lumondo waterfalls

Lumondo Waterfalls is an amazingly beautiful natural attraction hidden in the forests of Barangay Budlingin in Alegria Surigao del Norte. It is located less than 3 KM from the town proper of Alegria but getting there was not easy. I gathered from local residents that very few people go there and that even our driver, Rene Boy Tenorio did not know how to get there. We hired a tricycle since it was raining but that was a big mistake; we had to get off on muddy / rocky roads and push the tricycle up ascend the hilly portions making us wet and exhausted by the time we reached Budlingin. The best way getting there is by motorcycle (habal-habal) going to Barangay Budlingin followed by trekking on mountain trail leading to the falls. My partner was about to quit midway on uphill climb (along boulder-filled road) from Budlingin to the falls. Thanks to encouragement and assistance provided by our local guide, Jess Aguilon, who masterfully helped us through it. An abandoned "Lumondo Waterfalls Information Center" and the powerful noise of cascading water served as landmarks indicating that we were in the right tract. We had to cautiously pass through slippery, about a hundred concrete steps down to the river below then walk past boulders and mud between woods, grass, and bushes to clear our way to a small concrete bridge where we can view the breathtaking beauty of Lumondo Falls. Sad to say that natural treasures as this was left unattended, the road network was inaccessible while previous development / improvement was not sustained.