Pulangbato Falls, Valencia: ₱100 Now, Why the Rocks Are Red, and No Diving
Pulangbato Falls in Valencia, Negros Oriental, is open, and it now costs ₱100 to get in, double the old rate. The falls drop about 9 m over rock stained orange and red into a green pool inside a resort in Barangay Malabo, half an hour from Dumaguete. You can swim, but do not dive; the rocks under the water are sharp. Red Rock Hot Spring, down the road, charges its own fee.
Pulangbato Falls · Barangay Malabo, Valencia, Negros Oriental · 9.32117° N, 123.19292° E (The Trek Planner) · Checked 29 October 2026
Malabo · Valencia
Why the rocks are red
Tap a tab.
Two drops, red rocks
The falls
A smaller first cascade over a gray wall, then the main drop of about 9 m over rock stained orange and red into a green pool. Most guides blame sulfur and other minerals from the geothermal water; no geological study has been published.
₱100 adult
Entrance
A February 2026 visitor paid ₱100. A January 2025 guide lists ₱100 for adults and ₱50 for children 10 and under. Lockers, tables and cottages are extra, from ₱25 to ₱600.
Yes, no diving
Swimming
Swimming is allowed but there is no lifeguard, and submerged rocks are sharp and shallow in places. Do not dive. Wear dark clothes; the water can stain.
Red Rock, about ₱100
Hot springs
Red Rock Hot Spring is a separate resort a few minutes down the road, about 37 degrees, around ₱100 for adults. Steam vents along the Okoy River smell of sulfur.
Valencia, 30 minutes
Getting there
From Dumaguete take a jeep or multicab to Valencia, 20 to 30 minutes, then a habal-habal to Barangay Malabo, about ₱300 for two in 2025. Return jeeps thin out in the afternoon.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Why the rocks are red
Most guides put the color down to sulfur and other minerals in water coming off the geothermal field around Mt. Talinis; one says iron. No geological study has been published, so the honest answer is minerals from hot ground. The water itself is clear and cold. Wear dark clothes; it can stain.
Fees
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Entrance, adult | ₱100 (Feb 2026 visit; Jan 2025 guide) |
| Child 10 and under | ₱50 |
| Locker | ₱25 |
| Table | ₱200 |
| Cottage | ₱300 to ₱600 |
| Red Rock Hot Spring | About ₱100 adult, separate |
Older guides list ₱20 to ₱50; those are out of date. Hours are not published. Swimming is allowed but there is no lifeguard; do not dive into the basin.
Getting there
From Dumaguete take a jeep or multicab to Valencia from near the public market, about 20 to 30 minutes, then a habal-habal to Malabo, about ₱300 for two in 2025. Or ride a jeep to the Pulangbato stop and walk about 1 km uphill. Return jeeps thin out after mid-afternoon. From Cebu, see getting to Dumaguete from south Cebu; the short crossing is Liloan port in Santander to Sibulan.
Around Dumaguete: Casaroro Falls is also in Valencia, and the Twin Lakes are in Sibulan.
Red rock, cold water, a short hop across the strait. The Archipelago tee is for islands like this one.
Suroy Wear · Island Series
Frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee at Pulangbato Falls?
₱100 for adults and ₱50 for children 10 and under, per 2025 and February 2026 visitors.
Why are the rocks at Pulangbato Falls red?
Most guides attribute it to sulfur and other minerals from the geothermal area; no geological study has been published.
Can you swim at Pulangbato Falls?
Yes, but there is no lifeguard and submerged rocks are sharp. Do not dive.
How do you get to Pulangbato Falls from Dumaguete?
Take a jeep to Valencia, about 20 to 30 minutes, then a habal-habal to Barangay Malabo.
Checked 29 October 2026.
