The Ultimate 1–2 Week Cebu Itinerary (South to North)

Lots of travellers to the Philippines use Cebu as a transport hub between Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao, but few of them take time to explore Cebu Island itself.

This is a huge mistake, as Cebu might be the best of the country’s 7,000+ islands when it comes to diversity of attractions. In other words, it has a little bit of everything – jungle, diving, city life, historical villages, fantastic food… the list goes on.

In this itinerary, I’ll lay out a 1-2 week itinerary for exploring Cebu Island. I’d recommend mainly focusing on the southern part of Cebu Island (7-10 days), which this post spends the most time on.

View of Badian Highland Peak in Cebu Island (IrinaBrester/iStock) Kawasan Falls – Moalboal’s iconic cascade (AleksandarRusev/iStock)

If you’re a fan of off-the-beaten-track exploration, the last segment of the itinerary focuses on the northern part of Cebu Island, which will add 3-5 days to the itinerary. The Cebu itinerary pairs well with our guide to Bohol, a smaller and more provincial island just an hour’s ferry ride from Cebu City.

In order to reflect a bit of the diversity that makes Cebu Island one of the most underrated travel destinations, I’ve made sure to include stops of all different types, from awe-inspiring Christian churches to world-famous dive sites. Some of the inclusions are based on my own travels in Cebu, and some are recommendations from locals.

Arrival day

The Mactan-Cebu airport is pretty great. It’s clean and easy to navigate, the immigration procedure is lightning-fast as long as you’ve completed the Philippines eTravel registration within 72 hours beforehand, and it serves a lot of direct international flights so you won’t have to transfer in Manila.

Once you leave the airport, though, my advice is to rent a vehicle and head south as quickly as possible – there’s no need to book a hotel in Cebu City on night one, unless maybe you’re arriving late in the day. The congested metropolis carries none of the naturalistic, laid-back vibes that many love about the Philippines.

Vehicle rental in Cebu City

I highly recommend renting a motorbike to explore Cebu Island without a window between you and its stunning natural beauty.

I rented a motorbike at Saferide, which is a 30-minute taxi ride from the airport. The service was great and you can rent 125cc bikes for $7/day, though I sprang for the Yamaha NMax 155 for $13/day. I also had to pay a $35 deposit I got back when I returned the bike. Saferide throws in vehicle insurance and roadside assistance.

You can also rent a car from Saferide; $21/day for a compact Toyota Wigo and $41 for a Toyota Innova that’s capable of light off-roading. Note that you have to be at least 21 to rent a car.

Whether you rent a bike or car, you can legally drive it as long as you have a valid licence from any country. A photo will not work, though; you need the physical licence. You can rent an electric bike without a licence, but they have weak motors that won’t be able to tackle this itinerary.

This itinerary is based on travelling through Cebu by scooter. Prefer not to do a road trip? Then you can still do most things by public transportation by focusing on key travel hubs like Moalboal and Oslob. Buses to these places leave from Cebu South Bus Terminal. The main activities can be done by using a local tour or arranging a taxi or tuk-tuk, but you might have to skip some of the secondary stops mentioned in this guide.

Southern Cebu (7–10 days)

Simala Parish Church (topten22photo/depositphotos) Osmena Peak Lambug Beach (ibrester/depositphotos)

Carcar City

Carcar City is only 50 km south of the airport, but the town is much more charming and laid-back than Cebu City. It’s got a quaint provincial feel to it, especially at the traditionally-styled public market, the Baroque church, and the old town, all of which ring with ancestral Cebuano architecture and culture while still presenting a bustling market town vibe.

While in Carcar, be sure to go to the central market and get some lechon. Lechon is a fatty roast pig dish famous throughout the Philippines, but Carcar lechon is known far and wide as the best on Cebu.

I’d recommend you stay the night in Carcar – take a look at the $30/night Carcar Eco Farm Resort.

Simala Parish Church

Simala Parish combines the ornate design of a church with the staggering scale of a European castle to create a structure that’s truly unique.

