Dawara Falls – The Curtain Cascade of Suyo
In this adventure, we visited Dawara Falls of Suyo, definitely an underrated gem.
Ilocos Sur boasts more destinations that is still under the radar. The province is more than just the cobblestone streets of Vigan City since it has a good number of waterfalls and mountains worth exploring.
The Curtain
Just a few kilometers from the Municipal Hall, we took a 1.2 kilometer cemented road in Brgy. Poblacion that leads to a hanging bridge. This worn-0ut bridge crosses a river fed by the downstream of the Dawara Falls.
The trek was easy and it took around five minutes before the waterfall came into view. The tricky part was descending on the eroded side of the trail before reaching the river. From a distance the waterfall had been like a silent white stream flowing over the rocky outcrops.
Coming closer, the roar of the water hitting the rocks were thunderous.
From there the surge of the water gushing down from the very top of the falls was strong. Albeit the dry season, the mist created kept my camera lenses wet most of the time. I eventually found a spot where I could actually take a photo without getting my gadgets drenched. However, it did not dampened my spirit, I just stood there in awe.
Honestly, this was my second favorite after Sta. Maria’s Pinsal Falls in the province in terms of being wide and spectacular.
I never thought that the waterfall was indeed towering in person. Didn’t expected much from Dawara Falls, but as it turns out, was my favorite from the whole Suyo day trip.
Dam Right
There’s also a defunct mini hydro power plant along the river. It was called Dawara Mini-Hydro, a project of ISECO (Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc.) which at that time was under NEA (National Electrification Administration).
Unfortunate events befell ISECO when the Dawara Mini-Hydro Power Plant submerged after the landslide brought about by a super typhoon “Nitang” on August 1, 1983. It was a big loss for ISECO and due to insufficient fund, it was not rehabilitated since then. – ISECO.org
Check-out the other waterfalls in Suyo!
Sangbay ni Ragsak – Suyo’s Waterfall of Happiness
Vagina Falls – Man-Atong’s Quirky Gem
How To Get There
- From Manila, take any bus headed to the Ilocos Region, primarily Candon City, Vigan City, Laoag City or Bangued, Abra. (Partas, Viron, Dominion, Florida)
- Alight at Bitalag Junction in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, just a few hundred meters from the Tagudin Yellow Market. Fare starts at 500-650php, travel time is 5-7hrs depending on the time of the day
- From Bitalag Junction, charter a tricycle to bring you to Suyo. Please take note that these are the white and green tricycles, the yellow ones are for Tagudin. Fare is around 150-200php, travel time is around 20-30minutes (12.9 kilometers).
- You can alight at the Municipal Hall to register, or go down before Kimpusa Bridge and just follow the cemented foot path until you reach a hanging bridge
- From the hanging bridge, just follow the forested trail beside the river, you will notice the now defunct Dawara Hydro Power Plant.
- Once the falls is now within view, be careful going down to the river since the trail is already eroded
- There are no stores nearby, guides are optional, no registration fee to be collected
- Remember LNT Principles, please leave no trace, pack your trash
