Smart Backpacker: Oslob

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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! =)

Extreme Waterfalls Chasing in Cebu: Kawasan Falls in Badian, Inambakan Falls, Bugnawan Falls , Campael Falls in Ginatilan, Dao Falls and Aguinid Falls in Samboan in One Day of Adventure!

Southern part of Cebu route

Day 2
Waterfalls Chasing in Southern Cebu
Kawasan Falls, Badian
Inambakan Falls, Bugnawan Falls, Campael Falls in Ginatilan
Dao Falls and Aguinuid Falls in Samboan

Summer, April 2015

A week before this adventure, I was in Mindanao and did waterfalls chasing in Aliwagwag Falls (Cateel) and Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig, Surigao (with side trip in Enchanted River) in just one day! I thought I would never break that adventure but I was wrong!

How about seeing ten waterfalls in just one day in Cebu? That would be really extreme! =)
And I was able to do accomplish the feat! Yup, I did but almost got exhausted to the point that I do not want to travel anymore the following day.

Anyway, here's how I did it.

22 April 2015 / 05:00 am

Day One of my waterfalls chasing in Cebu, i was able to visit Mantayupan Falls in Barili and Batad Batad Falls in Moalboal. I spent the night in Susan Seaside in Moalboal (Contact number - 0920-282-0357 / Look for Ms. Susan or Clarissa).

I woke up 5 am, fixed myself and waited for my ride to Badian.

After ten minutes of waiting, Cito (0930-902-7916), my habal-habal driver / tour guide arrived. We went to the town plaza and took my early breakfast. At exactly 6 am, we were already zooming our way to Badian.

How to get there

From Cebu City

Board a bus (preferably, Ceres) bound to Bato via Barili. Travel time up to Badian is more or less 3 hours.

From Moalboal

Option 1

Board a bus (preferably, Ceres) bound to Bato via Barili and alight at the jump-off point to Kawasan Falls (the landmark is a Catholic church). Fare is only P30 (aircon bus). Hire a habal-habal ride (P50) to the falls. You can trek it instead of hiring a habal-habal. Trek is good for 15 minutes only.

Option 2

Hire a habal-habal ride to Badian. Fee is between P250-300. Travel time is 50 minutes. It is 12 kilometers from Moalboal to Badian town proper, then another 9.5 kilometers to Kawasan falls.

Alight at the jump-off point, hire a habal-habal ride (P50) to the falls. You can trek it instead of hiring a habal-habal. Trek is good for 15 minutes only.

I opted to trek it with my guide (Cito). The habal-habal ride at the jump-off point was offering their services for P50 but I decided not to hire another guide. Entrance fee is P40 and parking fee is P50.

Kawasan Falls

Rates

Lodging - P900 / 1,200

Guide - no fix rate (depends on your kind discretion)

After staying for 30 minutes, we decided to head back to the jump-off point. I noticed that beside the jump-off point, there is a white beach! Cebu is really blessed for having so many white beaches.

Side trip - Lambug Beach

Situated 4 kilometers from the town of Badian or 16 kilometers from Moalboal. There is Grandeur Resort in case you want a resort or accommodation in the beach.

I boarded another bus to Ginatilan. Badian to Ginatilan is separated by 2 towns (Alegria and Malabuyoc).

Originally, I was supposed to go also to Montaneza Falls Malabuyoc-Alegria. But I had to choose between Ginatilan-Samboan Falls and Malabuyoc-Alegria Falls. And I made the right choice!

How to get there

From Cebu City
Board a bus (preferably, Ceres) with the signboard Bato via Barili. Cebu City to Ginatilan is 135 kilometers. Alight at the town of Ginatilan and hire a habal-habal to the the falls.

From Badian to Ginatilan
Board a bus going to Bato. Fare is P50 (aircon bus). Travel time more or less an hour. It is 31 kilometers from Badian. Arriving at the town of Ginatilan, hire a habal-habal to the falls. Round trip fare to the falls is P200. From the town it is just 3.9 kilometers. The fee may be excessive but you can ask the driver to show you or guide you to the falls.

After 10 minutes, we arrived at the jump-off point. There is an entrance fee only of P10. You can also hire a guide here for a nominal fee of P50. But I ask my driver to be may tour guide also. The name of my driver / tour guide is Alex Barag aka "Tootskie' Contact no - 0933-134-6985). I like his services and I gave him an additional P100 for the guide fee, entertainment and for taking my pictures.

