For a long time, province of Abra had been a blank spot on the Philippine tourist map... until photos of Kaparkan falls terraces or also known as Mulawin falls got viral online. Travlers are now starting to explore many travel-worthy sights in this landlocked province.
Abra is often skipped partly because of its location in North Luzon. It is sandwiched between two very popular tourist destinations- Ilocos in the west ans the Cordilleras in the east.
What you’re going to see in Abra is a mix of both. You can find Spanish-colonial heritage sites and Ilokano culture as well as captivating mountain views and hill tribe traditions.
KAPARKAN FALLS also known as MULAWIN FALLS. This waterfalls is one big reason to go to Abra. Not because of its size, but its extraordinary appearance. Unlike most waterfalls in the Philippines, which are formed by roaring cascades, Kaparkan Falls is distinguished by multi-tiered spring pools/terraces that generally cascades down the forest. This majestic falls is located at the mountainous municipality of Tineg, Abra.
How to get there:
Kaparkan Falls is located at Tineg, the northernmost town of Abra. Getting there is an adventure in itself as it requires a 4x4 ride along rough roads. The ride fom Bangued takes around 2 to 4 hours, depending on road conditions. Tineg tourism department organizes transport on a military truck or jeepney. The truck leaves Bamgued at 7-8am, whil the return trip from the falls departs at 2pm. The months from August to November is the best and only time to schedule your trip since the waterfall dries up during the other half of the year.
Come visit Kaparkan Falls and you’ll never regret it even once in your life!
photo credit: Marvin Arcangel