How it works:
- Scam 1: fake parking attendants will ask you for a parking fee of 50 pesos.
- Scam 2: an unofficial guide or fake police officer insists that you have to get a guide. You do not.
- Scam 3: a fake staff claims that you have to pay an entry fee when it is free; or she claims that the place is closed and that you have to pay a penalty fee to enter.
- Scam 4: raft operator claims that it only costs 300 pesos for 15 minutes on the floating raft, but at the end, he will add multiple fees that inflate the price by a few times.
Places to beware:
- Cebu: Kawasan Falls
What to do:
- Parking: only pay to uniformed parking staff, or park elsewhere.
- Tour: it is an easy 15 minutes walk to the waterfall and you do not need a guide. If you do want one, get a licensed, reputable one:
- Offline operators: ask – is the operator licensed? Is there a website, office and working phone number? Are there real online reviews? What does the price cover – is it too cheap?
- Online platforms: Klook (best day tour platform in Asia) has a couple of Kawasan Falls tours.