A Chapel Inside a Cave – Monte Cueva, Maasin, Southern Leyte
3.2 kilometers away from the city of Maasin is a hidden gem. A more then hundred or even thousand of steps are being experienced just to reach the top. It is also one of the main tourist attraction in Maasin City which is the capital city of Southern Leyte. It is being visited mostly by devotees or any Mother Mary believers.
Traveling to Monte Cueva for the first time? This detailed and curated travel guide will make it easy for you to navigate your way inside, save money, and maximize your time.
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HOW TO GET TO MONTE CUEVA
✓ OPTION 1 (BY VAN)
Entry Point is in ORMOC PORT.
- From the port, walk to Ormoc City Terminal near the Ormoc Public Market/2go Express ticketing.
- Then, ride a VAN bound for Bato/Maasin. Be sure to inform the driver that you will hop off at Monte Cueva, Maasin. Fare is PHP 110.00 – PHP 280.00 ( SGD$ 2.75 ,US$ 2.2, € 1.83) – ( SGD$ 7.00 ,US$ 5.6, € 4.67) . Travel time is about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
✓ OPTION 2 (BY BOAT)
Entry Point is in CEBU PIER 4.
- From Pier 4, ride the Slow Boats (Roble Shipping Lines or Gabisan Lines) & Fast Boat bound for Hilongos. Fare is about PHP 320.00 ( SGD$ 8, US$ 6.4, € 5.33) for Slow Boats and PHP 520.00 ( SGD$ 13, US$ 10.4, € 8.67) for Fast Boats/Crafts. Travel Time is about 5-6 hours for the slow boats and 2-3 hours for the fast boat.
- Then walk or ride a motorcycle to Hilongos Public Market.
- At the Market, ride a van or bus to Monte Cueva, Maasin.
✓ OPTION 3 (BY PRIVATE CAR/VEHICLE)
Entry Point is in ORMOC CITY.
- Just use the “WAZE” or “GOOGLE MAP” app to navigate your way to Monte Cueva.
Exact location: Maasin City, Southern Leyte
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Pre- Travel Tips
✓ When is the best time to visit Monte Cueva?
✓ Travel Must Haves
When is the Best Time to Visit Monte Cueva?
The best months to visit Monte Cueva is on September and April.
Travel Must-Haves
✓ Google Map App – A life-saver for me because without it, I might get lost.
✓ Google Translate – Super powerful app. Translate anything.
✓ Sunscreen – Protect yourself from sunburn or much worse – Cancer.
✓ Pocket Wifi or Sim Card – The convenient of searching anything is a go-to. Please don’t forget this baby. It is a life-saver for me though.
✓ Water Bottle – Bring some if you can. Be hydrated.
✓ Sunglasses – Protect your eyes.
✓ Extra shirt – Sweat is real. Be sure to bring some.
✓ Towel – Bring some.
MONTE CUEVA
Before you can reach the cave with a chapel inside, you get to choose between that picture above. On the left side is the first stairs you can see when reaching Monte Cueva. On the right side is the second stairs you can see when reaching Monte Cueva. There are different pros and cons to deal. But for me, in going to the cave I will do the second stairs, which is in fact the hard one, because it has different statues for stations of the cross. You also get to rest a little while doing the stations of the cross. On the way down, I will do the first stairs because it is easier and will make you feel a little bit relaxed in going home. Hitting two birds in one stone.
Monte Cueva is also called “Our Lady of Assumption Diocesan Shrine – Monte Cueva, Maasin City”. A statue of Our Lady of Assumption can be found at the top of the cave. You need to climb a little bit of stairs to reach it. No need to worry because it will not exhaust you.
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I have remembered that this was where we toured during our high school tours. It really was very cool and then I told my parents about this. They were really amazed, so the year after that we decided to visit this place until it became a yearly tradition with the family.
Plus, you got to see this amazing view. How amazing could that be?
TIPS, NOTES AND REMINDERS
- Bring extra clothes so that in every corner, the outfit is different.
- Visit on weekdays to avoid the crowd.
- Be hungry! lol
Read More: 101 Things to Do in Cebu
IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without Shellwander’s notice. Should you know the updated information, please message me on Facebook.
WHAT’S NEARBY?
✓ 13 Best Things to Do in Ormoc, Leyte
✓ Quadro Ormoc: Foodie Night Market
✓ 5 Must Try Delicacies in Ormoc
✓ Monte Cueva: A Chapel inside a Cave
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MAP TO HELP YOU LOCATE NEARBY ACTIVITIES
Get ready to climb a more than a hundred steps.
Always remember to “Develop your One Days to Day Ones!“
XOXO,
