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I have always been supportive of local government’s effort to promote their own brand of tourism. That is the reason why I signed my team up for a daytrip to this Cebu town when they launched their local project geared towards promoting their local sites. This town is another “pass-thru” town when tourists venture south of Cebu province. But it is now stepping up its game from its peaks to its waters that would make every tourist go… ahoy, Alcoy!  Time to explore Alcoy from top to bottom. Established as a municipality in 1866, Alcoy was initially called Mambaje. The town was originally situated along the coast of Barangay Daanglungsod before the municipal center was moved to its present location (Poblacion) in 1869. It was also around this time that the name “Alcoy” was also adopted by the town, after the Spanish town of Alcoy. The town is not hard to miss because of its white sand beach strip that runs parallel along the national highway. That beach spot will pique your interest on Alcoy. Today, we will uncover this laidback Cebu town from its ridges to its reefs. Kanlahing Peak’s Sea of Clouds Our Alcoy Ridge to Reef adventure started at around 4am with a 45-minute ride from the Municipal Hall to the hinterlands of Alcoy. We were headed to Kanlahing’s Peak, the highest peak of this town, to witness its version of the Sea of Clouds. Our guide, Harsh, shared with us that timing is crucial to witness the full beauty of this phenomenon and early mornings are the best time to enjoy it.  Enjoying the view of the sunrise with a pinch of clouds. Standing at 489 meters above sea level, Kanlahing Peak is the highest point of Alcoy. Getting to the peak is easy with a 5-minute hike from the drop-off point along the barangay road. It was an easy hike along the trail with amazing views of the surrounding areas. A large image of the Siloy or the Cebu Black Shaman greets guests as they enter the trail. The Siloy is endemic to this area in Cebu and has been a central figure in the annual fiesta celebration of Alcoy.
Kanlahing Peak is also a prime camping site in Alcoy. It offers a panoramic view of the surrounding low-lying areas with the mountain ranges of Southern Cebu on the background. It offers front seat views of the sunrise where you get to see the orange and yellow hues of the new day breaking on this side of the Philippines. When luck is on your side, you will get to view the Sea of Clouds of Alcoy. Unfortunately, we were only lucky to catch only part of its sea of clouds. The wind was not favoring us that day and pushed clouds away before they can even settle down. BUT Kanlahing Peak did gove us a different kind of sunrise that day. Saksak Spring From the ridges of Alcoy, we headed down to check on one of the town’s of its unique tourism activity. But we first made a quick stop at Saksak Spring. Just like other destinations on this side of Cebu, Alcoy has its own fresh spring water pool. Saksak Spring is a huge fresh water pool located on the head waters of Nonok Stream. The pool is a source of fresh water used by locals in their daily chores and it is also a place where locals enjoy a quick dip.  Saksak Spring is freshwater pool at the headwaters of Nonok Winding Stream. The deep pool is situated close to the main highway. There are palm tree covers on one side of the pool creating that rustic vibe in the area. Locals have installed a cemented water alley to direct waters to the nearby Nonok Stream. A huge tree stands adjacent to the spring pool where locals have installed a tarzan rope swing where one can swing and then jump into the pool. Those who want a more adrenaline-pumping activity can climb up on the higher branches of the tree and take a leap into its cold waters. Nonok Winding Stream Now it was time to board our kayaks and explore the Nonok Winding Stream. The stream snakes around the mangrove covers on this side of Alcoy. The activity had each of us board a kayak with a personal guide/paddler to navigate through the Nonok Winding Stream. This activity reminded me of my Bojo River Cruise in Aloguinsan but in a smaller scale.  Enjoying streaming along Nonok. The Nonok experience streams you through the mangrove covers of Alcoy’s southern coast. You get to enjoy the sounds of nature with the calm slushing of its waters as you paddle thru the mangroves. The area is a vital breeding ground for fish. Since the stream is very narrow, you really get that up close and intimate experience with this coastal forest. It feels like you are weaving your way in its roots, branches, and leaves.
