Day Trip to Osmeña Peak and Kawasan Falls
I’ve always wanted to visit Osmeña Peak, Cebu Province’s highest mountain. It finally happened when my friend Ejae from Pampanga visited me here in Cebu. I toured him around the city and we did a spontaneous day trip to Osmeña Peak and Kawasan Falls.
Osmeña Peak is located in the mountain barangay of Mantalongon, Dalaguete. It is approximately 90km away from Cebu City and can be accessed by bus and habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) if you are commuting. We arrived at Cebu South Bus Terminal at 3:30am for us to catch the 4am bus. I suggest taking an air-conditioned bus for a more relaxing journey. Since it was a Monday when we went, there were only few passengers and there’s no heavy traffic. We arrived in Dalaguete after a 2 hour journey.
Upon arrival in Dalaguete, you will immediately find the habal-habal beside the road that can take you to Osmeña Peak. There’s also a convenience store at the drop-off point just in case you need to buy food and drinks before traveling to the peak.
The journey took about 30 minutes from the bus drop-off point going to the foot of Osmeña Peak. Surprisingly, most of the road is paved going up except for a very short rough road. I really enjoyed the cool morning breeze and the view of the sunrise as we went up. Barangay Mantalongon is also known as the “Vegetable Basket of Cebu” so expect a lot of picturesque vegetable plantation along the way.
You need to register before you can get to Osmeña Peak and the fee is Php30 per person. You also have the option to get a guide for a fee but we decided not to since there’s already a trail that you can follow to get to your destination. I kinda felt guilty on not getting a guide because I know most them, guiding tourist to the peak is their only source of income. :(
The trek took about 15 minutes, I would say the the trek is very easy but it will still require you to rest once in a while because of the uphill climb. You also need to be careful to avoid slipping.
Osmeña Peak is standing tall at 1,013 meters above seal level. Though it’s only half of the height of the highest mountain in Visayas, Mt. Kanlaon, the view from the top is still breathtaking. We were blessed with a clear blue sky and a beautiful sunrise when we got to the peak, giving us a clear view of Badian, Tañon Strait and the province of Negros Oriental. I’ll just let the photos below do the talking.
We stayed at the peak for an hour to appreciate its beauty and take hundreds of photos. Visitors are also allowed to camp and stay overnight if they choose to.
We were supposed to go to Dalaguete Beach Park after but I learned from one of the guides that we can go straight to Kawasan Falls from Osmeña Peak by riding a habal-habal or by foot. We chose the habal-habal option though it’s quite expensive to save time, and I don’t think I am physically fit to do the 6 hour trek. The view from the mountain road is really amazing, and it took about 1.5 hours for us to get to Kawasan Falls.
I’ve been to Kawasan Falls several times but it still amazes me whenever I visit. The turquoise water is really mesmerizing, and the ice-cold water is very relaxing and washes the tiredness away. We decided not to rent a cottage which cost Php300, we just decided to leave our stuff on the side while we swim. You can also rent a raft for Php300 to get under the waterfall.
Good news to adventure seekers, canyoneering or canyoning is now back in operation since September 1. It was temporarily suspended for few months due to lack of regulations that will ensure public safety.
After visiting Kawasan Falls, we also did a side trip to the public beach of Badian but we opted not to swim.
We then found ourselves heading back to the city by lunch time. The travel from Badian to Cebu City took about 3 hours.
How to get to Osmeña Peak from Cebu City
From Cebu South Bus Terminal, take a Liloan or Bato bound bus and tell the conductor to drop you in Dalaguete. Tell the conductor that you are going to Osmeña Peak. Fare is Php106 in an air-conditioned bus and the journey will take about 2 hours, depending on the traffic. Upon arrival in Dalaguete, take a habal-habal from the high-way to the foot of Osmeña Peak. Fare is Php200/person round-trip. A habal-habal can fit 2-3 passengers.
Since we opted to go to Kawasan Falls from Osmeña Peak, we paid Php1000 for the whole trip.
