Ar-Arbis Falls, Baybayatin, Lagayan

Waterfalls of Abra , Philippines

 

 

Your Guide to Ar-Arbis Falls, Baybayatin, Lagayan

​Ar-Arbis Falls , Baybayatin, Lagayan

The early morning jeepney ride to Lagayan was quick and easy. We arrived just after 7am, full of excitement to begin a new adventure to the Ar-Arbis Falls, long before the staff at the Tourism Office had turned up for the day. It was also a Monday, and that meant the traditional weekly Flag Raising and Swearing in Ceremony had to be completed before work started.

To pass the time we walked around the small town, found the church which was locked, and Chased Rizal. We found a painting of him on the school wall. The second one we’ve seen like this. The other being in the Central School in Penarrubia.
We also noticed a round structure beside the road which we intended to check out later but in the end completely forgot about it. The building has a futuristic look about it and is similar to one I saw at the Philrice Institute in Nueva Ecija, which claims to be typhoon proof. That makes for a good excuse to return to Lagayan.

*** Ar-Arbis Falls Lagayan are also known as Maar-Arbis Falls 

Flag Raising Ceremony at Lagayan, Abra
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Fishermen and Fishtraps Maar-Abis Falls, Lagayan
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Photos and Warnings

With the Flag Raising Ceremony finished, we became the centre of attraction. Everyone was asking why we were there and why we wanted to visit the Falls. Police Officers came over to talk to us and have their photo taken with us, ( seems it is unusual for tourists to visit Lagayan) and made sure we understood the risks and dangers of the hike.
We were told that river crossings were waist deep with quite fast flowing water and that there were five of them going to Ar-Arbis Falls.

The Lagayan Tourism Officers, Nestle and Jo agreed to accompany us (it would be their first time to see the falls too) after arranging with the Collago Barangay Captain to provide a Guide for our trek upriver to the Falls.

The friendly Police Unit followed behind to our jump off point in Baybayatin, and made sure that we were safe. It was a surreal feeling being handed over by M16 armed Police to the local Guides from Sitio Baybayatin armed with Spear Guns for fishing.

Police Escort to Jump off Point for hike to Maar-Arbis Falls, Lagayan, Abra
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Maar-Arbis Falls, Lagayan, Abra upstream view Dry Riverbed
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Ar-Arbis Falls River Crossings et all

At last we were on our way and just a few hundred metres out of Sitio Baybayatin we were faced with our first challenge – the first of five river crossings on our way to Ar-Arbis Falls.

After the recent rains the current was abit strong in places but not quite strong enough to be dangerous and was a good taster for the other crossings that awaited us. While the local boys traversed the river effortlessly we were learning.

If you are afraid of fast flowing water then this hike might not be for you. You will need alot of confidence in your own ability to make the ten river crossings and/or wear a life-vest. (Update for 2020 – life vests are now mandatory for this hike to Ar-arbis Falls)

Another river crossing safely made. Maar-Arbis Falls, Lagayan, Abra
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Taking a shower i cascades of Maar-Arbis Falls, Lagayan, Abra
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The actual hike is really easy with no technical parts. Most of the hike is along the dry sometimes rocky river bed. The scenery is absolutely stunning with bright green covered mountains that slope steeply from river to sky and dwarf us hikers. The river for most of the way has two channels of flow, leaving a vast stone desert in the middle. Just imagine the power of the water after a Typhoon when it is full and flowing at its total width of around 200 metres.

Abra is full of Adventure and the hike to Ar-Arbis Falls doesn’t disappoint. There is so much to see and learn along the way. The Palsuguan River is the biggest source of local exotic fish such as – Ludong, Kampa, Igat, Bolidao, Ikan, and Fresh Water Shrimps as big as Tiger Prawns. Traps called Bukatot, made from bamboo and held in place by piles of large rocks can been seen at strategic intervals along the river.
(An interesting fact:- Fishtraps particularly the ones in the pic are called Bukatot in Ilocano which is now used as a slang word to describe a person or an animal that eats a lot – Banguedenio)

The people of Sitio Baybayatin make their living from fishing and every household has an old innertube (the kind that we would use for tubing fun) which has been adapted with a seat and bamboo bar and net across its diameter. Fishermen carry these tubes on their backs each time they go upstream fishing. When they return home, they simply place their catch on the net, sit in the tube and navigate their way downstream through the rapids using only their flipflops as paddles. Genius ?
(Check out the short video I managed to capture)

Tubing across the river Maar-Arbis Falls, Lagayan, Abra
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​The Use of Innertubes and My Extreme Adventure Idea

One of the Guides was carrying an Innertube on his back and it wasn’t until we reached a point on the river that was very difficult to cross that I understood why he was carrying it. For us “Novices” the current would have been too strong to wade across by ourselves. The solution was the Innertube. One by one our group took turns to sit in the centre of the tube while our patient Guide, waded back and forth ferrying us across.