The immense church hugs a hill overlooking plenty of greenery and a man-made pond with gazebos on it. Massive staircases, bridges, arches, spires, prayer halls, and stained-glass windows adorn the imposing but elegant white-grey structure, which felt very surreal.

(topten22photo/depositphotos)

Most of this itinerary will deal in natural beauty, but this manmade structure (which was surprisingly built in the 1990s) is honestly just as majestic as anything I saw in Cebu.

Pro tip, though: go on a weekday. I went during low tourist season and had no issue, but I heard the place gets unspeakably crowded on weekends during peak season.

Hiking at Boljoon

Boljoon is another quaint heritage town, but it is slower-paced and quieter than Carcar.

It’s also a fantastic primer on Cebu’s religious history – Cebu was home to the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines, so it has the deepest Christian Heritage of any island. The huge church complex in Boljoon is a great place to learn about it.

My favourite part of Boljoon, though, were the hikes. The three best ones are:

Spend the night in Boljoon. Cebu Club Ft. Med is $41/night, clean, and in a great location.

Diving with whale sharks at Oslob

Swimming with whale sharks is about as impactful as wildlife experiences get. The water in Oslob is crystal clear and blue, and the swimming temperature was perfect. And the sharks themselves are simply awesome – a word I normally hate because of overuse, but is completely justified in this case.

Diving into the inky, muffled silence of the ocean and feeling the water shift as this smooth skinned, dough-eyed, and harmless mammoth of the deep drifts by is totally unforgettable.

Which tour to book: I went with this Whale Shark Watching Experience from Suroy Cebu Tours. The hardest part was being ready for pick-up at 6 a.m., though it would have been a lot worse if I had been doing the tour from Cebu City and had to be ready at 3:00.

After the pickup, everything was great: the driver was nice, the tour guides spoke great English, the snorkelling equipment was in good shape, and the welfare of the sharks was actually taken into account (something I had worried about beforehand).

Swim With the Gentle Giants

After swimming with the whale sharks, I’d recommend staying in town for a night. I chose Sharky Hostel because it gets good reviews (deserved, though the rooms are cabana-style so bring bug spray) and the $15 price for a private room made me feel better about spending a lot on swimming with the whale sharks.

Waterfall hikes

After passing Hope Chapel in Oslob and turning right, you’ll begin a 25 km stretch of road with three especially notable waterfalls along it.

1. Tumalog Falls, the tallest and most easily accessible of the three at 100 metres.
2. Aguinid Falls: There are multiple tiers you can climb, but they’re slippery; bring water shoes.
3. Dao Falls, which are deeper into the jungle (a 45-minute walk) and feels more secluded.

All three waterfalls are just off the main route and will have road signs leading to them. Local guides can be hired on-site at each waterfall for a few dollars. It’s a much better deal than packaged tours, and the guides speak great English.

Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Falls is known as one of the world’s premier waterfall systems for canyoneering because it’s the perfect convergence of 3 factors:

1. Piercing blue water and deep green jungle scenery are framed just so by the rocks to make it incredibly picturesque.
2. It’s not just a single waterfall, but instead a long canyon system with tons of fun features like tiered cliff-jumping spots and natural slides down smooth rock faces into crystalline swimming holes.
3. It’s not hard to climb or navigate. Even first-time climbers can do it with guides.

After a long day of exploring waterfalls, stay the night at the $26/night Cuestas Beach Resort.

For the full canyoneering experience, you’ll need to go with a tour that will provide safety gear and guidance. Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Tour was recommended by a fellow traveler.

It’s a high-adrenaline trek combining jungle trails, cliff jumps, waterfall rappels, and swimming in turquoise pools, ending at the three-tiered Kawasan Falls

Lambug Beach

Although some of the beaches later in this itinerary are better-known than Lambug, my time there was definitely the most memorable beach day I had on Cebu.

Part of that was because Lambug was almost empty, with only a few Filipino groups there relaxing on the sand or inside the bamboo huts for rent there. Huts cost $10-20/day, depending on the amenities inside, like loungers or karaoke machines.

