Payong-Payong Falls, Cotabato: How to Get There

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Cotabato

SOCCSKSARGEN · Mindanao

Capital: Capital: Kidapawan
Cities and municipalities: 1 city · 17 municipalities63 barangays moved to the BARMM Special Geographic Area in 2019 (now 8 SGA municipalities, not counted here).
Languages: Languages: Hiligaynon · Maguindanao · Cebuano · Ilocano · Manobo · Filipino · English

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Tourist Spots

🕒 Best time:
Year-round; go early (around 6:30am) before the crowds. Coordinate with the Alamada municipal tourism office first.
🧭 Getting there:
Sitio Dulao, Brgy. Upper Dado. Van from Cotabato City to Midsayap (about 1.5 hrs), then habal-habal via Dado or Alamada town proper; finish with 376 stone steps down to the falls.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Upper Dado, Alamada. Ask in the Asik-Asik Falls area for a local guide.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
About a 30-minute trek from the Kidapawan poblacion.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Kitub, Brgy. Bao, Alamada. Go with a local guide.
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🎟️ Entrance:
Small fee at the resort entrance (₱15–20 as last reported, 2010–2019)
🕒 Best time:
Dry season, Nov–Apr. Mornings are chilly; stay on marked paths away from the vents.
🧭 Getting there:
Brgy. Ilomavis. Habal-habal from Kidapawan City, about 30–45 minutes (13 km) uphill on a paved road.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Brgy. Ganatan, Arakan.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Brgy. Kimarayang, Pigcawayan. Go with a local guide.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Brgy. Liliongan, Carmen. Coordinate with the municipal tourism office for a guide.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season. Hire a local guide; you can camp or rent kubo huts near the falls.
🧭 Getting there:
Sitio Inamong, Brgy. Datu Ladayon. Motorcycle ride from Arakan town (a 4x4 helps on the rough road), then a steep trek with some scrambling.
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🕒 Best time:
Weekdays are quieter.
🧭 Getting there:
Brgy. Balabag, Kidapawan City; ask locally for the road to the falls.
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🧭 Getting there:
Inside the Cotabato Provincial Capitol compound, Brgy. Amas, Kidapawan City.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
From Makilala town, about 20 minutes by jeep to Brgy. New Bulatukan, then about 15 minutes by habal-habal to New Israel.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Auxiliary, Brgy. Payong-Payong, Pigcawayan.
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🎟️ Entrance:
₱50 at the tourism office plus ₱5 on arrival (2014 prices)
🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Brgy. Pisan, Kabacan. Register at the municipal tourism office first and go with a local guide.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Brgy. Anick, Pigcawayan.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Brgy. Batasan, Makilala; ask in the barangay for the trail.
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🕒 Best time:
Late afternoon on the way back to town is a good time; dry season for safer roads.
🧭 Getting there:
Sitio Tamiling, Brgy. Bongolanon, Magpet. Roads have changed over the years, so ask for directions in the village.
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🕒 Best time:
Clear mornings or late afternoon; the last unpaved stretch gets muddy after rain.
🧭 Getting there:
A partly paved road climbs most of the way, then it is a short walk of about 100 m. A military communications facility stands beside the peak.
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Pasalubong & Delicacies

Cotabato OTOP products
One Town, One Product kiosk with local food and products from around the province, plus a corner for farmers' and coconut products (opened 2024).
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Kidapawan-made products
Rice cakes, pastries, fruit drinks, brewed coffee, handicrafts and native bags made in Kidapawan (as last reported, 2021).
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Tinagtag
Lacy, crunchy Maguindanaon snack of rice flour and sugar, tapped in thin streams into hot oil and folded or rolled. Pikit is famous for it; Maguindanaon women sell it at the market alongside panyalam and dudol, and rolls in plastic packs are sold at terminals.
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