Mt. New Bucao

Mt. New Bucao rises above Toledo City on Cebu’s west coast, a hiking route through open grassland ridges that trades technical difficulty for a fast, rewarding climb. The trail runs mostly clear and beginner-friendly, gaining elevation gradually enough for a half-day out-and-back, with the payoff a 360-degree view of Cebu’s central mountain range from the summit.

• The trail suits day hikers and weekend campers alike — mostly open grassland, no technical scrambling required.
• Early starts pay off: cooler air and low-angle light at sunrise make for both easier hiking and better photos.
• The rolling green ridgelines draw local comparisons to Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, minus the crowds.

Toledo runs on a different economy than the coastal resort towns further south — the city’s income leans on copper mining and coal power generation rather than tourism, which is part of why a climb like this stays a mostly local pursuit rather than a packaged tour stop.

Explore More in Moalboal and Southwest Cebu

• Kasai Wall
• Mantayupan Falls
• Copton Point