So you’re in Cebu City and you want to hike?
Well, by far the most popular and most accessible trail here is Starbuk’s.
Starbuk’s isn’t a real Starbucks. It’s just a small sari-sari store on top of the mountain, but with a brilliant view of the city below.
However!
There are no official guides that can take you up here.
That’s why I decided to put together this guide, so that you can come here and explore by yourself!
I’ll run you through the trail and all its landmarks, and show you how to find your way without a guide.
Let’s get into it!
Starbuk’s Trail Fast Facts
- Jumpoff: Paseo Arcenas, Banawa
- Fees: None! Climbing Starbuk’s is FREE
- Time to Reach the Top: 45 – 90 minutes (depending on pace)
- Distance: 2.5km
- Elevation Gain: Roughly 200m
Important Note: Starbuk’s is expected to close soon! I don’t have all the details, but it seems like the nearby Monterazzas subdivision is expanding and will soon demolish Starbuk’s.
I’ll update this blog as soon as it closes. But for now, it’s still open, so go hike!
How to Get to Starbuk’s Kapehan
There are 5 landmarks before you get to Starbuk’s, namely:
Let’s go over them one by one!
Getting to Paseo Arcenas
Starbuk’s jump-off is in Paseo Arcenas, Banawa.
Several jeepneys pass this area, including:
- No. 07 Jeepney (Carbon or Ayala to Banawa)
- No. 12 Jeepney (Carbon or Ayala to Labangon)
- Mango Jeepney (IT Park to Talisay)
You can also ride a taxi or drive your car. There are plenty of available parking spaces in Paseo Arcenas.
If you’re arriving before 6 am, you can park either in front of Concentrix or in front of Anytime Fitness.
Note: overnight parking is NOT allowed in Paseo Arcenas! Vehicles left after 12 midnight will be clamped.
Paseo Arcenas
From Paseo Arcenas, just follow the road heading towards the mountains.
You’ll pass a small guardhouse, but just walk through until you reach this steep right turn.
This is where the trail starts to pick up, and you’ll start climbing the mountain.
You’ll first have to pass through a small Barangay.
Just keep heading straight, the houses will eventually make way for grass, and you’ll soon find yourself in the Good Shepherd Cemetery.
Good Shepherd
From Good Shepherd, there are 4-5 different trails all heading up to Starbuk’s.
Some of them are isolated, others are very steep and great for a challenge, but the one I’ll teach you is the easiest and great for beginners.
From Good Shepherd, just follow the path straight all the way.
You’ll eventually find this small chapel:
From here, there’s a small path between the chapel and the houses. Follow that path, walk past a small fence, and you’ll eventually find yourself in Lantaw.
Lantaw
Lantaw is a nice resting spot for hikers.
There are some sari-sari stores where you can buy coffee, snacks, and drinks. The city view is already pretty nice!
From Lantaw, just continue up the mountain.
You’ll pass by another fence, and eventually get to this sign:
Turn to the side and follow the trail that’ll take you into the jungle.
The forest gets pretty thick around here, and you won’t see any more houses for some time.
The trail here is pretty straightforward. Just follow it and you’ll eventually find yourself at the next landmark.
However, here’s a quick tip:
When you find yourself at this junction:
Take the right (or straight) option instead of turning left.
Both trails lead you to Starbuk’s, but the left one leads to a very slippery spot (especially if it rains).
Either way, you’ll find this small shed:
Follow the stairs up, and you’ll soon find yourself in Monterazzas.
Monterrazas
Once you reach the top of the stairs, you’ll find yourself on a bare piece of road.
On the right is the Monterazzas subdivision, which will soon take over the whole place, and we hikers might not be able to come up here anymore.
But on the left, you’ll see a road leading to the edge of the mountain.
Follow it and you’ll find yourself in Starbuk’s!
Starbuk’s!
Starbuk’s has an amazing view over Cebu City.
So stop, take it all in, and also take some pictures of the signage.
There are a few sari-sari stores in Starbuk’s where you can buy coffee, Milo, snacks, pancit canton, or even fresh buko juice.
On weekends, you can even buy silog meals from the people here.
There are lots of places to sit down, chill, and enjoy the city view before making your way back down.
Do You Need a Guide to Climb Starbuk’s?
No! You don’t need a guide to climb Starbuk’s.
In fact, there are no official guides at all.
So if you’re not confident you can find your way on your own, here’s how to get some help:
Wait for Other Hikers in McDodonalds’s
Head to McDonald’s in Paseo Arcenas and look for fellow hikers!
You’ll notice them wearing sporty clothes, wearing caps, bringing water bottles, while some even have backpacks or hiking shoes.
Starbuk’s is a super popular hiking spot, so if you come here during early morning or late afternoon, you’re sure to see a few people planning to head to Starbuk’s (especially on weekends).
Ask if you can follow them, and they’re usually happy to show you the way.
Use Strava
If you’re not the type to hike with strangers, you can also download Strava on your phone and use the Map feature there.
You don’t need to get Strava Premium to use the map feature. Just look at the bright blue lines.
The thicker the blue line, the more people use that trail.
That’s why the trail heading to Starbuk’s is very bright on the app, so it’s easy to follow on GPS.
Just a warning about this:
The Strava Map is not super accurate, so you’ll need some critical thinking skills if you’re going to follow the GPS (A.K.A. don’t jump off a cliff if Strava Maps tells you to!).
Hire a Kid
Okay… there are no official guides to Starbuk’s.
But if you walk down the road in Paseo Arcenas and turn towards the small Barangay, there are several kids there who will gladly show you the way for a tip!
For kids, something like php50 – php100 will make them happy.
Hiking Spartan Trail
If you’re looking for a longer hike, then you should definitely go on the Spartan Trail!
Starbuk’s is usually a stopover for hikers heading to the Spartan Trail.
It’s a longer hike with steep ascents and descents, a river, a waterfall, and SO much more nature.
I’ll write a complete guide for Spartan Trail soon and put the link here.
But for now, just know that Starbuk’s is the gateway to Spartan Trail and many, many other trails here in Cebu City.
Ready to Hike Starbuk’s?
All signs say Starbuk’s is closing soon, which is incredibly sad.
That’s why if you haven’t been there yet, NOW is the time to go.
So follow this guide, head to Paseo Arcenas, and get hiking.
I promise you, you won’t regret it!