One of the greatest wishes of any outdoorsman is to walk thousands of miles and witness breathtaking vistas on the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, the Great Continental Divide trail, and other long-distance trails. For many, such an undertaking is the Holy Grail of hikes, the ultimate challenge, the grandest dream, or the best way for self-discovery and healing. Unfortunately, for those who are living on the other side of the world from these beautiful trails, such an endeavor may remain to be a dream.
Why is that? There are many reasons, but most would not be able to step on these trails due to the prohibitive costs, hassles, lack of time, and logistics of crossing borders.
Fortunately, one dedicated Cebuano decided to take on the challenge of creating a long-distance hiking trail in our own beautiful island of Cebu. Through this project, outdoorsmen can realize the dream of long-distance hiking without bankrupting their bank accounts or undergoing the hassles of applying for visas. After several long years of mapping, exploring, and establishing segments, the Cebu Highlands Trail is finally coming to fruition.
The Cebu Highlands Trail (CHT) is the brainchild of Mr. Jing Lavilles de Egurolla, the driving force behind the bushcrafter’s guild Camp Red. It is patterned after long-distance hiking trails in the US, Canada, and Europe. This is a labor of love that started 6 years ago in 2011.
The main trail, which is divided into 8 segments, traverses the borders of 33 of Cebu’s 44 municipalities. Feeder trails link the CHT to adjoining barangays, villages, and towns, allowing easy access or exit in each segment.
With a length of 408.29 kilometers and an elevation gain of 954 meters, the CHT snakes lengthwise along the entire Cebu island. It is not a straight line; it bends, turns, ascends, descends along and around the central spine of Cebu. Because it is divided into segments, trekkers have the option to complete the trail segment by segment. This is called section hiking, and it can be done without necessarily following the sections in sequence.
Hikers may also want to take on segments as day hikes or overnight treks.
This scenic trail takes hikers to rural villages, vast farmlands, thick forests, picturesque mountain ridges, flowing rivers, beautiful waterfalls, and more. It leads hikers to some of the most stunning—a lot of it rarely seen by non-locals—and rugged places in Cebu Island.
In addition, the team will establish camp sites, bivouac sites, billeting areas, rest stops, emergency and evacuation routes, water sources, and more after the first thru hike. All of these important points will be documented and integrated in future maps, GPS assignments, and other references.
With utmost government and private support, sufficient media mileage, and diligent local guardianship, the Cebu Highlands Trail is poised to attract local and foreign hikers, boosting the island’s adventure tourism industry. More than just the scenery and adventure, however, the trail exposes visitors to the history and culture of Cebu’s highland communities.
Press Conference and Send Off
Last January 16, 2017, together with a local media outfit and several other invitees in the outdoor community, we attended a press conference that served as a formal send-off for Sirs Jing and Jonathan. They will attempt to accomplish the first thru-hike of the Cebu Highlands Trail. That means, they will hike the trail end to end, from Liloan, Santander in the south to Bulalaque Point, Daanbantayan in the north. That’s a whooping 408-kilometer trek ,which, in their estimates, will take approximately a month.
Careful planning and logistics are absolutely required here; you don’t want to run out of supplies when you are still so far away from your next resupply point.
Joining him in this expedition is Camp Red member and co-leader of the CHT exploration team Jonathaniel Apurado. The Cebu Province, represented by Cebu Provincial Tourism Officer, Mr. Boboi Costas, expressed their full support on this endeavor.
During the lively and informative press conference, the trio answered our questions, explained the rationale of the project, projected the benefits of the trail to upland communities and province’s tourism campaign, and gave us an insight of the adventure itself. We later realized that hiking the CHT won’t just be a “walk in the mountains.” Navigating through 400-plus kilometers in the rugged terrain of rural Cebu requires a totally different mindset and fitness level. The undertaking is certainly taking hiking to a whole new challenge.
The conversation totally fired everyone’s interest in trying out the CHT. In fact, Sweetie and I were asking when Sir Jing is available to guide us through the trail segment by segment.
