Family Adventures
Climbing Osmeña Peak with a Kid (2021)
We went up Osmeña Peak with an eight-year-old in June 2021. Here's what our experience was like -- plus our tips and answers to frequently asked questions about Cebu's highest peak.
On our recent trip to Mantalongon, Dalaguete, we had the chance to climb Osmeña Peak and we were so glad we did. The views were gorgeous, we were blessed with good weather, and it was H’s first time to go up a mountain — an experience any kid should have if they can.
If you haven’t been there yet, here’s a video of our Osmeña Peak experience. (Don’t forget to scroll down after watching for some tips and answers to frequently asked questions about Osmeña Peak.)
Tips for beginners:
- If you don’t have your own walking stick, use those at the registration center. They can be “rented” for only P10 and it won’t take you long into the climb to realize their value.
- Bring water! This should go without saying, but in case you forget, there’s a store or two along the trail where you can buy a bottle.
Osmeña Peak: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osmeña Peak already open?
Yes! As of June 2021, it’s already open for trekking. There’s a registration center at the trail head where you can pay the entry fee and engage a guide.
Where is Osmeña Peak located?
Osmeña Peak is located in Mantalongon, Dalaguete, in the southern half of Cebu island. It’s most accessible from Dalaguete, but the mountains in the area are really shared between the towns of Dalaguete and Badian.
How do you go to Osmeña Peak from Cebu City?
If you have a car, just search for Osmeña Peak in Google Maps and follow the directions.
If you don’t have a car, you can take the bus to Dalaguete, ask the driver/conductor to drop you off at the eskina Mantalongon (the intersection of the highway and the road going up to Mantalongon), and engage a motorcycle driver to bring you up to the Osmeña Peak trail head.
How far is Dalaguete from Cebu?
It’s 83 km from the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City to the 7-Eleven in Dalaguete, which is at the intersection of the highway and the road leading to Mantalongon. If you’re taking public transportation, this is where you get off the bus and take a motorcycle up to the Osmeña Peak trail head, which is a further 16 km away.
Where can you stay near Osmeña Peak?
150 Peakway Mountain Resort is right in Mantalongon and they even have a peakway tram that stops at the Osmeña Peak trail head.
There are several nearer to the center of Dalaguete:
- Kellocks’ Seaview Apartelle is a two-bedroom apartment located on the Dalaguete beachfront.
- Seaview Mansion Dalaguete consists of several apartments each with a patio and a kitchen and sharing an outdoor swimming pool.
- the beachhouse also has an outdoor swimming pool and great views of the beach.
- Canoy’s Mansion is a four-bedroom villa with a garden and an outdoor pool.
- Canoy’s Canyon is a five-bedroom countryside retreat with floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedrooms, a swimming pool, a pool table, and a tennis court.
How high is Osmeña Peak?
Osmeña Peak is 1,013 meters above sea level (MASL).
How long does it take to hike Osmeña Peak?
From the registration site to the top of Osmeña Peak, the trek will take less than 30 minutes.
What is the difficulty level of Osmeña Peak?
Any reasonably fit beginner can do it. We were there with an eight-year and reached the top in less than 30 minutes, including short water breaks. Mind you, the less fit among us (*cough* myself *cough*) were breathing quite hard at some parts but it was totally doable.
Is Osmeña Peak worth it?
Absolutely. Especially if you’re a beginner who wants a doable challenge, or if you only have little time, but you want a view that’s still breathtakingly beautiful, Osmeña Peak is the way to go.
Is Osmeña Peak better at sunrise or sunset?
Either! The views are gorgeous at whatever time of day but the soft light of sunrise and sunset will make the land formations of Osmeña Peak an even more special sight to behold.
Do keep in mind that if you want to be at the top by sunrise, you’ll have to hike up in the dark. Have a think about whether that will fit your circumstances — if you don’t have a headlight/torch, for example, or if you’re hiking with kids.
The weather will also play a factor. I have to say, though, there’s something magical about being at Osmeña Peak when the fog rolls by.
Can you climb Osmeña Peak DIY?
You CAN — but you won’t be allowed to. Guides have been made mandatory recently, for good reason. (See more below.)
How much is the Osmeña Peak entrance fee in 2021?
Entrance is P50 per person.
How much is the guide fee for Osmeña Peak in 2021?
When you register at the Osmeña Peak trail head, a guide will be assigned to you. Their usual fee is P100 — but do feel free to give more! It’s only recently that guides have been made mandatory and I know in other places of interest this has become an issue. But I think it shouldn’t be.
Guides are there to, well, guide us and keep us safe, and also to keep an eye on our behavior and make sure we don’t do classless stuff like leaving trash behind. (Honestly, what’s wrong with some people?!)
Also, the tourism industry has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. WE’RE there for fun but, for the guides, this is their livelihood. It’s how they feed their families. The fee for the guide is only P100 — that’s for the whole group not P100 per person — so there’s really no reason to begrudge them of that.
If anything, their countless trips up and down the peak have made them experts on the best angles for photographs — you can take advantage of that, if you want! They’re usually quite happy to take pictures.
What should you wear on a trek to Osmeña Peak?
On sunny days, you can get by with shirts and shorts, though for protection against the sun, you could go for long sleeves and pants instead.
A windbreaker is a good idea in any weather. We kept one in our backpacks.
If there’s a good chance of rain, do bring something waterproof like a raincoat.
Let the weather inform your choice of footwear too. Some parts are steep and can get slippery after a rain.