The overhanging coconut trees, wide expanse of powdery white sand, and jet blue waters made Lambug Beach feel idyllic and exclusive – a nice break from tourist-heavy destinations.

Osmena Peak and Casino Peak

At just over 1,000 metres (3,300 feet), Osmena Peak is Cebu’s highest point. The hike up isn’t too strenuous (only 25 minutes), and the rolling limestone hills you see on the way reminded me of tropical versions of the hobbit holes in Lord of the Rings.

I went in late afternoon during a clear day and it was still surprisingly windy up there, so bring a jacket if you have one. From the summit, I had a nice view of the ocean and Bohol Island.

The hike from Osmena Peak to Casino Peak takes about 40 minutes and covers rocky terrain, but it’s very scenic. Guides available at the base of the mountain are cheap ($1-3) and can link the trails.

Casino peak is not as high up, so you’ll feel more like you’re standing among the fantasy-like limestone mounds rather than looking at them from above. It’s a different experience that’s cool in its own right.

Sardine swim and turtle watch at Moalboal

Panagsama Beach in Moalboal is the most famous snorkelling spot on Cebu for a good reason: you can surround yourself with amazing aquatic wildlife without paying any entrance fee or swimming far away from shore.

Perhaps the best example of this are the massive silver walls of sardine fish you can swim into just a few metres away from shore. I don’t know whether I was more impressed by the fish themselves or by the fact that they were so easy to reach despite the large amount of tourist development on the beach.

You can also see  sea turtles; I found several green and hawksbill turtles napping on coral beds or feeding on algae in the shallow alcoves off less populated sections of the beach.

Unlike other headline attractions on Cebu Island like whale diving at Oslob or canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, the fantastic snorkelling at Moalboal is free and can easily be DIY-ed. Remember to rent good quality snorkelling gear and water shoes, though.

After snorkelling, stay the night in Moalboal. I’d recommend Gerty’s Tourist Inn for $25/night.

(More gems ahead—swipe left )

Local wine (tuba) tour from Ronda to Argao

This eastward route was recommended to me in advance by Philippines travel vlogger Robert Kennedy, who runs the channel Robert’s Island Living Adventures, and it ended up being the best cultural immersion experience I had on Cebu.

At the town of Ronda, head east on Ylaya Road to cut across the island towards the town of Argao. Between the two towns, you’ll wind through coconut groves dotted with stands selling “tuba”, a local specialty sweet-tart coconut wine fermented on-site. It has a unique flavour profile: mild and sugary at first, but with a kick that warms the back of your throat. There’s also an aged variant, bahalina, that has a richer, spicier taste.

Along the road, keep an eye out for rustic huts with bamboo tap systems or a “tuba” sign. You’ll often see locals lounging on benches and sipping rounds in front of the vendors. Most of the shopkeepers on this part of the island don’t really speak English, but perhaps a lounging customer would be amenable to conversation

Remember that you’ll be driving, so don’t drink too much – just enough to get a taste of the local culture. Also, take a good long rest and eat some sweet rice cakes or banana fritters at each stop.

Back to Cebu City

After reaching Argao, head back up to Cebu City. If you want to continue your travels, continue to the northern Cebu itinerary (in the next section) or check out our guide for the nearby Bohol Island.

Northern Cebu (optional, 3–5 days)

Northern Cebu is not as popular as the southern part of the island, but that can make for a better experience since it is not as touristy. Traveling around there definitely has a more “countryside” feel than the South, and I’d recommend visiting the following spots.

Virgin Island (Bantayan) Malapascua Island

Breakfast at 21 Kilometers Coffee

21 Kilometers Coffee is a spot recommended by my local friend, Carl Lambert, who runs a Cebu travel channel called Carl With a Camera.

I made the 21 kilometre drive to the cafe from the city bright and early, and watching the sunrise as I myself rose higher and higher through the mountains was one of the most panoramic experiences of my trip. The views were just as beautiful at the cafe’s patio, which had a great vista of Cebu’s upland jungle.

