As early as 2023, Ran and I have already been planning to go to Abra. It has been repeatedly pointed-out in previous entries in this site that Abra is the last place in northern mainland Luzon that we have yet to visit in our quest to mark all Philippine provinces with our footprints. We had to postpone though, as we did not make it that year. The thing with Abra is that despite its teaming natural wonders to feast on, the trip would be incomplete if one would miss Kaparkan Falls.

Kaparkan Falls is the primary reason why Abra tourism thrives in the rainy season. A cascade falls where water descends a series of rock steps, it is highly dependent on rain fall, so much so that the rainy season is synonymous with Kaparkan season. For this, missing the rainy season in a given year would mean waiting for the next year.

We would not want to miss it the second time around. As early as the month of May, I have already been sending messages to the Messenger account of the exclusive Kaparkan tourism partner, ABRAmazing Tours. The trip became definitive on early August, when we became determined that we will push through towards the end of the same month.

Getting to Kaparkan Falls is an adventure in itself. While the first part of the route uses the paved roads leading to Apao Rolling Hills, it takes on the rugged and muddy roads on the latter part where it would be very difficult if not totally impossible to traverse using a typical vehicle not built for such terrain. To get there hence, one must ride a monster truck or a modified 4×4 jeepney.

Our morning started early as we need to leave our accommodation in Bangued to reach the rally point at 06:00 AM. Participants of the Kaparkan Tour must go to and register at Blugas Station in the town of Tayum.

There were already other guests when we arrived at n the meeting place. Three trips to Kaparkan Falls were arranged for that day and we were queued for the second one. There was a safety orientation before anyone is allowed to ride the monster truck. While waiting for the orientation to start, we took photos.

The safety orientation started a little past 07:00 AM, facilitated by Mr. George Anthony Lalin of ABRAmazing Tours. We were given a brief background of the falls, reminders on safety while on the truck and on the trail, and instructions on the eternal truth of leaving nothing but footprints, taking nothing but pictures, and killing nothing but time.

We started boarding the truck after the orientation. It wasn’t really my first time to ride a truck, but it was still an exciting experience. This was especially true because it would be my niece’s first time. I am just happy seeing the excitement on her face.

The truck left Tayum at around 07:30 AM. The morning sky was cloudy, which helped in what otherwise would have been a hot trip on an open truck. Actually, the scenery is easier to appreciate on an open truck. It adds adventure vibes to the journey to the special jewel of Abra.

The travel time to the drop-off point of Kaparkan Falls took an hour and a half. From there, the 20–minute hike to the falls began. It was an easy trail given that a four year-old girl took it with a breeze.

It did not take long until we finally reached the main feature of our Abra adventure. Little by little, we started to hear the splashing of water. Soon enough we saw where the splashing sound was coming from. Finally, Kaparkan Falls!

It was mentioned during the orientation that Kaparkan Falls maybe divided into three parts. We entered through the middle part, then there is the upper part and the lower part. As soon as we arrived, we unloaded our things under a tree and almost instantly went to the water. The water was refreshingly cold!

While the rest of our group were having fun taking a dip into the cold waters of the falls, Ran and I decided to explore the upper part of the falls. We climbed at a height and saw that the flow of water on the upper part was smoother and relatively calmer as the cascades were less steep. It was also the most shaded part of the falls, providing a cool place for those who wish to take a dip without being too much exposed to the sun.

On our way down, we realized how big the falls really is. From where we stood, our vision only reached the middle part. How far below can this thing go? We then spent time with our group again, enjoying the cool waters running through the rocks then to our bodies. It was a very happy experience spent with loved ones.

The cold dip made us famished. We went back to where we left our things to take our individually packed lunch. Bringing packed lunches is a must when going to Kaparkan as there is nowhere to buy food in the falls. Doing so likewise minimizes the trash as you will carry back whatever you brought with you.

When we were done with our quick lunch break, we returned to the water. We chanced that there was no one near the Kaparkan Falls signage, so we took the opportunity to take our photos. A fellow traveller who was behind us offered to take out photos for us.

Ran and I then bolted out from our group again to explore the lower part. We were not really able to go to the lowest part of the falls, but we were able to go far enough to see how tall the falls remain from the middle part down to the bottom.

From the middle down to the lower part of the falls, the cascade are spaced further apart, creating basins at every level. It was picturesque, and one would just be stunned in awe appreciating such wonderful handiwork of nature.

One prominent feature of the falls is the balcony which is an overhang basin. We definitely did not allow the opportunity to pass without taking photos from that iconic spot.

The guests to the falls were given four hours to explore and enjoy the natural wonder, so we spent the remaining time of our stay taking photos of the rock formations that provide structure to the falls. Unlike other falls where the cascades are defined by other types of rocks, Kaparkan Falls feature travertine formations terraced in such a way that it gives its unique features.

Travertine is a form of sedimentary rock which forms when various minerals, calcium carbonate in particular, precipitate from fresh water. It takes thousands of years, tens of thousands even, before travertine structures form. Just imagine the fact that Kaparkan Falls took thousands of years to form, yet was just discovered in 2015. It was there all this time, in the heart of the forests of Tineg, probably from the time that civilization the way we know it doesn’t even exist yet. Mystically hidden, it stood proud, virgin and pure, until it was eventually discovered and photos started to circulate online.

Well, that wasn’t bad anyway. The hidden beauty, once discovered, had to be shared. The Abreños are in the charge, and given the Tinguian reputation for protecting the natural domain, one can have the assurance that it would take more than human hands to wreak destruction against the jewel of Abra.

We started gathering our things when our time in Kaparkan Falls was up. There was a place where one may opt to rinse before heading back to the truck, but Ran and I decided to go back as-is, since we’re going to dry up along the way anyway.

The 20-minute hike that we took from the drop-off point to the falls became 30 minutes on our way back, or even more. I guess that is the trade-off when you would want to immerse yourself in the embrace of pure nature. You get tired, but you get tired, happy and satisfied.

Waiting for a year to finally realize the trip to Kaparkan Falls was definitely worth it.

Core memory unlocked.