Hiking and camping is a MUST DO outdoor activity when you are in Cebu. Both tourists and locals will surely enjoy Cebu's peaks and trails, aside of its stunning, instagrammable views, most of Cebu mountains are beginner's friendly.
When you hear Cebu mountains, what quickly comes on your mind? --- Osmeña peak, Casino (Lugsangan peak), and Candungao peak of Dalaguete-Badian; Mt. Manunggal-Mt. Mauyog of Balamban; Mt. Lanaya of Alegria; Sirao peak (Mt. Kan-irag) and Bocaue of Cebu City. These are the Cebu mountains that are commonly featured on social media and a bucket list must-have of both tourist and local mountaineers.
As Cebuano mountain climbing enthusiast, the above-mentioned mountains are part of my bucket list and I already visited Sirao peak, Bocaue peak, and Mt. Lanaya, no doubt why they are one of the most popular mountains in Cebu, they are absolutely beautiful and worth to climb. But, aside of the mentioned Cebu mountains, I found out that there are also mountains in the Northern part of Cebu that offer unique and stunning landscapes, trails and peaks, these are Mt. Manghilao, Mt. Mago and Mt. Kapayas which are located in Danao City, Carmen, and Catmon respectively. And I call them the "3 Kings of the North".
Mt. Manghilao
Mt. Manghilao/Mt. Manghilaw is the highest peak of Danao City standing at a height of 600+ MASL and is located at Brgy. Masaba, Danao City. It is renowned of its folklore stories and also of its peak where a huge black cross is erected. Mt. Manghilao also has superimposition resemblance of a "sleeping giant" when you look at it from a distance.
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| Photography and Digital Art by: Sir Joel F. Almerez |
Along the trail to the peak of Mt. Manghilao, a stunning view of Danao Mountain ranges will tease you to get your camera and have a mountain selfies and signature poses. From the peak, you can able to have a bird's eye view of the whole Danao City, and the Mountain ranges of Danao, Carmen, Asturias, and Balamban. Lastly, Mt. Manghilao also has 8-9 caves near the peak but some of it is too risky to access due to the possibility of getting lost and there might be wild animals living in it.
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| The Black Cross at the peak Photo credit: Cerelle |
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| Mt. Manghilao (not the usual trail) Photo credit: Jadess |
DAYHIKE & CAMPING
It takes 2-3 hours from the jump-off to the peak, good for a dayhike, most of the trail is assault. First part of the trail has less shades, sun's heat protection gear is a must have; second part of the trail which leads to the peak has tall trees and plants that serves as shades along the trail. Camping friendly? Yes! There are campsites near the peak, campsites is 10-15 minutes away from the peak, no available water source.
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| The Peak Photo credit: Jessel |
HOW TO GET THERE?
Go to North Bus terminal and ride a bus to Danao City, it takes 45 minutes to 1 hour travel time, fare is 35-60 pesos per head. Or you can go to SM City Cebu and ride either V-hire or Jeepney route #27 to Danao City terminal, it takes 45 minutes to 1 hour travel time, fare for V-hire is 60 pesos per head, for jeepney fare is 35 pesos per head.
From Danao City Terminal, go to Habal2x parking area for Manghilao trip which is located in front of Danao City Civic Center. Jump off is San Pedro Calungsod Parish church.
Note: No climbing fee. Always greet and respect the locals. Leave no Trace.
Contact: Ariel, yours truly @ 09957911070, I can give you directions and tips on your Mt. Manghilao climb. ^_^
Mt. Mago
Few distance from Danao City is the Municipality of Carmen, the home of the humble Batanes-like rolling Hills called Mt. Mago (Mago for locals). Standing at the height of 700+ MASL, Mt. Mago is well known for its "instagrammable" landscape and its trail is dubbed as Climber's playground due to its "Beginner's Friendly" trail. Near to the summit, a boundary marker is located in which it indicates that the place is uniquely located in the boundary of the three (3) places of Northern Cebu namely; Danao City, Municipalities of Carmen and Tuburan; standing on the boundary marker is like being in three (3) places at the same time.
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| Mt. Mago's Boundary Marker |
Mt. Mago's trail is an open trail, extremely exposed to the heat of the sun. Along the trail you will encounter carabaos, cows, and horses eating grass, please do not disturb them. Also, the trail of Mt. Mago is famous for its "Batanes-like" hills, so better prepare your camera and signature pose. From the peak you'll be stunned to the scenic view of Carmen sea, M Lhuiller's farm, Mountain ranges of Tuburan, Balamban and Asturias.
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| Batanes-like hills |
DAYHIKE & CAMPING
From jump-off to peak, it will consume 1 to 1.5 hours but it depends on the pacing. Mostly open trail, sun's heat protection gear is a must-have. For camping, there are a lot of campsites in Mt. Mago, but you need to consider safety in choosing your campsites, must be away from animals (cows, carabaos and etc.). You can pitch a tent at the peak but it has limited space (3-4 tents).
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| Lovely Open Trail |
HOW TO GET THERE?
From Cebu City you need to go to Cebu North Bus Terminal, ride a bus to Carmen Public Market, it takes 45 minutes to 1 hour travel time, the fare is 40-60 pesos per head. And from Carmen Public Market ride a habal2x going to the Brgy. Santican (jump-off), it takes 1 hour travel time; fare is 100 pesos per head.
Note: No climbing fee, but if you are first-timer or unfamiliar with the trail, please ask children on the jump-off to be as guide, negotiate with them for guide fee. Always greet and respect locals. Leave no Trace.
Mt. Kapayas
Next stop! Catmon, Cebu, a municipality next to Carmen home of the silent King ---Mt. Kapayas, the highest among the "three Kings" of Cebu North Mountains, has an elevation of 783 MASL and is well preserved. As of to this date only few climbers visited on this peak but according to my friend, it is absolutely worth to climb. For more details about Mt. Kapayas, here is the Mt. Kapayas experience of my friend Asian Foodveler (Jadess Lorraine), click the title of her blog story below. Enjoy!
CLICK HERE: ↓↓↓
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| Topographic Location of the "3 Kings in the North" |
So, for your next Mountain climbing adventure plan, why not include on your destination this mighty and stunning mountains of Northern Cebu, you will surely love the adventure and beauty that Northern Cebu Mountains could offer.
Be a responsible adventurer. Practice the 7 Leave No Trace Principles:
1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3. Dispose of waste properly
4. Leave what you find
5. Minimize campfire impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be considerate of other visitors
Leave Nothing but Footprints. Take Nothing but Pictures. Kill Nothing but Time. Bring Nothing but Memories.
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