We started the trek to the first falls and the trek was good only for 5 minutes.

Inambakan Falls

Then, we continued our trek to the second falls and the trek was good only for another 5 minutes.

Bugnawan Falls

Finally, we continued our trek for another 10 minutes and we reached the last falls.

Campael Falls

jump-off point to Dao Falls

I was given two choices, bus or habal-habal. I chose the latter for the next falls.

Ginatilan and Samboan are just separated by 8 kilometers. I talked to Tootskie (my guide) and arranged for another bargain. We agreed that for the amount of P400, he would bring me both to Dao Falls and Aguinuid Falls. It took us only 15 minutes from Ginatilan before we reached the jump-off point to Dao Falls. Entrance fee is P20. Guide fee is P100.

Hanging bridge to Dao Falls

Ordinarily, we have to trek from the jump-off point to the hanging bridge. But Tootskie was kind enough (or brave enough) to drive me up to the hanging bridge. He even guided me to the falls. Trek time was 25 minutes.

the scenery is majestic!

This trek is the best route so far and for the entire adventure. While Aguinuid offers the best falls, Dao offers the best trek and scenery. After 25 minutes, we reached the sight of the falls. This trek/trail is not for the weak hearts!

Dao Falls offers different kinds/shapes of falls. It is located in Barangay Suba in Ginatilan. This falls is my personal favorite.

Dao Falls

Good thing there were only a handful of people at the falls compared to the multitude of tourists in Aguinid Falls.

jump-off point to Aguinid Falls

After resting for 30 minutes, we went to out last destination. It was already 12 noon and I treated Tootskie for lunch. Then, he drove me to the jump-off point to Aguinid Falls. Travel time to Barangay Tangbo from Dao Falls is 10-15 minutes only. Then, I bid goodbye and expressed my gratitude to Tootskie.

Total fee paid to Tootskie

P300 - Inambakan Falls

P400 - Dao Falls and Aguinid Falls

P100 - for taking my pictures and carrying my bag in Dao Falls

Level Zero
AGUINID FALLS

In Aguinid Falls, I had hire another guide. Guide fee depends again on your kind discretion. I gave only P150. Entrance fee is P50. Trek time - 1 minute only from the registration area. There are plenty of guides available at the registration area.

Aguinid Falls is a cascading falls composed of 5 levels.

Level One

Trek time from Level Zero was 2 minutes only.

Level Two

You have to climb the falls itself and trek time was 5 minutes.

Level Three

Another 5 minutes and we reached level three.
The falls was not slippery since it is made of limestone.

Level Four

Another 5 minutes and you have the next level.

Level Five

Finally, another 5 minutes and the last level.
The hard part was descending. Personally, I do not like descending.

After nearly 30 minutes, I was able to reach the registration area. I bid another goodbye and waited for my ride to Oslob, Cebu. Good thing I was able to board a Cebu bound bus and I alighted at MB Sunrise View Resort (0908-586-9895 / 0923-297-1176). This is the best resort / spot to make your whale watching adventure in Oslob.

Mentally, I was pushing for another falls that day since I was 10 minutes away from it. But physically, I was already drained, fatigued and exhausted. I called it a day! I rested and recalled what happened that day.

Tumalog Falls

The following day, I went to another falls (Day 3, another blog).

Cito, my driver/tour guide in Moalboal and Barili. (Contact no. - 0930-902-7916)

Tootskie, my driver/tour guide in Ginatilan and Samboan. Contact no. 0933-134-6985

I simply LOVE

WATERFALLS CHASING IN CEBU! =)

Saturday, June 1, 2013

My Summer 2013 Best Pics

Island shopping at Crocodile Island, Palaui Island, Sta. Ana, Cagayan

Every year since 2006 I travel around the Philippines.

But this blog started only November, 2012.

And every year I make it a point to have my compilation of the best pictures that I have taken in my series of travels. Of course it is a must that I need to ask for a second opinion with my friend Mek. We may not agree with some of the best shots but I always consider his opinion as the better one.

This summer 2013 here are the best pictures we (Mek) have collectively chosen.

Hope you like it! =)