Swim or cannonball into the natural jacuzzis of Jawili Falls in Tangalan, Aklan

The neighboring town of Tangalan provided a quick escape for me, my mom and my sister from the madness of the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo. The primary reason people visit this town is to check out Jawili Falls, located some 15 mins from the highway. A series of seven cataracts surrounded by dense greenery, Jawili Falls is very swimmable. Unlike other popular waterfalls in the Philippines that have unsightly swimming areas built with concrete, the naturally formed jacuzzi-like rock pools carved by the cascading water was a pleasant surprise. And these pools were very deep! It was exciting watching several children cannonballing into the bowl-like reservoirs.

Ramble across the fascinating wave-rock formations of Afga Point

Between Brgy. Jawili and the highway, we stopped by Brgy. Afga. A small white lighthouse marks Afga Point, a precipice overlooking a rough coastline. A narrow and steep path concealed by foliage leads down to the fascinating rock sculptures shaped by sea called “wave-rock formations”. A congenial youngster from the village named Cyren offered to show us the way to the shoreline below. The limestones and coral stone used to build San Juan Nepomuceno Church (Tangalan Church) were quarried from this area by natives under the polo (forced labor) system during Spanish rule. Finished in 1889, the church took 28 years to build. Don’t miss out on dropping by this edifice before returning to the highway.

San Juan Nepomuceno Church was finished in 1889

HOW TO GET THERE: Take a Kalibo-Tangalan jeepney (PHP 23, 30 mins) at the common transportation terminal in Kalibo. Alight at the Tangalan public market along the highway, and take a tricycle to Jawili Falls (PHP 20/pax, 15 mins). Best to ask the tricycle driver to wait for you, as tricycles do not frequent the falls.  On the way back from the falls, you can stop by Afga Point and Tangalan Church.


WHERE TO STAY: There are several accommodation options in Kalibo, but if you want to spend the night near Jawili Falls, there are a few newly-built native cottages (PHP 400, good for 2pax) next to a house across the entrance to the falls. Contact Cethlyn – +639215965330.

afga point jawili falls rock formation tangalan wave rock