Best in February

San Francisco, Poro and Tudela, Camotes Islands

Camotes Islands

A quiet group of islands east of Cebu with a wide freshwater lake, cool swimming caves and soft white beaches. Easy by ferry, best explored by scooter.

Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City

Olango Island

A quiet island a short boat ride from Mactan, home to a protected wetland where thousands of migratory birds rest each year. Come for birdwatching, mangroves and a slow island day.

Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova

Mactan Island Hopping

Spend a day on an outrigger boat off Mactan: snorkel in the marine sanctuaries of Hilutungan and Nalusuan, walk the sandbar of Pandanon and eat fresh seafood on a tiny island.

Lambug, Badian, South Cebu

Lambug Beach

A long, quiet stretch of white sand and clear, shallow water in Badian, with views to Negros and lovely sunsets. A relaxed beach close to Kawasan Falls.

Bantayan Island, North Cebu

Bantayan Island

A flat, laid-back island off the northwest tip of Cebu with powdery white sand, shallow turquoise water, island hopping and one of the oldest churches in the country.

Malapascua Island, North Cebu

Malapascua Island

A small, car-free island off the northern tip of Cebu, famous for early-morning thresher shark dives and the powdery white sand of Bounty Beach.

Moalboal, South Cebu

Moalboal

Snorkel straight off the beach into a shoal of millions of sardines, swim with sea turtles and hop to Pescador Island, all from one laid-back town in South Cebu.

Panagsama, Basdiot, Moalboal, South Cebu

Panagsama Beach

The dive-and-chill strip of Moalboal. Walk into the sea at dawn to swim with the sardines, watch the sunset over Negros, then eat and sip your way along one lively beach road.

Oslob, South Cebu

Oslob Whale Sharks

Swim with whale sharks in the morning, cool off at Tumalog Falls and walk a white sandbar on Sumilon Island, all in one easy trip to the far south of Cebu.