Cebu, Philippines
Cebu, Philippines
Cebu is an island destination in the Philippines known for its thrilling outdoor adventures, underwater excursions and memorable wildlife encounters. The island is a hub in the region to visit neighboring islands and destinations across the country.
An Island of Adventures
The underwater world is teeming with an incredible array of life. Outrigger boats ferried us to coral reefs and ocean drop offs where we snorkeled and free dived with giant whale sharks, tens of thousands of sardines and sea turtles. On land, we zip-lined above tropical forests, cannoneered down a turquoise river, swam through waterfalls, jumped from cliffs, boated up jungleous rivers, overlooked the “chocolate hills” and spotted wild tarsiers.
Kawasan Falls & Canyoning
Kawasan Falls is a three tiered cascading waterfall flowing from a turquoise colored mountain river. The river flows down a canyon popular for guided canyoneering adventures with hiking, swimming, cliff jumping, natural waterslides and trapeze style swings.
Jungle Zip Line. The day starts with a 3 hour car ride from Cebu and a further 15 minutes up the mountain on motor bike to reach the jungle zip line. Strapped into body harnesses, we zip-lined 1km side by side, like superheroes, across a lush valley to reach the trail head and river.
Kawasan River Canyon. We plunged feet first into the river and swam briefly down stream with the flow of the current. The bright turquoise hued water seemed to glow all around us. Lead by our guides, we traversed the river canyon and several natural obstacles. We jumped off 7 meter tall cliffs into deep river pools, slid down a natural waterslide and swam through narrow channels & small caves.
Kawasan Falls. We experienced the three tiers of Kawasan Falls from the top down. The uppermost tier spills down rapids, through a narrow cliff and over a 15 meter tall drop. The second tier pours over a wide cliff into a turquoise river pool. We swam behind the waterfall and dove through it back into the lagoon. Downstream a rope swing sways from a cliff into a separate pool near the top of the final tier. The last tier is a forked waterfall that flows into a large turquoise river pool. We swam in its vibrant water while admiring the natural beauty of the waterfall. Book with Cebu Tours on Viator.
Swimming with Whale Sharks
One of the absolute highlights of our time in the Philippines was swimming with the whale sharks! The giant creatures feed just off the coast from the town of Oslob. They’re lured with krill early each morning as snorkelers observe from outrigger canoes and beneath the surface. We snorkeled along side these magical giants, watching as they gracefully swam by. They sucked in krill through their large mouths, slowing waving their fins and tails as they brushed past. Their unique striped and spotted pattern was mesmerizing to see up close. Their impressive size reached lengths of 10 meters, far longer than our boat. We spent about 30 minutes in the water with them before saying goodbye.
Tumalog Waterfall. A dramatic waterfall that cascades down a 100 meter tall cliff surrounded by lush tropical forest. The cliff is a natural green wall, covered in ferns, moss and plants. Water spills over protruding rocks and nodules before reaching the natural pool at its base. We stood beneath it, letting the cool and refreshing water shower us. It’s an easy sight to see after swimming with the whale sharks. Book with Cebu Tours on Viator.
The Sardine Run
The Sardine Run is an incredible spectacle just off shore from the town of Moalboal. Beneath the surface, swirling masses of shimmering sardines swim in vast schools numbering in the tens to hundreds of thousands. We snorkeled and free dived around them, breaking through walls of fish and watching them part ways in perfect unison. It was a surreal experience to experience a sardine run and swim with so many fish.
Pescador Island. A small and unassuming island in the middle of the Tanon Strait. Surrounding it is a thriving coral reef and a 100 meter drop off descending into the deep blue abyss. Strange looking coral formations grow from the reef and its cliffside. They’re home to tropical fish, vibrant blue sea stars, pulsing jellyfish and unseen marine life. We snorkeled and free dived but can only imagine what it’s like to see with scuba gear.
Good to Know. We navigated around pods of golf ball sized jellyfish with long stringy tentacles. Their stings were mild but uncomfortable. We’d recommend wearing a rash guard or wetsuit to protect your skin. On the bright side, the jellyfish attracted a hungry sea turtle eager to feast on them. Motors on outrigger canoes and tour boats are extremely loud. Bring headphones or ear plugs to avoid hearing loss. Book with Cebu Tours on Viator.
Bohol Island
A large tropical island across the Cebu Strait with picturesque landscapes, reserves with endemic primates and Spanish colonial era sights. We explored the island on a day trip from Cebu.
Chocolate Hills. A landscape covered in over 1,000 domed and conical shaped hills. We visited the Chocolate Hills Viewing Deck, a lookout on top of one of the hills. From the view point we overlooked hundreds of them dotting the countryside. At the time, the hills were covered in green grass and called the name, “Avocado Hills” by our guide. During the peak of the dry season, the grass dries giving them their name, Chocolate Hills.
