Argao is a first-class municipality is around 68 kilometers or a little over two hours of travel by car from Cebu City. A trip on the public bus takes three hours because of stops along the way. When Cebuanos speak of Argao, they refer in the same breath to the Cebu delicacies “torta” (native sponge cake) and “tableya” (native chocolate) — products of indigenous industries started during or even before the Spanish conquest. There is however a lot more to this first-class southern Cebu municipality than its food specialties, visitors soon learn. Tracing its founding as a Spanish pueblo to as far back as 1608, Argao can lay claim to being one of the oldest towns in the province.

TORTA AND SIKWATE. Torta, a type of native sponge cake, and sikwate, native chocolate drink, are the first things that come to mind when you say Argao. Never leave the town without trying these delicacies.

A few other early 19th century structures built inside the “El Pueblo Hispano Antiguo de Argao (old Spanish town of Argao)” or simply “Cabecera de Argao (town center of Argao),” designed according to the Spanish crown’s blueprint for its settlements in the colonies, continue to be used by Argawanons.

History

The history of the municipality of Argao spans more than four hundred years. In fact, when it celebrated its fourth centennial in 2008, the town was celebrating its founding as a pueblo, or town, but it was established as a settlement way before 1608.

Geography

Argao is also home to several nature sites that are every traveler’s dream. It hosts caves, mountain and mountain ranges, rivers, and an accessible waterfall. This first-class municipality is around 68 kilometers or a little over two hours of travel by car from Cebu City. A trip on the public bus takes three hours because of stops along the way. A profile of the town by the Department of Trade and Industry describes Argao as having vast flatlands and plains along its highway. Lands in the center part of the town are mountainous and very steep, it added. As of 1994, according to DTI, Argao has total land area of 21,044.72 hectares. Of this figure, 15,403 hectares are alienable and disposable while 5,350 hectares are classified as forest, reservation, or timberland.

Mission & Vision

Mission Statement

To make Argao as the best & unforgettable travel destination of all time.
To be the top eco-tourism destination in South Cebu

Vision Statement

Argao, as an eco-tourism destination envisions to be environmentally balanced, globally competitive and economically sustainable community.

Culture and Heritage

Pitlagong Festival in Argao

The Color Run Argao

How to go there

By bus

Ceres, Sunrays and RoughRider

Buses and public vans leave regularly for Argao from the South Bus Terminal on N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City. From Argao, tourists can ride on buses that pass by the town on their way to Cebu City.

Travel time is approximately two hours and fare is PhP 85 for air-conditioned Ceres buses, PhP 83 for air-conditioned Sunrays buses, and PhP 79 for non-air-conditioned Sunrays buses. Buses bound for Argao leave every 30 minutes from the terminal as early as 1:00 AM and as late as 10:00 PM. It is best to leave at 5:00 AM, as there can be heavy to moderate traffic in the Talisay and Minglanilla areas around 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.

Within Argao

Modes of transport to get from one place to another in Argao include the habal-habal or motorcycles-for-hire for mountainous routes and short distances and tricycle for areas within the town center.

Famous Delicacies

Torta is one of the delicacies that the Queen City of the South is proud of. It comes in a wide variety of cooking styles, sizes, tastes, and presentations, but the torta that comes from Argao is considered the original and most delicious type.

Bahal Max Sukarap

Tuba maker Randy Sedon warmly welcomed us in his tuba place, Bahal Max Sukarap in Barangay Talaytay, Argao. Tuba is a local wine made from fermented coconut sac. Randy proudly sells his Coconut Wine which is made from Sapot Coconut Sac, finely fermented for more than two years. He shares that if the coconut wine is still new, we call it tuba. A week later, the tuba now tastes somewhat sweet and we call it bahal. To add a bitter taste to the wine, they add tungog. After a year, we call it Tinuig. The coconut wine contains 12% to 14% alcohol content.