Cebu

Cebu lies in the heart of the Philippine archipelago and serves as the ideal gateway for tourists to more than 7,100 fascinating islands of the country.

A visit to Cebu presents a pleasant discovery of its rich history, multifaceted culture and captivating people. It provides a glimpse of the country’s glorious past, with a number of preserved historic relics standing until today.

Apart from its popular heritage sites, Cebu is endowed with a wealth of inviting, natural attractions that engage visitors in various activities. It boasts of white sand beaches, pristine waters and rich marine life fit for diving and snorkeling, as well as verdant mountains, mysterious caves and challenging trails for mountain trekking, spelunking and other outdoor sports activities.

What to see:

If you want to spend your vacation in Cebu, here are some of our favourite places, not to be missed during your stay:

• Bantayan Island – widely considered as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the country. Bantayan is famed for its fine white sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters.

• Malapascua Island –   one of the best diving locations in the Philippines and it’s the only known place in the world where divers can experience close encounters with the thresher-sharks.

• Moalboal – small but lively coastal town where you can freedive with the swirling vortex of sardines

• Oslob –  popularly known area where Whale Sharks regularly congregate

• Sumilon Island – Dubbed as the country’s first marine reserve, the island is a treasure trove of hundreds of marine flora and fauna species guaranteed to give a truly unique diving experience.

• Camotes Islands – group of four islands with many natural attractions beautiful beaches, natural pools, waterfalls and a lake.

When to go:

Cebu is a year-round destination that draws almost two million foreign travelers a year. The island’s prime attractions are its white-sand beaches and spectacular diving.

Cebu has a tropical climate with a wet season and a dry season. The best time to visit Cebu is during the dry season from November until May. In this season, tourists can enjoy sunny days and cool nights.

The wet season which typically occurs from June through October brings heavy downpours and occasionally typhoons.

In January travelers have the opportunity to witness the annual Sinulog Festival. The Sinulog Festival is the grandest and most spectacular festival in the Philippines. The festival features several activities including the procession of the miraculous image of Santo Niño, colorful street parades, beauty pageants, fireworks display and singing and dancing contests.

Getting there:

By Plane

-Travelers may fly directly into the Mactan-Cebu International Airport from Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Busan, Palau, Tokyo, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Shanghai and Doha, Qatar.

A wide range of domestic flights from Manila and other parts of the country are also available.  Being centrally located, most domestic flights to and from Cebu last about an hour.

By Ferry

-The Cebu International Port is the biggest and main seaport of entry in the province and the Central Visayas Region. Various shipping lines sail to Cebu regularly from key cities all over the Philippines.