Cebu Island, in the Philippines, is one of the top tourist destinations. People come here to enjoy the beautiful blue falls, pristine beaches and vibrant underwater world. They also want to complete some breathtaking hiking trails. Our South Cebu itinerary relies on you making your way as quickly as possible down south to Moalboal.
Here is where the majority of the island’s action and adventure takes place. We have visited Cebu on several occasions and decided to create a South Cebu Itinerary, our complete adventure travel guides designed to help you get the most out of this incredible area.
We have been to Cebu several times, but it was not until our second visit that we really began to appreciate how wonderful this part of the globe is. There are many hidden gems in Cebu. The main attractions like Kawasan Falls canyoneering or diving are fantastic, but there are also many other things to do. We booked our accommodation in Moalboal initially for two nights, but kept extending it because there were so many activities to do in South Cebu. We quickly realised that southern Cebu was an adult playground, and a dream destination for adventure seekers. A week of hiking and cliff jumping is the best way to spend your vacation.
Where to Stay in South Cebu
As we have already mentioned, we recommend that you head south immediately. Cebu City’s Mactan-Cebu International Airport is where most travellers arrive, but we recommend that you don’t spend any time there unless absolutely necessary. We stayed here for a few nights in between flights, and to extend our Philippines visas. But we recommend rushing through Cebu City on your way south.
Moalboal is our choice for the best place in the southern region to explore Cebu. It has everything you need for an epic trip. It is centrally located and within easy reach of the most beautiful parts of Cebu. There are many places to eat great food, strong wifi, lots of travellers and a variety of options for accommodation.
Our South Cebu itinerary can also be used as a Moalboal-based itinerary, since we recommend staying in Moalboal. If you choose to stay somewhere else in South Cebu the itinerary will still outline all the best activities for the area.
Here are our top choices for places to stay in Moalboal
Budget: J&C Guesthouse – Our choice for budget accommodation and where we stayed while in Moalboal. A private double with air conditioning costs 1000PHP (19.56 USD). Breakfast is included in this price. The beach is only a short distance away and there are many good restaurants nearby.
Mid-range: Moalboal Shaka Traveler’s Place – If you want to stay right on the beach but not break the bank then this is the place for you. They have their private beach area as well as a great terrace from which to watch the sunsets each night. Shaka also has dorms available for those looking for a more social environment.
Luxury: The Blue Orchid Resort – A much more luxurious way to enjoy Moalboal. They have a great pool, a dive centre on site and are located right on water.
Getting to South Cebu & Moalboal
Cebu City is where most people arrive first. To get to Moalboal, you will need to reach the Cebu South Bus Terminal either from the airport or your accommodation. Grab, which has become the Asian equivalent of Uber, can be used to reach the bus terminal.
Ceres Tours runs the Bato via Barili buses. This bus departs from bay 4 at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Buses are running frequently all day and until evening. This means that buses will run until no one is waiting to travel.
We recommend travelling in the daytime if you can, as you won’t be able to rely on catching the bus late at night. Our bus arrived at 8:30pm, and it was possibly the last bus for the night. The trip to Moalboal will take approximately 2 hours and 45 mins and cost 156PHP (3.05 USD) per passenger. Most of these buses are air-conditioned, large coaches that provide a comfortable ride.
You will be dropped off in the centre of Moalboal once you arrive. The main tourist area of Moalboal is not the centre but rather Panagsama Beach. To get to this area, you’ll need to take a habal-habal or trike. If you arrive early in the morning, the trip should only cost 50PHP (1 USD) per person. However, if it is late at night, the price will be higher. We paid 180PHP (3.52 USD) at 11.30pm for a trike.
Getting Around Cebu Island
Cebu is a large island, so you’ll need a reliable mode of transportation to get around. Rent a scooter in Moalboal. It is so much easier to be able to hop on a bike and go wherever you want.
Scooter rental in Cebu costs about 300PHP (5.87 USD) a day. The roads here are well maintained. The roads are not too crowded, making it easy to drive a scooter.
If you don’t like driving a motorbike, there are other options. You can hire a tricycle or habal habal with a driver to get around the island. However, this will cost more than renting a motorbike. Local buses service the main roads of the island, but they are rarely able to take you where you want. Once you leave the bus, you’ll need to take a taxi to your final destination.
Some tour operators will pick you up from your hotel in Moalboal to take you exploring. This is convenient, but it does not allow you to visit some of the less-visited destinations and can be more expensive than the DIY version.
