Osmeña Peak down to Kawasan Waterfalls, Cebu Philippines

Lady of the Fog in Osmeña Peak 

Fog gathers along the way — slow but incredible — covering the mountains as the sun begins its ascent. I took a shot of Osmeña Peak from left and right, and it showed a silhouette of a woman lying down with long hair whistling in the air. This was the Lady of the Fog of Osmeña Peak.  Let's go!

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How to get there: (Updated 2019)

From the Mactan-Cebu International Airport:

You can take a cab going to South bus terminal.  Estimated fare is 250 – 350 PHP, depending on traffic.  Or you can take it straight to Mantalongon Wet Market/Mantalongon Market Proper but we try for the cheapest travel method, which is by bus. 

Alternatively, if you're familiar with Uber and/or Lyft, then you can download and use the mobile app, Grab, to book your transportation. 

Travel time from Airport to South Bus Terminal: 1 hour (depending on traffic)

From Cebu City:

Take a cab or jeepney to South Bus Terminal which is a few metres away from Elizabeth Mall.  The terminal is clean and organized.  Buy your ticket at the counter and make sure to read the board signs placed in front of the windshield mirror before hopping inside the bus.

From the South bus terminal: take the Ceres Bus 

Buses Operates from 1 AM – 9 PM
Bus Fare: 150 – 180 PHP
Bus Route: Cebu to Dalaguete/Bato-Oslob
Drop-Off: Mantalongon-Dalaguete Junction
Travel Time (bus/private car): 3 – 4 hours

Prices may have changed.  

From Mantalongon-Dalaguete Junction: Take a "habal-habal" or motorcycle ride to Mantalongon Wet Market 

Travel time: 20 – 30 minutes

Another alternative if you're familiar with Cebu City:

Terminal: Magallanes Street in Carbon Market (bus parks nearby Caltex Gas station)

Mini-Bus fare (Cebu-Mantalongon Wet Market): 100 php

Travel time: 3 - 4 hours

Bus Schedule: 6AM,, 8AM and 1PM (0% guarantees) we asked different drivers but they don't have a fix schedule for it. They based it on the number of commuters and when the bus is full and that's when they hit the road.

Tips

- Power outlets: None

- Money matters: We recommend getting your currency exchanged via Western Union (WU) since you'll get a better rate than at the airport.  You can send your travel budget to yourself and pick up the exchanged amount at the local WU.

Survival Terms

- CR is the term for the toilet

- Salamat means "thank you"

Arrival at Mantalongon Wet Market: Buy Supplies

Once you arrive at Mantalongon Wet Market/Mantalongon Market Proper — you can use either of the two names — you can then buy ingredients for your meals if you haven't gone grocery shopping yet.  And remember: prioritize clean drinking water.

Buy Supplies (Food and Drinks):

Budget: 700 – 1,000 PHP (100 – 300 PHP per person)

With this amount we were able to buy 1 and 1/2 kilos of rice, "adobo" ingredients, 2 kilos of pork cubes (be sure to slice it into small pieces so it cooks faster and saves some fire fuel), 1/8 dried fish, canned goods, noodles, juice packs and some liquor.  Remember to drink moderately — you're alone up there and it’s a long way down if something happens.

We bought some butane fuel ahead of time for cooking, which can be bought at an ACE Hardware store for 70 – 100 PHP (burner price: 1,000 – 2,000 PHP).

Hike from Mantalongon Market to Osmeña Peak

Hike from Mantalongon Market to Osmeña Peak: 2 – 3 hours, depending on your pace.

At the camping zone, delegate tasks like setting up the tents and trash bins and, most importantly, start cooking and scouting for toilet spots.  Yes, you dig up your own hole to hide your treasures just like your friendly neighborhood dog.

Tip 1: Hike early

If you passed by a grotto of a Mother Mary along the way, you're on the right track.  Say a little prayer here for guidance and your group's safety.  There's no turning back once you start climbing up the mountain.  Breathe and watch your steps, be alert for rolling stones and avoid stepping on pebbles for better grip. Avoid traveling late in the afternoon; manage your time to reach the peak before sunset.

Tip 2: No tour guide? No problem

There will be kids following you as you start your hike.  They are cute and harmless.  If you don't have a guide, they'll be more than happy to show you the way.  Just be kind enough to tip them when you reach the top.

