When the husband and I decided to do a monthly hike or trek, we did not expect to do it in our own city of Danao. Personally, I was thinking of conquering trails of the southern part of Cebu and even Cebu City which has famous trail routes, but I did not know that it is more fun looking for new trail especially in your own place.
This monthly Cebu hike started last March 2018 when together with a group of friends we had a 10-hour trek at Babag – Bocaue – Pamutan – Banawa through Spartan Trail (will blog soon hehehe). Same friends, we are with during the 19 Km Osmeña Peak to Kawasan Falls Trail. Don’t get me wrong, the husband and I are newbie trekkers but from time to time we join a good long distance trek in Cebu with amazing friends.
This 20km Danao trek is the result of babe and I’s 4-month expedition in the mountain areas of Danao City. This trail does not include the April climb to Mt. Manghilao, the highest peak in northern Cebu in which it will have its own blog post (call me a blogger slacker).
Danao River trek
Danao Trek May – Looc – Sabang (via Golf Course) – Sandayong Sur XTERRA Trail
Danao Trek June – Sandayong Sur – Manlayag – Cabungahan
Danao Trek July – Cabungahan – Quisol – Sta. Rosa
How to Go to Danao City
You can either do the following:
Option 1. Ride a v-hire at SM City Cebu – 50.00 php fare. Drop off at Danao City Terminal.
Option 2. Ride a jeep from White Gold House – 35.00 php fare. Drop off at Danao City Terminal.
Option 3. Ride a jeep from Mandaue highway – 30.00 php fare. Drop of at Danao City Terminal.
Option 4. Ride a bus from North Bus Terminal – Fare is AC Bus – 60.00 php and non-AC is 30.00php. Drop off is at Sands Gateway Mall.
Habal-habal parking areas in Danao City
Location 1. Beside Danao City Mall, Landbank side.
Location 2. In-front of Danao City Landbank.
Location 3. Beside Danao City Three-Sixty Pharmacy, adjacent to Danao City Terminal.
Location 4. Beside Gaisano Danao on LBC side.
Danao Geemiz Trail
Sta. Rosa – Quisol – Cabungahan – Manlayag – Sandayong Sur – Sabang – Looc – Poblacion
Via Golf course and XTERRA Trail
The initial plan was to start early to watch the sunrise at Sabang, particularly at the route to Club Filipino inc. de Cebu (famously known as Golf Course), but we improvised because it is easier to ride a habal-habal from Danao City proper to any areas in Danao than the other way around.
Danao Golf Course Trail
First Leg: Sta. Rosa – Quisol – Cabungahan
Ask for a habal-habal driver that is familiar with barangay Sta. Rosa and requested that we will be drop at Sta. Rosa footbridge. Another landmark is the house of Jun Togonon or Juntogs a person known for owning large koi fishes. This is the starting point of the trail and the first beautiful view of the trip.
Sta. Rosa mystical footbridge entrance
Danao River, viewed from the footbridge
From the footbridge is a 1.13km walk to a part of barangay Quisol. This is a barangay road so just an easy walk on some cemented and some parts not but still a well-paved one.
A not so rough road. Bring umbrella or something that will protect you from the total heat of the sun
A view of the semi-concrete house on the left side of the road and a mango tree on the right side is a sign that we have reached barangay Quisol and it is time to turn right on the mango tree.
Going to Danao River we followed a descending dirt road that looks like a bike and motorcycle trail. The trail from the mango tree down to the river is about 380m with the lowest descent elevation of 61m.
dirt trekking starts now!
Because we are adventurous like that, we decided to river trek before hitting the road. This micro adventure is ideal if the water is low and if it’s not raining. We can go for more but we only had 540m of the Danao city river trek.
Microadventure – small adventures in between the main activity or adventure
We continue with our journey. Ascending 300m back to the barangay road of Sta. Rosa where a store awaits for refreshments.
River trekking on the sides
We are now walking for a little more than 2km so it is time to take some rest, hydrate before hitting the trail again.
They are selling cold drinks, like literally cold drinks.
At the other side of the store is the starting point going to barangay Cabungahan. A 720m distance uphill walks with about the highest ascend of 115m.
Uphill path all the way. If the people who live here can, then maybe we can too 
We reached an accommodating household where we asked if we can rest and take our breath for a while. The hospitality of the Filipinos is such no bound for the nice lady owner of the house not just said yes but also offered us chairs.