I got a traditional “barako” coffee, a hot chocolate made with real cacao, and pancakes with eggs and bacon. The food was average, but both the coffee and hot chocolate were exceptional. The cafe apparently roasts its own beans on site, and the cacao is locally-grown.

Cebu Safari Park

I’m a huge fan of ethical zoos, so I loved this place. Most of the habitats are gigantic and the wide variety of animals, including white lions, tigers, crocodiles, and tons of colourful birds, appeared well-fed and happy.

Highlights included taking a shuttle through the “African Savannah” zone, where animals like zebras and wildebeest roam free, visiting the on-site owl sanctuary, and feeding two giraffes lettuce by hand.

The park also has a 1.3 kilometre zipline and gardens of exotic plants and butterflies.

Protip: Try to arrive at 8:00 when the park opens, because the animals are most active in the morning.

Cebu Safari and Adventure Park in Carmen lets you stroll the canopy trail and explore 170 hectares of wildlife like tigers, Philippine deer, and llamas—all in an immersive nature setting that’s very much similar to the wildlife landscape of Africa.

Just two hours from Cebu City, it’s nice to see so many species in one place — with wide, natural enclosures that make the visit feel calm and authentic.

Relaxation at Esoy Hot Springs

At Esoy, I was met by three cascading hot spring pools built into a limestone canyon on three tiers. Each pool provides a different experience:

• The top pool contains water that is milky blue thanks to mineral deposits in the water. One of those minerals is sulphur, so the water has a slightly eggy smell. This is the warmest pool, at around 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit)
• The bottom pool contains clear emerald-coloured water that’s about 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit)
• The middle pool is midway between the water colour and temperature of the other two

Rustic cottages and stone bathtubs beside the steaming natural pools helped to give the place a luxurious spa-like feel, something my mind and muscles were craving after a week of exploration.

Island hopping

The northernmost part of Cebu Island is far from the city, but it still has a decent amount of tourism because the island-hopping there is legendary.

In specific, there are three seaside towns you should try to hit that offer tours taking you to very nearby islands with unforgettable beaches. These are some of the best islands to visit.

book your island-hopping tour

3 Towns for northern Cebu

If you’re looking for a base to explore or to reach the islands mentioned above, then these three places are the ones to pin on your map:

• Bogo City makes for an ideal urban stopover if you’re driving a loop through the north. From the acacia-shaded plaza and park at Bogo’s town centre to its street side eateries selling salted eggs and hanging rice (both Bogo specialties) to the historic church and heritage buildings, the town has a slow-paced charm that’s perfect for cultural immersion.
• San Remigio is where you should head to if you want to island hop to Bantayan and Hilantagaan. From Hagnaya Port near San Remigio you can catch a ferry to Santa Fe, the main settlement on Bantayan Island. Here, you’ll need to arrange a local boat trip to explore Hilantagaan or Virgin Island.
• Daanbantayan is the main waypoint towards Malapascua Island, with ferry services departing from Maya Port. Malapascua island is worth the long way up mostly if you dive, since it is the only place in the world with guaranteed daily sightings of thresher sharks. This unusually long-finned shark species normally dwells at depths up to 550m, but at the Monad Shoal they ascend up to 30-20m where it’s possible for any recreational diver with an advanced open water certification to observe them. If you don’t dive, there are also some snorkelling excursions and the beaches to enjoy.

Back to Cebu City

When you’re done island hopping, take the highway south to Cebu. If you’ve got time, try tackling the nearby island of Bohol using our guide.

I’ve marked down on the route map a good set of roads to take from one destination to the next. As usual, though, I encourage you to forge your own path and explore at your own pace, stopping along the way to check out sights or attractions that catch your fancy.

Immerse yourself in the local backroads culture, and remember that dirt paths are always more rewarding than highways.

So there you have it — all my best tips for Cebu. Excited to explore the rest of Philippines? Then don’t miss my backpacking guide to the Philippines, Palawan travel guide, and Batanes, one of the country’s most remote provinces.

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