Tip 3: Water supply

There is no water station at the peak.  What you do is ask those small kids to go with you and take with them some water, which then you can use for cooking and washing your hands and utensils.  Mostly they'll ask 20 – 50 PHP, sometimes even more.  Just try to joke around them and you'll get a discount.  You can even ask them to come back tomorrow morning for another gallon of water.  Be friendly and they'll be at your service.

Tip 4: Important things to bring when camping

• A tent is a must!  A sleeping bag will not get you through the night.  The weather is not stable even in March and that's already considered summer.  The tents danced like the crazy song "Harlem Shake" at night and we all had a Harlem Shiver.
• One sleeping bag per person will help with the cold night
• A jacket with a hood.  If without a hood, then bring along your beanie/bonnet, thick socks and a scarf for the wind
• A flashlight.  There's no electricity and the houses are distant from the peak
• Cooking and eating utensils
• A camera.  I don't advise bringing a DSLR.  It could rain at any time and the moisture inside the tent and in your bag is not good for your camera.  If you do, make sure it's in a waterproof bag and with some silica gels inside to absorb the moisture
• Optional: gummy bears!  Ahahaa.  It’s a great sweet candy when you're chatting in a circle and maybe pairs well with liquor too.

Early Dinner

We cooked our dinner, thanked our butane for such a lovely meal and each one of us for being resourceful.  Only a few, including me, forgot to bring the most important thing needed for eating: plates.  What we did was cut the bottled water in half and use them as plates for our hands. It’s not like we were complaining about getting our hands dirty.  Remember: there's a scarcity of water.  Later that night we had some drinks paired with chips and gummy bears.

Bring a headlamp and flashlight

The fog started to envelop us way before the night started.  We headed to the peak for another quick glance until we couldn't see it anymore.  Your flashlight will be your best friend; take it with you wherever you go and watch each others' steps.  Make sure to take your time and walk slowly to avoid tripping.

The fog got thicker when we went down to join our tents.  It felt like I could almost taste the fog around me.  Before we got lost in the thick cloud suspended in the air, we decided to call it a night.

My friend and I slept like a baby.  Then all of a sudden, we were awoken by a sudden gush of air.  Rain and strong winds pushed our tent back.  Oh my.  I prayed, ahahaa.  It was a rough rainy night before dawn welcomed us with shivering winds and more rainfall.  It all equated to a sleepless night in the peak of Cebu.

Next Destination

I was glad to see a glimpse of light outside the tent at 5 o'clock in the morning.  It was still a bit dark, so the girls ran to take a leak far away from the tents.  The boys oppositely ran to theirs.  The best feeling after holding a pee for too long is to release all the liquid tension that kept me up all night long.  I had only realized that relief in the morning because of the wonderfully unexpected weather from last night.

I'm not done yet.  Our next plan was to Hike from Osmeña Peak to Kawasan Falls.

We packed our things and decided to have breakfast at the very first Sari-Sari store or convenience store that we passed along the way down the mountain.  We still had some available butane and rice.  However, we ran out of water for washing and drinking so we needed to refill our supply for the hike ahead.  The funny thing was Kenneth, the friendly kid who brought us our water supply, woke up late, yet he was kind enough to take our pictures.

The fog was incredible as it covered the mountains while the sun was beginning to make its way up.  I took a shot of Osmeña Peak from left and right and it kind of showed a woman lying down with long hair, whistling in the air.  I was delighted to see such a wonderful morning full of promises.  It's not everyday you see fog in Cebu unless you're living on top of the mountains or in Baguio. 

Tip 5: Pack light, NOT just a flashlight

Pack your things properly.  You don’t want to bring an imbalanced backpack down the mountain.  Place your water bottle outside your bag, and prepare your hats and sunglasses for an agonizing, yet exciting hour of trekking to the waterfalls.

Why eight hours of hiking?  Two hours to Osmeña Peak plus four hours to Kawasan Falls and two hours back to the main road to catch the bus back to Cebu City. 

Have fun and be safe ^__^

Do you want more adventure?

If you still have one more day to spare why not go for a 4-hour trek to Kawasan Falls? Push!

Where am I going next?

My next adventure is to check out Batam in Indonesia, the largest city in the province of Riau Islands.

Related articles you may find interesting:

Travels

• Beginner's Guide to Travel
• Travel Abroad Essentials 
• Find Cheap Flights
• Find Cheap Hotel/Hostel 

Hiking and Camping

• 10 Safety Tips For Hikers
• 10 Reliable Hiking Gears
• Ultimate Camping List