Resort

Are any meals included in my stay at Eskapo Verde?

Usually no, however for direct bookings for cottages through our web site, breakfast is usually included. Check around the web for offers! 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 charges at Eskapo Verde when I arrive?

We will ask that you pay for your first night’s stay in full on arrival, subsequent nights can be paid on departure. If you have booked through booking.com, Expedia or Airbnb this will usually 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 2pm until around 7pm daily. We bring in masseuse from outside so please give us as much notice as possible. Just book through the office.

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 to info@eskapoverde.com!

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

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 🙂

Holiday travel

Travel in the Philippines is generally easy, though buses and ferries can get busy. Watch out for Friday and Saturday afternoon and Monday morning travel, plus holiday periods such as Christmas, New Year, Sinulog and – especially – Easter. Our advice for Easter is “don’t plan long distance travel”. If you really must travel then book as much as possible well in advance since all public transport and accommodation will be very very busy!

Here is the queue to get into the South Bus Terminal in Cebu just before the All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day holiday last year. The queues to get onto buses’ was equally long.

Queuing for buses
(c) Cebu Daily News 2024

I don’t want to stay in shared accommodation, do you have private rooms?

We have four cottages, two with private balcony, bathroom, hot showers and large double or twin beds suitable for a couple, and another two with beds on a mezzanine floor 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 and anyway are rarely needed. We do however have hot showers in our cottages

I will never survive without aircon . . . do you have any air-conditioned rooms?

No, as for the question about hot water, we feel that air-conditioning 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 air-conditioning in any of our facilities

What are your Reception hours?

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?

Our 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

Activities

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, tide-permitting)
  • Paddleboards (on-site, tide-permitting)
  • Scuba diving
  • Kawasan Falls
  • Canyoneering
  • Snorkelling tours (also known for some reason as “Island Hopping”)
  • Floating cottages
  • Horse riding in the hills above Badian 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

Holiday travel

Travel in the Philippines is generally easy, though buses and ferries can get busy. Watch out for Friday and Saturday afternoon and Monday morning travel, plus holiday periods such as Christmas, New Year, Sinulog and – especially – Easter. Our advice for Easter is “don’t plan long distance travel”. If you really must travel then book as much as possible well in advance since all public transport and accommodation will be very very busy!

Here is the queue to get into the South Bus Terminal in Cebu just before the All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day holiday last year. The queues to get onto buses’ was equally long.

Queuing for buses
(c) Cebu Daily News 2024

How to get to Montpellier 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 around there who will take you up to the falls. It’s about a 15 minute ride to the entrance 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.

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 :).

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:

Negative Points

  • 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 propellers 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 800 visitors 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 regularly 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

Are there any charges at Eskapo Verde when I arrive?

We will ask that you pay for your first night’s stay in full on arrival, subsequent nights can be paid on departure. If you have booked through booking.com, Expedia or Airbnb this will usually 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, Maestro cards and American Express and we have GCash, WeChatPay and QR PH facilities. 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! We do not make a surcharge for using a card.

Where is the nearest ATM?

There are several ATM’s in Moalboal: Metrobank at Gaisano Grand and 360 Pharmacy by the market, PNB and BdO at Gaisano Grand and Landbank at Gaisano Town Centre and the Municipal Hall. There is also a PNB ATM in Panagsama Beach by Eve’s Kiosk and another at Blue Abyss Resort.

Badian has a PNB ATM by Ging Ging’s Hotel on the main street

Transport

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 P3,000 and a van suitable for up to nine guests is P5,000. 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

Getting away from Eskapo Verde

The easiest way whether you are heading north to Cebu City 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 1¾ 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 P130 (ordinary) or P150 air-con and takes around 4 hours. The last bus to us leaves the bus terminal around 8pm
  • When you get to Moalboal (about 5km north of us, 5 minutes on the bus) ask the conductor to let you off 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 around 30 minutes north of Sibulan and has larger vechile ferries
  • from the ferry pier get a 5 minute tricycle ride to the Bato bus terminus and find Cebu via Barili bus. Get a ticket to Bugas, Badian. Note that the last bus on this route leaves around 7pm (this time is variable, do not leave it to the last trip!)
  • 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. If you just want to visit the Falls then the easiest (and cheapest!) 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. 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

Holiday travel

Travel in the Philippines is generally easy, though buses and ferries can get busy. Watch out for Friday and Saturday afternoon and Monday morning travel, plus holiday periods such as Christmas, New Year, Sinulog and – especially – Easter. Our advice for Easter is “don’t plan long distance travel”. If you really must travel then book as much as possible well in advance since all public transport and accommodation will be very very busy!

Here is the queue to get into the South Bus Terminal in Cebu just before the All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day holiday last year. The queues to get onto buses’ was equally long.

Queuing for buses
(c) Cebu Daily News 2024

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 Grab which will be the same price as a taxi plus the Grab fee.
  • It is also possible to take a shuttle bus and there are two possibilities there:
  • Get to the MyBus shuttle pickup close to Arrivals. 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 (P50) and from there get a taxi to the South Bus Terminal which will be in the region of P120
  • There is a shuttle service run by Sugbu Express that goes direct from the 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 and if you can find/catch this bus, it should be the cheapest and most convenient non-taxi option

Note: if there is a long queue for taxis then waiting for the bus could 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 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 around there who will take you up to the falls. It’s about a 15 minute ride to the entrance 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.

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 :).