Palo Alto Falls, Rizal

Palo Alto Falls is in Baras, Rizal, roughly a two to three hour drive from Manila depending on traffic. It’s tucked away inside Palo Alto Leisure and Residential Estates in Barangay Pinugay.

I first visited in January 2015 and have been back around two more times since. Across those trips, I went with my family, my wife’s family and a group of friends.

This isn’t the biggest or most powerful waterfall you’ll ever see. What makes Palo Alto Falls so good is how easy and relaxed the whole experience is.

There’s no difficult hike, the swimming area is easy to get into and you can hire a cabana, bring some food and chill out for a couple of hours. It’s a great little waterfall for families, groups of friends and anyone who doesn’t feel like trekking through the jungle for half the day.

Is Palo Alto Falls Open to Visitors?

Check before making the trip. The estate has grown quite a bit since my visits, and it’s hard to get a clear answer about whether you can still visit the falls. Some listings say they’re closed or that you can’t get in while more development is going on.

Don’t just jump in the car and assume you can enter. Get in touch with Palo Alto Residential Estates first and ask whether they’re letting day visitors into the waterfall.

The Walk to Palo Alto Falls

From the parking area, there are 249 concrete steps leading up towards the waterfall. That might sound like a lot, but it isn’t a difficult walk. The path is paved, clearly laid out and only takes around 10 to 15 minutes.

You walk through a forested area beside a small stream, with water running gently between the rocks. You feel a long way from Manila, yet you haven’t had to trek through the jungle to get there.

Children and older relatives managed the walk without any problems when we visited. You still need to take your time on the steps but compared with most waterfall trips I’ve done in the Philippines, this one is very easy.

Swimming at Palo Alto Falls

The waterfall drops into a natural rock pool surrounded by forest and landscaped grounds. The bottom of the pool isn’t paved. There are plenty of smaller rocks that are relatively easy to walk across, along with some larger rocks around the size of footballs. You still need to watch where you put your feet, but it’s one of the easier natural rock pools I can remember getting in and out of.

The water was generally around waist to chest deep, depending on where you stood. It was beautifully fresh and cool without being unbearably cold.

Because the waterfall isn’t massively powerful, you can walk right underneath it. Standing there with the water coming down over you is almost like having a natural outdoor shower.

That was easily one of the best parts of the experience.

Hire a Cabana and Chill Out

There are cabanas around the swimming area where you can set yourself up with food and spend a couple of hours relaxing.

On my first visit, we didn’t stay too long because we were making more of a day trip out of it. On the other visits, we hired a cabana, brought our own food and stayed for around two to three hours.

That’s probably the best way to experience Palo Alto Falls.

Have a swim, sit under the waterfall, get out for some food and then go back in again. There’s no need to rush around trying to tick off ten different activities.

It was never anywhere near as crowded as Daranak Falls when I visited. The cabanas could fill up, particularly on busier days, but the whole place still felt relatively quiet and relaxed.

How Long Do You Need?

Allow around two to three hours at Palo Alto Falls itself. That gives you plenty of time to walk up, swim, have lunch and relax in one of the cabanas.

You don’t need to stay overnight. As long as they’re letting visitors in, it’s an easy half-day outing if you’re staying nearby, or a day trip from Manila once you include the drive.

Best Time to Visit Palo Alto Falls

I’d recommend visiting in January or February, when there should still be a decent amount of water coming down the falls without the weather being too hot.

The amount of water definitely changed between my visits. On one occasion, probably around March or April, the flow was noticeably weaker than I’d seen previously.

It wasn’t disappointing and there was still enough water to enjoy the falls. It just wasn’t flowing as strongly.

If you visit during the hotter summer months from March to May, expect less water. Going shortly after some rain should give you a better waterfall, although I’d avoid visiting during heavy rain because conditions around waterfalls can change very quickly.

How to Get to Palo Alto Falls

Palo Alto Falls is inside Palo Alto Leisure and Residential Estates along Marcos Highway, near the boundary of Baras and Tanay.

By Private Car

We travelled by private car from Makati, which is definitely the easiest option.

From Makati, head towards C5 and continue towards Marcos Highway, then follow the highway through Antipolo towards Baras and Tanay.

Travel time will depend heavily on Manila traffic. I’d allow at least two to three hours each way rather than relying on the old one-hour estimates you might still find online.

When you contact the estate, ask which entrance to use and how to get to the falls from there.

By Public Transport

Public transport is possible, although it’s nowhere near as convenient.

From Cubao or Marikina, travel to Cogeo Gate 2. From there, look for a jeepney heading towards Sampaloc, Tanay via Marcos Highway and ask the driver to drop you at the Palo Alto entrance.

Jeepneys from Antipolo or Masinag may also pass the estate entrance.

The tricky bit is getting from the main gate to the waterfall and finding a ride back afterwards. Ask the estate about that too, because getting dropped at the highway won’t help much if you’re stuck there without a ride inside.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Check that the falls are open before driving all the way there.
• January or February would be my pick for a visit.
• Expect an entrance fee, plus a little extra if you hire a cabana.
• Wear shoes with decent grip for the steps and rock pool.
• Bring food and drinks if you’re planning to hire a cabana.
• Watch your footing around the larger rocks beneath the water.
• Give it a miss during heavy rain or if the water is rising.

Dezza’s Tip

Bring your own picnic and hire a cabana rather than just dropping in for a quick swim. We did that on our later visits, and it was a much better way to spend a couple of hours. You’ve got somewhere to leave your things, have some food and relax between swims.

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