Smart Backpacker: Cebu

Showing posts with label Cebu. Show all posts

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Waterfalls Chasing in Cebu: Mangitngit Falls, Carmen, Cebu

North Bus Terminal

How to get there

Board a flight to Cebu. Arriving in Cebu airport, get a taxi or any any ride to North Bus Terminal. In the terminal, you can board any bus bound north. Travel time is 1 hour and 15 minutes to Carmen. It is 41 kilometers from the terminal and the fare in a non-aircon bus is only P50. You can also board a mini-bus directly going to Carmen. Alight at the marketplace of Carmen and hire a habal-habal ride to the falls. Travel time to the falls is 15 minutes and the fare is P80 (round trip). You will reach the jump-off point (a water factory) and then trek for 5 minutes only.

road to the falls

Day 4
Waterfalls Chasing in Cebu

I was so tired the day previous to this waterfalls chasing that I had to slept more than the usual just to recuperate my lost energy.

I had to choose between Gaas Falls in Balamban and Mangitngit Falls in Carmen. And after a careful research through the internet, I chose Mangitngit Falls for proximity and due to the fact that it was the only falls in the north (aside from the 2 falls in Camotes Island).

going left is to the spring, going right is to the falls

I hired a habal-habal ride to the falls. The name of the driver/guide is Israel (0926-241-7570). We agreed that the price of the round trip fare is P80.

After nearly 15 minutes, we arrived at a water factory and asked permission for entry.

At the jump-off point, we asked a boy to lead us to the falls. Trek to the falls was only for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, I was already in the river and taking pictures of the trail.

The river is the usual river that I see in my travel.

But the sight of the falls made the river a bit extraordinary. There was this rumor in town that the falls was already destroyed by a landslide. Good thing I did not listen to the rumor!

The elevated spot of the hill provided me a good spot to shoot my pictures.

I was tempted to swim . But I told myself maybe next time.

I stayed only for 20 minutes and afterwards, I left and went back to Cebu City.

But Israel told me that there is a spring called Urugay Spring and we decided to drop by.

Travel time to the spring was 12 minutes from the falls.

My driver/guide - Israel.

Enjoy Cebu!

Friday, April 24, 2015

Waterfalls Chasing in Cebu: Tumalog Falls, Oslob, Cebu

MB's Sunrise View Resort / 0906-586-9895 / 0923-297-1176

Day 3: Waterfalls Chasing in Cebu
April 23, 2015
Tan-awan, Oslob, Cebu

After visiting 10 waterfalls the previous day, I was exhausted and I did not want to travel anymore. I mean the itinerary was only for four falls but I got carried away and before I knew it, I was able to finish 10 falls in one day.

For Day 3's itinerary, there are 3 waterfalls lined up, namely: Tumalog Falls in Oslob, Kan Amno Falls in Boljoon, and Bugasok Falls in Argao.

I had the whole day to finish my itinerary but I felt lazy and just watched the tourists in Oslob do their whale watching adventure. And I ended up visiting only waterfalls for the day.

Boats are ready for whale watching

How to get there

From Cebu City
Option 1 (best option)

Board a flight to Cebu. Then, go to South Bus Terminal. Board a bus (preferably, Ceres) to Oslob. Fare is P155. Travel time is 3 - 3.5 hours or 124 kilometers. Alight at MB Sunrise View Resort. Hire a habal-habal for P140 to Tumalog Falls. Travel time is 10-15 minutes. Trek to the falls is 10 minutes only.

Option 2

Board a flight to Cebu. Then, go to South Bus Terminal. Board a bus (preferably, Ceres) with the signboard Bato via Barili. Fare is P191 (aircon) or P177 (non-aircon). Travel time is 4 - 4.5 hours or 147 kilometers. Alight at Bato Terminal and board another bus going to Oslob. Fare in the bus is P30 (aircon) or P20 (non-aircon). Travel time is 15 minutes or 16 kilometers. Alight at MB Sunrise View Resort. Hire a habal-habal for P140 to Tumalog Falls. Travel time is 10-15 minutes or 6 kilometers. Trek to the falls is 10 minutes only.

From Dumaguete City

The other one is from Dumaguete City. From the city, ride a multicab bound to Sibulan port (fee is P11.00 only). Then, ride a fastcraft to Santander. The boat trip to Santander is 20 minutes only. Fare is P60.00. Reaching Santander port, ride a bus going to Cebu (the bus is just waiting at the port). The trip to Oslob is 20-25 minutes only. Fare is 60.00 aircon. Then alight at Barangay Tan-awan, Oslob, Cebu.

Sumlion Island

PLACE TO STAY

There are so many resorts/accommodations in Tan-awan. But I stayed at MB's Sunrise View Resort (one that has the yellow gate). Lodging fee is P800 for non-aircon (negotiable up to P500) and P1,500 for aircon (good for 3 pax). The other resorts are charging P1,500 - P2,000 for aircon.

