" Lead me to the rocks higher than me . . , "
Not all the best view comes after the hardest climb, some come just by simply standing beneath the rocks. Another gorgeous and natural wonder I found that left me mesmerized, was the solid and majestic Marmol Cliff of Tuburan, Cebu, Philippines.
It was partly raining when we head for another adventure. Off we go to one of the hidden treasures of the town of Tuburan. Hidden in the mountains of Tuburan is the awe-inspiring rock formation of the Marmol Cliff.
Marmol Cliff, Tuburan, Cebu Philippines.
Sculpted by weather, wind, and water, Marmol Cliff has attracted the attention of nature lovers, hikers, and trekkers who are searching for a wonderful view at a low cost.
Marmol a local word for Marble, got its name from locals who compared this giant rock formation to the qualities of a Marble Stone. With its crystal white color and smooth and shining surface, one would think it's a Marble Stone. (Is it a marble stone? No one knows. No one is sure about it.) One thing is for sure its scenic and spectacular formation is mesmerizing.
The Rock formation
After several minutes of a roller coaster ride finally we arrived at our destination, the Marmol Cliff. My eyes wander to every detail of the incredible sight. The cliff looks like two giants sitting next to each other giving only space in the middle for the river to pass by. This spectacular sight reminds me of a Greek Gods/Goddesses movie (a title which I couldn't recall anymore). There was this particular part of the movie where there is a huge boulders/mountains in the middle of the ocean, and the boulder will only open for a couple of minutes for the ship to pass by and cross to another part of the ocean. The scene when the boulders opened looks pretty similar to the sight in front of my eyes at that time.
The Marmol Cliff looks like a giant gate, a mysterious passageway into some parts of the mountain. When I arrived I saw the two bamboo rafts and a driver on one of the rafts. He seems like waiting for a passenger. I asked the locals if they made the rafts for tourism purposes. Undeniably it added beauty to the river and the cliff. He smiled and I was surprised to hear that the bamboo raft is used as transport for the locals living behind the cliff to go to town! The only way for them to go downtown is to pass this river that lies in between these majestic rocks. I learned from the local also that the river is chest deep but during the rainy season it gets deeper and wider. At the time of our adventure which happened to rain earlier, the river looks so deep with its dark green color.
I tried riding the raft for a 10peso ($0.18) fare for the back-and-forth ride. I was given a chance to look closely at this incredible cliff. It's beautifully shining in white and looks so smooth. No wonder the locals call it Marmol (Marble). There was also a yellowish and orange color line that appeared at the bottom of the rocks which I guess was due to the river. The water looks deep at the bottom and the entrance part of the rocks. When we passed it through, another beautiful view of the rocks greeted our eyes. The river at this part of the cliff is shallow and clear.
I grabbed the chance for some photo opportunities and even tried climbing and posing on the rock. We spent a couple of minutes examining and indulging ourselves with this newly found picturesque attraction.
How to get to the cliff?
The road up to the cliff is NOT A ROAD!😅
To get to the cliff one must hike, trek, or ride a motorbike passing through shallow and knee-deep parts of the river! And this is what added the thrill, the excitement, and the adrenaline rush of the journey going to the cliff. There is no other route but only through the riverbed!
This river is unique with its rocks, pebbles, and sand. Along the way, you will notice that the river is being quarried for its abundant gravel and sand. The kind of gravel and sand that is best for the construction of houses. Because of this activity, the river becomes bigger and wider each time there's heavy rain. Its soil is rich in gravel and sand and you can see it all over the riverbed.
It is dangerous to pass the river during the rainy season but the locals were used to it. They are also very vigilant to observe when not to pass the river. I heard their municipality is building them bridges and looking for another route for the locals in that area to pass by.
How to find this incredible rock formation?
📍From Cebu City, ride a bus bound to the Municipality of Tuburan. At the terminal/drop-off area, hire a habal-habal driver (private motorbike) going to the Marmol Cliff. Make sure to set the deal of how much is the fare before riding the motorbike. You can negotiate the price if you plan on spending less
If you are into trekking and hiking, the river would surely give you the satisfaction you are looking for but if you want to enjoy the journey to another level and feel the adrenaline rushing while getting mud and water splash then choose to ride a motorbike. Prepare yourself and get ready to be mesmerized.😉
All good things are wild and free.”
― Henry David Thoreau
