Dalaguete is a first class municipality 84 kilometers southeast from Kilometer Zero of the Cebu Provincial Capitol. Hailed as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu and its Official Summer Capital (via Cebu Provincial Board Resolution 215-2006 dated January 23, 2006), the town is well-known for its cooler than the usual highlands where about 60 tons of farm fresh vegetables are harvested and delivered on a daily basis to Cebu City and the neighboring towns and provinces.

The town’s array of crowd drawer destinations includes, among others, the refreshingly cool Obong Spring (where the dalakit tree, reputedly the very tree where Dalaguete got its name still stands), the Mantalongon mountain ranges (home to the unique rock formations and the route of choice leading to the famous Osmeña Peak), and the Dalaguete Beach Park (part of the former Argao Beach Club).

Indeed, the town is host to some of Cebu’s remaining natural heritage sites – breath-taking mountain ranges with its chilling natural breeze that almost soothes to the bone, enchanting forest patches that are home to some of the world’s most endangered flora and fauna, and coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life.

The Mantalongon highlands are increasingly becoming a favorite hideaway of both university students and young professionals alike most especially on weekends and during vacations either to test their raw strength and courage in scaling the heights or simply to escape the monotony and noise of urban life.

Recently, there is a significant increase in tourist arrivals of foreigners and locals alike who look forward to a peaceful countryside life either under the sun, sea and sand or up there at a thousand feet above sea level at the very heart of nature.

 

Natural Attractions and Landmarks

Want to go nature trekking or wanna cool down after basking around under the heat of the sun? Or perhaps you want to discover caves under some rock formation? Dalaguete has it all when it comes to mountain climbing, camping or nature trekking or skinny deeping. Campers and mountain climbers from all over the province come to this place for nature trekking and mountain climbing due to the cold climate of Osmena Peak and the icy cold spring of Obong.

• Obong Spring

Brgy. Obong - Host to a 400-year-old dalakit tree (Ficus benjamina Linn) to which, according to legend, Dalaguete's name is derived from.  Local and foreign tourists from all walks of life make their way to Barangay Obong, most specially on weekends, to unwind and bathe in the icy cool waters of the spring.

• Osmeña Peak

Brgy. Mantalongon - Formerly known as Tanawan, presumably because one has a panoramic view of Badian's Zaragosa Island to the west and the Province of Bohol to the east, O-Peak, as it is now popularly known since it became a favourite horse-riding destination of former President Sergio Osmeña, Sr., is the highest peak in the Province of Cebu at 1,042 meters above sea level.

• Mantalongon Highlands

Brgy. Mantalongon - Long-hailed as the Little Baguio of the South for its cooler than the usual breeze, Barangay Mantalongon is officially recognized by the Cebu Provincial Board as the Summer Capital of Cebu since 2006, an unambiguous testament to its vital role as the province's premier eco-tourism destination.

• Dalaguete Beach Park

Brgy. Casay - A truly developed public beach, Dalaguete Public Beach has been the favorite among the locals due to its excellent sandy palm-fringed shoreline and clean waters. With no entrance fee, locals and other out-of-towners frequent the place especially during weekends. The beach is usually overcrowded during Sundays.                            

• Rock Formation

Lugsangan, Brgy. Tabon,  - Nature's petrified beauty at its finest, the Rock Formation along the road leading to Sitio Lugsangan in Barangay Tabon, is reminiscent of the Middle Earth scenes from the Lord of the Rings saga.

• Bandera Peak

Brgy. Dumalan - Protected by the Dalaguete Bantay Lasang, Bandera Peak is dotted with lush tropical foliage and a variety of ferns, orchids, and shrubs. Experience a “Mt. Everest-like-sensation” from the months of September to January as the peak is most often covered with thick fog. The rest of the months offer an unhampered visibility. Temperature range from 26 to 33 degrees in summer and 20 to 25 degrees in rainy seasons.        

• Kulabyaw Cave

Brgy. Mantalongon - Before reaching Osmeña Peak, the highest peak among the Mantalongon range, trekkers pass through a cave where it is famous for its thousands of bats and other nocturnal denizens flying in and out of the cave. That's why it is called Kulabyaw Cave.

