Cebu is known for its idyllic white-sand beaches, first-class resorts, glitzy cosmopolitan lifestyle, convenient and balanced mix of play and work, and rich culture and heritage. But don't you know that Cebu is also a favorite haven for mountaineers and people who love the outdoors? The whole center of the island consists of an extensive mountain range that houses an endless variety of natural wonders---steep cliffs, majestic waterfalls, mysterious caves, checkered farmlands, beautiful forests, magical valleys, you name it.

One of the best mountains worth exploring in Cebu is Osmena Peak in Mantalongon, Dalaguete at the south part of the island. Named after a famous and powerful Cebuano political clan, Osmena Peak is the considered to be the highest mountain in Cebu at 1,013 meters above sea level.

Getting to Osmena Peak via public transportation is quite easy. You can head to the Cebu South Bus Terminal, and take a bus traveling southwards to Oslob or Bato. Tell the driver to drop you off at the Dalaguete junction. From there, take a habal-habal (a motorcycle) to Mantalongon market, the highest wet market in Cebu. From the market, you can opt to hike to Osmena Peak or ride a habal-habal to take you to the foot of the mountain. Prepare to spend around P250 for the fare.

A more adventurous, inconvenient albeit cheaper way is to take a rickety open-window minibus from Cebu directly to Mantalongon. Ride one at the Caltex gasoline station beside the University of San Jose-Recoletes in Carbon. Here you can sit side by side with highland people carrying bales of vegetables and live chickens. The minibuses lack air-conditioning, but once they get moving, the inside becomes breezy. You only pay P100 for a one-way trip.

If you need supplies and food for your trek to Osmena Peak, you can buy them at the Mantalongon market. Be sure to buy some of the vegetables they are offering. Due to the municipality's high elevation and rich soil, Mantalongon is an ideal place for planting vegetables. In fact, Mantalongon is dubbed as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu.

You can hire the services of guides who can show you the way to Osmena Peak. Most of them are available for P100 or so. You can also ask them to deliver a few gallons of water up in the peak. If you have that adventurous streak in you, you can opt to forego the guide and find your way to the peak yourself. Just ask the friendly locals along the trail.

Conquering Osmena Peak is not particularly difficult, but it is not a walk in the park either. You have to overcome lots of obstacles---rugged terrain, steeply inclined trails, rough vegetation, etc. But you are also rewarded with great views---huge vegetable farms, green meadows, strange rock formations, and village life.

But the best reward is when you reach the peak itself, a towering mountain that offers you a spectacular view of the Badian shorelines, the Badian Island, beaches of Moalboal, and the neighboring island of Negros where, on a clear day, you can see the lofty peak of majestic Mt. Kanlaon. Setting foot on top of Cebu is a very rewarding experience, knowing that you have not just conquered a mountain but also yourself.

The rugged peaks of the Mantalungon mountain range are a sight to behold; it would be difficult to believe that you are still on earth. The karst topography consists of numerous green limestone peaks that resemble the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol only that they are thinner and taller. A friend of mine who first visited the place remarked that they look like Peanut Kisses, a Bohol delicacy.

You need to pay P20 as a registration/maintenance fee to the local guardians. After paying, you can set camp at a relatively flat and grassy area just below the peak. Camping above the peak is prohibited although a few years ago, this was permitted. Don't worry about security; these guardians stay all night to make sure you are safe. Here, you can socialize with friends, meet other campers, commune with nature, and simply have a good time.

Be sure to bring warm clothing because the temperatures above can dip to as low as 10 degrees. Dressing up in layers and finally topping it off with a thick jacket is your best bet for warding off the cold. In addition, bring your camera. The view, the sunset, and the sunrise at Osmena Peak should be events that should not be missed.

In the morning, you can backtrack your way down to Mantalongon Market where you can catch a minibus back to Cebu. However, many trekkers opt to take a 4 to 5-hour trek to traverse to Kawasan Falls in Barangay Matutinao in the neighboring municipality of Badian. The cool waters of the falls offers tired trekkers a soothing way to end a challenging adventure and a way to commune with nature. Trekkers walk a long route that follows the contour of the valley and into wooded areas, giant rocks, and farms, practically cutting across the island of Cebu. You can hire a guide or simply ask locals to show you the way. After you have your fill at Kawasan Falls, just descend down until you reach the first falls, which has been turned into a resort. A wide dirt road from the resort leads to the main highway where you can catch a bus back to Cebu.

Visit Osmena Peak now!