A Day of Thrills, Hidden Waterfalls, and Lasting Memories

Hey there, fellow adventurers!

A week ago, as I mentioned in my previous post, I returned to Licos Peak for the second time, this time with some newcomers to the trail. Initially, I was hesitant due to the distance from the city, but I didn't want to miss out on the fun.

My day began at the early hour of 4 AM. I had to shower and take two rides on a public utility jeepney to reach our meeting point. We planned to gather outside Sunvida Tower near SM City Cebu mall, where the jeepneys to Danao City pick up passengers.

I arrived at the meeting place around 5:30 AM, and some of our hiking buddies were already there.

We waited for the others to arrive and set off for Danao City around 6 AM. Since we hadn't had breakfast yet, we decided to grab a quick bite at Jollibee in Sands Gateway Mall. After refueling our energy, we made a last-minute stop at 7 Eleven, conveniently located across from Jollibee.

With all the necessary supplies in hand, we started looking for motorcycle taxis but found only one parked nearby. Fortunately, the driver helped us locate another driver, who turned out to be driving a van.

---

He offered us a reasonable price of 1,500 pesos for all 11 of us, which we considered a sweet deal, sparing us from a potentially uncomfortable 30-minute motorcycle ride.

After nearly an hour of travel, we reached the base of Licos Peak. Without delay, we commenced our hike, with Alton leading the way and me playing the role of the sweeper. The initial part of the trail was covered in overgrown grass, suggesting that not many people had ventured there. However, I wasn't too concerned, as Alton and James are the navigators of the group.

Finally, we reached the most thrilling part of the trail, a sloping section that forced us to slow down and proceed with caution, determined not to repeat the mishap that occurred to @thestrollingmind on my previous post.

We took our time, and Alton guided our guests every step of the way to ensure their safety. Thankfully, not much had changed since our last visit. As we ascended, we had to watch out for falling rocks, with Spencer getting a small souvenir on his foot from a fist-sized rock that rolled down.

Arriving at the summit, we all shared a laugh after the challenges we had overcome. We took a brief break and then headed to the view deck. There, we took turns taking pictures while some of us enjoyed snacks.

As someone with a fear of heights, I chose not to venture to the edge, content to watch and capture their pictures. My hands were already sweaty, and I didn't want to risk losing my grip.

Our time at the peak concluded with a group picture. I had forgotten my GoPro pole, so I took their group picture to capture the panoramic view of the surroundings. While they snapped a solo shot of me in the same spot where I had been standing.

At the peak, we noticed an arrow pointing to a different trail from the one we had taken. James led the way to explore where this new trail would lead us. We followed it, and it brought us to another trail leading down, offering an equally challenging descent to the base.

It was challenging to take pictures when both hands were occupied holding onto something, carefully navigating the slippery slope. We managed to descend with minimal damage, except for Spencer, who slipped on a wet rock and ended up with a small bruise on his palm.

We arrived at the base around lunchtime and decided to have our meal at a stall selling cold drinks and barbecue. Originally, we planned to exit at Brgy. Guba in Cebu City, but the scorching weather and the long stretch of cemented road with little shade made us rethink our decision. Instead, we opted for the original plan, which included a side trip to a nearby waterfall.

Initially, we intended to visit two waterfalls, but the first one was challenging to reach, requiring us to cross a wide river with a strong current. We pinned our hopes on the second waterfall.

To reach it, we crossed a red footbridge that took us to the other side of the river, leading to the next waterfall. To keep our shoes dry, we had to remove them and follow the river to the falls.

Upon arrival, I was amazed by the beauty of the falls. The pictures Alton had shown me didn't do justice to its real beauty up close. We wasted no time and plunged into the coldest water in the basin. It took me a while to acclimate to the cold before fully immersing myself.

We had the entire place to ourselves, and I couldn't help but wonder why such a hidden gem wasn't more well-known. Perhaps it's for the best to preserve its raw beauty.

As dusk approached, we reluctantly left the waterfall and crossed an old footbridge with some holes.

We arrived at Danao Terminal, where a large crowd and heavy traffic awaited us due to the town fiesta. Before heading home, we decided to have dinner to pass the time.

The struggle was real as we had to wait a long time for the bus to arrive, and the line was incredibly long. Fortunately, another bus came, and we all found seats comfortably.

The entire trip took up our entire day, but it was worth it, thanks in large part to the bonus waterfall, which provided a refreshing relief from the physical strain of the hike.

If given the chance to return to Licos Peak for the third time and introduce other newcomers to the trail, I wouldn't hesitate to join. Every adventure, no matter how many times you've visited a place, always offers something different and leaves a unique mark in your memories.

---