Strawberries in tropical Philippines are hard to come by. Baguio immediately comes to mind as the strawberry capital of the country.
There are organic strawberries in Mantalongon, the vegetable basket of Cebu. Yes, you heard that right. Strawberries are now within reach if you are somewhere in the Visayas.
If avocados are expensive in other parts of the world, this classifies strawberries the same way where we live.
Sergio's Strawberry Farm
Sergio's Strawberry Farm Visits are open only on weekends, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Entrance Fee is Php 50 per person.
- Children below 3 feet are free.
- Strawberries are Php 800 per kilo.
How to Get There?
From Cebu City, take a bus at South Cebu Terminal southbound for Bato-Oslob. Fare is around Php 100 per person. It takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours to get to Dalaguete.
You'll know when to hop off, as soon as you spot the junction with a signboard of Mantalongon Market, immediately right after the bridge with an arch along with 7Eleven as a landmark.
Many habal-habal drivers are available that will be charging around Php 150 fare. It'll take approximately 30-40 minutes to get there.
A quick getaway over the weekend to Sergio's Farm in Barangay Maloray of Dalaguete is an excellent idea to escape the humid heat while being embraced by nature at the same time.
It's a scenic drive with lots of high altitude winding roads. You will be driving past Mantalongon Market. Drive straight and ignore the left fork road leading to Osmena Peak. Continue driving further until you find two signboards on your right with a series of rice terraces, just below the Kandungaw / Candongao Peak.
100 year old rice terraces below Kandungaw Peak
Climate and What to Wear
During the colder season, don't forget to bring some sweater. We went during a sunny summer mid-day. I noticed this area is often covered with clouds. The climate was pleasant, humid and fresh. We rolled our car windows down and the breeze was nothing short of refreshing.
Wear comfy clothing, hiking sandals with good grip. The farm advises wearing closed shoes due to insects' presence in the organic farm. I wore non-slippery flip flops and I survived.
Everything is organic. Apart from strawberries, there are aromatic herbs, fruits, vegetables, even coffee, as well as non-tropical flowers that can be found in colder climates.
- Strawberries are limited. Strawberry picking by visitors is strictly not allowed.
- If you're interested to buy, there is a stall where you can purchase them. We bought 100 grams (Php 80 pesos) of organic strawberries just to satisfy our own craving.
- There is a designated photography area. The rest of the strawberry greenhouses are closed.
- They also have a composting area at the far end of the farm.
If you're up for it, you can head straight to Kandungaw (Candungao) Trail. Ha, we've reserved that adventure in the future :)
Thank you for reading. :)
Duplicate post on my travel & lifestyle blog