FAQ

Travel

Information about getting to and away from us, travel in the area

Are there any beaches nearby?
Eskapo Verde doesn’t have a beach though there are a few private beaches in the area. The nearest public beaches are Lambug Beach, Panagsama Beach and White Beach. Have a look at some online photos and see which you prefer. To get to Lambug Beach if you don’t have a motorbike then it’s easiest to get a public bus to Badian then a tricycle from the market area to Lambug. It’s about 10km away and takes perhaps 15-20 minutes to get there. The beach is mostly quiet with a few places to eat and (of course) karaoke by the road, but the beach is long so just walk for a while and you’ll escape any noise. Good white sand and blue water . . . what more do you need? :).
Can you arrange transfers from Cebu City or the airport to Eskapo Verde?
Yes we can. This is very practical if you are travelling with a group or are arriving at inconvenient hours. As a guideline a car pickup from the airport (suitable for 1-3 people) costs around P3,300 and a van suitable for up to nine guests is P4,800. Please contact us and we’ll give you a specific quotation.
Do you rent motorbikes?
No, we have no motorbikes to rent however we have contacts with local partners and can help you to arrange this. Your foreign licence is valid for 3 months on a tourist visa but please make sure that it is also valid to drive for motorcycle or motor scooters.
Getting away from Eskapo Verde – if you must 🙂
The easiest way whether you are heading north to Cebu or south to Oslob, Siquijor or Dumaguete is to wave down a Ceres bus heading in the right direction. You should allow at least four hours to get to Cebu City and about three hours to get to Oslob. To get to the ferries for islands to the south from Bato or Liloan will take about 1½ to 1Âľ hours. Please remember that it is most sensible to organise your time to travel in Philippines for earlier rather than later. Buses and ferries are much less frequent or stop after sunset and it’s more complicated to arrange alternatives in the dark. Please allow plenty of time for delays, especially if you have a flight to catch. Oh and if you are travelling domestic, it is usually simple to book a last minute flight which gives you flexibility that you will lose if you tie yourself down to a pre-booked itinerary
Getting from Cebu City to Eskapo Verde?
  • From the South Bus Terminal in Cebu take a yellow Ceres line bus (every 30 minutes). Get a ticket to Barangay Bugas, Badian. Cost is about P180 (ordinary) or P220 air-con and takes around 4 hours. The first bus to us leaves at 1am, the last bus around 8pm. There are air-con buses running from 4am until 6pm. Bus schedules from Cebu
  • When you get to Moalboal (about 6km north of us, 5 minutes on the bus) ask the conductor to let you off at Eskapo Verde or at PD Road in Bugas. Our access road is opposite and signposted. Follow the signs and you’re here 🙂
Getting from Dumaguete to Eskapo Verde?
  • From Dumaguete City take a jeepney or a taxi to Sibulan Pier. The ferries run every hour and the trip takes 25 minutes. Note that when winds are high the ferries stop running. You may still be able to cross the Tanon Straits from Tampi which is 30 minutes north of Sibulan
  • from the ferry pier get a 5 minute tricycle ride to the Bato bus terminus and find the Cebu via Barili bus. Get a ticket to Bugas, Badian. Note that the last bus on this route leaves around 7pm
  • When you get to Badian (about 4km south of us, 5 minutes on the bus) ask the conductor to let you off at PD Road in Bugas. The trip takes 1.5-1.75 hours
  • Our access road is opposite PD Road and signposted. Follow the signs and you’re here.
Getting from Eskapo Verde to Kawasan Falls?
It’s very easy! If you want to go canyoneering then we can arrange a tour with our local partner which includes pickup and return to Eskapo. It is no longer possible to just visit the Falls due to damage caused by Typhoon Odette in 2021. If you want to arrange your own canyoneering trip then the easiest way is to hop on any of the Ceres or Metrolink buses passing our entrance and get a ticket to Kawasan. The bus will drop you at the church in Matutinao which is right by the entrance to the falls, there will be many people offering you canyoneering trips. Note that the prices are fixed by local government, anyone offering less than the standard P1500 per head will be giving you less . . . ! To come back just wave down any bus heading north in the direction of Cebu. Fare is P20-25 per head.
