15 Best Things To Do in Cebu, Philippines

Cebu is one of the most popular destinations to visit in the Philippines, and for good reason.

This vibrant island is a hub of culture, history and adventure, offering visitors a wide range of activities and attractions to explore. We did just that during our time here, so I hope this Cebu guide helps you plan your travels.

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Cebu Guide: The Best Things To Do

1. Scuba Diving In Cebu

Many people travel to Cebu to go scuba diving or get their PADI certification as the island is surrounded by crystal-clear warm waters which house an impressive marine life, including large species such as manta rays, whale sharks, and the rare thresher shark.

Moalboal specifically is meant to be the place to be for scuba diving, and here is a list of the best places to go diving.

Note that the PADI certification takes 3 days on average to complete, so you need to factor this time in to your trip.

We opted to save a day of our holiday by doing the e-learning and examination at home, in advance. So we only needed two full days of PADI training.

You can also opt for a try dive if you aren’t interested in a certification. This is something we did in Tulamben, East Bali, try diving at the USAT Liberty shipwreck.

There are so many things you need to tick off on a Philippines bucket list, but this has to be one of the highlights for me.

2. Swim With Whale Sharks In Oslob

While there is some controversy surrounding whale shark tourism on Cebu Island, one of the main attractions here is the opportunity to swim with whale sharks in Oslob.

There are dozens of local whale sharks that visit Oslob every morning and swimming with the Cebu Island whale sharks is one of the most popular activities here. I thought I’d include it in this Cebu guide so that you can make your own informed decision.

If you are staying in Oslob, then you’ll need to walk down to the whale shark area at around 6:30 am; pinned as ‘Oslob Whale Shark Watching‘ on Google maps. Here, you’ll get a briefing and line up for your boat where you’ll get to swim with the sharks that visit the shore every day.

If you aren’t staying in Oslob, then I recommend booking this whale shark tour with lunch. This trip includes hotel pickup bright and early in the morning and return transfers from hotels in Moalboal or Cebu.

3. Visit Sumilon Island Near Oslob

This island is only a 15-20 minute boat ride from Oslob and is run by the Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort, but you can visit the island on a day trip even if you’re not staying here for around a $1 USD entrance fee.

Sumilon Island is a small sandbar island located on the eastern side of Cebu, close to Oslob and is perfect for swimming in crystal clear waters, snorkelling in a protected marine sanctuary and simply just enjoying the tropical island vibes. You can even book this tour to the private island with a whale shark swim which includes pick up from hotels in Cebu City, Mactan or Lapu-Lapu City.

If you have time on your trip though, I’d recommend adding an overnight trip to Sumilon Island to your Cebu/Philippines itinerary.

4. Dive With Thresher Sharks In Malapascua Island

If diving is your bag and you’re looking to do something unique in Cebu that will get your heart racing, then look no further.

Although the Philippines are bursting with hundreds of different shark species, most divers visit in the hope of seeing the famous Thresher shark. Known for their unique tail and interesting hunting habits, Threshers are frequent, consistent visitors to Malapascua Island.

It was only discovered about a decade ago that Thresher sharks like to collect here, so this is what the island is famous for. There is no surprise why shark enthusiasts continue to flock here.

5. Go island-hopping in Cebu

No Cebu guide would be complete without mentioning island-hopping! As Cebu is surrounded by plenty of stunning islands and beaches, island-hopping is a popular activity to explore some of the most beautiful and serene spots in the area. You can book this tour or make your own way to each one.

Some of the most popular islands to visit include Mactan, Caohagan, Gilutungan and Bantayan Island.

Caohagan is one of the most famous islands to visit from Cebu.

Olango Island is a popular spot, known for its marine life and inland activities.

Also known as Hilutungan Island, Gilutungan is yet another island that is perfect for both island activities as well as diving. Gilutungan is a dedicated marine sanctuary that offers a vibrant marine life, perfect for all divers.

Bantayan Island is a small island off the coast of northern Cebu. Don’t be fooled by this sleepy fishing village, the beaches of this humble island exude the same charm and beauty as the famous Boracay Island – without being so crowded and commercialised.

Blessed with several sprawling white-sand beaches and calm azure waters, most of the beaches in Bantayan Island are part of resorts or owned privately, but they are accessible to the public for a small fee or through a tour like this.

When you go island hopping, ensure to pack plenty of drinks, snacks and lots of sun screen. There is little to no chance that sun screen will be some sold on some of the islands and refreshments aren’t always guaranteed. If they are, you’ll be paying a premium for them.

6. Explore The Historical Cebu City

Chances are, if you’re heading to Cebu you’ll pass through Cebu City; the heart of Cebu Island and one of the largest cities in the region.

Visit the historic Magellan’s Cross, Basilica del Santo Niño, Taoist Cemetery and Fort San Pedro to immerse yourself in the island’s rich history and cultural heritage.

Other points of interest also include the Cebu heritage monument, the Taboan Public Market, the 1730 Jesuit House and the Yap San Diego Heritage House.

In all honesty, Cebu City is very crowded and not for everyone. I personally don’t enjoy cities on tropical islands, however it might be your bag and so there are definitely some local spots and historic sites worth adding to your Cebu itinerary, especially since you’ll be passing through anyway.

Hotels and accommodation in Cebu city are very cheap and there are also tons of huge shopping centres making stocking up on supplies easier than in remote places.

7. Visit Sirao Garden

Also known as Little Amsterdam or the Mini Holland of Cebu, Sirao Garden is an underrated gem near Cebu City. It is a beautiful garden, designed by a Dutch woman to capture the essence of Amsterdam.

It does just that.

With the brilliant design; a canal, bikes, a giant clog and beautiful flower beds. The views are breathtaking and the gardens tendered to so beautifully.