• Dingayop Water Falls, Caves, and Spring

Brgy. Obo - Whose waters originate from two creeks, the Barangay Langkas-Mantalongon creek and Barangay Obo-Mag-alambak-Mantalongon-Grandchina.  The Natural Springs flow sufficiently in many areas along the Dalaguete River and one of them had been once historically told as a source of drinking water of the Spanish friars from the town of Dalaguete due to its pure and cool spring water and the ancestors called the spring as “Kalalusan sa Pari” or the Spring where the Parish Priest fetches drinking water and it is now the actual source of drinking water, benefiting thousands of people in the barangays of the town of Dalaguete.

• Breeding Ground of Flying Foxes

Brgys. Malones-Lanao (Lagnason Creek) - This hidden valley is a haven for biodiversity and endemic flora and fauna.  Lagnason Creek is a natural habitat of four species of huge flying foxes roosting together by the hundreds in one colony which is unique and the only one of its kind in the region.  Two of these species are the world’s largest flying foxes (kabog) and this is the only place in Cebu where you can find these species.

• Casay, Cawayan, and Balud-Consolacion Marine Sanctuary

Brgys. Balud, Consolacion, Cawayan, and Casay - These underwater paradise destinations are indeed a spectacle to watch and behold.  Down under the clear waters, some few swims away from the seashores of Barangay Balud-Consolacion, Cawayan and Casay are a profusion of diverse marine life in colorful splendor.  

• Dakong Bato

Coro - A landmark since the Spanish era, the big stone has been used as a marker to signify entry to the Municipality of Dalaguete. Visayan folklore such as the story of Maria Cacao and stories relating to the supernatural world are associated with this "immovable" marker.

Eco-Adventure Destinations

The Municipality of Dalaguete, Cebu is indeed a place of alluring wonders -  breathtaking mountains, charming heritage sites, enchanting beaches, fascinating forests with unique flora and fauna, and spectacular reefs teeming with diverse marine life.

These are wondrous places which very few Cebuanos have known or heard. These places emit the serenity of the countryside, the tranquil surroundings amid lush greenery, never before seen by the majority.

• Mag-alambak Garden and Environs

Mantalongon - A visit to Mag-alambak will reveal a tropical enclave of serene natural beauty surging along the greenery of Barangays Mantalongon, Dumalan and Obo. Formerly the site of the Southern Cebu Reforestation Development Project (SCRDP), this area is a 48 hectare wonder accessible through the Poblacion-Mantalongon Road. Today, the Dalaguete Municipal Government has commenced on the development of the area into an eco-tourism destination and the mountain resort as provided for by the Co-management Memorandum of Agreement undertaken between the Dalaguete LGU and the DENR-Region 7.

It is situated in barangay Mantalongon, the “Little Baguio of Cebu” and the also the “Vegetable Basket of Central Visayas. The Cebu Provincial Board has officially declared Mantalongon as the “Summer Capital of Cebu” through SP Resolution No. 215-2006. This official declaration is one good reason why you should visit one of Cebu’s amazing adventure and leisure spots.

• Bandera Trail and Its Legends

Dumalan - Explore this newly discovered trail. The entire family can trek along the inner secrets of the mountains of untold legends and historical sites. The trail starts off at Mag-alambak Garden and the way in is marked by the “Tres Marias”  - the guardians of the forest. “ Legend has it, that three lovely sisters have been betrothed to a mighty giant whose abode encompasses the peaks overlooking the ocean. The sisters refused to marry the giant for fear of slavery. As they tried to flee, the angry giant cast a spell and turned them into three black rocks. Through the passage of time, the rocks which are now lying under the trees, along a grassy slope, though all covered with moss and tiny vegetation and has become a habitat for small insects, still projects the aura of the three sisters. Since then they have been considered by the locals as the guardians of the forest.”