Getting from Oslob to Eskapo Verde?
  • From Oslob, take the bus to Santander or Bato, change or transfer there to the Cebu via Barili bus. Get a ticket to Bugas, Badian. Note that the last bus in our direction leaves around 7pm
  • When you get to Badian (about 4km south of us, 5 minutes on the bus) ask the conductor to let you off at PD Road in Bugas. The trip takes 1.5-1.75 hours
  • Our access road is opposite PD Road and signposted. Follow the signs and you’re here.
Getting from Siquijor to Eskapo Verde?
  • there is a direct daily ferry from Larena (Siquijor) to Liloan (Cebu)
  • get a tricycle from the ferry pier to the Bato bus terminal
  • find the Cebu via Barili bus. Get a ticket to Bugas, Badian. Note that the last bus in our direction leaves around 7pm
  • When you get to Badian (about 4km south of us, 5 minutes on the bus) ask the conductor to let you off at PD Road in Bugas. The trip takes 1.5-1.75 hours
  • Our access road is opposite PD Road and signposted. Follow the signs and you’re here
Getting to Bohol
There are a few ways to do this at the moment. Simplest is probably to head to Cebu City and catch one of the many fast ferries to Bohol. They run from early morning to mid-evening. However then you have to deal with beautiful Cebu . . . :(. More adventurous ways are to head for Argao on the east coast of Cebu south of Carcar. From here there are two ferries a day Bohol which leaves at 4am and 12:00pm and sometimes stops at Cabilao Island if you are looking for a small island break. The ferry company is Lite (awful web site!); do a web search to confirm times and service. Price is P500 (please check this) per adult and takes 2½ hours. There is also a boat that runs daily from Oslob to Panglao Island on Bohol which leaves at 11:30am daily. For details have a look at the company’s web site. They are at pains to point out that they are not a ferry company which means “don’t depend on it” :).
How can I get from the airport to the Cebu South Bus Terminal?
You can take a taxi, either the ordinary white taxis, the more expensive yellow airport taxis or the very expensive limos. Just ask the driver for the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Cost will be between P300 and P1,000 depending on traffic and which type of taxi you get. Note that taxis in Cebu are generally safe, reliable and will use the meter. You can also get a Grab at their normal rates. The Grab station is close to the taxi rank It is also possible to take a shuttle bus and there are two possibilities here:
  1. Get to the MyBus shuttle pickup close to domestic arrivals at Terminal 1. Due to never-ending construction this keeps moving but it is usually signposted! This bus leaves every 20 minutes from early morning to late evening. Check the exact times at the stand or Google “MyBus Cebu schedule”. Take this bus to SM City (P40) or onto the South Bus Terminal if it continues there by the time you read this. From SM City you can get a taxi to the South Bus Terminal which will be in the region of P120
  2. There is/was/maybe a shuttle service run by Sugbu Express that goes from Marina Mall on the main road that runs to Cebu City, it’s about 10 minutes walk from Terminal 1, 15 minutes from Terminal 2the airport to the South Bus Terminal. In theory this runs every hour but we’re not sure where from or how reliable this is! The fare is around P50 if you can find/catch this bus – if it still runs! Ask at the terminal, they may be able to give you current information
Note: if there is a long queue for taxis then waiting for the bus may be your quickest option as well as cheapest! Likewise if there is heavy traffic the buses may be faster than a taxi.
How to get to Montpellier or Cambais Falls, Alegria
From Eskapo Verde just jump on any Ceres bus heading for Bato or Samboan. The ride takes about 30 minutes, get off the bus about 1km south of Alegria at the Blue Innovation petrol station. There are many habal habal bikes there who will take you up to either falls. It’s about a 15 minute ride to the entrance of Montpellier Falls which is marked by a nice mural on a hut almost hanging off the side of the mountain :). Follow the path down. You will pass some people’s houses, just keep going. If you’re not sure ask anyone, the locals are very friendly and will be happy to point you in the right direction. After about 15 minutes walk you’ll hear the falls and then see them. Currently (2024) Montpellier Falls are closed due to fallen trees blocking the path.