The grounds of the house where we rested. Spot the dogs, chickens and pigs
Continuing the journey, you have 2 choices. First is the corn mountain route (because it is a corn farm), visit map at Danao Trek July – Cabungahan – Quisol – Sta. Rosa or the path on this article. The corn mountain route has about 150m elevation but has a terrific view of Mt. Manghilao and Danao sea.
The corn mountain. Look further for the sea.
The trail we had for this Danao trek is the one going to what they say is the Quarry site. From the house, we went uphill but not as much as our July Trek then went downhill again to a super steep 14m elevation loss.
Steep slope, don’t care. Shrubs and tree’s and of course trek mates to the rescue
Walking a little farther we reached a coconut plantation and piggery. Perfect place to rest our tired feet. The coconut trees looks like we were on the beach.
This place reminds us of the beach
From the coconut plantation, we continue to walk for 1.5km until we reached Cabungahan barangay road. The trail is flat and has tall grasses.
Several streams along the way
We walk on a visible path with tall grasses then pass by a little stream and an abandoned house.
Walking farther we reached a fern and mango tree plantation – this is at the back of Cabungahan Integrated School, thus it means that Leg 1 is almost over.
Bring color to the world of greens
After several hundred pictures, we reached Cabungahan Elementary School.
Cabungahan Elementary School
We started late on our trek around 9:30 am so we reached Cabungahan lunchtime. If we had brought lunch with us we could have just eaten at the school but since we had not, we just replenished our water bottles with cold water from the automated tubig machine at the closed store in front of the school before heading another walk to about 750m distance at 235m elevation to an eatery. We had no photo during lunch because we are hungry as a bear.
Second Leg: Cabungahan – Manlayag – Sandayong Sur
Few minutes after lunch and many ice candy later we decided to continue the trail before it would start to rain. Thinking to cut off some distance, Andrew and babe asked if there is another way aside from the one babe and I pass through during our Danao Trek June – Sandayong Sur – Manlayag – Cabungahan. The locals especially the kids are kind enough to guide us to another trail, but before we could continue it started to rain. So we take shelter for a while. Then carry on with our excursion after the rain stops.
Bring enough leg strength
During our June trek, Cabungahan to Manlayag, babe and I followed a barangay road that would pass a bigger store in Cabungahan. This time the kids lead us to a more remote path that is usually used by locals especially the quarry workers. Yes, another quarry site here. We reached a mini sari-sari store after walking for about 800m and there we met the ferocity of that day’s thunderstorm. Stranded for about 25 minutes we busied ourselves singing, napping or just simply enjoying the strong wind and rain, not.
The rain stops at last, but we faced a bigger problem. Going to Manlayag, we have to cross a mini river and it’s a no-brainer that water river level rises when it rains and our mini guide informed us about a dreadful accident at the river after a heavy rain.
Still in Cabungahan, near the river that divides Manlayag and Cabungahan
After several discussion, we concluded to continue with our walk. If it’s dangerous to cross the river then we will just have to go back, simple ha!
June water river level. No rain
After about 1.8km muddy trail we reached the river. It is stronger than babe and I’s June trek and a little above knee deep manageable for us to cross.
Ankle deep water river, after heavy rain. But some area is leg deep.
From the river, after 210m we pass by more coconut trees and another mango tree plantation, a mark that we are in barangay Manlayag already.
Either you are near Manlayag or near Cabungahan
Walking 200m more you can already reach the barangay road. But first, let us praise the beautiful scenery.
Lovely view of the mountainous gun city of Cebu
Moving further we ascended and descended the cemented barangay road of Manlayag, passing through residential houses and more sari-sari store where we happily filled up our water bottles. The sun was shy after the heavy rain so the 830m walk from Manlayag – Cabunhagan junction to Manlayag chapel is tolerable.
Halfway of the trek. You can do mini adventure here by visiting a nearby mountain. Kids here are willing to take you.
Here we met a group of women weavers whose expertise are extraordinary. They are contracted by a furniture company to weave for chairs and decorations for exports.
nanay can finish 3 pieces of this mini-Christmas tree per hour. Yes, this is for export.
Intrigued on how much they are earning and how much those decorations are worth in the market? Visit my friend and fellow trekker Mark Monta of facecebu.net’s blog post.