Unsurprisingly, it is now an Instagrammers paradise as there are several structures where one can pose for photos against lovely beautiful mountainous backdrop, the most famous being the giant hands.

8. Go Canyoneering and Discover The Beauty Of Kawasan Falls

Located in the municipality of Badian, Kawasan Falls is a mesmerising three-tiered waterfall that should not be missed. Take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear turquoise waters or try Canyoneering Experience in Kawasan Falls for an exhilarating adventure. In fact, this activity is one of the most booked tours on the island– and for good reason.

Experienced guides will take you through several waterfall slides and jungle cliff jumps. The highest cliff jump is 13 meters. However, all jumps are optional.

If you’re staying near or in Moalboal, you’ll be able to book a tour online for around £30 that includes hotel pickup which is really convenient, and it includes lunch too!

9. Swim With Turtles In Moalboal

Cebu has a huge population of sea turtles that tend to gather just outside Panagsama Beach in Moalboal.

While turtles are definitely not the only thing you’ll spot while snorkelling in Cebu, they are spectacular! I recently swam with sea turtles in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and it was a truly wonderful experience.

You can book a Moalboal island hopping tour which includes swimming with sea turtles and canyoneering at Kasawan Falls, along with hotel pick up and drop off.

You don’t need to be a swimmer to enjoy swimming with turtles, so definitely add this activity to your list of things to do in Cebu!

10. Snorkel With The Moalboal Sardines – The Most Unique Thing To Do In Cebu

While you’ve still got your mask and fins on, you can swim alongside Cebu’s famed sardine balls in Moalboal, where a school of countless sardines glide within your reach. As they swim, they create amazing patterns and turbine into each other.

It’s an amazing experience as the sardines block out the sun and form an underwater tunnel around you. If you’re lucky, you might see the larger hunting fish that shoot into the sardine ball and it’s an experience unlike any other. It’s no wonder that swimming with the sardine balls is often referred to as one of the best things to do on Cebu Island.

Conveniently, the best place to find the sardine balls is the same place where the local sea turtles like to hang out, right off Panagsama Beach.

11. Chase Endless Tropical Waterfalls

Cebu is known as the island of blue-water waterfalls and there are literally 1000s of waterfalls in the jungles of Cebu. Most of these are easily accessible via a motorbike for the independent adventurer.

There are far too many to list, but the popular (and hidden) ones include:

• Kawasan Falls is arguably the most popular waterfall in Cebu, where people go canyoneering.
• Aguinid Falls has become one of the most popular waterfalls on the island of Cebu. While it may never surpass the popularity of Kawasan Falls down the road, the Aguinid Falls trek is a great, adventurous activity for explorers of all levels.
• Inambakan Falls – known for having a beautiful 100-ft waterfall that plunges into a wide pool of blue water.
• Kabutongan Falls – the trek is one of the most magical adventures on the island of Cebu. The trail follows the blue waters of a narrow stream up the canyon until you reach Kabutongan Waterfall, where you will find a hidden cave behind the waterfall and several different cliff-jumps!
• Montpellier Falls isn’t the most popular waterfall in Cebu amongst tourists. In fact, most probably don’t know about this hidden gem, but it is a great little watering hole without much of a hike.
• Cambais Falls is an amazing waterhole in the hills of Alegria, Cebu. It’s less than an hour drive from Moalboal and there are several other great waterfalls nearby to make an epic waterfall adventure day.
• Mantayupan Falls in Barili is the highest waterfall in Cebu and supposedly one of the most beautiful.

12. Visit Bohol For A Countryside Tour

We took the ferry from Cebu to neighbouring island Bohol and spent the night there, but it isn’t necessary and can be done in a day trip as the islands are so close by.

I’d highly recommend the Bohol Countryside Tour, which is the most popular thing to do there, and though the islands are close by, they’re so different in terms of vibe. Each island seems to have it’s own personality which makes for a lovely experience.

You visit the famed Chocolate Hills, get to see the endangered tarsiers at the conservation centre, go on a fabulous Loboc river lunch cruise and can choose to ride a buggy, ATV or zip wire amongst other things.

In my opinion, you can’t visit Cebu and not go to Bohol. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

13. Hike Up To Osmeña Peak

Osmeña Peak is the highest point on Cebu Island at 1013 meters above sea level and you can hike up to the best viewpoint in Cebu.

This spot is a popular place to visit for hikers because of the incredible mountain views it offers. From the top, you’ll witness an expansive vista of jagged hills sloping down to the ocean. Similar to the views from the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

14. Visit Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary & Art Gallery

In Cebu City, Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary is not just a butterfly sanctuary but an art gallery too. Built in 1974, the garden contains 50 magnificent types of butterfly fluttering around.

Visitors receive a tour and lecture on the various stages of the butterflies’ lifecycle. The sanctuary also houses a collection of artworks made from butterfly wings.

A morning visit between February and June is ideal as it is breeding season between those months.

15. Ride In A Filipino Tricycle Taxi – Cultural Thing To Do In Cebu

I’m not going to lie, my first experience of this was terrifying.

In the pitch dark, down a steep hill in what looked like the middle of nowhere. The driver spoke no English, and I was holding on for dear life as he floored it in his rattly tin can on wheels, swerving side to side as he sped down the hill in the monsoon rain.

I know I’m not really selling it to you, but it was fun!

I promise.

Travel is all about the adventure and experiences after all.

Tricycles are the cheapest way to get around Cebu, similar to Tuk Tuk’s in Thailand for example and it’s an experience you cannot miss.

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This Cebu guide highlights are just 15 of the best things to do in Cebu. I would recommend hopping over to Bohol from here on a ferry and then flying to El Nido. Here is how to spend 2 weeks in The Philippines, the ultimate itinerary.

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