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Itineraries

No planning stress. Pick a trip, follow the steps and adjust as you go. Travel times are rough guides, so leave early and keep some slack in the day.

1 day: Cebu City heritage walk

Most of old Cebu City sits within walking distance, so this is an easy first day after you land.

  1. Magellan's Cross marks the 1521 arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.
  2. Right next door, the Basilica del Santo Niño is one of the oldest churches in the country and the heart of the Sinulog festival.
  3. Walk a few minutes to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
  4. Continue to Fort San Pedro, a small Spanish-era fort with shady gardens and harbour views.
  5. In the afternoon, explore the old Parian district: the Heritage of Cebu Monument and the ancestral houses nearby.
  6. Finish with a sunset dinner at Tops Lookout up in Busay. Take a Grab or a taxi and agree on the return ride.

Tip: dress respectfully for the churches (covered shoulders and knees) and carry water. The midday heat is strong.

2 days: South Cebu adventure loop

Sardines, a canyon and a mountain sunrise. It is a full trip, so it suits travellers who like an early start.

Day 1: Moalboal

  • Take an early bus from the Cebu South Bus Terminal to Moalboal (about 3-4 hours).
  • Check in near Panagsama Beach and snorkel the sardine run straight from the shore in the afternoon.
  • Ask your guesthouse to arrange tomorrow's transport to Osmeña Peak and the canyoneering tour.

Day 2: Osmeña Peak and Kawasan Falls

  • Leave well before dawn for Osmeña Peak in Dalaguete, the highest point in Cebu, and watch the sunrise from the top. The final hike is short and easy.
  • Continue to Badian for canyoneering to Kawasan Falls: jump, slide and swim down the canyon with a guide, helmet and life vest.
  • Head back to Cebu City by bus in the afternoon.

Read the full Moalboal guide for the sardine run, sea turtles and Pescador Island.

3 days: Northern island escape

White sand on Bantayan, then thresher sharks off Malapascua. Plan around the ferries and check the weather before each crossing.

Day 1: Bantayan Island

  • Take a bus from the Cebu North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya port in San Remigio.
  • Catch the ferry to Santa Fe on Bantayan Island and spend the afternoon on the powdery white beaches.

Day 2: Slow island day, then Malapascua

  • Enjoy a quiet Bantayan morning, then ferry back to Hagnaya.
  • Travel north to Maya port in Daanbantayan and take the short boat ride to Malapascua.
  • Book tomorrow's dive with a local dive shop.

Day 3: Dawn thresher shark dive

  • Head out at first light to Monad Shoal, where thresher sharks are often seen early in the morning. Diving needs a certification; dive shops can advise on courses.
  • Not a diver? Snorkel, rest on the beach or join an island-hopping trip instead.
  • Return to Cebu City in the afternoon via Maya port and the bus.

Schedules, fares and conditions change. Always confirm boats and tours locally the day before.