Because Christmas is just around the corner
Afraid that it’s getting late, we bid goodbye to the skillful craftswomen and went on with our journey. Below are some of the weaved furniture pieces.
We descended another 420m distance at 36m elevation loss then we reached Sandayong Sur – Tabok. The resting place under the mango tree is inviting so we stopped for a few minutes while we ate the food we brought from home (egg and Flora’s sandwich). Luckily we saw ate Editha a friend from Sandayong who informed us of another route going to Sandayong Sur proper.
You ain’t trekking if shoes ain’t dirty
The route that ate Editha gave us is via Sandayong Sur – Bagakay. A route of XTERRA Danao and also it is a 480m shorter trail than the route babe and I took last June which is the main Sanadong Sur – Tabok road.
Sandayong Sur – via Tabok
The Bagakay road is cemented, but even if Tabok route has a dirt road it has a beautiful sea view and you can even glimpse Mactan Island and its sprouting buildings.
view of Mactan from Sandayong Sur
From the resting place where we had snacks which is also the jump-off point to Manlayag, going to the junction if via Bagakay is just 1.14km and if via Tabok is 1.62km. Both routes are steep.
Sandayong Sur – Bagay road is steep but cemented
From the Bagakay – Tabok junction we walked 560m to reached Sandayong Sur proper. To celebrate the end of the 2nd leg trail and the almost finish Danao trek most of us relished the famous street food tempura and brought tuba with us to drink along the remaining trail.
A store in Sandayong Sur proper. On the right is going to Sandayong Ibabao. On the left is going to Maslog, Danao.
Third Leg: Sandayong Sur – Sabang (via Golf Course) – Looc – Poblacion
Once the tuba is ready and by that I mean almost 2L full mixed with Jaz cola, we paced to finish the trail. Knees aching and legs shaking, we have been on this journey for 7 hours now.
Tuba for the win
The path from Sandayong Sur to Golf course is more plane compared to that from the previous barangay but still, we need to walk at utmost care since the path is rocky. (I am still wondering, how many bicycle tires exploded here during the XTERRA Danao)
rocky path in Sabang from Sandayong Sur, nearing golf course
After walking for 2.67km from Sandayong Sur proper we reached Sabang Golf course particularly the main entrance to Club Filipino Inc. de Cebu.
Entrance to main golf course in Danao City
There are so many good spots to rest in golf course but we chose the one facing Danao City proper with a view of the lake of the real golf course. This resting area is 940m from the entrance of Casino Filipino Golf club.
Have you seen the lake at the back?
It is getting late and everyone is tired so we decided to walk the last 1.18km of the trail.
These three towers can be seen when in the mountains of Manlayag
Finally, we reached the national road, triumphant of the day’s first ever long-distance Danao trek.
Junction – Sabang going to Golf course. This is adjacent to Coco Palms Resort.
But wait, it is not the end. Barangay Looc is celebrating their annual barangay fiesta so transportation is scarce. Exhausted, but we decided to walk from Looc to Poblacion where babe and I live and it is another 1.52km walk.
We started the walk at 9:30 am and we arrive home almost 7:30 pm. Energy all drained but happy of what we have achieved during the day.
Hope you can join us on our next trek!
Meet the gang from left to right: Andrew, Chubs, Sheena, Marvin, Flora, Gzell, James, and Mark
Note Here
This is the full actual 17km trail we’ve done, there’s a slight difference in First Leg (since we’ve done a river trail here), and second is, we’ve made another shortcut avoiding the Hills of Cabungahan..
Second difference is on the Second Leg, wherein we took another Shortcut, following a trail from Taboc Sandayong to Sandayong Bagakay directly. On our monthly trail (June), we took the road option.
Unsure if any reader would be interested in getting the “GPX” files for this hike, if you need this, feel free to let me know in the comment section. If more people are interested, I’ll provide a direct download link.
See below the complete map trek of Geemiz Trail (Danao Trek).
Credits:
Andrew for the GPX file
Mark Monta of facecebu.net for some of the photos
TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY, LEAVE NOTHING BUT GOOD MEMORIES
If you have trekked just recently, it would help a lot if you share your thoughts, feedback about the trail. Please correct any misinformation found in this article too. Kindly contact Geemiz through comment down below or through social media and we would gladly update the details listed here.
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