ISLANDS AROUND CEBU
Cebu City has a lot to offer but you don’t have to travel far to see some of the other amazing islands just off the coast. Here are some of my personal favorites.
This quaint little island sits at the north end of Cebu, which is only a 3 hour bus ride and a quick ferry away from Cebu City. Malapascua island was battered by Typhoon Haiyan years ago but has recovered significantly. The scuba diving here is known for thresher sharks, which are only visible in the early mornings. So I wouldn’t recommend bar hopping before the early 4 am wake up call. There isn’t much else to do on this island but soak up the sun, enjoy the pristine beaches and visit the local basketball courts for some weekend fiestas. But it makes for a wonderful weekend getaway.
This group of small islands sits off the north east side of Cebu. Drive up to Carmen for a little over an hour and take a quick ferry over to these islands. My recommendation is to rent some motorcycles and explore the islands. There is an amazing cliff jump at Buho Rock Resort as long as the tide is high and a cave to explore on the east island called Bukilat.
Moalboal is on the southwest side of Cebu Island. Just off the coast is Pescador Island, which is a scuba divers dream. You can circumvent the entire island in one dive. Make sure to ask if there are sardines in the area because it is an incredible experience diving around them. It feels like you are swimming through silver shimmering mirrors. Occasionally this area will even get a rare whale shark passing. The best place to stay here is Hale Manna – the owner is a dream and will treat you with true Filipino hospitality.
Kawasan Falls is only a 20 minute bus ride away from Moalboal. These falls are what Instagram husbands are made for – you can take a little raft into the aqua blue water and get drenched under the falls. There are also some trekking tours that will take you up and down the falls through some treacherous conditions, leaving you tired, jittery but amazed at the surroundings.
The famous whale sharks flock here but I wouldn’t recommend this as the best place to see them. Their migration cycle has been disrupted in order to appease the tourists. They feed the whale sharks here to keep them around and the swimming area is fairly small. For a much more genuine experience, try Donsol from the months of February to May.
While there is absolutely nothing to do in Oslob but see the whale sharks, there is a small island off the coast called Sumilon that makes the stay worthwhile. It is owned entirely by a resort called Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort, a true romantic getaway. On your way into the island, there is a massive sandbar to enjoy. And if you don’t have the money to stay the night out here, there are some day trips to the sandbar from Oslob and nearby Dumaguete.