Beyond The Hype and Our Wild Ride Trek to the Majestic Tangadan Falls in San Gabriel, La Union

Happy Hump Day, y'all amazing people!

It's been a long time, I know! This habagat is hitting us all hard, isn't it? We've been dealing with almost non-stop rain here in the Philippines for days especially in the northern part where I live. But I know many of you are experiencing the same thing. Just wanted to send a big hug to my Filipino friends to please stay safe and dry! Let's hope this passes quickly.

So okay! My husband, our aspin dog Kopiko, and I finally got away to Tangadan Falls in San Gabriel. La Union two months ago! It was so much fun. I'd been there before, ages ago, but it's even better now that it's getting popular online and one of the most famous tourist spots in town. It's about an hour total of trike-ride, habal-habal ride and a challenging trek, but totally worth it for those awesome waterfalls. We needed a break big time! Running Glowbu Kabins is super busy! We're always working hard to make sure everything's great for our guests. If you want a fun trip to La Union, check out our kubo cabins! They're in a great spot, and the prices are way better than those fancy hotels. You can book us on Booking, Airbnb, or Agoda, or follow us on Facebook.

The month of May was a whirlwind at Glowbu Kabins, but finally, my husband and I had a free day, closed our kubo cabins for bookings online and decided to chase waterfalls! Tangadan Falls had been calling our names. I'd been there once before, years ago, and the memories were amazing, so I knew this trip had to happen. My cousin, a legit and registered tour guide at Tangadan Falls, made it all super easy to arrange. My husband and I are both huge fans of waterfalls, so this was unlocking a bucket list. The morning started early (just before sunrise), with a trike-ride to San Gabriel to get our permits.

Then came the real adventure: the journey to the falls. We hopped on habal-habal (single motorcycles) for a ride that was equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. The road was a crazy mix of steep climbs, hairpin turns, and narrow paths clinging to the side of a mountain. There were moments I definitely thought we were going to tip over! But the views were incredible, even amidst the white-knuckle ride. After the heart-pumping ascent, a short but beautiful walk through the mountains led us to Tangadan Falls. The sheer power and beauty of the falls were breathtaking, making the entire journey completely worthwhile. It was an unforgettable adventure!

After that wild ride, a short but beautiful walk through the lush mountains, and then… BAM! Tangadan Falls. I literally gasped. It was even more stunning than I remembered. Everything was so fresh and green, the air was crisp and clean, and the sound of the water was incredibly soothing. It was picture-perfect. Seriously, the waterfalls, the river, the giant rocks, the trees, even the birds singing? It was like a postcard come to life. I didn't waste a single second. Camera out, and I started snapping photos and videos like crazy. Even selfies! I usually hate selfies, but the place was just so gorgeous, I couldn't resist. I wanted to capture every single detail. The sound of the water cascading down was so relaxing, it was almost meditative.

My husband on the other hand, was already stripping off his shirt and jumping into the freezing cold water! He was swimming around like a happy otter. Kopiko, our little Aspin dog, was a little hesitant at first. Waterfalls are pretty intense for a small dog, right? But we managed to coax him into the water, and he was surprisingly photogenic! He had some seriously cute shots splashing around, totally unfazed by the cold. It was hilarious. We even got some great shots of him looking all majestic near the falls. The only thing missing was our daughter. She was on vacation with my mom, and honestly, I think she would have had a tough time with the hike anyway. Maybe next time!

We spent about two hours just soaking it all in! The scenery, the peaceful atmosphere, and even some great chitchat with my cousin, the tour guide. He’s a really cool guy, and he told us some interesting things about the area and the falls. It was so nice to just relax and enjoy the moment. Everything was perfect. We left just before noon, feeling completely refreshed and rejuvenated. The whole day was truly amazing – from the slightly terrifying but exhilarating habal-habal ride to the breathtaking beauty of Tangadan Falls. It was the perfect escape, exactly what we needed.

If you're ever looking for an unforgettable adventure, I highly recommend adding Tangadan Falls to your list. Just be prepared for a wild ride!

Thank you, my friends! See y'all on my next adventure!

⊱ღ One love ⊱ღ

@bloghound

Published: July 23, 2025

3:15 p.m. PST

In between the farm and the beach Philippines

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