When most people think of the Philippines, they picture white sand beaches, milky blue waterfalls, and colorful coral reefs.
However, Cebu has a few epic viewpoints in its mountainous interior, and Osmeña Peak is one of them.
As the highest point in Cebu, Osmeña Peak is a true panoramic view of rolling limestone hills, down to the ocean with Negros Island capping off the horizon.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before visiting Osmeña Peak in Cebu, including how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
Osmeña Peak Complete Guide
Osmeña Peak is the highest point in Cebu. Being the highest point, you may think it’s some huge mountain, but that’s not the case. Instead, it’s part of a series of limestone hills that dot the island’s interior landscape.
The hike to the summit of Osmeña Peak is gradual and easily accessible for most people. There aren’t any steep inclines or sheer drop-offs, and you can typically reach the top in about 20 minutes.
Now let’s talk about the views. From the top of Osmeña Peak, the limestone hills encircle you, while the western coastline stretches out below. It’s a true panoramic view. As you look toward the ocean, you’ll see the Tañon Strait and Negros Island on the horizon.
How to get to Osmeña Peak
If you are based in Moalboal or Cebu City, you can check out the top-rated Osmeña Peak and Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Day Trip, which includes transportation and a guide for these two must-do activities in Cebu.
Or, if you are like us, you can visit Osmeña Peak the DIY way.
It’s about a 2 hour motorbike ride to Osmeña Peak from Moalboal, passing through villages along country roads, before ending at the base of Cebu’s highest peak.
It’s very important to follow the correct route to Osmeña Peak.
If you just plug Osmeña Peak into Google Maps, the default route that it takes you on is along a super busted road that eventually devolves into a dirt trail.
Regardless of how you get to Osmeña Peak, I recommend bringing a jacket. The route there goes through Cebu’s central highlands, and it can get a little chilly, especially at night.
FOLLLOW THIS ROUTE to get to Osmeña Peak from Moalboal
Osmeña Peak: Our experience
The first thing I noticed when pulling up to Osmeña Peak was how built up it was. The entrance is marked by a building, and it even has a small cafe where you can grab a coffee.
With sunset approaching and a long ride back to Moalboal ahead of us, we decided to get a coffee before heading to the entry booth.
After paying our entrance fee, we were assigned a mandatory guide. I’m usually okay with the mandatory guides in the Philippines because they keep us safe and show us the correct routes. But in my opinion, this trail was very straightforward and a guide was not necessary.
Still, having our guide with us turned out to be a plus. We asked plenty of questions along the way, and she took some nice photos of us, so I’ll chalk it up as a win.
We began our hike just as the sun was starting to set, and the trail quickly wound up the mountain, wrapping around a hill before Osmeña Peak came into view. Unlike the steep climb we just did at Casino Peak, this hike was more gradual and much more relaxed.
On our way up the trail, we spotted some tents pitched in a valley adjacent to the peak. I asked our guide about them, and she mentioned that Osmeña Peak is a popular place for camping! We love camping, so it’s definitely something that’s on our radar for our next adventure to Cebu.
Once we reached the summit of Osmeña Peak, we looked out over the entire western side of the island, spotting Moalboal to the north and Negros Island on the horizon to the west.
The rolling limestone hills cascaded down toward the ocean, some dotted with shrubs and others blanketed in grass. In between the hills, we could see houses and small villages. Seeing people live in remote places like this always makes me wonder what life is like up there.
We made our way to the edge of the peak, where the rocky crags jutted out from the mountain. As the sun began to set behind Negros Island, the sky transformed from bright blue to fiery shades of orange and red. The last rays of sunlight illuminated the rocky peaks with an orange hue before fading away.
There were around 25 or 30 other people at the peak, but everyone seemed unfazed by the crowd. Everyone was just happy to be on the highest point of Cebu, sharing an epic sunset.
As blue hour set in, we noticed the light fading quickly. By the time we made it back to the start of the trail, it was nearly dark.
For the first time in the Philippines, I felt a chill in the air! It’s fascinating how quickly the temperature drops in the mountains once the sun goes down, and I was grateful I brought a long-sleeve shirt and pants for the motorbike ride back to Moalboal.
Where to Stay in Cebu
For most travelers, Moalboal is the best place to stay. It’s close to the Sardine Run, White Beach, and within range of Kawasan Falls Canyoneering.
Moalboal has a good mix of resorts, hostels, and food spots, making it a solid base for exploring Cebu.
If you’re planning to stay longer than 5 days, I recommend doing what we did by splitting your time between Moalboal and Oslob.
Oslob gives you easier access to whale shark watching, Sumilon Island, and nearby waterfalls like Tumalog and Binalayan. This way, you cut down on travel time and get to see more.
Here’s where we stayed at and recommend in Cebu:
- Moalboal: 3 Sisters Guest House 2 is just off the main strip in Moalboal, but still within walking distance of everything. We appreciated the security and cleanliness of the accommodation and ate breakfast there every morning of our stay.
- Oslob: Melronz Inn is situated a bit outside the town center, making it quieter and more relaxed. And the best part is that it’s located right on the water, with its own private ocean access.
What to Pack for Cebu
- Water Shoes: If you plan to go canyoneering, a solid pair of water shoes like these are needed. If not, you can always wear crocs or even your sneakers if you don’t mind them getting wet!
- Snorkel: With sardine run in Moalboal and whale shark watching in Oslob, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one for the best experience! Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a snorkel, which may be of… questionable quality.
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Cebu.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Cebu! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Our Free Cebu Google Maps Locations
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Need more Cebu travel ideas?
During our 7-day adventure in Cebu, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—milky blue waterfalls, limestone hikes, and incredible snorkeling spots. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start your planning here: Cebu Travel Guide
- Our Ultimate Guide to Cebu: 15 Incredible Things to Do in Cebu
- How to plan your Cebu vacation: Cebu 3 Day Itinerary
- Our Moalboal accommodation guide: Where to Stay in Moalboal
- Our favorite waterfall (+ secret adventure) in Cebu: Inambakan Falls
- Hike to the highest point in Cebu: Osmeña Peak
- Our favorite hike in Cebu: Casino Peak
- Our favorite day tour in Cebu: Kawasan Falls Canyoneering
- The hottest hot spring we’ve ever visited: Mainit Hot Spring
- How to see the Moalboal Sardine Run without a tour
- Oslob Whale Shark Watching Complete Guide
- How to get from Cebu City to Moalboal
- How to get from Moalboal to Oslob
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Osmeña Peak in Cebu! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
