MATIGOL FALLS: Travel Guide to a Beautiful Adventure in North Cotabato

There are a handful of places in North Cotabato that I have dreamt of visiting but I have always been hesitant. Matigol Falls is one of them, not because of safety concerns but because I have often heard people say how difficult it is to explore. I’ve already scaled several mountains and explored many waterfalls but Matigol Falls never cease to intimidate me. So when I finally summoned the courage to go for a visit, I wasted no time and took my chance but what I found out was completely baffling. Read on to know my amazing experience in Matigol Falls and how it’s completely the opposite of what I perceived it would be like.

OUR HIKE TO MATIGOL FALLS

Our initial plan was to explore Matigol Falls on a Sunday but because Pani (my travel buddy/cousin) and I were both hungover, we arrived in Arakan, sick and vomiting our insides from a 5-hour trip from Midsayap at 1 PM. We decided to rest it out in a nearby inn and postpone the hike for the following morning.  Our first day in Arakan was pretty uneventful as we spent most of our time sleeping and checking out some great ukay-ukay (pre-loved) finds.

The next morning, we left the inn at 6 AM to have a quick breakfast at an eatery nearby. The ride to Matigol Falls began at 6:30 AM through a concrete road that was a series of steep uphills and treacherous downhills with sharp curves in between. Also, a part of the ride was through an unpaved road so expect it to be a bit nerve-wracking. Although the ride only took less than 30 minutes, it was already enough to get us all pumped up for the adventure to come.

Arriving in Brgy. Matigol, we were ushered to the receiving area where we were briefed a little and paid the corresponding fees. Soon after, we started the hike. We covered a 500-meter uneventful hike until the end of the concrete road. We then shifted to a dirt path leading down to the falls. The downhill was pretty steep but it wasn’t anything difficult. I just had to watch my steps to prevent myself from tripping due to loose earth.

The scenery was really spectacular that it took my mind away from the hike. I hate downhills as they can take a lot of toll on my knees so I could use a little distraction. We also passed by several houses and exchanged smiles with the locals who were very welcoming. Ten minutes into the hike and I already had a glimpse of Matigol Falls. Its water cascading from the top of the hill to an unknown bottom was mesmerizing. It was such a beautiful sight the kind that made me wonder what it feels like to visit every tier where the water seems to have made natural pools.

From steep downhills, we shifted to a short uphill climb to the view deck. There we witness Matigol Falls in its full glory. We rested our knees a bit and took time to catch some air. The sun was already above the skies and the day was getting hotter by the minute. After getting our much-needed rest, we took photos of Matigol Falls and then picked up the hike.

We descended the same trail in going up the view deck to go back to the trail leading down to the base of Matigol Falls. There, we encountered a few parts that were a little hard to navigate but they were not that challenging. Soon after, we reached the base of Matigol Falls and basked in the otherwordly scenery in front of us. The base tier looks the most formidable of all. It’s where the water flows out to a rocky stream. Its catch basin is kind of out of sight and a fallen log obstructed the path to it so I didn’t pursue it anymore.

We started ascending back to the top of Matigol Falls after 15 minutes. This is where the difficult part began. The entire trail was very steep and included a 90-degree scrambling on rocks that stretched to about 15-20 meters. After that, there wasn’t any room for our knees to rest as the steep uphills have gone on for what felt like an eternity.

I like that I finally got to experience the beating that Matigol Falls has in store for its visitors. It was very challenging but I enjoyed it, especially because every difficult part led to every tier of this magnificent falls which served as our delightful reward. Our hike back to the top tier took almost two hours and there we experienced a bit of rock climbing, river crossing, and hopping from one cliff to another. The trail was pretty unforgiving but it was the kind that would make you craving for more.

When we reached the top tier where the natural pools abound, we decided to stay there for a little while. It was a little past the hour of 11 AM on my watch and I wasn’t at all in a hurry. The midday sun was scorchingly hot against my skin but the spring water was very refreshing. I spent about 30-45 minutes getting enough of the goodness of Matigol Falls while my companions dozed off. I smirked and wonder, “How could they even have the strength to sleep through the beauty that was in front of us?” Mind-boggling.

HOW TO GO TO MATIGOL FALLS

From Manila –  Fly to either Davao or Cotabato airports then follow the steps below.

• • • • • • • • • From Davao Airport- Ride a cab to Ecoland terminal then hop on a bus going to Bukidnon. Alight at the junction going to Arakan (2Hrs | P250) and ride a motorcycle (habal-habal) to Matigol Falls (30 Min | P150/person/way).
                • From Cotabato Airport – Ride a bus to Kidapawan City (4Hrs | P300/head) then hop on the van/bus going to to Arakan (1Hr | P130/person/way). Once in Arakan, ride a motorcycle going to Matigol Falls (30 Minutes | P150/head/way)

From Gensan – Ride a bus to Digos (2Hrs | P150/head) then ride another bus to Arakan (2Hrs | P170). Once in Arakan, ride a motorcycle going to Matigol Falls (30 Minutes | P150/head/way)

USEFUL TRAVEL TIPS

• If you’re taking the Kidapawan route, note that the bus going to Arakan only has 2 schedules. One in the early morning and another in the afternoon at 1 PM. It also only has two trips from Arakan going to Kidapawan and then to Davao at 7 AM and 8 AM.  The van however departs by the hour until 3-4 PM both ways.
• Arakan is a very small town so it only has a few eateries around and food choices are pretty limited. No fancy accommodations are available. The one we stayed at is a love motel that charged P500 a night for a non-AC room.
• Camping near Matigol Falls is a better choice if you would like to stay overnight. It offers stunning views and the campground is spacious. There are also kubo being rented out for P500/night which can accommodate up to 5 people.
• A guide is required to explore Matigol Falls and the guide fee is P300 for a group of 5.
• You can choose between the long and short trails when exploring Matigol Falls. I suggest you take the long trail as it is an easy trek down to the base then use the short trail to go back to the top.
• As always, LEAVE NO TRACE. Take your trash with you and dispose of them properly. 
  

BUDGET,  ITINERARY & OTHER ESSENTIALS

There you have it, Lovelies! I hope you enjoy this blog. If you want to  have a better idea of what our adventure was like, you can watch it on TikTok and Facebook. Until next time. Ciao!