South Cebu: Things to do
Canyoning Kawasan Falls
This is usually the first thing people think of when deciding what to see and do in Cebu. Kawasan Falls, located in the Philippines, is the most popular and famous waterfall. The water flows through the mountains and into a number of Gatorade-blue pools. It is a truly beautiful place.
Kawasan has a canyoneering course that is a real treat. You start at the top of the waterfall and work your way down by swimming, sliding, and cliff-jumping. This is an adrenaline-filled adventure and a great way to spend a day.
The guides will guide you down these incredible falls. They know the best and most thrilling routes. Canyoneering can be a lot of fun, but to be able do it in such a spectacular place is even better.
Snorkeling with Sardine Baitballs
Moalboal’s sardine balls are famous for their size. They can be seen swimming just a few meters from Panagsama Beach. These giant black schools are formed by thousands of fish swimming together. If you dive amongst them they will circle you and incorporate you in their ball. We have done free diving around the globe and this was definitely the coolest and most unusual thing we have ever seen underwater.
It is very easy to reach. No need to go on a boat, or even scuba-dive as the sardines swim near the shore. They are about 20 metres away from shore, and they swim only a few metres under the surface of the sea.
To find the lure balls, head to Panagsama Beach. Then turn left. Follow the beach to a yellow pier extending into the ocean. The bait balls are located just past this pier.
Swim with the Resident Turtles
Moalboal is home to a large number of turtles. The turtles are in the seagrass garden in front of Chili Bar. It is here that they come to eat and there are always a lot of turtles eating and hanging out.
We saw eight turtles while swimming here. This is a very common occurrence. Turtles are often found near the baitballs, so you could do both snorkel spots at once.
Osmeña Peak
Cebu has a few great hikes that offer amazing views of the unique mountainous terrain. Osmeña Peak is about 1.5 hours drive from Moalboal and is a short hike that offers an impressive 360-degree view from the top.
Hiking can be a difficult task in the Philippines. Even a short walk can seem difficult because of the heat and humidity. Luckily, it only takes 15-20 minutes to climb to the top of Osmeña Peak to catch a glimpse of the hundreds of rounded hilltops scattered across the countryside.
This hike costs 30PHP ($0.59USD) per person. You do not need to hire a guide. The trail is relatively easy and very easy to follow. This hike was completed in the middle of the afternoon and we didn’t find it difficult in the heat. Hiking Osmeña offers something a little bit different to the diving and waterfalls that Cebu is famous for.
Casino Peak (Lugsangan Peak)
While Casino Peak is nowhere near as popular as Osmeña Peak, we actually thought it was even better. It is just a 10-minute drive from Osmeña making it easy to do both hikes on the same trip. The views afforded you at the top of Casino Peak are similar to that of Osmeña, however there are no crowds here.
We shared the top of Osmeña with around 15 people while we had Casino Peak all to ourselves. It’s always a treat to be able to enjoy a place this nice with no one else around.
Island Hopping on Pescador Island
To discover more of the underwater world around Cebu, jump on a boat tour to Pescador Island which is in the Tañon Strait. Pescador is popular due to its vibrant coral reefs and teeming fish. The reefs are relatively shallow so you don’t need to scuba dive. Bring a snorkel.
Scuba Diving
The waters surrounding Moalboal offer some of the best diving in the world. The water is crystal-clear, warm and the visibility is superb. You can discover a vibrant underworld beneath the surface.
Divers have a variety of options. You can dive from the shore, which involves diving with huge schools of sardines. A shore dive costs approximately 1100PHP (21.50USD).
The most popular option is to take a boat out and visit the plane wreck, Pescador Island, or other dive sites. Divers can choose from a variety of diving options, including deep-water dives, macro life, large drop offs, and amazing corals. Boat dives begin at around 1300PHP (25.42USD).
Lambug Beach
This is a beautiful beach on Cebu. It is a great spot to escape the crowds. This beach is a stretch of white sand that is scattered with palms and has very few people. It’s a 30-minute drive away from Moalboal, and the last part of the drive is beautiful. As you start to descend the hill towards water, you’ll see the clear aquamarine.
Final Thoughts
Cebu was not on our radar, but the epic waterfall adventures and hiking opportunities made us fall in love. Our South Cebu itinerary is designed to give you a week of action and to allow you to see everything in this amazing region of the Philippines. We know that our itinerary is packed with activities and will keep you busy for a week, but you won’t be able to stop once you begin to explore the region.