A mighty undertaking such as this needs all the backing it can get. We were totally ecstatic to know that many bigwigs of Cebu’s outdoor community have openly supported the project. Some of them (shown in the photo below) are Camp Red President and CHT Coordinator Jhurds Neo (light blue shirt), Philippine Adventure Consultants Operations Manager Randy Salazar (orange shirt), and Silangan Outdoor Gear CEO Eis Amiel Servano (black shirt).
Other entities who supported this endeavor include Titay’s Rosquillos, Galileo Satellite Control Systems, Derek’s Classic Blade Systems, GV Hotels, Bakhawan Beach Home, Lavilles Australis, Park n’ Go Bakeshop, FG, Versa, and Viajero Outdoor Shop.
The Province of Cebu, Cebu Tourism Office, and HAM Radio Cebu, Inc., also provided the logistics, promotion, and communication for this project. Friends, colleagues, and other people also pitched in, whether in cash or in kind.
Here we are with the man himself. Sir Jing is an avid bushman, and he pens Warrior Pilgrimage, the only bushcraft blog in the country.
Bushcraft is the art, practice, and sport of using wilderness survival skills, such as fishing, hunting, tracking, terrain- and weather-reading, navigation, flora and fauna identification, etc. in outdoor endeavors. Bushmen are unique because they are adept in using austere and readily available natural resources in the most creative, lifesaving ways. These skills are now almost lost with the convenience offered by advanced and readily available outdoor gear technology.
Sir Jing and Camp Red members are truly a unique, tough breed of outdoorsmen.
Godspeed, Sir Jing and Team
We are honored to support Sir Jing and his team in this noble project. After this thru-hike and after it is officially recognized by the province, the CHT will be the first of its kind in the Visayas and a beloved treasure of Cebu.
For sure, Team Sweetie will be attempting to realize another lifelong dream this year. That is, to hike hundreds of kilometers along the CHT so we can pay tribute to Mother Nature, our ancestral roots, and our Cebuano culture.
For more information about the first thru-hike of the Cebu Highlands Trail, please click the logo below. You can also check out the CHT Facebook Page.
All outdoor photos courtesy of Sir Jing Lavilles de Egurolla.
Update 5/3/2017: The Cebu Highlands Trail is now open for hiking! Wohoo!
For guideship services, get in touch with Sir Jing or Camp Red. Use the following contact details:
- Name: Jing Lavilles de Egurolla
- Mobile Numbers: 0917-203-5101 / 0933-322-5005
- Email: pinoyapache@yahoo.com
- Blog: Warrior Pilgrimage by Pinoy Apache
- Warrior Pilgrimage Facebook Page: Warrior Pilgrimage
- Camp Red Facebook Group Page: Camp Red Bushcraft and Survival Guild
Adrenaline Romance 
Wow!
Hi Faith Mari,
Wow, indeed! We are totally stoked to hike the CHT. The first thru-hike will be finished on February 26. Following a post-hike press conference, the trail will be open, and Sir Jing and Camp Red will be accepting guideship services for the CHT.
This would be a very exciting challenge to take! Looking forward to your blog post about your experience soon. đŸ˜€
Hi Faith Mari,
Indeed, it is! We are actually excited to try it as well. Although we won’t be doing a thru-hike due to our full-time work. We will walk the CHT segment by segment.
Great to know about the CHT in the PI! Thanks for covering this and sharing.
Hi MMPalePale,
Oh yes! And it’s in Cebu, our hometown! Can’t wait to try out this trail as well.
Whohoh! Excited for this, too. đŸ˜€
Hi Ace&Demi,
That makes us unanimous. đŸ™‚
Nice. Another adventure to look forward to. Thanks for sharing as always ^_^ best regard to both of you đŸ™‚
Hi Paradukdok,
Thank you very much. We also look forward to try out (and document, of course) the CHT. Most probably, we will be doing it segment by segment; we can’t do a thru-hike due to our full-time jobs.
When will you do this? I would love to hike this trail too!
Hi Aleah,
The first thru-hike of Sir Jing and his team will be finished by the end of February. So, we reckon that the CHT will open sometime March 2017.
Sheila and I will be doing section hiking (i.e. walking segment by segment) due to our full-time work. So, we’ll distribute our hiking schedule throughout the year. You can hike with us any time. đŸ™‚
Would love to try hiking, kaya ba ng first timers per segment?
