Can-umantad Falls and the Cadapdapan rice terraces
In the hills of Candijay, a tall waterfall drops through jungle into a swimming pool, a short walk below green rice terraces that few visitors to Bohol ever see.
- Area
- Anda & the east
- Start from
- Anda
- Distance
- about 30 km
- Time needed
- 1 day
- Best season
- Best after rains (roughly June – January), but the trail is muddier
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Transport
- Car, scooter or habal-habal; short hike
- Tickets & rules
- Small entrance fee
Why go
I had no idea Bohol had rice terraces until a driver in Anda mentioned them. Cadapdapan, in the hills above Candijay, is a small village surrounded by steep fields of rice, stepped neatly into the slopes. Farmers work the paddies by hand; carabao lumber along the paths; and the morning mist hangs on the ridges.
Below the terraces, a short walk leads to Can-umantad Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls on the island, often quoted at around 60 metres. The water falls in a long white ribbon through greenery into a pool where you can swim, and in the rainy months the spray fills the air.
The road up is narrow and winding, which keeps numbers low. On a weekday morning I shared the pool with two local boys and a dog.
The story
The name Can-umantad is often explained as coming from local words for a place where water comes from above. The falls are fed by streams from the hills, and they swell after heavy rains.
The Cadapdapan rice terraces are much younger and smaller than the famous terraces of northern Luzon, but they are farmed in a similar way, with irrigation channels carrying water from field to field. Villagers say their grandparents cut the terraces into the slopes to make more land for rice in the hills.
Candijay is also known for its mangroves and for the production of nipa and handicrafts along the coast. Inland, life still follows the rhythm of rice: planting, weeding, harvest and drying the grain on the road.
Some villagers believe the falls are home to spirits, and they warn against shouting or being disrespectful there. One old woman told me that the water had taken people who laughed at it.
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Getting there
Candijay is roughly 30–45 minutes by road from Anda, and the falls are further inland in the hills above the town. Habal-habal drivers in Candijay or Anda can take you up.
From the parking area, a short walk with steps leads down to the falls.
A suggested plan
- 7:00Leave Anda; stop in Candijay for breakfast.
- 8:30Arrive at the Cadapdapan rice terraces; walk the paths around the fields.
- 10:00Walk down to Can-umantad Falls and swim.
- 12:00Lunch in a simple local place or bring a picnic.
- 14:00Return to Anda for an afternoon swim.
Where to stay
Anda is the most comfortable base. There are a few simple homestays in the Candijay area if you want to stay close to the hills.
Good to know
- Wear shoes with grip; the steps can be muddy.
- Bring water and snacks.
- Ask before photographing farmers working in the fields.
- Don’t swim close under the falls after heavy rain; water and debris come down hard.
- The hill road is steep and narrow; ride carefully if you are on a scooter.
- Watch for leeches on the trail in the rainy months.