Osmeña Peak is most famous for being the highest point on Cebu Island and it’s one of the best adventures to be had in the South Cebu region in the Philippines!
Due to this attraction being one of the most popular Cebu tourist spots, the best time to visit is early in the morning for sunrise, and this way you will beat the crowds.
I have put together this complete guide to visiting Cebu Osmena Peak including how to get there, how much it costs, and what to expect when you’re there.
QUICK ANSWERS – OSMEÑA PEAK
Let’s start this guide with some essentials you should know before visiting, such as Osmena Peak’s location, getting there, and more.
WHERE IS OSMEÑA PEAK?
Osmena Peak is located in the Badian mountain region in South Cebu, Philippines.
Click here to see the Osmena Peak location on Google maps.
Badian is 100km south of Cebu City and public buses run every hour on a daily basis from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Moalboal, Oslob, and Badian. The cost of the bus is around 150 pesos.
It’s best visited from the nearby beach towns of Moalboal or Oslob, which is between 50km – 60km away and approximately 1.5 hours drive.
HOW TO GET TO OSMEÑA PEAK FROM MOALBOAL?
Wondering how to go to Osmena Peak Dalaguete?
The best way to come is to rent a scooter and drive from Oslob or Moalboal to Osmena Peak, and make your own way up to the hillside village of Mantalongon in the Dalaguete region.
There are many scooter rental stores in Moalboal and Oslob where you can get your hands on some wheels for around 400 pesos per day with a full gas tank.
The majority of the roads in this region are tar-sealed though I came across many washouts and potholes along the way which I had to slow right down for.
These mountainous roads are also very windy with a lot of blind corners. I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance, especially when riding on the roads in the Philippines. Safety first!
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We all know accidents can happen and having Heymondo Insurance will save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
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Note: I recommend loading the pin location on Google maps before you make tracks out here as the phone network coverage up in the mountains is very weak and you may lose signal.
‘Maps Me’ is a great offline map application that you may want to consider downloading from the app store which would work best in scenarios like this.
Another option is to take the public bus from Cebu City to Mantalongon, a small city located on the top of the mountain and the journey time is around three to four hours depending on traffic.
From the bus station in Mantalongon, you can hail a habal-habal (motorbike taxi) and kindly ask the driver to take you to the jump-off point which is a short 5km up the road. The cost of a habal-habal is around 100 pesos.
Alternatively, you can rent a car for the time you plan to spend in Cebu and travel around at your own pace.
OSMEÑA PEAK TOUR
If you would prefer to book a tour to visit the peak, there is one that I can highly recommend which also includes a visit to the famous Kawasan Falls.
It’s a full-day tour that starts in Cebu City with a hotel pick-up, a guided tour to Osmeña plus Kawasan Falls, and then returning back to Cebu City.
BEST TOUR TO OSMENA PEAK
The best way to enjoy Osmeña Peak is to join a Full-Day Tour With Kawasan Falls!
It includes hotel transfers, all fees and taxes, lunch, and a fun guide to share the moment with!
ARRIVING AT OSMEÑA PEAK IN CEBU
There is an allocated parking lot located near the entrance where you can park your scooter or car and the parking fee is by donation.
From the car park, follow the stone path up to the registration office to get your entrance ticket. The Osmena Peak entrance fee is 150 pesos, which includes a mandatory guide.
Related Article → Casino Peak Hike in Cebu
OSMENA PEAK HIKE
Like I said before, Osmeña Peak is one of the best tourist spots in Cebu, and the hike is a nice part of it.
The hike is a short fifteen to twenty minutes along a narrow, rocky path passing by thinly forested areas and farmer’s crops.
I recommend wearing closed-in shoes for the hike, though flip-flops would suffice.
Along the trail, there are two make-shift huts selling souvenirs such as fridge magnets, t-shirts, and other things of the like.
They also have eskies full of cold drinks, fresh fruits, and other light snacks.
The summit is only a further five minutes from this point, though the trail gets much steeper for the last fifty meters of the hike and it can be a bit of a scramble to reach the top.
Must Read → 3 Week Philippines Itinerary
The BEST Hotel in Moalboal
Need a place to stay? Dolphin House Resort is conveniently located in Moalboal.
Whether you’re here to explore the sights or relax in comfort, Dolphin House Resort offers the best of both worlds.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT OSMEÑA PEAK
The most famous and best viewpoint in Cebu is ultimately what you can expect when you arrive at the summit.
At 1,013 meters above sea level, enjoy panoramic views of the coastlines on both sides of Cebu Island and of course, the most fascinating hill formations that you will have likely never seen before.
