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A Worthwhile Climb To Cebu’s Osmena Peak

Osmena Peak Cebu

Osmena Peak was another recommended sight in Cebu that I wanted to check off my bucket list. Osmena Peak is touted as an easy climb with incredible views—it is, after all—the highest peak in Cebu—and perfect for those who are new to more outdoorsy travel. It was a breeze to get there. We first took a bus from the South Bus Terminal to Oslob or Bato. If you’re headed here, tell the driver to drop you in Dalaguete—don’t worry, they usually know where you are going. Once there, we took a habal-habal (motorcycle ride) up to Osmena Peak. Each habal-habal typically takes on a minimum of two passengers per vehicle, and we were charge Php 100 per person, per way—so for a round trip to and from the peak, we paid Php 400 per person. If you’re traveling alone though, they’ll still charge you Php 400 for the passenger minimum, and they may ask for an extra tip for the waiting time on the ride back from the peak.

Osmena Peak

 

Though there was an option to traverse the famous Kawasan Falls to get there, we opted for this easier, but also scenic drive instead, and were rewarded with the sight of clustered verdant hills and lush vegetable fields against a cloudy sky—it was a dreamy landscape and well worth a slightly butt-numbing ride! We also got a peep of Osmena Peak itself along the way, a slightly craggy but incredible peak that is definitely worth the trip.

From the typical drop-off point for the habal-habal, it was only a brief 20-minute hike up to the very viewpoint of Osmena Peak. Seeing the glorious sunshine bathe all that greenery in a light veil of gold reminded me of some of the more famous views I’ve seen during my mountain hikes, and the evergreen trees that surrounded us made us feel so much closer to nature. We sat down, took some pictures of the wonderful scenery and just talked about life and enjoyed the awe-inspiring sunset—a welcome respite from the brief exertion of the hike. We also took the time to talk to a couple of German backpackers at the peak who were also admiring the stunning view. It’s always nice to swap stories with fellow travelers in such a splendid setting. There, it felt like we had all the time in the world.

Osmena Peak

My only regret is the fact that some parts we wanted to climb along the peak were blocked, but that did not detract from our serene little trip to the peak. We made our way down, happy to have gotten the chance to enjoy the Philippine countryside.

32 thoughts on “A Worthwhile Climb To Cebu’s Osmena Peak

  1. wow thats excellent that you can drive to within 20 minutes of walking to the summit. Cebu always looks beautiful and interesting when ever i read articles about it. i can now add this to the list of great things to do in Cebu. I bet the sunset was amazing

  2. I have to admit, I’ve never heard about Osmena Peak or Cebu. It seems there is a lot to see and do there, and I’d love to visit it someday. When it comes to beautiful nature and hiking I am the first in line.

  3. Very timely as we intend to go ther week after next! How long is the habal-habal ride, and would you know if it’s possible to take/rent a van instead of habal-habal?

    Thanks! 🙂

  4. Wow! So many travel blogs focus on the beaches of the Philippines, it is great to see something a bit different. We love hiking and those look like some pretty unique peaks! We’ve always wanted to go to the Philippines so we’ll have to keep this in mind!

  5. What a unique view from the top. I didn’t expect that at all. We love finding the great nature spots while traveling. This looks like a keeper for sure!

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