TravelBudDear: Sicao Falls, Davao City

The Sicao 13 Falls

If you are looking for some adventure near the city, try to visit the Sicao Falls at Calinan. You will be surprised that there isn't just 1 but 13 falls (and more!) to explore in this part of DC!

This isn't our first time visiting the place. I started this blog about the Sicao falls when we were able to explore its 11 falls last January. We went back there recently for an event and as our side trip, Wing and I decided to explore other falls in the area.

From Davao proper, we rode a jeepney bound for Calinan. You can inform the driver to drop you off Tamayong terminal. At Tamayong terminal, you can ride a habal-habal or a tricycle to Purok 6, Tamayong.

Welcome sign at Purok 6

At Purok 6, you now have 2 options to go to Sicao Village, the jumpoff going to Sicao Falls. You can either ride a habal-habal (I don't know how much is the fare, haven't tried this), or you can just trek all the way to the village (depends on your pace - 1-2 hours uphill).

Sicao Village campsite

We decided to rest for the night and do an early trek for the next day. Our plan - 9 falls for 1 day.

We started around 6 am, kinda gloomy but at least no rain. We decided to do a dayhike and go back to the village for the night instead of camping inside the forest, just in case it might rain the next day at least we won't be near a river. It has been raining hard recently.

For climbers who were able to visit Sicao Falls before, the trail going to 9 falls is just the same. You'll pass by Sitio Utan, and as well as the dead tree at Pikot falls.

Utan village

After Pikot falls, the 9 falls trail will start - all we got before here were just warm-ups! Haha!

As per our guide, this falls doesn't have a name yet - I was planning to suggest call it "Guen Falls" haha! Kidding aside, this falls leads to Daragdag Falls. This is the first falls you'll see on the 9-falls exploration, but this isn't included on the list.

The usual exploration for the Sicao Falls were the Sicao Falls and Daragdag Falls trail. Thus, the trail that we're going through right now is considered "unexplored...yet" Most part of it is that our guide is the one who makes the trail for us.

We were even surprised to see Almaciga Trees, aka Century Trees! Isn't it amazing? These trees are 100 years old and yes they're still alive! Whoaa!

After hours of trailblazing, we got to the river-trekking part. Finally I could hear the water gushing, surely we're near a waterfalls!

And so here are the 9-falls we explored, in sequential order:

Suhotan 1 Falls

Suhotan 2 Falls

Pinohonoy Falls

Jamana 1 Falls

Jamana 2 Falls

Adiba Falls

Bat-te Antaon Falls

Sicao Falls

Daragdag Falls

It took us almost 8-hrs to do the 9-falls exploration. Thanks Lord for the good weather.

So basically, the 9-falls trail is just going from the main water source and river-trekking all the other falls above it until we reached the majestic Sicao Falls.

And good thing we decided to go back to the village to camp for the night as it rained hard around 2 till morning. We even woke up late the next day! But of course, the rain won't stop our goal to visit the other falls in the area.

But the rain made it hard for us to trek. The trail to the next falls was very muddy and some parts we even need to walk on water. The uphill part of it looks like mini-waterfalls!

On our 2nd day, we were just able to explore 2 falls. It's like the rain won't let us go farther. But definitely, we have a reason to go back!

Here are the other falls we visited that day:

Bay-na Falls

(Nearest to the village)

Pantok 2 Falls

(There's still another falls on top, unfortunately the water current is very strong, none of us would dare to climb up)

The third time we went back to the Sicao Village, we were able to explore the top part of Pantok Falls. The guide wasn't sure of the name of the other falls so we called it Pantok 1 and Pantok 2 falls.

The trail to Pantok Falls is short but very challenging.