Expenses (per person)
Bus fare (Cebu City to Dalaguete) – Php106
Water/Snacks – Php60
Osmeña Peak registration – Php30
Habal-habal fare (Dalaguete-Osmeña Peak-Kawasan Falls) – Php500
Kawasan Falls registration – Php30
Lunch – Php60
Bus fare (Badian to Cebu City) – Php147
Total – Php933
If you have questions regarding this trip, please comment below. :)
Wow! Glad you enjoyed Osmeña Peak! But woah! 200/person from highway to Mantalongon and a thousand to Kawasan? That’s really expensive!
How much was the habal-habal to badian from dalaguete?
We paid 1000 from Osmena Peak to Badian. I don’t know their rates from Badian to Dalaguete :(
Hi! I would like to ask if the habal-habal that you rented, is it the same habal-habal you hired from poblacion dalaguete to opeak? Thanks
Yep, so 1000, all-in na :)
hi, what time kayo umalis sa city? gusto ko rin kasi clear yong view sa peak. thanks c”,)
Hi pde ba trip to Kawasan to Osmena Peak? May habal habal ride din ba from Kawasan Falls-Osmeña Peak-Dalaguete? If yes, 500 din ba?
Hi Sir,
May alam po kayong way from kawasan to osmeña or dalaguete?
Thanks
Hello, is it possible if we just go back to dalaguete and catch a bus going to badian instead of hiring a habal-habal?
Hi thanks for the infos. Btw, do you have idea if how much is the conyoneering?
Canyoneering fee is Php1500 per person.
Hello, great pictures of the peak you have there…. May I inquire if we ride on the habal habal going to the foot of the peak, is the way steep? and if we opt to just walk instead of ride the habal habal, how long will it take us from the bus drop off point to the foot of the peak? Thank you.
Going up to the peak from the habal habal drop off point is quite steep but it’s manageable.
It’s going to be a very long walk from the bus drop off point going to the foot of the peak, it will probably take you about 2 hours. I suggest riding the habal habal instead to save time and energy ;)
Thank you very much for the prompt reply… my friends and I are newbies when it comes to riding a habal habal that is why we are a little worried that we have to take such ride . But if the trek by foot is quite long then we have no choice but to ride the habal habal. Is the way from the bus drop off point to the habal habal drop off point at the foot of the peak steep?
I have one more question… which is a safer route going by way of the Dalaguete road or taking the Mantalongon mini bus to the jump off point?
Thank you and More Power!!!
Lyn
It will be fun! It’s part of the experience. ;)
Can we use a car instead of habal-habal in going to kawasan falls to save fare?
Of course you can use a car going Kawasan Falls, but you have to leave it at the parking area. From the parking area, it will take you about 10mins to 15mins to get to the first falls.
I would like to ask if its possible to use a private car from osmena peak to kawasan falls?
Yes it is possible since the mountain road leading to Badian (where Kawasan Falls is) is paved. The problem is you might get loss if you’re not familiar.
Hi! Like to ask if there are any earlier buses going up to the peak? Would like to catch the sunrise up at the peak.
Amazing photos by the way
Thank you for appreciating my photos. I think the first bus leaves at 2am, but I’m not really sure. You may call the Cebu South Bus Terminal to verify (032) 253-3830 / 253-4119
Hello I’d like to ask kung 3 kami sasakay from Dalaguete-Osmeña Peak-Kawasan is it possible for us to pay 1,000 for the habal-habal transpo?
Depende sa negotiation power nyo, ahaha! Pero isipin nyo nalang, yan lang source of income nila, so wag na baratin. ;)
can we do Kawasan falls visit then to Osmena peak instead? Habal-habal rate is the same?
Thanks!
That I can’t answer, but you can try to negotiate from the habal-habal drivers in Badian.
hi ask ko lang po if nagrerent din po kaya ng tent for hikers?
Parang wala yata :(
How to go catch a bus back to CEBU city from Osmena Peak.
Ride a habal-habal going back to your bus drop-off point. You can hail for a bus going back to the Cebu City just across.
murag mahal raman kayo ang habal2 oi.
500 is too much.
Mao jud amo nabayran, para nako kay okay ra man kay layo pud.
if kami mupuli sa nag drive nya ang driver ang muangkas naa guro discount noh.
haha. joke.
