One of the last few provinces I have yet to visit in Luzon was Abra. It took quite a while to finally tick it off my list. One of the most notable places I visited in the province was the spectacular Kaparkan Falls.
It takes some effort and time to visit Kaparkan Falls, but it's worth it.
The Majestic Kaparkan Falls
It was early in the morning and the guides for the waterfall tour discussed the dos and don'ts of our trip. I was still sleepy but excited to visit Kaparkan. We boarded the monster truck and drove through Abra's beautiful countryside. The locals told us that it used to take around 5 hours by truck to reach the start of the trek to Kaparkan. Now, it's down to 1.5-2 hours depending on the weather. It took around an hour (or less) of trekking/walking through a forest to reach the waterfall.
The waterfall lived up to the hype surrounding it.
I can say that Kaparkan Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've seen in Asia. The pools had cold water overflowing from them. Taking a dip was a refreshing experience.
How to Get to Kaparkan Falls
Kaparkan Falls is located in Tineg, Abra. You'll have to stop at Bangued, Abra first before going to the waterfalls since there are no direct routes to Tineg. Since I live in Metro Manila, the convenient way to go to Bangued is by bus from Cubao. I would recommend taking the overnight trip instead so that you won't have to use paid time off to travel during the day.
Dominion Bus, Viron and Partas have regular trips to Bangued, Abra from their respective Cubao terminals. Fare costs up to approximately P1000 one way depending on the class of bus you get. The trip can take around 8-10+ hours one way.
Thankfully, you can book a ticket online via https://biyaheroes.com/#!/
You can also show up at the bus station to secure a ticket.
Once in Bangued, you'll have to make your way to Blugas Tayum, which is the jump-off point for the monster truck or jeep ride. Try to get to the jump-off point as early as possible to spend more time in the waterfalls.
Best Time to Go to Kaparkan Falls
The rainy months from August to October are the best times to go. These are the times when the terraced pools are full of water.
Kaparkan Falls Fees
***As of this writing because fuel prices can fluctuate and may affect the final price of the package.
You'll have to coordinate with the local tourism office to get a package for the waterfalls. You can visit their page and get more details here: ABRAmazing Tours
- P1700-P2000 tour package
The package includes guide, environmental fees, registration and monster jeep or truck round trip ride from Blugas Tayum. You'll need to make a down payment of P850 per person. Reservation of a slot is first come first served. It's better to book over the weekend because the tourism office requires a minimum of 20 participants for weekday trips.
Join a Tour Group or DIY
Going DIY has its perks and provides more flexibility, but it can get expensive especially if you're traveling on your own or just a small group. Joining a tour group reduces some of your expenses and you get to visit other places as well.
I decided to join a tour instead to reduce the hassle and cost of visiting Kaparkan Falls on my own. We visited other places in Abra and Ilocos Sur along the way.
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