Visit Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan city, Philippines

It is one of the most beautiful and useful waterfall in the Philippines. You will only encounter it in the pages of Sibika at Kultura (Hekasi) books in your elementary school days, but once you see it in person, you will be impressed by its amazing beauty.

Published date: 29 October 2021,11:00 | Updated:06 April 2022,15:56

About Maria Cristina FallsNot only does Maria Cristina look stunning, but it also has great value to the locals of Iligan City. It is estimated that the waterfall has a flow that can supply 70% of Mindanao’s power with its current of 200 megawatts. As a result, people cannot swim in the Maria Cristina Falls. Visiting here won’t be a disappointment, though, as you can still admire it from afar, and hop from one waterfall to another like Tinago Falls. Iligan is known as the “City of Majestic Waterfalls” because it’s home to many waterfalls.

Definition of Maria Cristina Falls

The name Maria Cristina Falls comes from a legend about two sisters named Maria and Cristina who both fell in love with the same man. Learn more about them below.

The legend of Maria Cristina Falls

We Filipinos love both love and legends, so it’s not surprising that you’ll hear a lot of tales about the destination you’ll visit. Touring the Philippines is full of legends and folklore that make our journeys more intriguing and memorable.

Here are two tales about the Maria Cristina Falls. Before you visit, you should know first about the Falls’ history.

According to legend, Maria Cristina Falls and her twin sister Cristina lived in Iligan once, where they fell in love with the same man. The man loved both of them but could not decide which to choose. Maria, the youngest, went to the falls and jumped. When Cristina learned of this, she too went there and jumped. The twins were so in love with each other that they were both willing to sacrifice their lives for each other. In honor of their memory, the man buried their bodies under the falls. Unwilling to marry anyone again, he named a twin waterfall in the area in their memory.

In the second legend of Maria Cristina Falls, a beautiful young woman with the name Maria Cristina is told to have been taken away by a Sultan’s army when he raided Maria Cristina’s area. Due to Maria Cristina’s beauty, the Sultan decided to adopt her and treat her as his own child. Her father fought for her, but died in battle. The army offered Maria Cristina to the Sultan.

A son of a Sultan was one of her suitors when she was a child. Maria Cristina fell in love with him. They were both happy with each other, so they decided to get married. But a witch came and told them that their wedding would not happen. Despite her beauty and fate with the prince, this witch was envious of Maria Cristina.

After the raid, Maria Cristina remembered that she wasn’t able to see her mother and she felt sad. So she went to a river and reminisced about the good times she had back then, and then she began to cry. As the witch saw her, she cursed her because she was also in love with the prince. The witch cursed Maria Cristina that she would turn into a mountain and her tears would not stop flowing which would become a river.

Maria Cristina Falls: What to expect?

It’s time to list the things you should expect when you visit the Maria Cristina Falls so that you know what to expect. Maria Cristina Falls are sometimes referred to as twin falls because a rock separates the flow of water at the brink.

In the connecting area of the waterfall, the National Power Corporation (NPC) has developed an adventure sports park, where people can enjoy rock climbing and trekking.

Visitors can view the waterfall from a viewing deck on the 3rd floor of the NPC building on Saturdays, Sundays, and special holidays when the power plant is closed.

The NPC must be contacted first to verify that the falls are open for viewing. The admission fee is P50.

Since there is such a strong current here, swimming is strictly prohibited here.

Things to do around Maria Cristina Falls

Preview Remove Maria christina falls view

Picnic

The Nature Park has areas where you can have a picnic, and a restaurant and cafe where you can buy food if you didn’t bring any.

Experience the Zoological Gardens and Botanical Gardens

Get up close to some animals like monkeys, ostriches, crocodiles, and more in the park’s Botanical and Zoological Garden

Botanical gardens at Maria christina falls

Ziplining

The zip line is a great adventure if you’re seeking an adrenaline rush

How to get there

Click on the map below

From Manila, you take a domestic flight to Cagayan de Oro City which arrives in Laguindingan International Airport, the nearest airport in Iligan City. From Cagayan de Oro, take a jeepney going to Bulua Market Bus Terminal.

After arriving at the bus terminal, ride the bus bound for Iligan City. From the terminal to Iligan, the travel time is approximately 2 hours.

From the town proper, ride a jeep bound to Buru-an/Linamon and inform the driver to drop you off to a corner going to Maria Cristina Falls. From there, ride a motorcycle (habal-habal) to Agus River that costs about P60 to P80 per way. There are also taxis available in the area if you want a more comfortable ride.