Thanks for the blog. Will follow this itinerary :)
ahaha! enjoy mo :)
Hi can i ask if sa 500 na fare iNclude na po ba dyan yung from dalaguete to Osmena peak to kawasan?? Or iba rin yong from dalaguete to Osmena peak na fare???
Yup, included na lahat. Dalaguete to Osmena Peak to Kawasan Falls.
Hi! Is there a safe parking area in Kawasan Falls and Osmeña Peak? We’re planning to rent a car po kasi to tour southern cebu ( Whaleshark watching, Sumilon Island, Tumalog Falls, Kawasan Falls & Osmeña Peak), is it true that it’s cheaper than taking habal-habal from one place to another?
Thank you and more power!
It’s cheaper if you are a group. There’s a safe parking lot in Badian (Kawasan Falls) and then for Osmena Peak, I think it’s safe to park on the side of the road.
Papano po pumunta ng osmena peak from kawasan falls? Salamat
You can ask the habal habal drivers in Badian if they can take you there.
Hi, do you heard a rule that if only 1 person in the motorbike u need to pay double ? So instead of 500 per person, u need to pay 1000 per person for osmena and kawasan?
Coz i heard that it’ s the rule there for tourist.
I think it’s fair lang. Basically if you are alone, you need to pay for the whole trip ng motor. Mas makaka-save ka talaga if 2 kayo.
Hi Count! I’m planning to arrive in Dalaguete around 4 pm na so i can spend a night in osmeña peak and watch the sunrise afterwards. The next day I plan to go to Kawasan Falls via habal2x. Is this plan ok? Or are there any factors I should be minful of? Also, even if you didn’t get a tour guide, were you able to ask what their rates are?
I look forward to your response. Thanks!
Hi Sofia,
You can negotiate with your habal-habal driver to pick you up the following morning and bring you to Kawasan Falls. I’m not sure how much they will charge though.
I was not able to ask how much the tour guides charges though.
This is awesome. Your photos are amazing and it truly resonates the beauty of Cebu. Thanks for this one.
whats the earliest time that we could start the trek to chase the sunrise?
I’m not really familiar pero many stay overnight at the peak to watch the sunrise.
Hi tanong ko lang po if okay lang ba or it’s safe to park on the side of the road? Wala pobang nagbabantay sa mga saksakyan? or meron? Thanks po :)
Sorry I’m not familiar. Nag commute lang kasi kami.
Hello do you know if we can go directly to Moalboal since Osmena ? if yes in one day i can visite omen then moalboal ? where can i find a public tranport for this ? thanks a lot
Hi Julie, you can actually follow my guide in this blog post. Spend early morning at Osmeña Peak, then few hours at Kawasan Falls. From the highway when you exit Kawasan Falls, you can take a bus or jeep to Moalboal, it is the next town after Badian.
Hey ! Thank you for your guide :) Cool to see that you are still replying after two years^^
I wanted to ask if the following seems doable for you :
-Leave Moalboal in the early morning to Kawasan falls by bus
-After enjoying the falls take habal-habal to Osmena peak, hike the peak
-Then take the same habal-habal back to the falls.
-From here take the bus to Oslob and arrive in the evening.
Do you think this day is doable ? How much would charge the driver for the roundtrip to Osmena from the Kawasan falls (we are three) ?
Thank you!!
I haven’t tried this route but you can inquire with the habal-habal drivers in Kawasan Falls if they are willing to bring you to Osmena Peak.
Here’s my suggestion:
– ride a bus to Kawasan Falls from Moalboal
– rent a habal-habal to Osmena Peak from Kawasan Falls (one-way)
– rent a habal-habal from Osmena Peak to Dalaguete (main highway)
– catch a bus in Dalaguete to Oslob (this is faster compared to going back to Kawasan Falls to catch a bus to Oslob)
You need to rent a big motorcycle in Kawasan that can accommodate three passengers or else you need to rent 2 bikes.
Thank you for your reply ! We are going to follow your advice ! I did not realized it was so much quicker to go to the peak from Dalaguete than from the falls !
That’s actually the main route going to Osmena Peak. Have fun!