Contact Nos. - 0906-586-9895 / 0923-297-1176

Sunrise Viewing

ACTIVITIES IN OSLOB
Whale watching is the number one activity

Local (Filipinos) -

Viewing only at the boat - P300.00

Swimming with the whale shark and snorkerling - P500.00 (life vest and gears included)

Foreigners -

Viewing only at the boat - P500

Swimming with the whale shark and snorkeling - P1,000.00

Island Hopping - depends on the number of persons (minimum P1,500 - 1-5 pax)

During the island hopping, you can do fish feeding, snorkeling and swimming.

Diving

Foreigners - P3,500

Local - P2,600

Tumalog Falls

Visit the historical places - P100 (Baluarte Old church, Museum etc.)

Sunrise Viewing (the best spot)

I hired a habal-habal to the falls for P140.

It took us only 10 minutes before we reached the jump-off point. I paid the entrance fee of P20. You have the option to hire another habal-habal for P50 only. But you can also opt to trek it for 10 minutes only.

After 10 minutes of descending, we reached the base of the falls.

Though it was my second time to see the falls (last time was 2012), I was still excited at the sight of the falls!

Tumalog Falls

From my waterfalls chasing in Cebu, my top 5 falls are Aguinid falls, Dao Falls, Tumalog falls, Mantayupan Falls and Inambakan Falls.

Tumalog falls is one of the tallest and majestic falls in Cebu!

Enjoy Cebu! =)

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Temples (Cebu, Baguio and Cavite)

I am fond of visiting Catholic churches in the Philippines.
I have visited the churches in Bohol, Camarines Sur, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and in some remote parts of the Philippines.

But there are three temples in the Philippines that I have also visited that are not Catholic churches and I consider them still as tourist spots in the Philippines.

First is the Philippine Taoist Temple in Cebu.

Last May 20, 2011, I was in Cebu and my main reason to go to Cebu was to ride the Edge Coaster and experience the Sky Walk and zipline in the city.

But unfortunately during that time the attraction opened past one pm and in order to save time, I hired a taxi for P600.00 and had my city tour.

First in the itinerary of the tour was the Philippine Taoist Temple.

If I remember it right, I think I did not pay any entrance fee for that visit.

The temple was built in 1972 and is located at Beverly Hills Subdivision in Cebu City. It was built by the Chinese community residing in Cebu City.

I stayed and roamed inside the temple for one hour and went to my other destinations such as Fort San Pedro, Sto Nino Church and Magellan's Cross.

The second temple that I visited is the Taoist Bell Church in Baguio City which is located near the border of La Trinidad, Benguet and Baguio City.

from pinoytravelblog.com

I was in Baguio last 2012 and for P600/hour I hired another taxi and went to the different tourist spots in Baguio for 2 hours only. Part of the 2-hour itinerary was going to the Bell Church, Mansion, Burnham Park, Wright Park, Lourdes Grotto, and the Mines View Park.

The temple visit was quite short, just to satisfy the curiosity of seeing another Taoist Temple in the Philippines.

The third and the most recent was the visit at the Korean Temple in Silang, Cavite. Admission in this temple is also free.

And for me this temple is the most serene, elegant and beautiful since it is the newest and is well-maintained.

I was having my summer road trip and by chance I saw this signboard which reads - Korean Temple.

I decided to drop-by and I was not disappointed. It even has a pond!

It's fun visiting these

various temples in the Philippines!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Top 5 Spanish Forts in the Philippines for Tourists

Spanish forts in the Philippines were created for warfare and military bases. From ancient times to modern times, forts have been a necessity for many cities.

Here are some of the top Spanish forts in the Philippines that I have visited.

1. Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila (famous for its role in history)

from www.thailandsworld.com

2. Fort Pilar, Zamboanga City

The Royal Fort of Our Virgin Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza (commonly known as Fort Pilar) is a 17th century military defense fortress in Zamboanga City.

Related link - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-great-sta-cruz-island-zamboanga-city.html
3. Fort San Pedro, Cebu

Fuerza de San Pedro is a military defense structure built by Spanish and Cebuano laborers .

4. Fort Santiago, Ozamis City

from www.awesomephl.com

The Cotta Fort was built by Father Jose Ducos in 1756 to serve as a

Spanish outpost in the land.

5. Fort San Antonio Abad, Malate, Manila

from baratillo.net

Fort San Antonio Abad is a fort in Malate built during the Spanish Colonial period.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Top 10 Beaches in the Philippines (Ranked)

In my years of travel, I have seen and marveled at so many white sand beaches in the Philippines. Due to lack of time, I was not able to explain why I have chosen them and ranked them accordingly. But in the near future, I will surely give my insight on why I have chosen them..

Here are my Top 10 Beaches in the Philippines for Tourists!

1. El Nido, Palawan