Nature · Upi, Maguindanao del Norte
The Upi uplands
Cool highland country, and the heartland of the Teduray.
Best: December, for the weeks-long Mëguyaya Festival
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Falls · Upi, Maguindanao del Norte
Ranao Pilayan Falls
A modest waterfall in the Upi uplands, 10 minutes' walk from the trailhead.
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No free photograph of Ranao Pilayan Falls yet
The place
Falls in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte
A modest waterfall in the Upi uplands, 10 minutes' walk from the trailhead.
Falls
Traced to its sources since the guide was written.
Safety in Maguindanao del Norte
Mixed, and worth treating by municipality rather than by province. The Awang corridor and the coastal towns see routine traffic. Some interior municipalities carry a heavier security presence and are not places to arrive unannounced. Local advice before an interior trip is the working rule.
About this place
Ranao Pilayan Falls is one of several waterfalls on the slopes of Upi, which PhilAtlas lists with Kiga, Sapala and Tabuan Falls in the same municipality. Ranao Pilayan is also the name of a barangay of Upi.
A network of gentle trails leads to the falls, which a travel writer touring the province with its tourism office described as modest but striking. The cascade is a brisk 10-minute walk from the trailhead.
What to do
Walk the short trail to the falls
The cascade is a brisk 10-minute walk from the trailhead.
nomadicexperiences.com
Before you go
- Go with a local guide arranged through the provincial tourism office.
Where you’ll be
Upi, Maguindanao del Norte
Sources
Crafts made in Upi
Every craft of the regionWhere to sleep in Maguindanao del Norte
- No photo of this resort yet
resort
Precious Cabana Resort and Hotel
Datu Odin Sinsuat
Resort and hotel that hosted a four-day MSSD training, October 2025
mssd.barmm.gov.ph · as of 2025-11 - No photo of this resort yet
resort
Illana Bay Beach Resort
Barangay Badak, Datu Odin Sinsuat
Beach resort registered with the Bangsamoro Board of Investments in 2023; said it would seek tourism accreditation next
bangsamoro.gov.ph · as of 2023-08 resort
Amaya Beach Resort
Barangay Kusiong, Datu Odin Sinsuat
Beach resort that hosted MSSD psychosocial sessions in March 2022
bangsamoro.gov.ph · as of 2024-01
Named where a public source names them; no rates or availability. Ask the place directly.
More to see nearby
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A grass-covered mountain near Cotabato City, about a two-hour hike to the summit.
Best: December to April are the driest months (about 20 to 30 mm of rain a month), June to August the wettest
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The Blue Lagoon
A deep, spring-fed pool of bright blue water in the forest, a few steps off the highway.
Best: Morning, when the water looks bluest
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Kusiong Beach
A grey-sand beach lined with resorts, and the nearest beach to Cotabato City.
Best: December to April are the driest months (about 20 to 30 mm of rain a month), June to August the wettest