South Cebu is one of my favorite destinations for a road trip on Holidays because of its diversity. From the tallest magnificent waterfalls and mountains down to white beach, and island hopping.
Last Thanksgiving day we decided to pick two waterfalls of our destinations considering we left the city at already eight in the morning.
We headed to Dau Falls in Suba, Samboan as our first destination. It’s a three-hour drive from the city and at least 4 hours by bus. Spotting the road going to the waterfalls is very easy. You will see a sign on the right side of the road just right after Samboan town proper. Suba is a 10-minute ride by motorcycle know as habal-habal. Trekking to Dau Falls from barangay Suba is 30 minutes.
First Destination Dau Falls – Samboan Cebu
If you are a person who seeks for an adrenaline rush, Dau is just perfect for you. The trail includes crossing through a hanging bridge made from a bamboo tree and cable wires. Yes, the bridge is hefty and safe, however it sways. It’s a perfect way to prank your jittery friends. However, my five-year-old son was never shaken by it. Hahahahaha!
After crossing the bridge, you will find the trek along the riverbanks, and this requires extreme care. The trail is a swamp, both rocky and muddy and very slippery. Utmost guidance and supervision should be observed when traveling with children.
Second Destination – Inambakan Falls in Ginatilan
After spending at least two hours in Dau, we left and headed to Inambakan Falls in Ginatilan, a town next to Samboan. It’s one of my favorite waterfalls in the south. It is a 30-minute ride from Samboan proper, and it only takes ten mins trek to the Inambakan Falls. The trail is also made easy by the locals. A concrete pathway of stairs with strong holdings made of metals.
Inambakan Falls is truly enchanting. Freezing water and the beautiful rainbow beneath the flowing water added perfection to its beauty.
Our third and final destination for the day – Moalboal Cebu
Moalboal is a home for many foreign travels because its abundance in marine life. Many internationals and locals come to place for it’s powdery white sand and long shorelines, island hopping and world class diving. Life at night in Moalboal is very alive too! It’s like a little Boracay in the South of Cebu where people can get wet during the day and wild at night. Aside from it’s long and white shoreline is, you get to go snorkeling without needing to go far from the shore. This is why I kept coming to the place.
My favorite things to do here is to go on island hopping in Pescador Island, swimming with sardines, dolphin watching and if you get lucky, you get to swim with the turtles.
After a long day of island hopping and swimming, we headed back home. On our way, we stopped at Barili Milk Station to get some refreshments; ice cream, gelato and fresh milk.
Sample Itineray
By Private Car:
Day 1:
8 AM: Left the City
9 Am: Stopped at Carcar Public market to buy something for lunch (Lechon and Puso)
11 AM: Arrival at Suba Samboan. Lunch before heading to the falls.
Alternate way: If you go by bus and have no time to buy something for lunch, you go directly to Samboan town proper to have lunch and chatter a motorcycle to go to Barangay Suba. Don’t forget to buy some snacks and water for your trek too. Fare according to local is 25 PHP. However, it can go higher depending on your negotiation.
11:30 AM: We started the 30 minutes trek to the falls.
2:30 PM: We finished at Dau Falls and went back to barangay Suba.
3 PM: We headed to Inambakan Falls in Ginatilan.
3:30 PM: Arrival at Inambakan Falls.
5 PM: We left Inambakan for Moalboal:
6:30 PM: Arrival at Moalboal: We brought foods with us and cooked our dinner in Basdaku Moalboal. We rented an overnight cottage, and we slept on tents.
Alternate way: If you don’t bring food, go directly to Moalboal proper for dinner. There are a handful of restaurants and variety of foods to choose from.
Note: There are many accommodations that you can choose from in barangay Savedra. Hotel rooms start at 1 500 PHP on regular days and at least 2 500 PHP on peak seasons. We stayed at Basdaku; it’s public beach. It is where most people go. You can either stay in hotels on the beach or go on tent pitching.
Day 2:
7 AM: Preparing for Breakfast:
8 AM: Getting on the boat for Island Hopping:
9 AM – 1 PM Island Hopping: Pescador Island, Swimming with sardines. Island hopping is 3 – 4 hours.
Note: We brought food for breakfast and lunch.
Alternate way: If you have no food for lunch: You may ask the boat driver to dock the boat in Moalboal port so you can have your lunch.
2 PM: Back at the beach
2 PM to 3 PM: Snorkeling at Basdaku beach.
4 PM: We headed back to the city.
5 PM: We stooped at Barili Milk stations for some refreshments and pictures.
8 PM: Arrival at the City
Expenses:
We were a group of 9 people.
We brought food and drinks and cooked our meals. We spent 4 500 PHP groceries for food and beverages. 4 Meals for nine people.
Dau Falls:
Entrance Fee: 40 PHP/pax Parking: 40 PHP/car 20 PHP/motorcycle
Inambakan Falls:
Entrance Fee: 40 PHP/pax Parking: 40 PHP/car 20 PHP/motorcycle
Moalboal:
We stayed at HK Beach Resort in Basdaku: Cottage for one night and a day: 1 200 PHP with electricity for charging your gadgets. Budget way: Bring your tent: It only costs you 100 PHP. If you rent a table a chair, it's 300 PHP: Island Hopping: 2 500 PHP boat rent for four hours good for 12 to 15 pax. Environmental fee: 100PHP/pax Food: If you don't like cooking, there's a restaurant in Basdaku to buy meals.
These are the things you can do on your road trip:
Dalaguet Cebu:
Camping at Osmena Peak
Oslob Cebu:
Waterfalls: Tumalog Falls Swimming with whale shark
Samboan Cebu:
Waterfalls: Aguinid Falls, Dau Falls, Binalayan Falls
Ginatilan Cebu:
Waterfalls: Inambakan Falls
Badian Cebu:
Waterfalls: Kawasan Falls Canyoneering from Alegria to Kawasan Falls
Moalboal Cebu:
Swimming at their white sand beach Island Hopping: Includes dolphin watching (this needs to be early in the morning), snorkeling at Pescador Island and swimming with the sardines. And if you are lucky; you get to swim with sea turtles too!
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