One of the nicest things about living in Cebu is you get to experience the best of both worlds: mountains and ocean. Whether you love trekking or freediving or just beach bumming on a sunny day, Cebu got it all for you. Except when traffic's at its peak, the most pristine beaches and the surmountable mountains are easily accessible from Cebu City.
When we moved to our current house, my boyfriend and I learned that there's a shortcut we could take to reach a famous hiking trail that would take us to Good Sheperd. In the recent months, this place has gained popularity amongst the young. It has become a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of the city without going too far.
We scheduled the hike last Araw ng Kagitingan. Around 4:30 PM, we left our home in Tisa and made our way to Good Sheperd. We navigated through unnamed roads and reached the main road going to our destination in less than 20 minutes.
There's no need for a guide for this trek. You can use Google Maps or ask around for directions. The main jump off point would be Paseo Arcenas and from there, you just have to walk for roughly 2.5-3km before reaching the peak.
You might not need to ask around or look at Google Maps as you can just follow the lead of other hikers. Again, this is a famous hiking trail in Cebu City so you'd probably find another group of hikers going there. Be friendly I guess that's what I'm saying.
If I'm being honest, the only difficult part of the hike was the ascend from the main road all the way to the foot of the peak; it wouldn't take more than five minutes if you're physically fit. The rest is literally a walk in the park.
When we got there, I was shocked with the crowd. People from all walks of life gathered atop one of Cebu's best spot for city viewing. Kids were running around, jumping, chasing dogs and birds, cycling; while adults laid in the grass as they munched some snacks they brought. They looked happy wathcing their kids playing as they should be.
I took a few minutes to complete my cross training that day and run at the flatter part of the peak. I spotted one or two motorcycles. Yes, you can actually bring your motorcycles here; the roads aren't paved but with the right skills, you can drive your motorcycles all the way up the peak. If you're too lazy or tired to trek, riding a motorcycle to reach the peak is another option.
Despite the crowd, I was still relaxing to spend a few hours before sundown here in Good Sheperd; there's plenty of space, you just have to find the right and crowdless spot for you. In our case, we walk a few more meters and reach the opposite side of Good Sheperd. We later learned that it's a private cemetery.
We waited until the glorious sun faded into red orange giving Cebu skyline a rare cozy and peaceful atmosphere. I was glad we took the time to explore this trail right behind our neighborhood.
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