Trip highlights
- 1Whale shark swimming in Oslob
- 2Kawasan Falls canyoneering
- 3Magellan's Cross and Basilica del Santo Niño
- 4Fort San Pedro
- 5Moalboal sardine run snorkelling
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Cebu City Heritage
Tuesday, February 2
Est. spend
$64
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB)
Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Taxis or rideshare apps reach Cebu City in about 30-45 minutes depending on traffic and bridge crossing.
Use the airport's official taxi counter or a rideshare app for predictable pricing across the Mactan-Cebu bridge.
☀️ Afternoon
Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Santo Niño & Fort San Pedro
Cebu City
Cebu City's historic core, including the cross marking Ferdinand Magellan's 1521 arrival, the oldest Roman Catholic basilica in the Philippines, and Fort San Pedro, the country's smallest and oldest fort.
Visit the Basilica during a weekday to avoid the very large crowds that gather for Friday novena Masses.
🌙 Evening
Cebu lechon dinner
Cebu City
Cebu is famously regarded as having the best lechon (whole roasted pig) in the Philippines — a must-try local specialty for any first visit.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Filipino · $5
Heritage area lunch
Filipino · $6
Lechon dinner
Filipino · $18
Oslob Whale Sharks & Kawasan Falls
Wednesday, February 3
Est. spend
$153
per person
🌅 Morning
Drive to Oslob for whale shark swimming
Oslob, Cebu
About 3 hours south of Cebu City, Oslob offers a near-guaranteed opportunity to swim alongside whale sharks in shallow coastal waters, among the most reliable sightings anywhere in the world.
Choose an operator that follows responsible interaction guidelines — avoid touching the whale sharks and maintain the recommended distance for their welfare.
☀️ Afternoon
Kawasan Falls canyoneering
Kawasan Falls, Badian
A multi-tiered turquoise waterfall in Badian, reached via a popular canyoneering route involving cliff jumps, swims, and short hikes through a stunning river canyon.
Wear quick-dry clothing and secure footwear — canyoneering involves significant time in and around water with some scrambling over rocks.
🌙 Evening
Return to Cebu City or overnight in Moalboal
Moalboal, Cebu
Many visitors choose to overnight near Moalboal given the distance covered today, setting up conveniently for tomorrow's sardine run snorkelling.
🍽️ Meals
Pre-departure breakfast
Filipino · $5
Oslob area lunch
Filipino · $8
Moalboal dinner
Filipino · $20
Moalboal Sardine Run & Island Hopping
Thursday, February 4
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Moalboal sardine run snorkelling
Panagsama Beach, Moalboal
Just metres offshore, Moalboal's Panagsama Beach is famous for a permanent, massive shoal of millions of sardines, visible to snorkelers right from the shoreline — a striking, easily accessible underwater spectacle.
The sardine run can usually be reached by swimming directly from the beach — no boat necessary, making it one of the easiest world-class snorkelling experiences anywhere.
☀️ Afternoon
Island hopping near Moalboal or Mactan
Cebu coastal islands
A relaxed boat trip to nearby islets for swimming, snorkelling, and beach time amid Cebu's turquoise waters.
🌙 Evening
Return to Cebu City
Cebu City
Return to Cebu City in the evening for a relaxed dinner after an active day of water-based adventure.
🍽️ Meals
Beach breakfast
Filipino · $5
Island hopping lunch
Filipino (seafood) · $0 · Often included in the island hopping package.
Cebu City dinner
Filipino · $20
Final Shopping & Departure
Friday, February 5
Est. spend
$79
per person
🌅 Morning
Taoist Temple and Tops Lookout
Beverly Hills, Cebu City
A colourful Chinese Taoist Temple offering city views, paired with Tops Lookout on the hills above Cebu City for a panoramic vista over the city and the strait toward Mactan.
☀️ Afternoon
Final shopping and lunch
Cebu City
A final lunch and shopping for dried mangoes, guitars (Cebu is known for handcrafted guitars from Lapu-Lapu), or local souvenirs before departure.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Mactan-Cebu Airport
Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Allow at least 2.5 hours before a domestic or international flight.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Filipino · $5
Cebu City lunch
Filipino · $10
Airport food
Filipino/International · $12
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
December–May (dry season) offers the calmest seas and best conditions for diving, snorkelling, and the Oslob whale shark and Kawasan Falls excursions. June-November is wetter with a higher risk of typhoons.
🛂 Visas
Many nationalities can enter the Philippines visa-free for short tourist stays (typically 30 days) — check current requirements before travel.
💱 Currency
Philippine Peso (PHP). Cards are accepted at hotels and larger restaurants in Cebu City; cash is necessary for tour operators, Oslob, and Kawasan Falls.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 117
ambulance: 911
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Choose a whale shark tour operator in Oslob that follows responsible interaction guidelines — avoid touching the animals and maintain recommended distances for their welfare.
- The Moalboal sardine run can typically be reached by swimming directly from Panagsama Beach — no boat is necessary, making it an unusually accessible world-class snorkelling spot.
- Combining Oslob, Kawasan Falls, and Moalboal in one extended day trip (with an overnight near Moalboal) is far more efficient than separate day trips from Cebu City given the driving distances involved.
- Cebu is widely regarded as having the Philippines' best lechon — seek it out as a defining local food experience.
- Wear quick-dry clothing and secure footwear for Kawasan Falls canyoneering, which involves significant time in water and scrambling over rocks.
One thing worth not skipping
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