South Cebu Itinerary: Osmena Peak & Moalboal Snorkeling

Okay, so you’re thinking of checking out South Cebu, huh? That part of the island is, like, jam-packed with sweet adventures. You could be standing on top of Osmena Peak in the morning and, too, by the afternoon, be snorkeling around Pescador Island over in Moalboal. This part here gives you what you might call the lowdown on making the most of that trip, with a couple things that should help along the way.

Conquering Osmena Peak

Osmena Peak, is that thing considered the highest point in Cebu? It, sort of, looks like a bunch of chocolate hills got dropped on a mountain range. Arguably, the view is, well, something. When the weather, sort of, cooperates, you can even glimpse over to Negros. Getting up there is fairly doable; you will want to go to Mantalongon Market, which basically serves as the jump-off point. You might find some guides there, you know, and you probably don’t need them that much for the path itself, it is, anyway, comforting to support the local economy. It’s a fairly quick trek, maybe 30 minutes or so, even though it’s pretty easy to take your time to enjoy it. So, you’ll be up there, like, checking out those cool rock formations. One tip is to go super early because the sun really beats down later in the day.

Then you’ll get to the peak itself. Is the view there just something else or what? You get this spread of pointed hills all bunched up together and those dips between hills that provide these crazy shadows as the sun goes from east to west. From up there, it’s really a one-of-a-kind view you wouldn’t forget too fast. If you get lucky, those scattered clouds can come down, arguably, bringing that whole experience to an even higher level of epic proportions.

Now, speaking of actually reaching the top, it should not be too difficult for anyone with even a slight level of fitness, although I have heard there can be a few of the more angled climbs toward the top, too, depending on where you, in a way, begin your walk to the summit. But these should only be light bouldering, so to speak, that many people, and by that, too, I mean many younger people, and many not-so-young ones as well, will handle pretty easily and safely.

Snorkeling Adventure in Moalboal

Moalboal is that spot folks head to for some of the finest underwater sightseeing that’s found nearby in the Philippines. You, kind of, have two main attractions. One is the sardine run which tends to hang out right off Panagsama Beach. Like, imagine swimming among tons of fish. No need to even go far from the beach, just wade in, and they’re usually there. Second up, that’s Pescador Island. You, sort of, have to take a boat out there, but that is, like, so worth it because it provides some really awesome reefs and sea life.

Now, as you swim in the shallow depths nearby the beach and you might almost believe you’re in some kind of fantastic nature program on your TV set. In real life. One of the things to look for there in abundance is the many green sea turtles. Most days I think there must be, that, somewhere near half a hundred of those silent swimmers right off the edge of the shore. If you swim far enough from there, though, as one considers moving away from shore over toward deeper water, the sea grass beds eventually give way to a sandy, rockier seabed and a coral environment begins.

Getting to Pescador Island tends to be part of many folks’ day trips and package tours. That location off Moalboal has, more or less, become an important spot for marine biodiversity. So it’s really not that unusual for you to possibly see seahorses and schools of jacks in massive formations or even passing hammerheads in those more deep, deeper waters off Pescador. Still, even staying, like, closer to the surface or even right there at the sandy bottom is almost certainly going to leave you satisfied you came all the way there to take a closer look at a thing like that.

Getting to Moalboal from Osmena Peak

Going from Osmena Peak to Moalboal? Very possible! First, take a habal-habal or motorbike from Osmena Peak down to the main road. So then you can catch a bus going to Moalboal. Those buses in Cebu, they often stop a lot, anyway, but it gives you a feel for the countryside. Just, you know, let the driver or conductor that, too, your intention is that they know where to let you off. That trip by bus will go through some, almost, spectacular spots as you pass by steep walls that climb upwards on one side of the road while the steep, vertical cliff edge drops to some other kind of paradise farmland down below. Overall the whole trip is probably somewhere around three hours all total if you add together all aspects. Overall, it makes a perfect route across this one very unique part of Cebu province.

Going from those heights in Osmena Peak down into a beautiful ocean tour down off the coast of the little town of Moalboal is really not too much of a distance when looking at this particular island as a whole. And by utilizing local drivers that actually know, you can more or less be assured of safely getting where you are trying to go.

Where to Stay in Moalboal

Moalboal, like, has places to stay that fit what people want. You can go, basically, all-out with fancy resorts if that’s your thing. Or you might want those more cheap guesthouses right on the beach are pretty popular, too. Basdaku is one area you might consider, which often gives you more, or less, quiet places. But you, basically, want to find something close to Panagsama Beach because, so, that’s where a lot of action happens. Consider checking a bit online for the reviews that other visitors said about each one to decide on which best fulfills your needs, okay?

Depending on how well you have planned your day that day, there could very likely be the ability for you to check in after having already swum with turtles down by the shore there or maybe getting back from diving down off of Pescador Island. Overall it is not so big of a trick to go look at the top rated locations for hotel or other stay spots as there are those almost right in town. So don’t forget to use the old reliable internet and check a few places out before actually booking it.

Tips for a Smooth Trip

Okay, start early: It makes, in some respects, sense because you skip crowds and the weather.
Just bring the things to swim with: It helps, that, too, you have your mask and snorkel. Then they probably fit, too.
Money: Lots of small places only will take pesos.
Bargain, maybe? See if prices move down.
Be cool, okay? Treat the locals and their turf like you have respect.

Always think ahead regarding making plans, so to speak, of just what it is you, kind of, want to do the next day, as you only have limited time as just about everyone does. Okay? Having some understanding of where the nearest convenient store or some kind of mini mart is at could be useful. Also it goes without mentioning, probably, the value of actually carrying only valid cash so you can trade properly for those things which make up your wonderful travel experiences.

Overall it can almost be assured that getting into an Osmena Peak Moalboal trip down in south Cebu can definitely make just about anybody’s expectations for an ideal getaway actually turn into, really, something pretty, pretty close to their imagined perfect reality.

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