Climbing Osmena Peak is one of the must do things when you are in Cebu Philippines. Being one of the highest peaks on the island at 1013m high, when you get to the top, you get an amazing view of everything around you. Often described as a sibling of the chocolate hills in Bohol, these hills are unique and beautiful. In this article, I’ll let you know more about this incredible place.
Climbing Osmena Peak
How to Get to Osmena Peak
Arriving into Cebu, you are likely to fly into Cebu Mactan airport. From Cebu Airport, you will first want to make your way to the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Taking a taxi should cost around 300PHP and take around 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Once at the Cebu South Bus Terminal, you will want to take any bus that is headed towards Oslob or Santander and ask the bus driver to drop you off at Dalaguete Junction for Osmena Peak. The bus ride should be around 3 hours and cost a little over 100PHP.
At the junction, you will want to find a motorbike driver to take you the rest of the way. The ride should be about 100PHP each way and take around an hour.
If you don’t have a lot of time, I’d recommend instead of the way above, to instead hire a driver for the day. Obviously this is more expensive, but you can see what you want at your leisure and ask the driver to take you wherever you want.
If you are looking to book a private driver in advance, check out this offer from Klook.com
I booked a private driver for one day of my trip, and was able to fit Moalboal Snorkeling, Osmena Peak, Hidden Falls and a drop off in Santander all in one day, starting from Cebu City.
Climbing Osmena Peak in Cebu
When you get dropped off at Osmena Peak, you should easily find out where to head as there are typically other tourists and locals there. You will head up a small path to a building where you will want to pay your entrance fee. The entrance fee for foreigners is 30PHP and you will also fill out your name and nationality on a registration form.
From there, it’s a short climb up to the peak of Osmena. In total it should not take much more than 30 minutes to climb to the top. You can watch some of the way in the video below I took with my GoPro.
Along the way at the start of the hike there are some vendors where you can buy a drink or small souvenir. There may also be some children who offer to help guide you up the mountain, however the path is pretty straightforward. If you do accept the guiding help, please give a modest donation for their help.
Once at the top, there is a nice rock outcropping and an amazing vantage point of the area around you. The hills here are very unique and you also have a great view of the ocean in front of you.
Tips for Climbing Osmena Peak
- I would recommend having closed toed shoes or wearing sandals with good traction. The path is rather rocky and these type of shoes will make the way easier. However, I did see tourists hiking it with sandals, so it’s up to you. If it’s rainy or wet though, it would be a lot more difficult in sandals or flip flops.
- The best time to climb Osmena Peak is either at sunrise or sunset as this provides the best light. For me, I arrived around lunch time and the light was harsh and it was really hot. Do note though, that in the morning during certain seasons, it can be quite foggy and you may miss out on the view. So a lot of people recommend around sunset time to avoid this.
- It is possible to camp overnight near Osmena Peak. While I was there, I saw numerous tents while I was there and this is a great way to get some great photos when there aren’t many people around. Also, at night, being able to see the stars overhead would be amazing.
Planning Your Trip
1.Where to Stay in Cebu
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links through booking.com and klook.com, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.
Cebu has so many places to stay and so many different cities and villages to stay in. If you want to be near Osmena Peak though, I’d recommend to stay near Dalaguete or on the other side of the island near Moalboal. If you want to stay near Dalaguete, my recommendation is below:
Villa Rosa Cebu – This seemingly private villa has only 3 rooms. They have a beautiful Infinity Pool and the service there in impecible. The food is amazing and rooms are large and comfortable. They also have beachfront which is great for snorkeling or diving. Not the best for swimming though as it’s rocky, not sandy.
If you plan to stay in Moalboal, please check the link below for hotels there.
Hotels in Moalboal – Lots of different options for hotels in Moalboal.
So if you find yourself in Cebu, I highly recommend spending some time during one of your days and going to Osmena peak. For being one of the highest peaks on the island, it takes only a little effort to reach the top. The views from the top are definitely worth the effort to get there.
2. Tours / Activities / Things to Do
If you are looking for other things to do in the area, or are looking to book some tours or activities, check out whats on offer through Klook.com below:
Have any questions or comments about Osmena Peak or this article? Let us know in the comments below!