After an hours hike we drew close to within sight of the Ar-Arbis Falls. In the distance we could see numerous cascades of water springing from the vegetation that covered the mountainside. They stretched for fifty or more metres along the rivers edge upstream from the huge main cascade which was somewhat isolated from the smaller cascades.

It took a while to take in the raw beauty of what we had come to see. Water, Mountains and Sky all combined to create this scenic wonder of Nature. 

Abra truly is an #Abramazing place which still has to find its way into the mainstream tourism market. After this experience i think the potential for tubing on this river is huge. Extreme adventure lovers would flock here and the sport would provide a much needed extra income to the people of Baybayatin.

Going Home after a days fishing, Lagayan, Abra
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​Ar-Arbis Falls – What to Take

You do not need to take much for this hike as it is only just over an hour from Sitio Baybayatin. 
If you are afraid of water then this hike may not be for you. But if you really want to visit the Maar-Arbis Falls then you should consider bringing along your own life-jacket

Essential Stuff to Take

  • At least One Litre of Drinking Water (you can refill from the Spring at the Falls)
  • Life-Jacket
  • Hat
  • Camera, and Phone 
  • 10L Dry Bag to keep your electronics safe and dry

REMEMBER TO RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND LEAVE NO TRACE

 

How to get to Ar-Arbis Falls

To arrange a trip to the Falls or for more information please visit or contact Michelle of the Tourism Office at Lagayan Municipal Hall.

 
 
Maar-Arbis Falls, Lagayan, Abra upstream view (1)
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Abra Fishermen tubing home after a Fishing Trip

Tubing down the Palsuguan River in Lagayan

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SILVERBACKPACKER

Essential Travel Guides

Ar-Arbis Falls,
Baybayatin,
Lagayan,
Abra,
Philippines

Open and Find Out How to travel to Abra

How to travel to Abra from Manila

By Bus

  • From Metro Manila, there are three bus companies operating along the Manila to Bangued route.
    Partas Bus Company, Viron Transit and Dominion Bus Lines.
  • Journey time is around 10 hours
  • Fare at time of writing is P600

Bus Companies that link Bangued with other destinations are 

Bangued to Manila, Baguio – Partas Bus Company
Bangued to Manila, Baguio – Dominion Bus Lines
Bangued to Manila, Baguio – Philippine Rabbit
Bangued to Baguio – Sambrano Bus Lines
Bangued to Manila – Viron Transit
Bangued to Vigan, Tuguegarao – Esonice Bus Lines
Bangued to Baguio, Vigan, Laoag – BBL Transit

By Air
There are no airports in Abra. The closest airport is Laoag, three hours away by car.

  • Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have daily flights to Laoag.
  • From Laoag take a bus to Vigan and change there for a bus to Bangued
  • Or take any bus that is heading south and alight at Narvacan for bus and jeepney connections to Bangued

How to travel to Lagayan from Bangued

Jeepney from Bangued to Lagayan

Once you arrive in Bangued, take a tricycle to the jeepney terminal by the Petron Station on Calaba Road
Jeepneys leave for Lagayan regularly
The trip takes around 30 to 40 minutes and the fare is P30.

Return trip to Bangued – The Jeepney departs regularly during the day until afternoon from infront of Municipal Hall and picks up passengers along the route

The same Jeepney passes through La Paz before reaching Lagayan.

 By Car or Motorbike

Leave Bangued on the road to Calaba. Drive across the Calaba Bridge. Keep going through Barangays Mudeng and Canan until you come to Poblacion La Paz.
Continue along the road until you reach Lagayan and Check in at the Municipal Hall on your left near the end of the road.

ABRA - THE BEAUTY OF NATURE & HERITAGE

#ABRAMAZING

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