This post was written by Gordon Reid.

Looking for somewhere new to visit that’s not too far or expensive? Do you like sun, sea, and beaches? Good! Like diving and snorkelling, too? Even better! Want a bit of history and culture thrown in? Then Cebu could be just the thing for you. Join Gordon Reid for a tour of this worthwhile Philippine destination.

Many readers might know that the island of Cebu (not to be confused with the similarly pronounced Sibu in Sarawak) is located in the Central Visayas, almost smack in the middle of the Philippines archipelago. What you may not know is that Cebu City, with just under 900,000 inhabitants, is the second-largest town in the Philippines – and so has very decent shopping and nightlife. Or that Cebu was actually the site of the very first European settlement in the Philippines.

See Also: Top 11 Philippine Destinations for Tourists

Rich History, Natural Beauty

Let’s begin our tour with a bit of history. It was none other than Fernando Magellan (of world circumnavigation fame) who, after converting the local ruler to Christianity, first planted a cross in Cebu in 1521 – a cross which, incidentally, still stands and is one of the sights of Cebu City. Unfortunately for Magellan, he fared less well with the rulers of neighbouring Mactan, and ended up dying in battle with them. Despite that inauspicious start, Cebu’s long colonial history has left some attractive churches, a small fort, and various other historical monuments to visit. Cebu City also houses the historical Sugbo Museum; and, in Colon Street, the oldest street in all of the Philippines. All worth a look.

The main attractions around Cebu Island are, however, natural rather than manmade. Foremost among them are some breathtaking beaches. You do not need to go far: there are some decent white-sand beaches on Mactan Island (where the airport is located), right next to Cebu City. However, if you are prepared to venture a little further to some small nearby islands, you will be rewarded by some absolutely stunning – and generally uncrowded – beaches. Top beach destinations include Bantayan Island, the Camotes Islands, Sumilon Island, and Malapascua. All of these have a good range of resorts and prices to choose from.

Beyond the beaches, Cebu also has some fine sightseeing for nature lovers. Check out in particular Osmena Peak in the south of the main island, which offers great views out to sea to both the east and west. There are also waterfalls, wildlife and bird sanctuaries, caves, and more to explore.

A Diver’s Paradise

Cebu not only has some great historical and natural sights to see; it also has some fantastic sites – specifically dive sites. The most famous of these is Malapascua (no 1 on the map), a small island off the northern tip of Cebu, where experienced divers can see the majestic thresher shark, whose long, sweeping tail is longer than its entire body! Also excellent is Moalboal (no 2 on the map) on the southwestern coast of the main island, which has an abundance of great walls and sloping reefs, all within easy reach of popular resorts. Stay on the main Panagsama Beach to be conveniently located to the best dive spots; or go slightly further north to White Beach if you also want a fine sandy beach to relax on.

Alternatively (or additionally), how about snorkelling with the largest fish in the ocean, the whale shark? To do that, take an excursion to Oslob in the south (no 3 on the map). These huge fish, which can reach 12 meters in length, are attracted by being handfed on bucketloads of plankton, their staple diet. This makes the experience a bit contrived, but on the other hand, it guarantees that you will get up close and personal with these mighty, but gentle, creatures.

Beyond Cebu

If you have made it to Cebu, why stop there? Cebu’s main neighbouring islands, Bohol in the east and Negros in the south and west, also have much to offer the holidaymaker. Below are a few highlights I have personally tried out.

First up is Bohol. Its best known tourist area is probably Alona Beach on Panglao Island (no 9 on the map), just south of the main town of Tagbilaran. The beach itself is typically Philippines: gently sloping with white sand. The diving and snorkelling around Panglao and nearby tiny Balicasag Island are first class. And if and when you fancy a break from the beach and sea, take an excursion into the centre of Bohol to see the natural wonder of the Chocolate Hills: over 1,000 mound-shaped limestone formations, whose grassy covering turns chocolate brown in the dry season – hence the name.

My second pick is the large-ish island of Siquijor (no 14 on the map), which is in Negros Oriental close to the main city of that province, Dumaguete. Siquijor is a well developed holiday island, with fabulous long golden-sand beaches and a coastline dotted with a variety of resorts to fit every taste and budget. The resort we stayed at was quite luxurious, yet reasonably priced (including an excellent spa/massage). A Saturday night barbeque banquet on the beach, to the tuneful accompaniment of some really good Filipino singers and musicians, was one of the highlights of our stay.

The other highlight – and my own main reason for going – is the diving. Like elsewhere in this region, the reefs are in very good condition, with a mixture of lush colourful soft and hard corals. We saw a wide variety of marine life, with the macro (very small strange creatures) being particularly good. If, on the other hand, you grow restless with the sea and beach, you can hire yourself a small motorcycle (either taxi or self-drive) and explore the rest of the island on surprisingly good roads, especially the relatively new ring road.

Getting There and Around

Getting to Cebu nowadays is easy. Air Asia Zest operates daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Cebu Mactan Airport. The flight takes just under four hours. There are also several direct flights daily from Singapore to Cebu.

Getting around the area can be a bit time-consuming (like many places in the Philippines). But if you are prepared to take local buses and ferries, as I have, it is both very cheap (e.g., RM10-15 for a long distance bus) and surprisingly comfortable (aircon, in-bus video). Alternatively, especially if you are a family or small group, you can arrange or hire on the spot a local taxi to take you directly from Cebu Airport to your destination or port. Don’t forget to insist on the meter, or barter hard, or both!

Moalboal, to take an example, is a little over two hours by local bus from Cebu City (rather less by taxi), plus a 10-minute tricycle taxi ride from the town to the beach. Malapascua Island in the north is around three hours by bus, followed by a half-hour boat ride. Bantayan Island is a little less by land, but the boat transfer is longer. Further afield, to get to Bohol you take a large ferry from Cebu Port to Tagbilaran (1.5 hours), then a trike or taxi to Alona Beach (45 minutes). For Siquijor, you have to take two ferries: first to either Tagbilaran on Bohol (where you could stop over at Alona Beach) or all the way down to Dumaguete on Negros; then a connecting boat from there.

All this may sound a bit complicated. But travelling around and drinking in the local atmosphere is, for me at least, part of what a memorable holiday is all about. So relax when you are on that bus, taxi, or ferry on the way to your resort! Look out the window; or, better still, get out and get a first-hand feel for the real Philippines. The people are, by the way, overwhelmingly friendly and helpful. And all the main tourist destinations and resorts have websites with pretty clear instructions on the various options for getting to them.

One last tip: do not try to do too much. Two centres, plus a short stay in Cebu City or Mactan, is plenty for a weeklong holiday.

Homepage Highlight Photo credit: lipjin / Foter / CC BY-NC

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Source: The Expat Magazine December 2014