The trail culminates in a peak which, unknown to many, was used by the American military during the Second World War. Oral accounts has it that the summit which towers 825 meters  above sea level, used to house military communication, and triangulation contraptions and a flag pole. Strategic indeed. The summit of Bandera Peak offers an unlimited visual extravaganza making visible cities of Cebu and Tagbilaran, as well as the whole stretch of Bohol Strait, the island of Siquijor and the coastal barangays of Argao and Dalaguete.

Protected by the Dalaguete Bantay Lasang, Bandera Peak is dotted with lush tropical foliage and a variety of ferns, orchids, and shrubs. Experience a “Mt. Everest-like-sensation” from the months of September to January as the peak is most often covered with thick fog. The rest of the months offer an unhampered visibility. Temperature range from 26 to 33 degrees in summer and 20 to 25 degrees in rainy seasons (MANRO 2006).

• Lagnason, Extreme Adventure River Trek and Bat Colony

Malones - Embark on a trek to probably one of the hardest obstacle adventure sites in the province. This hidden valley is a haven for biodiversity and endemic flora and fauna. Start off at the Cawayan Sumbria Bridge and experience a river trek that could put you on the list of certified adventurers. Get a treat of huge black boulders , untouched waterfalls, treacherous river banks, impenetrable walls of thorny plants and slippery rocks. Scout for elusive monkeys and fruit bats (kabog) as huge as foxes and observe in close range the characteristics of the  fabled and endangered Cebu Black Shama (siloy) as they belt out their enchanting bird songs.

Lagnason creek is a natural habitat of four species of huge flying foxes roosting together by the hundreds in one colony which is unique and the only one of its kind in the region: Large flying fox, Golden-crowned flying fox, Little Golden-mantled flying fox, Island flying fox. Two of these species are the world’s largest flying foxes (kabog) and this is the only place in Cebu where you can find these species (DBCMC, CBCF 2006).

 

List of Accommodations in Dalaguete

Apartments/Lodging Houses

• Stop n' Rest Pension House - Sitio La Paz, Brgy. Poblacion
• St. Therese Lodgings - Sition Solong-on, Brgy. Tapon
• St. Therese Beach House - Sitio Catadman, Brgy. Poblacion
• Barangay Beach House - Sitio Catadman, Brgy. Poblacion
• Mantalongon Brgy. Hall - Brgy. Mantalongon, 300 meters from public market
• Pink House - Brgy. Mantalongon, 100 meters from public market
• Emil Lodging House - Brgy. Mantalongon, 300 meters from public market
• Angie Soriano Lodging House - Brgy. Mantalongon, 500 meters from public market

 

Getting Here From Cebu City

One can find the Municipality of Dalaguete in the Island Province of Cebu.  Once you arrive in Mactan International Airport, just call for a taxi or a vehicle for hire to transport you to the South Bus Terminal. From the terminal, choose any of the buses available:

Air-conditioned Vehicles:

• Ceres Bus Liner
• Sunrays Bus Liner

Non Air-conditioned Vehicles:

• Ceres Bus Liner
• Sunrays Bus Liner
• Natalie Bus Liner
• Villahermosa Bus Liner
• D Rough Riders Bus Liner

Getting Here From Manila

One can find the Municipality of Dalaguete in the Island Province of Cebu. Most domestic airlines fly to Cebu from Manila daily.

The Airlines listed below have regular flights to Cebu.

• Cebu Pacific
• Air Philippines
• Philippine Airlines         
• Zest Air
• Cathay PacificFor those who prefer to take a sea trip:
• WG&A Superferry
• SupperCat
• Ocean Jet        
• Cokaliong
• Trans-AsiaGetting Here From Other Countries

One can find the Municipality of Dalaguete in the Phillipines. Most international airlines fly to the Philippines daily via Manila or Hongkong. Our flag carrier, the Philippine Airlines, is the most sought-after airline going to Manila. The airlines listed below have regular flights to Manila:

• Philippine Airlines
• North West Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• China Airlines
• Continental Airlines       
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Air France

Getting Around

Getting around the town is very easy. You can take a ride on a trisikad (a 3-wheel carrier manually driven) or a tricycle which is motor driven that takes you anywhere of the coastal barangays of the town, or take a ride on one of the multicabs that route to the neighboring municipalities and vice-versa.