OSMEÑA PEAK HIKE ON CEBU FOR SUNRISE

Hiking Osmeña Peak on Cebu for sunrise was one of my favorite adventures during our time on the island. It is a 1-hour drive from the small town of Alegria on Cebu and is an amazing sunrise hike with a stunning backdrop of steep cliffs.

 

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Getting to Osmeña Peak Hike on Cebu

In the small town of Alegria in the Philippines, I woke at 3 am, gathered my gear and met our driver at the front of our hostel. For 500 Pesos per person or $10 USD we had a return trip to Osmeña Peak, the tallest peak on Cebu.

The three of us crammed onto the habal-habal, which was easy on the wallet but incredibly uncomfortable on the butt cheeks. If you are a budget traveler it will be your only choice from Alegria when looking to hike Osmeña Peak, but if you have the cash rent a car or get some other way up there!

Book a tour: You can do it DIY like me but there is a really good tour you can book as well. The tour I can recommend to you actually includes a visit to Kawasan Falls and Osmena Peak on the same day for just $30! You can Click Here to book it online ahead of time.

 

Alegria to Osmeña Peak

Aside from the numb butt cheeks, the drive was very peaceful as we expertly cruised through villages, small towns, mountains and farming fields. Having the driver was extremely valuable during this part of the trip as he knew all of the bumps, dips, ditches and obstacles we encountered along the roads. I have driven mopeds a lot and wouldn’t suggest this journey in the dark for someone unless you really are looking for a big challenge.

We arrived at the registration office, hopped off the bike and feel the feeling rush back into our legs. The entrance fee to hike Osmeña Peak was 30 Pesos or 60 cents. We didn’t ask for a guide but it seemed as though our driver had promised a nice old lady she would have two Aussies to show up to the peak. It was still pitch black and we didn’t know exactly how long or well-signed the hike was so we decided to let the guide come rather than send her back to bed without making any money.

 

Hiking Osmeña Peak on Cebu

We definitely didn’t need a guide for the 15-minute hike in the end but our guide, Ninette, could speak English and told us a few facts and stories about the area. It is possible to hike from Kawasan Falls, which takes anywhere from 3.5 to 6. You can also camp on Osmeña Peak if you are looking for a bit more than the 15-minute walk. It is also common to hike from Osmeña Peak to Kawasan Falls.

 

We arrived at the peak, 1,013 meters above sea-level, with not another soul around and enjoyed the bliss. I tried to imagine what would appear around us when the sun would creep over the clouds on the horizon. The most picturesque view from the peak is towards Moalboal, which is actually directly away from where the sun is rising. From Osmeña, I took photos in both directions but would have liked the opportunity to see the sun set over those beautiful capped hills after hiking up Osmena Peak. The hike would also be great all morning in terms of lighting but I would suggest not visiting any time between 2pm and 5pm. The sun may be at its harshest directly behind the capped hills, which would make taking a photo a little difficult.

About 30 people had joined us at the top by the end of the sunrise and Ninette told us the number of people visiting per day ranges from 100-1000 depending on the day and the season. We visited in the low season and on a weekday. Weekends are notoriously busy as most locals enjoy a day off work on sunday and have some spare time.

On the way down from Osmeña you will get a great view of Guadalupe with the sun shining over the region. When we got to the bottom we ended up paying Ninette 300 Pesos or $6 USD to thank her for guiding us up to the peak and hanging out with us.

 

Osmeña Peak Hike to Alegria

The ride home from Osmeña Peak to Alegria was great fun (apart from the numb butt cheeks again) as we waved to locals who stared, laughed and sometimes poked fun as the three of us cruised our way back down the mountain.

If you can haul yourself out of bed early enough and are up for a small adventure this was a fantastic morning, which wasn’t too physically draining at all. The view to Moalboal is definitely a unique landscape and I will let the photos do the talking than fumble around with adjectives to explain to you how it was so amazing (maybe just one adjective).

 

Osmeña Peak Map

 

WHERE TO STAY ON CEBU?

I really think that if you are going to be exploring Cebu, the best place to stay is in Moalboal. There are a few reasons why!

Cebu City might be where you land at the airport but if you are looking for adventure, you will need to head south as soon as possible. Most of the best waterfalls, whale sharks, snorkeling with sardines and turtles are all down south. So where do you stay to do all of these adventures? Moalboal! Trust me I know… I rent an apartment in Moalboal and that is my base for all of the adventures you have just read!

Moalboal is a cool town, which is the free-diving and scuba capital of Cebu and even the Philippines. Here there are tons of hostels, hotels, and homestays. There are plenty of restaurants and even a small mall. This is really the last spot as you travel down south where you will have good wifi, 4G connection, western restaurants and lots of facilities. Once you head further south to Alegria and Ginatilan those towns just aren’t set up for tourists really.

Moalboal is just a short drive from most attractions and even all the way down to the Whale Sharks is just a 1-hour drive. There are a variety of accommodations in Moalboal but I will tell you my favorite for each style of traveler. I have a recommendation for budget travelers, mid-level and luxury.

 

MoHo Moalboal Hostel – Budget: I stayed at this cool hostel for a few days. It is brand new and pretty modern with a huge chill-out space. The WIFI works! I was blogging and using WordPress and the connection was fine. The dorm rooms are clean and modern with each bed having a blind for privacy. The staff were super chill and helpful. There was free water to refill your bottle and free coffee and tea. It is the cheapest option on booking.com at just 8 USD.

Teobas Homestay – Value: You need to click on that link just to see how rad this place is. It has a staircase down to the ocean into crystal clear water. I can tell you, I have snorkeled out the front of this place with turtles many times. For about $30 USD you get a private room with all of the facilities you need. There is not much better than having ocean access and a bit of a sunset view!

Dolphin House Resort – Luxury: If you are looking for a nice resort, Dolphin House is a 5-star resort with a huge pool for less than $200 USD per night. It has ocean access, great restaurant, chilling areas and a beautiful garden throughout the property.

To view all of the accommodation options in Moalboal head to the Moalboal search page on Booking.com

 

MORE CEBU TRAVEL GUIDES

The Cebu Waterfall Guide: Best Waterfalls on the Island: BEST WATERFALLS ON CEBU

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering: KAWASAN FALLS CEBU CANYONEERING ADVENTURE

Oslob: WHAT TO DO IN OSLOB CEBU

Osmena Peak: OSMEÑA PEAK IN CEBU – A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE HIKE

Digital Nomad Guide to Moalboal: THE DIGITAL NOMAD GUIDE TO MOALBOAL, CEBU

The Ultimate Philippines 3-4 week Itinerary: ULTIMATE PHILIPPINES TRAVEL ITINERARY FOR 3-4 WEEKS

The Backpacking Guide to the Philippines: PHILIPPINES BACKPACKING GUIDE: 1 MONTH FOR $800