Tibiao River
Also known as: Sungai Tibiao
Deep gorge from Mt Madja-as; jungle and boulders; Kawa hot bath + fish spa nearby; Bugtong Bato Falls
Is there water?
Whether there is a river here on your dates, and what kind of water it is.
Rain-fed, flashy; flows peak in SW monsoon/typhoon season
Year-round for tubing; higher grades need rain-fed flow (roughly Jun-Dec)
Jun-Nov wet season for higher flows/whitewater; dry Dec-May gentler - Confirm.
Warm tropical, ~24-28C (est)
Flash floods after Mt Madja-as rains; typhoon season Jun-Nov
Grade & who can come
A river changes grade with its level. These grades describe a normal flow - in flood the same run is harder, and often a different run entirely. Check the gauge before you commit.
Gr 1-4 (Class I-IV)
Whitewater kayak; SUP; river tubing
Separate beginner (Gr 1-2) and advanced (Gr 3-4) courses; tubing for non-paddlers
Beginner-friendly tubing/short courses; Gr 3-4 kayak for experienced only; families use tubing
The run
Steep boulder rapids off Mt Madja-as; higher grades in upper/rainy-season reaches
Boulders, strainers, sudden level rises
Tuno village to Tibiao/Culasi lowland run
Moderate; regional adventure hub, busier weekends/summer
Access & shuttle
Tubing approx PHP399+ pp (est, Confirm.); guided kayak via operator; barangay/eco fees
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Put-in Tuno village (habal-habal/van from Tibiao town); take-out lowland near town/Culasi
Local habal-habal (motorbike) and van transfers arranged by operators
Kayak Inn resort and Katahum Tours lodges in Tibiao (day-trip base, not on-river)
Operator provides kayak/SUP/tube, PFD, helmet; limited mobile signal in gorge
Tibiao; Culasi; San Jose de Buenavista
Hazards & exits
Flash floods, boulders; grade rises sharply with rain
Road-accessible lowland reaches; nearest hospital Culasi/San Jose; guide-led rescue
Guided; Tribal Adventures pioneered runs; guides/safety kayakers for higher grades
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand river run report. Coordinates are approximate.