Tarsier Conservation Area. A conservation area home to the second smallest type of primate, the tarsier. The cute animals are no larger than a closed fist. They’re recognizable large buggy eyes and tiny bodies. They’re nocturnal but occasionally open their wide eyes and stare out. We spotted them clinging onto thin trees trunks under canopies of leaves.
Pro Tip. Despite their size, they’re easy to spot. Skip the first few where people are gathering and follow the trail to spot the ones further in.
Loboc River. A green hued river flanked by verdant mountains and lush tropical forest. Palm trees lean over its banks as children swing from ropes into the water. Cold springs and small waterfalls flow into the river at its source. We cruised upstream on a floating restaurant serving classic Filipino dishes while enjoying the picturesque views and musical performances. A barge with locals danced the Tinikling, a traditional folk dance. Participants hop between bamboo poles as they’re smacked together following the rhythm of the music. We were invited up to join in after feasting on a Filipino lunch.
Spanish Colonial Sights. Stop at the Bacalyon Church, the oldest Spanish colonial church on the island and the Blood Compact Monument, the sight where the Spanish Conquistadors made a blood pact with the local tribe.
Getting Here. We took a round trip ferry from the Cebu City to the Tagbilaran in Bohol with Ocean JetFast Ferries. It takes 2 hours to make the crossing with boats operating from early morning to after sunset. Book with Explore Cebu Tours & Travel on Viator.
Places to Eat & Drink
Two restaurants we dined at in Cebu City gave us a flavor for home style local cuisine and elevated Asian flavors.
Pig & Palm. A higher end restaurant with a tapas style menu serving contemporary Asian cuisine. We ordered a spread of artfully arranged dishes including nori rice crackers, squid ink croquettes, miso glazed octopus, chargrilled carrots, steamed snapper and trio of banana desserts. It was an impressive feast as tasty as it was pretty.
Marjo’s Pochero. A local restaurant serving traditional Filipino dishes. Try the smoked bangus, crab relleno, vegetable chop suey and garlic rice.
Filipino Cuisine
Having spent three weeks island hopping across the Philippines, we ate and cooked many traditional Filipino dishes.
Kinilaw. A Filipino style ceviche made with vinegar washed seafood mixed calamansi lime juice, coconut cream, red onions, hot peppers and ginger.
Adobo. A national dish of the Philippines seen on menus across the country. Its base has a seared protein simmered with a sticky soy sauce glaze made with vinegar, brown sugar and pepper.
Garlic Rice. Rice cooked with fresh or fried pieces of garlic. It’s served with almost every meal.
Lumpia. The beloved Filipino style spring roll stuffed with a protein. It’s typically served deep fried and crispy. We made a version using local Bangus fish.
Banana Turon. A breakfast or dessert style lumpia made with fresh banana filling and sometimes ube jam.
Bangsilog. A traditional Filipino breakfast pairing with grilled or fried fish, fried eggs and white rice.
Pancit. A commonly served noodle dish stirfried with carrots and cabbage.
Champorado. A chocolaty rice porridge made with cocoa powder and evaporated milk.
Calamansi Juice. A Filipino juice made with calamansi limes. It has a citrus flavor similar to a mixture of lime, lemon and orange.
Taho. A layered dessert made with silken tofu, tapioca pearls and brown sugar sauce. It’s a common street food dish sold by vendors carrying large steel tins.
Halo Halo. A Filipino “ice cream sunday” layered with a variety of different toppings including shaved ice, sweetened condensed milk, ice cream, sweet corn, red beans, peanuts, banana, mango, ube, jellies and cereals.
Ube. A starchy root vegetable famed for its deep purple color. It’s cooked down into a number of dishes, mostly desserts. We used it to make a sweet jam using a Filipino friend’s family recipe.
Getting Around
Grab. The Southeast Asian ride hailing app is readily available across the city and between the airport. Rides between the airport and city center cost around 600 pesos.
Where to Stay
Stay in Cebu City, using the location as a hub to explore the island. We stayed in an apartment at Cityscape Grand Tower in Cebu City. The central location madetourpick ups and drop offs easy as well as provided us with options for nearby restaurants. Book on Airbnb.
Elsewhere in The Philippines
We spent three weeks island hopping around The Philippines, witnessing its incredible nature and wildlife, experiencing adrenaline rushes on outdoor activities and immersing ourselves in Filipino culture and cuisine. Explore the stunning landscapes and underwater wonders of Palawan. Overlook the vast palm groves and ride the surf breaks of Siarago.