The Nonok Winding Stream experience gives its guests a dramatic finale as it opens up into the sea. At this spot, larger trees stand guard where the stream meets the sea. Here you get to enjoy the sea breeze as your kayak is cradled by the waves. The whole tour takes about 20 minutes before heading back to the jump-off point. In our case, this is where we waited for our bangka for our next water adventure. Alcoy Giant Clam Viewing It took us more than hour to finally find the giant clams or taclobo inside the sanctuary. While Moalboal have their sardine run and Oslob has their whalesharks, the town of Alcoy prides itself for its large clams or taclobos. Just off the popular white sand coast of Alcoy is a protected sanctuary - the Mambagi Reef. Close to this reef is also a sanctuary where these giant clams thrive and it is only a few minutes boatride away from the Tingko Beach.  We are now on our way to explore the waters off the coast of Alcoy.
We initially had a hard time searching for these giant taclobos. The sanctuary was huge and the area was not yet marked at the time as their Ridge to Reef Tourism Program was still new at that time. It took our bangkero more than an hour to locate the exact spot where the giants clams thrive. We took the time to enjoy the view underneath the waters of Alcoy while we were still searching for the taclobos. The underwater scene of Mambagi Reef bursts in color and life. The taclobo experience was a first for me. These large clams were a beauty to see in its environment. These giant clams are crucial to the health of reefs as they are a vital food source to sea residents of these reefs. Seeing these giants in action was a real beauty. It was big and majestic in its natural habitat. I just hope that Alcoy locals will continue to keep them safe and be allowed to propagate more. It would be a good tourism attraction for this town. Tingko Beach To end our Alcoy Ridge to Reef adventure, we stepped on its popular beach spot - Tingko Beach. This beach stop is not hard to miss because it runs parallel to the national highway. In fact, it is an eye catcher when you are traveling along this side of Cebu. The white sand beach strip surprises you as you breeze through this part of the town. This is the location where the first Spanish-period community was established.  Tingko Beach is a popular white sand beach destination in Alcoy. Tingko Beach is a popular white sand beach spot in Alcoy. It is a public beach so you get to enjoy it for free. There are cottages that you can rent if you plan to stay here for a daytrip and there are also resorts in the area if you intend to stay overnight. This beach strip is a favorite spot among Alcoy locals for that quick beach relief. Alcoy Heritage Park and Municipal Hall At the heart of the town of Alcoy is the Alcoy Municipal Hall and Heritage Park. The old complex remain standing to this day and stands along the main provincial highway of the province. The old municipal hall is at the center of the complex. An open park at the front of the old municipal building features a monument honoring DR. Jose Rizal, a small globe, and benches. The Alcoy signage was also installed in front of the complex.  The Old Municipal Hall and Heritage Park of Alcoy is at the center of the town. With the developments happening in Alcoy, a new municipal hall is now on its final stages of construction at the back of the old complex. This is where the tourism office and other local government offices are also located. These new buildings will help improve the delivery of basic public services while preserving the heritage structures of the old government complex. St. Rose of Lima Parish and Convent The first church in Alcoy was built in 1849 at the old town center of Alcoy. This was also the year that the St. Rose of Lima was chosen to be the patrones saint of the town. When the seat of local governance was transferred in 1872 to its present location, the church was also re-located in the poblacion. It became the town’s parish church in September 15, 1890.  The St. Rose of Lima Parish is the center of the Catholic faith in Alcoy. Built under a Gothic Architecture, the church’s facade was completed in 1925. The triangular pediment of the church is highlighted by decorative moldings. There are four pilasters at the base of its facade that resembles buttresses. The top of the main door is highlighted by stained-glass windows with the image of its patron saint. The top part of the church has the “1925” installed, the year that the facade was completed.  The facade of the Alcoy Parish Church was completed in 1925. The interior of the church gave out a calming and refreshing vibe. It was simple and homey. The two-tier retablo captured my attention with its brown and gold colored design. The top most tier had the image of the Crucified Christ while the images of St. Rose of Lima, Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, and San Pedro Calungsod occupied the niche at the second tier. The simple design makes visitors focus their attention towards the pulpit. I also noticed the floor was sloped downwards towards the altar.