Montpellier Falls, Alegria
It looks like around a 30m drop, there is a large pool that is very suitable for swimming and you can climb up behind the falls for a great view through the falling water. And a hard-core head and shoulder massage as well! The best part? Only our family group was there on a Tuesday afternoon in March :).
Cambais Falls is around 15 minutes further up into the mountains. There is a municipal fee collection point, parking and guides available. The falls are a easy 15 minute walk from the parking through farm land along a grass or dirt path. The falls are on several levels and have a lovely cascade at the upper level. The whole area is shaded and there are some tables for picnicing, though no stalls or vendors :).
Travel Information
Oui Philippines is the best travel information site that we’ve found. The site is regularly updated and (very important) has telephone numbers for the ferry companies and airlines so that you can check times quite easily. The site is in French but is easy to navigate. Our go-to reference!
What time does Kawasan Falls open?
The Falls open at 7am and close at 5 or 6pm (depending on the time of year), you can visit the falls at any time during opening hours. Cut-off time for starting *canyoneering* is around 1pm but please check with us or your guide for exact times. Last pickup from Eskapo Verde for a canyoneering tour is around 12.30pm.
Why does Eskapo not support whale shark watching in Oslob?
There are several reasons. The whole issue of fish-feeding is complex with no clear answer. In the end it has to come down to an individual decision however here are some of the reasons we don’t feel that this activity is sustainable or healthy:
  • whale sharks are migratory; encouraging them to stay in one place for extended periods has an unknown effect on their lifecycle and reproductive patterns
  • whale sharks in the wild are filter feeders and ingest a variety of nutrition. The diet at Oslob is of one type and of dubious quality
  • feeding creates unhealthy and unsafe patterns of behaviour. Look at the sores on many of the sharks mouth parts created by “begging” for food from the boats and rubbing their mouths on rough wooden hulls
  • being fed from boats associates boats with food. In Oslob there are no propellors to injure the whale sharks however this is not the case in other areas. Look at the scars on the backs of some of the sharks . . . .
  • although there are guidelines for approaching and interacting with the sharks, due to the nature of the experience these are not easy to enforce
  • up to 1500 vistors a day has an impact on the area in terms of solid waste management as well as the impact on the sharks
  • there are places in the region where “wild” whale shark sightings are common. The Tanon Strait is an important migratory route and there are regularily seen by divers in Moalboal-area. Primary destinations for sustainable whale shark watching are Donsol in Sorsogon, Luzon and Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte. Sogod Bay particularly is easy to get to from Cebu
Positive points:
  • it is very easy to do and can involve almost no effort or input. If you time it right you can land at Cebu airport very very early, get in a pre-booked car, be deposited in Oslob, jump the queue by using a local resort, have your 15 minute experience, get in your car back to the airport and be heading home in the afternoon
  • it’s trivial to take some great photos and be the envy of your friends
  • the whale sharks are not forced to be there – the reason they stay is free meals
  • local businesses make a lot of money from the activity
  • local fisherman are not hunting the sharks any more – hunting has been banned for years but used to happen from time-to-time
In the end it’s your decision but please be aware whale shark watching in Oslob is not the environmental wonder that it superficially appears to be and has significant downsides.

