Camiguin Island
The "Island Born of Fire" off northern Mindanao: a white sandbar, a sunken cemetery, waterfalls, hot and cold springs and sweet lanzones. A slow scooter loop with a short flight from Cebu.
Cebu, Philippines
Your friendly pocket guide to Cebu.
Turquoise beaches, cool mountain trails, old stone churches and the best lechon you will ever taste. Find where to go, what to do and how to get there.
Explore Cebu
Pick a mood. We'll show you where.
Santa Fe and Sugar Beach, Bantayan
The ferry town at the south of Bantayan Island and its long white-sand beach strip. Sugar Beach, calm shallow water, big sunsets, Ogtong Cave and Virgin Island, a half-day trip from Cebu City.
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Corella
Meet a tiny big-eyed tarsier in a quiet Bohol forest: a short guided walk at a conservation sanctuary in Corella, with strict no-flash and no-touching rules.
Camiguin Island
The "Island Born of Fire" off northern Mindanao: a white sandbar, a sunken cemetery, waterfalls, hot and cold springs and sweet lanzones. A slow scooter loop with a short flight from Cebu.
Santa Fe and Sugar Beach, Bantayan
The ferry town at the south of Bantayan Island and its long white-sand beach strip. Sugar Beach, calm shallow water, big sunsets, Ogtong Cave and Virgin Island, a half-day trip from Cebu City.
Hilutungan Island
A tiny island with one of Cebu's oldest marine sanctuaries, about 30 minutes by boat from Mactan. Snorkel a protected reef full of fish, with fees and rules explained.
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Corella
Meet a tiny big-eyed tarsier in a quiet Bohol forest: a short guided walk at a conservation sanctuary in Corella, with strict no-flash and no-touching rules.
Balamban and Mt. Manunggal
Cool mountain air, a winding highway with big views and a quiet memorial where President Magsaysay's plane went down in 1957. An easy hike and a great first camping trip from Cebu City.
Sagada
A cool mountain town in the Cordillera, known for the hanging coffins of Echo Valley, Sumaguing Cave, sunrise over a sea of clouds and pine-scented hikes.
Basilica del Santo Nino and Magellan's Cross
The oldest Catholic church site in the country and the Holy Child image behind it, with Magellan's Cross in its kiosk next door. Free to enter. Pilgrim customs, dress code and etiquette explained.
Casa Gorordo Museum
A 19th-century ancestral house in Cebu City's Parian district. Walk its timber halls, carved arches and family chapel, and learn how four generations of the Gorordo family lived.
Fort San Pedro
The triangular Spanish fort beside Pier 1, where Cebu's story as a city began in 1565. Thick coral-stone walls, three bastions, a quiet garden courtyard and a small museum, for a low entrance fee.
Loboc River Cruise
Bohol's famous floating buffet lunch: drift along the green Loboc River with live music, then see Busay Falls and Loboc's old stone church, an easy day trip from Cebu.
Carbon Market and Larsian
Cebu City's oldest and biggest market by day, smoky barbecue skewers and puso at Larsian by night. A cheap, tasty and very local food trip in the heart of the city.
Sutukil in Lapu-Lapu
Pick your fish, have it grilled, simmered in soup or served as kilaw. How sutukil works at the seafood restaurants beside the Mactan Shrine, and how to order well.
Cebu at a glance
One long island, a hundred kinds of trips.
Cebu stretches nearly 200 km from tip to tip. Start in the city, then head south for sardines and waterfalls, or north for white-sand islands.
Beyond Cebu
Fly out to the Philippines' icons.
Cebu is a great base. Boracay, Siargao, Palawan and more are a short flight or ferry away. Here is how to get there and what to expect.
Loboc River Cruise
Bohol's famous floating buffet lunch: drift along the green Loboc River with live music, then see Busay Falls and Loboc's old stone church, an easy day trip from Cebu.
Siquijor
A small, friendly island of turquoise waterfalls, sunset beaches and old stone churches, best explored on a slow loop by motorbike or tricycle. Now reachable by direct flight from Cebu.
Panglao Island
Bohol's beach island: white sand at Alona, turtles and reef walls at Balicasag, an underground lagoon at Hinagdanan and an easy fast-ferry trip from Cebu.
Ready-made trips
No planning stress. Just follow the booklet.
Cebu City heritage walk
Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Santo Niño, Fort San Pedro, then sunset dinner at Tops Lookout.
See the itinerarySouth Cebu adventure loop
Canyoneering to Kawasan Falls, the Moalboal sardine run and sunrise on Osmeña Peak.
See the itineraryNorthern island escape
Slow days on Bantayan's white sand, then dawn dives with thresher sharks off Malapascua.
See the itineraryTravel tips
Good to know before you go
Cebu to Dumaguete and Siquijor
Three ways from Cebu to Dumaguete (bus and ferry via Liloan, ferry, flight), the boats on to Siquijor, and how to add Apo Island, with rough 2025-2026 times and costs.
Cebu City to Camotes Islands by ferry
How to reach the Camotes Islands from Cebu: fast craft from Pier 1, boats from Danao and Mactan, rough fares and times, vehicles, island transport and the best base towns.
Solo travel in Cebu: how to do it well
Is Cebu easy for solo travellers? Where to base yourself, how to meet people, getting around alone, sensible safety habits, costs and a first solo week.
At a glance
Welcome to Cebu
Cebu City & Mactan
South Cebu
North Cebu
Bantayan & Camotes
Best timeDec to May
MoneyPeso, cash
Cebu Pocket Guide2
Tourist Booklet
The Cebu Pocket Guide
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