The church complex was huge. A sprawling open field is situated right in front of the church. Huge trees line the edges of this open field. The church convent sits adjacent to the church and it is being rehabilitated. I took a peek inside the first floor of the convent and you could see its wooden pillars and floors. An old well can also be found in at the center of the convent yard. The Alcoy Church Complex is also an attraction worth checking out when you find yourself in Alcoy. POST TRAVEL NOTES Alcoy Tourism Office’s Ridge to Reef program was a great way to discover the beauty of Alcoy. We enjoyed watching the sun rise at its peak, paddling through its stream, and searching for taclobos under its sea. It was a great day trip experience that had us enjoying the morning sun and sulking on its seawaters for half a day. Alcoy is definitely a destination worth checking out for a day or even two.  Working on history and nature on our next adventure. The local tourism office plays a huge role in the development and promotion of its tourist spots. They need to take the front seats in identifying local attractions, drafting programs, mobilizing and training locals, and promoting these programs to its target market. The strong involvement of the local government creates new opportunities and revenue streams for its locals and communities. I hope that we can have more of these strong coordinations between communities and local governments to help strengthen our tourism industry. Check out my Alcoy travel adventure on my Youtube Travel Channel:
#MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: There are direct flights to Cebu from major local and international airports. Once you arrive at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, you can take a Grab or cab ride to the South Bus Station in the city. You can take a Ceres bus to Bato via Oslob and you can ask the driver to drop you off at the town of Alcoy. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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This rustic and serene town on the southern side of Cebu is an eye catcher. Its century-old church pleasantly captures the attention of people passing through the town. It is rustic and picturesque with the church facing the sea and the mountains guarding its back. Such a serene view will definitely make you say… tara doon sa Boljoon!  Tara doon sa Boljoon! Even before being established as a visita in 1599, the town of Boljoon has an established trading relations with its surrounding communities and even with other countries such as China and Japan. Excavations within the church grounds have yielded the existence of a pre-Spanish community in Boljoon. The town is known for its well-preserved Spanish church complex which is being pushed for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But beyond the history and faith, the town also prides itself with natural attractions that will keep you amused while exploring the town for a day. Ili Rock Ili Rock is a huge rock formation located on the northern side of the town. The main road of the province was carved along the base of this huge formation. I read that a government agency on ereceived a huge backlash from locals after it carved a portion of the rock, citing that it was for safety reasons. The project carved a portion formation undermining its natural and historical value.  Ili Rock offers a panoramic 180-degree view of the sea, the mountains, and the town of Boljoon.
A cemented road and a 136-step was carved along the side of the rock formation for easier access to its viewpoint. A climb up the steps will give you a great view of the sea, the town, and the mountains behind it. I suggest doing a morning or a late afternoon hike to the viewpoint because the trail does not have any cover from the sun’s rays, especially during the midday. The hike is best enjoyed at these times. The view deck is a flat area that I presume was part of the project area. The place is covered by grass and a dirt trail leads you to the “view deck”. From here, you get to a 180-degree view of the Boljoon. You get to see the mountains roll down to the town as it meets the sea. The church stands out from the view with its sprawling lawn. The bird’s eye view of the sea, town, and mountain is simply picturesque and dramatic. The view alone makes the hike worth it. Boljoon Parish Church The Nuestra Senora de Patrocinio Church, more commonly known as Boljoon Church, is hard not to miss for those passing by the town, with its commanding view along the highway. One cannot help but be in awe at such rustic view of the church as you roll in to the town. It was this view that first captured my interest to explore the town of Boljoon.  The Boljoon Church is the main tourism attraction of the town. Construction of the present structure started in 1783 and was completed by Father Julian Bermejo. Father Bermejo is the priest responsible for building stone watchtowers or baluartes along the southern coast of Cebu. The baluartes is part of the intricate system that he created to defend the Cebu coastline from moro or pirate attacks. Boljoon Church is a fortress church and is part of this system. The church serves as a sanctuary for its locals, spiritually and as a community.
Boljoon Church is a repository of how faith and history molded the town. The church is home to many artifacts that date back to the Spanish-period. The church transports visitors to the past with its magnificent interior. The beautiful ceiling paintings, done by the local Boljoon artist - Miguel Villareal, will capture your attention as soon as you step into the church. The main retablo glows in gold with the image of the Our Lady of Patronage as its main centerpiece.