Resort

Some questions and answers about our resort

Are any meals included in my stay at Eskapo Verde?
Depending on your room type or booking agent, breakfast may be included. All other meals are paid separately. If you wish to run a bill during your stay and pay when you leave, just ask the restaurant staff. If you want to order a meal package for yourself or your group, please send us details of your requirements through e-mail and we can quote you a custom package. Our menu is available on our web site and also on our Facebook page.
Are there any beaches nearby?
Eskapo Verde doesn’t have a beach though there are a few private beaches in the area. The nearest public beaches are Lambug Beach, Panagsama Beach and White Beach. Have a look at some online photos and see which you prefer. To get to Lambug Beach if you don’t have a motorbike then it’s easiest to get a public bus to Badian then a tricycle from the market area to Lambug. It’s about 10km away and takes perhaps 15-20 minutes to get there. The beach is mostly quiet with a few places to eat and (of course) karaoke by the road, but the beach is long so just walk for a while and you’ll escape any noise. Good white sand and blue water . . . what more do you need? :).
Are there any charges at Eskapo Verde when I arrive?
We will either charge a deposit equal to the cost of your first night before arrival or on arrival ask that you pay for your first night’s stay; subsequent nights can be paid on departure. If you have booked through Airbnb or Expedia this will already have been dealt with. We also charge a refundable P1,000 cash deposit on arrival to cover equipment loss or damage during your stay.
Can I arrange a massage?
Yes. While we don’t have spa facilities we can arrange a massage in your room from 6pm until around 9pm daily. We bring in masseuse from outside so please give us as much notice as possible. Just book through the office.
Can I pay at Eskapo Verde with a credit or debit card?
Yes; we accept any Visa or Mastercard. We also have PNB and Landbank accounts as well as Paypal so please ask if you wish to discuss other means of paying for your visit. Cash is always good!
Can you arrange transfers from Cebu City or the airport to Eskapo Verde?
Yes we can. This is very practical if you are travelling with a group or are arriving at inconvenient hours. As a guideline a car pickup from the airport (suitable for 1-3 people) costs around P3,300 and a van suitable for up to nine guests is P4,800. Please contact us and we’ll give you a specific quotation.
Can you do laundry?
Yes, we can help keep you clean! Laundry service is on request, please check with Reception
Do you have any other facilities?
Apart from our sea kayaks and paddleboards, we also have a function room which is ideal for seminars, workgroups, study group, social events or yoga. The room is available for rent by the half-day or day, please ask at Reception if you are interested in renting for your group. Or send us an e-mail! We have a half-basketball court for practice or exercise. Let us know in advance if you want to use it.
Do you rent motorbikes?
No, we have no motorbikes to rent however we have contacts with local partners and can help you to arrange this. Your foreign licence is valid for 3 months on a tourist visa but please make sure that it is also valid to drive for motorcycle or motor scooters.
Does Eskapo Verde offer vegetarian dishes?
Yes, we have a delicious selection of vegetarian and vegan meals. Have a look at our menu under the Downloads section. We doubt you will leave hungry :).
I don’t want to stay in shared accommodation, do you have any private rooms?
We have two cottages with private balcony, bathroom, hot showers and large double or twin beds suitable for a couple, and another two cottages suitable for a family with young-ish children. Have a look at our online booking page for current availability.
I need hot water for my shower . . . .
Sorry, we have no hot water in our shared washrooms! We decided when we were building Eskapo Verde that hot showers for the dormitories did not fit with our simple, low-impact vision. We do however have hot showers in our cottages 🙂
I will never survive without aircon . . . do you have any airconditioned rooms?
No, as for the question about hot water we feel that airconditioning does not fit into our vision. We have designed our buildings to maximise airflow and passive cooling and use ceiling fans for when the weather gets a little warmer. As the trees on the property grow and provide more shade our buildings will get cooler. We will not be fitting airconditioning in any of our facilities
What are your Reception hours?
For guests Reception is open from 8am until 5pm. If you need to leave before 8am then please speak to Reception the day before to make arrangements for paying your bill.
What are your restaurant hours?
As per listing on Facebook and Google for walk-in guests. For booked-in guests the restaurant is open from 7am until last orders at 7.30pm.
What sort of food do you have in your restaurant?
We specialise in Filipino dishes, many with a slight “Eskapo twist” :). We also have Asian dishes, vegetarian and vegan dishes and of course burgers and French fries for those that can’t live without! Our mashed potato is second to none . . . so simple to do right but so easy to get wrong! Of course we bake our own bread. All our dishes are made fresh when you order. We use no MSG in our kitchen and reduce salt and sugar to encourage a healthier diet for all. Even our humba (special order only, sorry) is tweaked to reduce the delicious unhealthiness 🙂 Our desserts must be mentioned: our halo-halo is very popular and we have some excellent variations on local ideas. By special order we can make old favourites like biko, maja blanca and fresh siopao with different fillings. You can find our full menu for download in the Downloads section of the web site and also on our Facebook page.

