That one weekend at Mt. Kapayas

Hey, it's almost the weekend.

It always motivates me to do something when it's almost the weekend, meaning I get to go out again into the great outdoors.

Cebu, being a small island, may not have towering mountains like its neighboring islands in the Philippines, but we are blessed with mountains worth returning to due to their accessibility.

Two years ago, my friends and I organized a camp at Mt. Kapayas in the town of Catmon, in the northern part of Cebu. Mt. Kapayas stands at 783 meters above sea level, making it the second-highest peak in Cebu, next to Osmeña Peak in Dalaguete, south of Cebu City.

This will be my second time hiking this mountain, as I had been there a few years ago on a day hike adventure.

Our trip started at Cebu North Bus Terminal, where we hopped on a bus that would pass by the town of Catmon, 53 kilometers from the terminal. We waited for the others to arrive, but since some were running late, we decided to go first and rendezvous in Catmon.

The bus departed around 9 AM and arrived at around 10:30 in the morning. When climbing Mt. Kapayas, make sure to ask for a permit and register the names of your companions at the town hall. They will also provide a guide and transportation for your group.

We waited outside the town hall while waiting for the others to arrive. During this time, we made some last-minute purchases at their public market, just a few meters from the town hall.

After an hour or so, Chiarra and Abel arrived, albeit grumpy due to traffic and hunger. Haha, it was lunchtime, so we looked for something to eat before starting our adventure. We took turns eating, ensuring that someone was always present to attend to our bags outside the town hall.

Once everyone was full, we departed for the jump-off point. We took motorcycle taxis in pairs, which turned out to be quite a long ride, taking around 30 to 45 minutes to reach the jump-off.

Upon arrival, I noticed that this jump-off point was different from the one I had experienced before. I was informed that this jump-off was just a few kilometers from our campsite, which excited me. Phew!

We started hiking toward the campsite with our guide leading the way. The trail was relatively easy, consisting of rolling hills that went up and down until we reached the campsite.

The campsite had a small hut and a spacious camping area with an overlooking view of the surrounding mountains.

After pitching our tents and setting up a tarpaulin for protection from sudden rain, we decided to head to the peak since we had arrived quite early. I only brought a water bottle and my GoPro.

The first part of the trail was a gentle ascent through the rolling hills near the campsite, passing through a small motorcycle trail used by the locals. After a few kilometers, we arrived at the ascending trail leading to the foot of the mountain.

The next trail was overgrown with bushes, indicating that it was not frequently visited by hikers.

We slowed down upon reaching the foot of the mountain, where we had to climb one by one, using our hands for navigation and rock climbing on vertical rocks. Some of the rocks were even sharp to the touch.

However, the challenging climb was worth it when we all reached the peak of Mt. Kapayas. The peak resembled the karst peaks of Mt. Manunggal, Mauyog, and Licos Peak.

We took turns posing on top of the rocks while I sat there, admiring the view of the coastline and the surrounding mountains.

As night fell, we wrapped up our time there with a group picture.

We found ourselves caught in the dark along the trail, armed only with my phone's flashlight. The lead pack had already sprinted ahead toward the campsite, while we, the sweepers, took our time at the back.

Upon our arrival, James, who had been in the lead, had already started preparing our dinner.

We made lumpia, which I had bought from a local grocery store, along with humba and pinakbet. And of course, there was the ever-present fruit salad for dessert. Haha!

Camping wouldn't be complete without a nightcap. Lol, we enjoyed mojitos that night to warm our bodies against the cold.

The next day, we woke up early. Fortunately, we still had the tarpaulin to shield us from the morning sun's heat.

After having our coffee and breakfast, we quickly packed up our camp. Thankfully, there was a small hut at the campsite where we could wait for the others to finish packing.

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We concluded our Mt. Kapayas adventure with a group picture at the campsite before descending along the trail we had taken the day before, heading back to the jump-off point where motorcycles were supposed to be waiting.

But our adventure doesn't end there. A camping trip isn't complete without a side-trip, and some cold water is necessary to soothe your tired bodies. But that's a story for another time. See you on the next adventure!