The church recently celebrated the return and installation of four of its five missing century-old pulpit panels. The four panels were reported missing in the 1980s. Soon after, the fifth panel was also declared missing. Allegations of theft and illegal sale by the church administration surfaced when the panels went missing. The four panels were later on donated to the National Museum in 2024. The provincial and local governments demanded its return to Boljoon Church. After discussion between the Provincial Government and the National Museum, the museum ruled in favor of returning the pulpit panels to its rightful owners. I was lucky to have personally viewed the re-installed pulpit panels. I am glad that the panels have found its way back to where it should be displayed and admired - the Boljoon Church Pulpit.  The Boljoon Pulpit Panels were returned and re-installed in its rightful place. The Boljoon Church was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1999 and a National Cultural Treasure in 2001. It has the distinction of being the only church in Cebu that has earned the recognition as a National Cultural Treasure. It is also one of the churches that are candidates to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Philippines. Boljoon Church Compound Beyond the walls of the church structure, the sprawling church compound of Boljoon holds a lot of historical treasures. The church plaza, or muraya, was an excavation site that yielded skelatal remains and artifacts that pre-dates the arrival of the Spaniards. This discovery proved that Boljoon had trading relations with China and Japan. Most of these excavated artifacts are on display inside the Boljoon Parish Museum, at the first floor of the Boljoon Church Convent. The museum also serves as s repository of religious artifacts of the church from the Spanish-period to the present. Unfortunately, the museum does not allow taking of photos and videos inside the museum for security reasons.
On the right corner of the church compound along the highway stands the El Gran Baluarte de Boljoon, also called Dakong Balay. Built in 1808 by Father Bermejo, the blockhouse served as the main fortress of the complex and an artillery storage. The two-story structure was built with coral stones with tiled roofing. It now serves as the church’s belfry.
A few meters behind the Dakong Balay is also a two-story wooden house - Boljoon Escuela Catolica. The structure was built in 1940 with an American-period architecture. The two symmetrical staircases stand out in its design and was believed to have been used to separate the boys and girls when attending their classes. The structure was used as a school and a dormitory for its students. Boljoon Baywalk Complex Just right across the Boljoon Church Complex is the Boljoon Baywalk Complex. The baywalk was developed into a park that overlooks the Cebu Strait. The park is complete with park benches where one can enjoy the relaxing coastal view while enjoying the cool sea breeze blowing in. A coffee shop also offers a quick respite after exploring the town at the Baywalk area.
Plaza Bermejo stands at the other end of the complex. The plaza is complete with a bandstand and a play area for kids. This makes it a perfect spot to enjoy a lazy afternoon by the sea. The Boljoon Municipal Hall sits adjacent to the plaza. Boljoon Town History comes alive as you explore the town of Boljoon. A quick walking tour around town will give you a glimpse of its colorful past with its old houses. From grand old houses to American-period homes, the town gives you a glimpse of how Boljoon’s story. Balay Cirilo Sestoso is the oldest still-standing house in Boljoon. It was built in 1881 in the typical bahay-na-bato architecture by the former gobernadorcillo. You can still see the intricate woodworks on its windows with the panels still intact at the base of its windows. These panels, when opened, allow cool air to flow through the house to keep it cool inside. Not far from the Sestoso House is the Dr. Dionisio Niere House that was built in 1928. The two-story house was built in American-period architecture. There are two staircases that leads into the receiving area of the house. Big windows adorn the receiving area on the first floor and the landing area on the second floor. The grand architecture of the house are indicators of the prominence of the family in the community. The house was used by the Japanese as a headquarters during World War 2.  The Bano sa Poblacion is an area where fresh and clean spring water flow for public use. But among all historical structures in Boljoon, the Bano sa Poblacion was one that really piqued my interest. This communal water system was installed in May 1933. Cold spring water flow freely in the area and it is believed that this is where local settlers first met the Spaniards during their expedition. To this day, the Bano de Poblacion remains to be a place where locals gather to do their usual daily chores utilizing the fresh water that flows here. Ablayan Peak Boljoon is not just all about faith and history. It has its own share of natural attractions tucked i its hinterlands. Just 45 minutes away from the town center via a habal-habal is a camping site that gives you a panoramic view of both the east and west side of Boljoon - Ablayan Peak. The road to this spot is quite an experience in itself with its amazing views along the way.  Ablayan Peak is a campsite tucked in the mountains of Boljoon.
