A 5-day Cebu itinerary: city, south and north

Five days is a good amount of time for a first taste of Cebu. You can see the old city, swim with sardines, jump into turquoise river pools and still have time to relax on a beach. This plan starts and ends in Cebu City and gives you two choices for the middle of the trip: the south for waterfalls, mountains and snorkelling, or the north for quiet white-sand islands.

Travel times are long by bus, so the plan keeps moves to a minimum. Leave early in the morning and you will lose less of the day to the road.

Day 1: Cebu City

Land at Mactan airport and head into the city. Our guide to getting from Mactan airport to Cebu City explains the options.

• Walk the historic centre: Magellan's Cross, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and Fort San Pedro are close together.
• Wander through the busy streets around Colon and Carbon Market.
• In the evening, try lechon, puso and street barbecue. See what to eat in Cebu.
• Dress modestly for the basilica: covered shoulders and no very short shorts.

Option A: the south (days 2-4)

The south is the most popular choice, and for good reason. Base yourself in Moalboal for three nights. Buses leave from the Cebu South Bus Terminal and take about 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic.

• Day 2: Travel to Moalboal. In the afternoon, snorkel off Panagsama Beach to see the famous sardine run and, with luck, sea turtles. End with sunset on White Beach.
• Day 3: Go canyoneering in Badian and finish at Kawasan Falls. Book with an accredited operator. Read our canyoneering guide first.
• Day 4: Take an island-hopping trip to Pescador Island, or rest on Lambug Beach. Early risers can hike Osmeña Peak for sunrise.

Want to see the far south instead? Oslob, the old church at Boljoon and Aguinid Falls in Samboan make a good alternative. Allow extra time, as the south-east coast road is long.

Option B: the north (days 2-4)

If you prefer quiet beaches and slow island days, head north. Buses leave from the Cebu North Bus Terminal.

• Day 2: Take a bus to Hagnaya port in San Remigio, then the ferry to Bantayan Island. Settle in at Santa Fe and enjoy the sunset.
• Day 3: Rent a bike or scooter to explore Bantayan's beaches, or join an island-hopping trip to the small islands nearby.
• Day 4: Relax, or swap Bantayan for Malapascua if you are a diver and want to try the thresher shark dive. Malapascua is reached from Maya port at the northern tip of Cebu.

Doing both islands in five days is possible but rushed. If you want to see both, add one or two days to your trip.

Day 5: back to Cebu City

Travel back to the city in the morning. If you have time before your flight, stop at Carcar on the way from the south for lechon and old houses, or visit Busay in the hills above Cebu City for views over the city. Leave plenty of time for traffic to the airport, especially in the late afternoon.

Getting around

• Buses are cheap and frequent, but slow. See getting around Cebu.
• A private car with driver saves time if you are a small group sharing the cost.
• Ferries and small boats depend on the weather. In the rainy months, keep a spare day.

Tips for this itinerary

• Book rooms ahead for weekends, Christmas, Holy Week and Sinulog in January.
• Carry cash. Card payment is limited outside the city.
• Pack light: you will move between buses, boats and tricycles. Our Cebu packing list helps.
• Check the best time to visit and, from about June to November, read about typhoon season travel.
• Do not book a tight connection to another island on your last day. Delays happen.

If it rains

A rainy day does not have to spoil the trip. Swap a beach day for a city day: visit the museums and old churches of Cebu City, have a long lunch of lechon, or go to one of the big malls. Waterfalls look their most powerful after rain, but rivers can turn brown and canyoneering may be paused, so ask locally first. Boat trips are often cancelled in rough weather, so keep them flexible and move them to a calmer day if you can.

Have more time? Add the Camotes Islands, or hop over to Bohol with our Cebu to Bohol ferry guide.

Photo: "Pescador Island (Unsplash)" by Ken Suarez kensuarez, via Wikimedia Commons, released into the public domain (CC0).