. It’s more expensive than any other waterfall in Cebu.
Best guided tours on Cebu
- Kawasan Canyoneering – A MUST DO activity on Cebu Island. This was definitely the highlight of our Philippine trip and we recommend this to everyone who loves adrenaline and cliff-jumping!
- Bohol Day Tour – If you want to see Bohol Island withut all the hassle, this tour is the perfect option. Bohol is not a big island so one day is plenty to see its highlights.
- 3-Day Cebu Highlights tour – Great if you’re looking for a hassle-free trip around the best Cebu attractions. Visit Cebu City, different waterfalls, go snorkelling with whale sharks and sardine run.
Montpellier Falls on Cebu – conclusion
Montpellier Falls on Cebu are easily one of the best attractions the island has to offer. It feels like you’re in a movie! Dramatic cliffs, stunning waterfalls and lovely blue lagoon are not something you see every day.
I hope you found this guide helpful. Make sure to check other beautiful places to visit on Cebu island, too! Enjoy your trip!