These interesting rocks, hills, peaks, whatever you want to call them are other-worldly and it boggles me as to how they came to be…
From the summit, these dominant peaks are seemingly endless as they stretch across the land like the spine of a Stegasaurus dinosaur.
Must Read → 15 Things To Do In Cebu
Some say these rolling hills are reminiscent of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol as the landscape is quite similar, although each of these spots is unique to its location.
In the deep valleys below, you can see vividly green fields of farmer’s crops and on a clear day, you can spot the neighboring islands of Negros and Bohol.
I had all intentions of making it to the summit for a sunrise hike but due to poor weather conditions, I ended up arriving at the viewpoint just before noon and there were quite a few tourists around.
Although I had to wait my turn to get photos, this didn’t take away the beauty that surrounds the peak.
IS IT WORTH IT?
Hell yeah, it’s worth it!
No matter how many pictures you’ve seen on social media, it still lives up to its name of being the best viewpoint in Cebu.
It’s an absolute must-visit destination to add to your South Cebu Itinerary and I guarantee it’s even better through your own eyes.
Another option is to camp at the top for only 50 pesos, though you’re going to need your own tent and camping gear. This is definitely something I will consider doing if I visit again one day.
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BEST TIME TO VISIT OSMEÑA PEAK
The best time to visit, weatherwise, is in the summer months between March and May.
There is little to no rainfall during this time and you’ll most likely have a better chance of catching a banger sunrise or sunset.
I visited in the month of August and the weather was pretty shit and unpredictable. Though this is also considered low season and there were noticeably fewer tourists around.
Also, try to time your hike for a weekday as opposed to a weekend. Saturdays and Sundays are when most Filipinos have time off work and they flock to these Cebu tourist spots in the hundreds.
BEST TOURS IN CEBU
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
There are many other Cebu tourist spots that are definitely worth checking out on the same day.
See below for my suggested one-day South Cebu itinerary:
- Early morning Kawasan Falls canyoneering adventure
- Followed by the Casino Peak hike
- Then sunset at Osmeña
Or…
- Sunrise hike to Osmeña
- Followed by the Casino Peak hike
- Then the Kawasan Falls canyoneering adventure
WHERE TO STAY IN MOALBOAL
Moalboal has hundreds of accommodation options to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay to fit the needs of budget backpackers, luxury travelers, and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: Dolphin House Resort Moalboal
Dolphin House is the best luxury accommodation in Moalboal, located a stone’s throw away from the ocean. Features included a pool, a restaurant and bar, free wifi, and ocean views.
There are double rooms, triple rooms, family rooms, and bungalows available at Dolphin House Resort.
It’s recommended for families, friends, or couples looking for a luxurious stay.
Mid Range: Pescadores Seaview Suites
One of the most recommended places to stay in Moalboal, Pescadores Suites offers double rooms, twin rooms, and a garden villa.
There is an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace, restaurant, mini-market, table tennis, billiards, board games, karaoke room, and wellness spa.
It’s a great place to stay for friends or couples.
Budget: Chief Mau Hostel
The best budget accommodation in Moalboal and is centrally located just minutes from the beach.
Chief Mau hostel offers dorm rooms and private rooms with free wifi. The owner Trish is super lovely and goes out of her way to make all of her guests feel welcome and comfortable.
There is a shared lounge with hammocks, a billiards table, and an in-house restaurant and bar serving up the best western food in Moalboal.
For solo travelers, couples, or friends on a budget, this is the spot for you.
FOR MORE OPTIONS IN MOALBOAL, SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
WHAT TO PACK FOR THE PHILIPPINES
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More Philippines Travel Guides
Click the button below to view all articles related to the Philippines!
FINAL THOUGHTS – OSMEÑA PEAK VIEWPOINT
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions at all about Osmeña Peak in Cebu, please leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations about Cebu Peak to our awesome community.
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THANKS FOR READING
Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!
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Many thanks!
PIN IT FOR LATER
Hey Jonny,
Love you blog post but could you let them know that using Maps Me if you are driving to Osmeña Peak is not advisable. I used Maps Me since its so convenient in the mountains but the route it took me to was not accessible by a vehicle, its quite dangerous and very rough roads. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to hike up Osmeña Peak and Casino Peak which I was so excited to hike to! But I’ll try again next time! Just wanted to let you know so your readers and future readers of these amazing blogs would be informed! Thanks a lot for your very detailed and awesome post!
Thanks for the feedback and sorry to hear you weren’t able to make it. The roads are in need of improvement in that region. Enjoy the rest of your trip!