Food

Information about our menu and dishes

Are any meals included in my stay at Eskapo Verde?
Depending on your room type or booking agent, breakfast may be included. All other meals are paid separately. If you wish to run a bill during your stay and pay when you leave, just ask the restaurant staff. If you want to order a meal package for yourself or your group, please send us details of your requirements through e-mail and we can quote you a custom package. Our menu is available on our web site and also on our Facebook page.
Does Eskapo Verde offer vegetarian dishes?
Yes, we have a delicious selection of vegetarian and vegan meals. Have a look at our menu under the Downloads section. We doubt you will leave hungry :).
What are your restaurant hours?
As per listing on Facebook and Google for walk-in guests. For booked-in guests the restaurant is open from 7am until last orders at 7.30pm.
What sort of food do you have in your restaurant?
We specialise in Filipino dishes, many with a slight “Eskapo twist” :). We also have Asian dishes, vegetarian and vegan dishes and of course burgers and French fries for those that can’t live without! Our mashed potato is second to none . . . so simple to do right but so easy to get wrong! Of course we bake our own bread. All our dishes are made fresh when you order. We use no MSG in our kitchen and reduce salt and sugar to encourage a healthier diet for all. Even our humba (special order only, sorry) is tweaked to reduce the delicious unhealthiness 🙂 Our desserts must be mentioned: our halo-halo is very popular and we have some excellent variations on local ideas. By special order we can make old favourites like biko, maja blanca and fresh siopao with different fillings. You can find our full menu for download in the Downloads section of the web site and also on our Facebook page.

