Wawa Dam, Rodriguez Rizal: Entrance Fee, How to Get There and the Legend in the Gorge
Wawa Dam is a century-old stone dam in a limestone gorge in Rodriguez, Rizal, the town most people still call Montalban. The Wawa River pours over its spillway between two mountains, Pamitinan and Binacayan, about an hour or two from Quezon City. Entry has been reported at around ₱20, and the day is yours: swim below the falls, ride a bamboo raft, or hike up one of the peaks with a guide.
Barangay San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal · 14.73° N, 121.19° E · Photographed 16 June 2022
Wawa Dam entrance fee and hours
| As last reported | |
|---|---|
| Entrance | About ₱20 per person (reports from 2024 and January 2025) |
| Parking | Reported anywhere from ₱30 to ₱100 |
| Cottages | Around ₱200 |
| Hours | About 6 AM to 5 PM |
| Guides for the peaks and caves | Required; rates are set locally, so agree on the price before you start |
No official 2026 fee schedule has been published, and the figures above come from visitor reports, so bring cash and small bills. The area was closed to visitors for a period in 2023 and has reopened; if the weather has been bad, call or message the Rodriguez tourism office before the trip.
The history of Wawa Dam
Construction began in 1904 under the American colonial government, and the dam went into service in 1909 as a water source for Manila. It is about 85 meters long, built of stone across the narrowest point of the gorge. Manila’s water moved to the Angat system in the 1960s, and Wawa was retired in 1968. The gorge and the mountains around it became the Pamitinan Protected Landscape in 1996.
The story has come full circle. A new dam, Upper Wawa, has been built upstream, and by 2026 it was feeding water to Metro Manila again through Manila Water. The old stone dam is now purely the place people come to look at.
Rodriguez, Rizal · the gorge
One gap, four stories
The river squeezes between Mt. Pamitinan and Mt. Binacayan. Tap through what has happened in that gap.
Local legend says the giant Bernardo Carpio pushed these two mountains apart, or is chained between them still, holding them back. When the ground shakes, the story goes, he is straining against them.
Pamitinan Cave is where Andres Bonifacio and Katipunan members are said to have met in April 1895. A “Viva la Independencia” inscription is reported inside.
The dam went into service in 1909 after construction began in 1904, under the American colonial government. For decades it sent water to Manila, until the city moved to Angat and the old dam was retired in 1968.
Rafts, swimmers and hikers below a dam that no longer supplies anyone. Upstream, the new Upper Wawa Dam sends water to Metro Manila again.
Illustration, not to scale. Legend as told locally; 1895 account as recorded.
The legend of Bernardo Carpio
Every guide at Wawa tells it. Bernardo Carpio was a giant of enormous strength, and the two mountains on either side of the river are the ones he pushed apart, or the ones he is chained between, holding them back. In some versions he was trapped there by a curse; when the ground shakes, it is Bernardo Carpio straining against the rocks.
Pamitinan Cave carries a second story. Andres Bonifacio and members of the Katipunan are said to have met there in April 1895, and an inscription reading “Viva la Independencia” is reported inside. Guides lead visitors in with lights.
Things to do at Wawa Dam
- Swim below the spillway. The pool under the falls is the main event on a hot day. The river is deep in places and the current is strong after rain; stay where the locals swim.
- Ride a bamboo raft. Rafts ferry visitors on the calm stretch above the dam, between the two mountains.
- Hike Pamitinan or Binacayan. Both are short, steep limestone climbs with sharp rock near the top and views over the gorge. Register at the tourism and barangay stations and hire a guide.
- Explore the caves. Pamitinan Cave and the smaller caves nearby need a guide and a light.
- Walk the iron bridge. The old footbridge over the boulder field downstream is the best angle on the gorge.
The drawbacks: weekends are crowded, the riverbank paths are uneven and slippery, the rock on the peaks is sharp, and heavy rain makes swimming unsafe. Wear shoes with grip, not slippers.
How to get to Wawa Dam
- By commute: take a jeepney or UV Express bound for Rodriguez or Montalban from Cubao or the north of Quezon City, then a tricycle or jeepney to Wawa. Allow one to one and a half hours from Quezon City depending on traffic.
- By car: through Marikina or Batasan to San Mateo, then on to Rodriguez and follow the signs to Wawa. Park near the tourism area and walk in.
- The last stretch: from the parking area it is a short walk along the river to the dam, roughly 10 to 20 minutes depending on the pace and the crowd.
More of Rizal: Masungi Georeserve for a booked limestone trail, and Hinulugang Taktak in Antipolo for another waterfall close to the city.
Climbing Pamitinan in slippers is a mistake people make once. The Trail Collection core tee is built for the rest of the outfit.
Suroy Wear · Trail Collection
Made to move.
Clean, light and built for the trail, from the river to the summit and back. The Trail Core Design Tee, ₱899.
Wear the story
Frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee at Wawa Dam?
About ₱20 per person as reported in 2024 and January 2025, with parking reported at ₱30 to ₱100 and cottages around ₱200. Guides for the peaks and caves are paid separately. No official 2026 schedule has been published.
Where is Wawa Dam?
In Barangay San Rafael, Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal, in the gorge between Mt. Pamitinan and Mt. Binacayan, roughly one to one and a half hours from Quezon City.
Can you swim at Wawa Dam?
Yes, below the spillway, but the river is deep in places and the current gets strong after rain. Swim where the locals swim and stay out after heavy rain.
When was Wawa Dam built?
Construction began in 1904 and it went into service in 1909 as a water source for Manila. It was retired in 1968.
What is the legend of Wawa Dam?
Local legend says the giant Bernardo Carpio pushed the two mountains of the gorge apart, or is chained between them, and that earthquakes are him straining against the rocks.
