Hi there, wholesome reader!
First of all, I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year! How’s your first month of 2025 so far? I hope it’s been great. Today, I’m excited to share the story of my first hike of the year.
Let’s go!
Before 2024 ended, I had been longing to hike up mountains again. The first month of the new year felt like the perfect time to set the tone for the year. So, I decided to climb Casino Peak (or also known as Lugsangan Peak) in Dalaguete, Cebu, Philippines. Joining me on this adventure was one of my closest friends, Janie. It was just the two of us since our other friends already had prior commitments for our preferred schedule.
We Woke Up Before the Sun Did
Dalaguete is a town approximately three (3) hours away from Cebu City. To avoid the scorching heat of the sun, we woke up early and caught our bus at around 4:30 AM.
We arrived at the town proper around 7:30 AM and hired a habal-habal (motorcycle) to take us to the jump-off point for our hike. The habal-habal ride took almost an hour, bringing us to the starting point of our climb.
Casino Peak is believed to be the second highest peak in Dalaguete, next to Osmeña Peak. It is situated at 1,005 meters above sea level.
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
A Short But Challenging Climb
From the jump-off point, the peak was just 10-15 minutes away. But don’t underestimate it! The trail might be short, but it was rocky and a bit steeper than that of Osmeña Peak.
Even before we reached the peak, the view along the trail was already stunning. From midway, we could see patches of green hills stretching into the distance. The fresh breeze and serene surroundings gave us a much-needed boost to continue our climb.
As we got closer to the peak, the trail became even steeper. We had to climb over rocks, as it was the only way up. As someone who has been physically inactive for a while, I found it quite challenging; but I knew I could make it to the top.
An Amazing View of the Hills at the Top
When we finally reached the top, the view was everything I had been craving to see again. Endless hills rolled across the horizon, and the lush greenery relaxed both my eyes and my mind.
What I love most about hiking is that it feels like a form of meditation. It forces me to focus on the present moment: watching my steps, deciding which rock to climb next, and being rewarded with the most tranquil views.
Thankfully, the weather was on our side. We were worried it might rain, as it had rained in the city the night before, but the skies stayed clear. It wasn’t too sunny either, which spared us from the added exhaustion of heat during the climb.
I plan to climb more mountains this year, so stay tuned for my next set of adventures!
Thank you for reading my post up to this point. I hope you have a great time ahead!
I'll take delight in writing for you again soon.
Love,
Sam ♡
Hello, in case you have not read my intro post, my name is Samantha. You may call me Sam for short. I am from Cebu, a beautiful island in the Philippines. I created this space in an attempt to put all the good things in one place, thus, my blog name @wholesamdiaries.
Let's connect! I'd be glad to discover more amazing people here. Thank you once again and see you around! ♡