Things to do

Things to do in and around Moalboal and south Cebu

Are there any beaches nearby?
Eskapo Verde doesn’t have a beach though there are a few private beaches in the area. The nearest public beaches are Lambug Beach, Panagsama Beach and White Beach. Have a look at some online photos and see which you prefer. To get to Lambug Beach if you don’t have a motorbike then it’s easiest to get a public bus to Badian then a tricycle from the market area to Lambug. It’s about 10km away and takes perhaps 15-20 minutes to get there. The beach is mostly quiet with a few places to eat and (of course) karaoke by the road, but the beach is long so just walk for a while and you’ll escape any noise. Good white sand and blue water . . . what more do you need? :).
Highlights in our area
  • Sea kayaks (on-site)
  • Paddleboards (on-site)
  • Scuba diving (from Panagsama Beach, Moalboal)
  • Kawasan Falls
  • Canyoneering
  • Snorkelling tours (also known for some reason as “Island Hopping”)
  • Floating cottages in Badian Bay
  • Horse riding in the hills above the bay
  • 11 waterfalls to visit in our area and surrounds, including Mantayupan Falls (also known as Ambakan Falls) in Barili to our north with a 100m drop and access by rope bridge! There are five quiet, untouristed waterfalls between us and Samboan (to our south) alone
  • Sardine ball at Panagsama Beach
  • “Vibrant” nightlife in Panagsama Beach
  • Chilling at Lambug Beach
How to get to Montpellier or Cambais Falls, Alegria
From Eskapo Verde just jump on any Ceres bus heading for Bato or Samboan. The ride takes about 30 minutes, get off the bus about 1km south of Alegria at the Blue Innovation petrol station. There are many habal habal bikes there who will take you up to either falls. It’s about a 15 minute ride to the entrance of Montpellier Falls which is marked by a nice mural on a hut almost hanging off the side of the mountain :). Follow the path down. You will pass some people’s houses, just keep going. If you’re not sure ask anyone, the locals are very friendly and will be happy to point you in the right direction. After about 15 minutes walk you’ll hear the falls and then see them. Currently (2024) Montpellier Falls are closed due to fallen trees blocking the path.
Montpellier Falls, Alegria
It looks like around a 30m drop, there is a large pool that is very suitable for swimming and you can climb up behind the falls for a great view through the falling water. And a hard-core head and shoulder massage as well! The best part? Only our family group was there on a Tuesday afternoon in March :).
Cambais Falls is around 15 minutes further up into the mountains. There is a municipal fee collection point, parking and guides available. The falls are a easy 15 minute walk from the parking through farm land along a grass or dirt path. The falls are on several levels and have a lovely cascade at the upper level. The whole area is shaded and there are some tables for picnicing, though no stalls or vendors :).
What time does Kawasan Falls open?
The Falls open at 7am and close at 5 or 6pm (depending on the time of year), you can visit the falls at any time during opening hours. Cut-off time for starting *canyoneering* is around 1pm but please check with us or your guide for exact times. Last pickup from Eskapo Verde for a canyoneering tour is around 12.30pm.
Why does Eskapo not support whale shark watching in Oslob?
There are several reasons. The whole issue of fish-feeding is complex with no clear answer. In the end it has to come down to an individual decision however here are some of the reasons we don’t feel that this activity is sustainable or healthy:
  • whale sharks are migratory; encouraging them to stay in one place for extended periods has an unknown effect on their lifecycle and reproductive patterns
  • whale sharks in the wild are filter feeders and ingest a variety of nutrition. The diet at Oslob is of one type and of dubious quality
  • feeding creates unhealthy and unsafe patterns of behaviour. Look at the sores on many of the sharks mouth parts created by “begging” for food from the boats and rubbing their mouths on rough wooden hulls
  • being fed from boats associates boats with food. In Oslob there are no propellors to injure the whale sharks however this is not the case in other areas. Look at the scars on the backs of some of the sharks . . . .
  • although there are guidelines for approaching and interacting with the sharks, due to the nature of the experience these are not easy to enforce
  • up to 1500 vistors a day has an impact on the area in terms of solid waste management as well as the impact on the sharks
  • there are places in the region where “wild” whale shark sightings are common. The Tanon Strait is an important migratory route and there are regularily seen by divers in Moalboal-area. Primary destinations for sustainable whale shark watching are Donsol in Sorsogon, Luzon and Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte. Sogod Bay particularly is easy to get to from Cebu
Positive points:
  • it is very easy to do and can involve almost no effort or input. If you time it right you can land at Cebu airport very very early, get in a pre-booked car, be deposited in Oslob, jump the queue by using a local resort, have your 15 minute experience, get in your car back to the airport and be heading home in the afternoon
  • it’s trivial to take some great photos and be the envy of your friends
  • the whale sharks are not forced to be there – the reason they stay is free meals
  • local businesses make a lot of money from the activity
  • local fisherman are not hunting the sharks any more – hunting has been banned for years but used to happen from time-to-time
In the end it’s your decision but please be aware whale shark watching in Oslob is not the environmental wonder that it superficially appears to be and has significant downsides.

Money

Things connected with cash, cards, payments and so on

Are there any charges at Eskapo Verde when I arrive?
We will either charge a deposit equal to the cost of your first night before arrival or on arrival ask that you pay for your first night’s stay; subsequent nights can be paid on departure. If you have booked through Airbnb or Expedia this will already have been dealt with. We also charge a refundable P1,000 cash deposit on arrival to cover equipment loss or damage during your stay.
Can I pay at Eskapo Verde with a credit or debit card?
Yes; we accept any Visa or Mastercard. We also have PNB and Landbank accounts as well as Paypal so please ask if you wish to discuss other means of paying for your visit. Cash is always good!
Where is the nearest ATM?
There are several ATM’s in Moalboal: Metrobank at Gaisano Grand and 360 Pharmacy by the market, PNB at Gaisano Grand and the 7-11, Landbank at Gaisano Town Centre and the Municipal Hall. There is also a PNB ATM in Panagsama Beach by Eve’s Kiosk and another ATM at Blue Abyss Resort. Badian has a PNB ATM by Ging Ging’s Hotel on the main street