Bontala Waterfall

There’s a wonderful half-day excursion out of Matupi, to an impressive waterfall called Bontala. It takes about an hour to drive to the trailhead, and the drive is quite spectacular. As the narrow dirt track climbs toward the base of the waterfall, it passes through many small villages. Eventually the steep dirt track comes to an end, and you must proceed further on foot. It’s a lovely half-hour hike (each way) through shady jungle that occasionally opens so you can enjoy views of the valley stretched out below. Birdsong seems to fill the air in this forest, so if we have birders in the group, figure the hiking time will be considerably longer. The rocky ledge where the trail ends up is a great vantage point for viewing the falls.