Punong Punong Falls of Negros Oriental

The highest waterfall in Negros Oriental

Amongst the waterfalls in Negros Oriental, Punong Punong Falls is the least visited and explored. It is a hidden waterfall waiting to be discovered by adventurers, hikers, and waterfall chasers. This waterfall dwarfs Casaroro Falls, Niludhan Falls, and Lourdes Falls.

Arriba Pamplona

Pamplona is a third class municipality in Negros Oriental where coconut, sugarcane, and banana plantations are plentiful. It is located 38 kilometers northwest of Dumaguete City and 7.5 kilometers west of Tanjay City.

Arriba Pamplona at the town's Plaza

The average temperature of Pamplona can be compared to Baguio City's weather during the late afternoon until early morning the next day. Fog accumulates especially in Sitio Hunop Barangay San Isidro where I stayed for a week on my waterfall adventures in Negros Oriental.

Sitio Hunop's typical landscape

Life in Hunop is simple; like a typical village scene, people have to tend their crops every day as well as herding livestock. Their sources of water come from cold springs and during the rainy season, big drums were filled with water for cleaning and bathing.

Cold Spring of Hunop in the property of the Ortega Family is the major water source of Hunop Falls or Punong Punong Falls

Punong Punong Waterfalls of Negros Oriental

Uncharted on google maps, Punong Punong Falls enjoys its moment of solitude in the middle of a coconut and banana plantation in Sitio Hunop. Its elevation will double the height of the most visited waterfalls in Negros Oriental - the Casaroro Falls.

This could be Hunop Falls - one of the sources of Punong Punong Falls

The major water source of Punong Punong Falls comes from cold springs in the property of the Ortega Family. These springs used to be the village's source of clean water tapped by a water pump to a water tank and then distributed to houses. I don't know the reason why the pumping station stopped its operation.

A few hundred meters from Punong Punong Falls. Don't look at me, look at the waterfall - kidding.

Punong Punong Falls is a three-tiered waterfall. These three levels have shallow plunge pools but the thundering sound of gushing water and its towering height will sometimes put you in trance. Looking up when you're at the second level will make you feel free and lighthearted.

Punong Punong Falls' Second Tier

The trek to this waterfall will take you an hour from the jump-off at Hunop Community High School or at Hunop Covered Court. You will pass a few houses before reaching the property of the Ortega Family. By then, sugarcane plantations are visible. You will need a local guide because the start of the trek has intricate trails. Contact the member of the Ortega family named Junjun on this number (0906-131-2964).

Passing the Ortega's property to Punong Punong Falls

How to Get to Punong Punong Falls

Punong Punong Falls (Hunop Falls) can be scheduled for a day tour.

From Dumaguete City: Take a Ceres Bus to Bayawan City via Pamplona town. Tell the conductor to drop you at Hunop Community High School in Barangay San Isidro. (There are only four trips a day to Bayawan via Pamplona). Bus schedules are 5:30AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM,  and 4:30 PM. The schedule is the same for Ceres Bus Liner from Bayawan City to Dumaguete City.

From Mabinay and Bais City: Take a Ceres Bus to Dumaguete City and stop at Tanjay City. Take another Ceres Bus coming from Dumaguete City to Bayawan City via Pamplona (The bus usually arrives within an hour from Dumaguete). Alight at Hunop Community High School and ask for a local guide.

Punong Punong Falls' Map

Blog Topics:

• The Highest Waterfall of Negros Oriental in the Philippines
• Hunop Falls and Punong Punong Falls
• How to Get to Punong Punong Falls
• Ceres Bus Schedules from Dumaguete to Bayawan City
• Map of Punong Punong Falls and Hunop Falls
• Arriba Pamplona

You might also like to visit the Palaypay Falls of Pamplona and Niludhan Falls in Bayawan City.