Hi Wheninmyjourneys,
According to Sir Jing, yup! Hiking the CHT is generally not technical, meaning, no specialized skill is needed.
However, endurance and resilience is definitely required. With good pacing, each segment can be attained around 4 days.
Wow! Exciting! Thanks for the information!
Amazing! And it’s in Cebu!
Hi Thaddeu,
Indeed! The CHT is a years-long labor of love. When Sir Jing returns from his thru-hike at the end of February, after all the assessments and reports, the trail will be open. đŸ™‚
I’ve been waiting for this kind of adventure. Congrats guys for trailblazing. Count me in!
Hi Pio,
Thank you but all the honor belongs to Sir Jing. This is his project, supported by the bushcraft group Camp Red and several other entities.
We also want to walk this trail once it is officially opened. đŸ™‚
This is absolutely great. This goes right in to my ist of great hikes to undertake. Might wanna do it by the end of this year when I plan to visit the Philippines once again.
Hi Claus,
That would be great! Actually, your planned schedule is an ideal time. By that time, the CHT would have trail signs, homestays, tributary trails, etc.
[…] Source: Cebu Highlands Trail: The First Long-Distance Hiking Trail in the Visayas […]
Thats great! What a nice initiative of this man!! I would love to try this trail!
Hi World By Isa,
Indeed! He has just finished the CHT and is doing the final coordination with the LGUs for guideship. We can’t wait to try the trail as well. đŸ™‚
Reblogged this on Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination
Thank you very much for the reblog, Patrick! đŸ™‚
Hi, Adrenaline Romance,
This is an amazing adventure. Great read! Hope to join with some of your adventures soon., :)Thanks!
Hi Nhagzventures,
Thank you very much! Sure you are free to join us. đŸ™‚
Hello, it’s my pleasure Sir. I’d be more than happy to join your adventures.Cheers!
This is really great! Where can we get more info on this? How do we get to do this? Is there a tour package? Similar to other countries?
Suggestion… why don’t you plan out a hike trail to the places of pilgrimage like Udlot in Bogo, Simala in Naga, etc. just like the Camino de Santiago in Spain
Hi Bobby,
No, there’s no tour package as this is not a standard “tour.” Hiking the CHT is a real adventure and a test of being, not a tour.
Please get in touch with Sir Jing for more details and guideship services. His contact details are in the blog.
About your suggestion, that is already in the works. If we recall correctly, a parish has commissioned Sir Jing to establish a pilgrimage trail (similar to Camino de Santiago) in a Cebu town.
com/2017/03/20/cebu-highlands-trail-the-first-long-distance-hiking-trail-in-the-visayas/” rel=”nofollow”>Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination !
I am a Night Walker/Trekker and I am totally interested in this.
Hi Gerald,
Then you would definitely love this. đŸ™‚ You can get in touch with Sir Jing (details in the blog) for guideship.
Really cool man. Keep it going!
Hi YamaKata,
Thank you. The CHT is now open for segment hikes. đŸ™‚
Awesome. Have some time here left, and want to see what other hikes are out there. Thanks for the tip!
com/2017/03/20/cebu-highlands-trail-the-first-long-distance-hiking-trail-in-the-visayas/” rel=”nofollow”>Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination com/2017/03/20/cebu-highlands-trail-the-first-long-distance-hiking-trail-in-the-visayas/” rel=”nofollow”>Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination !
com/2017/03/20/cebu-highlands-trail-the-first-long-distance-hiking-trail-in-the-visayas/” rel=”nofollow”>Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination ! com/2017/03/20/cebu-highlands-trail-the-first-long-distance-hiking-trail-in-the-visayas/” rel=”nofollow”>Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination
com/2017/03/20/cebu-highlands-trail-the-first-long-distance-hiking-trail-in-the-visayas/” rel=”nofollow”>Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination com/2017/03/20/cebu-highlands-trail-the-first-long-distance-hiking-trail-in-the-visayas/” rel=”nofollow”>Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination com/2017/03/20/cebu-highlands-trail-the-first-long-distance-hiking-trail-in-the-visayas/” rel=”nofollow”>Patrick' s Bushcraft & Outdoor Research and commented:
just admire the determination !