From the jump-off point, it was a quick hike to the Ablayan Peak. The peak gives you a commanding view 360-degree view of the Cebu Strait, the rolling hills of Cebu, Tanon Strait, and the neighboring island of Negros. You get to enjoy the view with the cool mountain breeze of Boljoon. With benches and swings that you can use, you can just sit down and enjoy the breeze and the view. You can just simply enjoy the moment as you breathe nature. The best part of it is that you can enjoy all this for free. Ablayan Peak is a camping area. The locals shared with me that this is one spot where you can enjoy both the sunrise and the sunset. Guest facilities though are limited. There is small store in the area where you can grab a snack and a drink. With a little more development of basic camping facilities, Ablayan Peak has the potential to become a great camping spot for both locals and tourists. Dayhag Falls Who would have thought that the mountains that guard Boljoon keeps a beautiful secret. The first time I read about Dayhag Falls, I was captivated by its cascade thinking that it was just a single cascade. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was a complex of multiple cascades with each cascade having its own personality.  Time to cool down at the cascades of Dayhag Falls.
Dayhag Falls was discovered by young residents of Boljoon in 2012 and it quickly became a favorite hangout spot by locals. The LGU saw its tourism potential and worked with volunteers in cleaning and developing the area. Dayhag Falls is a waterfalls system that has 5 cascades. An established trail leads guests to each cascade that were aptly labeled with virtues. There are picnic huts and tables that one can rent at the first two waterfalls while there are benches along the trail where one can take a breather from the hike to the other waterfalls downstream.
Dayhag Falls Level 1, aptly called Joy, is the first cascade to greet you. It is distinct among the rest for having two pools. The top pool is for wading while the bottom pool is deeper and that one can cliff jump to the 2nd pool. Level 2 or the Love cascade has a cascade height of about 10 to 15 feet. It has a very shallow pool of about 3 feet. This cascade kinda reminds me of Mantayupan Falls in Barili. Level 3 or the Peace cascade is a series of small cascades that leads to a base pool with a depth of 4 feet. What makes this cascade unique is its downstream flows under the roots of a huge tree.  The fourth cascade or Kindness is the most photogenic among the five cascades of Dayhag Falls. Dayhag Falls Level 4 or the Kindness cascade is the most photogenic of all the cascades. Cascading at a height of about 12 to 15 feet, the water drops into overhead rock formations creating that rain-kind of cascade at its base. It reminder me of Tumalog Falls in Oslob. You can take a quick dip at the base while enjoying a water massage from its cascade. I stayed here longer because of its beauty.  The beauty of the fifth cascade of Dayhag Falls. Dayhag Level 5 is the farthest cascade downstream. It also has the widest cascade that reminded me of Kawasan Falls. Water cascades at a height of approximately 10 to 12 feet on a single cascade over a rock face. It also has a base pool that is deep enough for a quick swim but not deep enough to jump into. Interestingly, there were no signs that would indicate the name of the cascade and the depth of the pool. But I must admit that the last two cascades were the most photogenic among the 5 cascades of Dayhag Falls. POST TRAVEL NOTES The town of Boljoon, more often than not, is just a quick stop for those visiting the more popular destinations on the southern end of Cebu. The Boljoon Church is the stop because of its history and the beauty of its Spanish-period structure. But the town has more to offer, a day exploring the town can share stories that go beyond the parameters of its church complex. It shares stories that give you a glimpse of the lives of its previous inhabitants and its natural beauty discovered and shared by its locals. Tara! Doon tayo sa Boljoon!  We are going from the mountains to the sea on our next Cebu adventure. It is interesting how a small town like Boljoon can offer a variety of interesting sites and sounds for any kind of traveler. What is more interesting is how locals work together to share these stories to those passing thru town and to those who make a complete stop at the town. As travelers, aim to keep exploring beyond the usual stops. You will be surprised with how much beauty and stories a town holds beyond its usual. Check out my Boljoon travel video on my Youtube Travel Channel:
#MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: There are direct flights to Cebu from major local and international airports. Once you arrive at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, you can take a Grab or cab ride to the South Bus Station in the city. You can take a Ceres bus to Bato via Oslob and you can ask the driver to drop you off at Boljoon Church. Getting around Boljoon is through tricycles or the habal-habal. For habal-habal contact, you can reach Kuya Aras at 0951 446 9412. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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September 2026
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