Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Borneo orangutan
Malaysia • 12 days, 11 nights
Wild Borneo: Secrets of an Ancient Rainforest
from
Pastel de nata
Portugal • 8 days, 7 nights
Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The wall commemorating 11,908 Jewish victims of the Shoah from Frankfurt.
Börneplatz Memorial
Entrance to the munitions area of the lower part of the bunker
Simserhof
Carlos Calderón Yruegas calls the villa his personal playground.
Villa Tabaiba
Apples and pears, Spitalfields Market.
Brick Lane Roundels
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Longwood House, where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final years.
The Longwood House: Napoleon Bonaparte’s Beautiful Prison
about 7 hours ago
 Fenway Park at night
How Was Your First Trip With Your Significant Other?
1 day ago
Ivan the Terra Bus
The Bus, the Myth, the Legend: Ivan the Terra Bus
3 days ago
Pigeons were included in a series of 1891 illustrations entitled “Household Pets.”
What Makes a Pest a Pest?
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Philippines Hinatuan Hinatuan Enchanted River

Hinatuan Enchanted River

A magically clear, blue river that seems to spring from nowhere.

Hinatuan, Philippines

Added By
valcalma
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The Enchanted River   jojoscope on Flickr
The Enchanted River   jojoscope on Flickr
  jojoscope/Flickr
  jojoscope/Flickr
  seanw825 / Atlas Obscura User
Fish are fed twice a day.   The Solitary Wanderer / Atlas Obscura User
Clear waters of the Enchanted River   The Solitary Wanderer / Atlas Obscura User
  Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ
  2il org
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Hidden in the Philippine jungle is a short stretch of river that seems to pop up out the ground just to send its miraculously clear, blue water out to the sea.

The Hinatuan Enchanted River in Mindanao, Philippines, is a flawless saltwater river that flows into the Pacific Ocean. It is around 80-feet deep, and just barely long enough to be considered a river, yet the flow attracts visitors from around the world who want to experience the beautiful waters that locals have long thought to be miraculous. Its moniker "Enchanted River" came from a poem by Modesto Farolan.

In fact, no one is sure exactly where the saltwater emanates from, although the prevailing theory involves an underground cave system that spits the river out, free of any dirt or silt which would usually cloud such a stream. Whatever the explanation, the clean waters are a natural wonder unlike any other. 

Local legends tell all sorts of stories about the river. One of which states that fairies added some mesmerizing colors of sapphire and jade to the river. Another legend states that the river is home to a mysterious fish that is impossible to catch.

In 2017, the local government prohibited swimming in the main pool for preservation and maintenance. At the same time, they designated a swimming area some  33 feet (10 meters) away from the pool. Travelers should keep in mind that the infrastructure by the river is close to zero, thus, there are no facilities to buy medicine or food.

Related Tags

Nature Natural Wonders Water

Know Before You Go

From the Butuan City Domestic Airport, you can take a van that goes straight to the town of Hinatuan. They can let you off near a signboard that Hinatuan Enchanted River where you can ride a motorcycle that passes through a dirt road and then a forested area leading to the river.You may also come in from Davao City and take a van or a bus to the same signboard to Hinatuan.

Community Contributors

Added By

valcalma

Edited By

The Solitary Wanderer, tzarkaiser, TeaAndCoffeeLover, Allison...

  • The Solitary Wanderer
  • tzarkaiser
  • TeaAndCoffeeLover
  • Allison
  • EricGrundhauser
  • seanw825

Published

November 26, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/279714/nature-spins-magic-in-enchanted-river
  • https://www.solitarywanderer.com/going-to-enchanted-river-hinatuan/
  • https://wayph.com/new-rules-to-preserve-enchanted-river/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinatuan_Enchanted_River
  • https://rove.me/to/philippines/hinatuan-enchanted-river
  • https://www.esquiremag.ph/life/travel/hinatuan-enchanted-river-guide-a00293-a2358-20200113-lfrm
Hinatuan Enchanted River
Mindanao
Hinatuan
Philippines
8.4589, 126.354905
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Tinuy-An Falls

Bislig, Philippines

miles away

Largest Rosary in the World

Tagum, Philippines

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Philippines

Philippines

Asia

Places 80
Stories 17

Nearby Places

Tinuy-An Falls

Bislig, Philippines

miles away

Largest Rosary in the World

Tagum, Philippines

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Philippines

Philippines

Asia

Places 80
Stories 17

Related Places

  • Boat in the khors of Oman

    Khasab, Oman

    The Desert Fjords of Oman

    Take the most scenic fjord landscape in Norway and add dramatic red cliffs, warm clear water, and playful dolphins.

  • Poza Azul the end view.

    Cuatrociénegas, Mexico

    Poza Azul

    A spectrum of colors awaits visitors to one of Mexico's most gorgeous bodies of water.

  • Shetland’s major industry of fish farming is present near the ayres.

    Shetland Islands, Scotland

    Ayres of Swinister

    The recurring nature of this geographic feature might make it unique in the world.

  • Cascade Falls.

    Duck Creek Village, Utah

    Cascade Falls

    An improbable waterfall springs from an orange-white cliff face, tumbling into the headwaters of the Virgin River above Zion National Park.

  • Jusanji Pond in autumn

    Cheongsong, South Korea

    Jusanji Pond

    Trees emerge from the surface of this small man-made reservoir.

  • Valaste Waterfall

    Valaste, Estonia

    Valaste Waterfall

    This stunning limestone waterfall is the highest in Estonia.

  • Lake Tyrrell during sunset

    Sea Lake, Australia

    Lake Tyrrell

    Victoria's largest salt lake is a favorite haunt for photographers and stargazers.

  • Njupeskärs Vattenfall

    Älvdalen S, Sweden

    Njupeskärs Vattenfall

    Believed to be the country's tallest waterfall, the Njupeskär is actually much smaller.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.