Cebu, yet again - Mt. Naupa (Naga)

While waiting for my next project to start, I flew to Cebu to join my friend Gid for coffee and a short hike to Mt. Naupa, a timely breather from all the things that went on in my life that September. This mountain had been on my wish list since 2020 after having visited Naga, where the jump-off is.

We started hiking at 2:30 PM near Cogon Barangay Hall, along with Cebu-based hikers, Scarlet (Gid's friend), her smart & charming son Eli, Love and Jake. It was my first time to meet them but they were so chill and easy to be around.  

It was a hot afternoon but thankfully, the trail was a gentle slope up with lots of sections covered by trees. In a little over an hour, we had reached the first view deck which offered a 360-degree view of the sea, nearby peaks and a couple of eyesores -  quarried sections of a mountain. 

view from the summit

group photo at the first view deck

It was such a wide area that one can easily pick a quiet spot to enjoy the view.  The main peak is just a few meters away and here you get a different vantage of the scenery. It was a short but fruitful hike to Mt. Naupa. 

Dinner was at Scarlet friend's restaurant, Lauan Bistro in Talisay, also owned by a local mountaineer. 

Over the years, I have been frequently going to Cebu that it now feels like a second home. The provincial capital has all the big city comforts - nice cafes, malls but with friendlier people and a lot more tolerable traffic than EDSA. With daily flights and several airlines to choose from (PAL, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia), it's a convenient choice if you want a quick getaway.