Nestled in the heart of the Philippines, Cebu City is a bustling urban hub with a rich history and lively culture, often dubbed the “Queen City of the South.” Known for its vibrant festivals, historical landmarks, and tasty lechon, Cebu offers a perfect blend of city life and coastal charm. Just a few hours away, Moalboal is a haven for beach lovers and adventure seekers, famous for its breathtaking sardine run and stunning coral reefs. Whether you’re in the mood for city exploration or underwater adventures, Cebu and Moalboal have something exciting for everyone! We spent one full day in Cebu City and 3 days in Moalboal.
If you’re planning to visit the Philippines, check out our blog, How to Spend 2 Weeks in the Philippines (coming soon)! Just a heads-up: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase.
TLDR 🫣
Cebu City: A bustling urban hub with incredible food, vibrant culture, and history.
Moalboal: A beach town known for the epic sardine run and stunning underwater adventures.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Cebu City – Shopping, lechon, halo-halo, and Filipino fast food (Jollibee!)
Day 2: Arrival in Moalboal – Snorkel with the sardines right off the shore!
Day 3: More sardine run magic + mermaid statue discovery and chilling at beach bars.
Day 4: Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls – jump, slide, and splash your way through turquoise pools!
Pro Tips:
- The sardine run is so close to shore that scuba isn’t necessary—snorkel away!
- Book tours on Klook, except in Moalboal where booking in person offers better deals.
Top Awards:
- Best experience: Snorkeling the sardine run and being surrounded by thousands of shimmering fish.
- Best foods: Lechon at House of Lechon in Cebu City and dinner at Hungry Monkey in Moalboal.
- Best “Bang for your Buck” Hotel/Accommodation: Gaja Go Dive and Inn in Moalboal, specifically in Panangsama Road (this is where you want to be).
- Best e-SIM: Airalo (You can use our referral code “CELINA4205” to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase).
AWARDS
Best Experience: Swimming with the sardines in Moalboal – truly an unforgettable, magical underwater experience.
Best Eats: The tender, crispy-skinned lechon at House of Lechon in Cebu, and Hungry Monkey in Moalboal for hearty meals after a long day of exploring.
Best “Bang for your Buck” Hotel/Accommodation: Gaja Go Dive and Inn in Moalboal, specifically Panangsama Road, is the main town for tourists in Moalboal. The hotel is super basic but affordable and close to the beach—plus, you can rent snorkel gear for cheap and swim with sardines!
Best e-SIM: Airalo (You can use our referral code “CELINA4205” to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase)
HOW TO GET TO CEBU CITY
We travelled from Boracay. If you’re planning to visit this beautiful white beach island, check out our blog, How to Spend 3 Days in Boracay!
Traveling from Boracay to Cebu City is relatively straightforward, with several options depending on your preferences. Since Boracay doesn’t have its own major airport, you’ll need to make your way to either Caticlan or Kalibo first. Caticlan is the closest and most convenient option, just a short boat and land transfer away from Boracay’s famous White Beach. From Caticlan Airport, you can catch a direct flight to Cebu City, with the journey taking around an hour and a half. If you opt for Kalibo Airport, the drive from Boracay takes a little longer, but flights from there to Cebu are also available and often slightly cheaper. More details can be found in our blog, How to Spend 3 Days in Boracay!
Once you land in Cebu City’s Mactan-Cebu International Airport, getting into the heart of the city is easy. You can hop on a taxi, a Grab ride, or an airport shuttle. Depending on traffic, the ride into Cebu City’s downtown area takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Make sure to soak in the scenic coastal views as you drive! We ordered a Grab from the airport to the city center for ~$10 CAD including a toll.
ITINERARY (Cebu)
Day 1: Eating Our Way Through Cebu City
If you have just one day in Cebu City, this itinerary will help you experience some of its highlights—blending modern city life with local flavors. Here’s what we did, along with a few optional suggestions if you have extra time to explore!
Morning: Shopping at Ayala Center Cebu
Start your day at Ayala Center Cebu, one of the city’s largest shopping malls. It’s a great spot to grab a coffee, do some shopping, or just stroll around. The mall features both international brands and local boutiques, making it the perfect place to pick up souvenirs or indulge in a little retail therapy. You can also enjoy the lush greenery of the outdoor terraces, which is a peaceful escape from the city buzz.
Optional: If you’re interested in Cebu’s history, you can take a quick 10-minute taxi ride to Magellan’s Cross and Basilica Minore del Santo Niño after your shopping trip. These landmarks are steeped in history, offering a glimpse into Cebu’s Spanish colonial past.
Lunch: Lechon at House of Lechon
After exploring the mall, treat yourself to some of Cebu’s most famous cuisine—lechon! Head to House of Lechon, where we had some of the best lechon we’ve ever tasted. You’ll find it in a parking lot, which gives the experience a no-frills, local vibe. For around $9 CAD, you can feast on tender, crispy-skinned roast pork, which Cebu is known for. It’s the ultimate lunch stop for foodies!
Optional: If you’re craving more local flavors, try visiting the Carbon Market or Taboan Public Market to check out Cebu’s dried fish or other local snacks.
Afternoon: Halo-Halo at Boy Belly
For dessert, cool off with a classic Filipino treat: halo-halo! We had ours from Boy Belly for only $3 CAD, and it was the perfect refreshing finish to our day. This colorful, shaved-ice dessert is packed with sweetened fruits, jelly, beans, and topped with creamy leche flan. It’s a fun, delicious way to beat the Cebu heat.
Optional: If you’re a fan of nature, you can also visit Sirao Flower Garden or take a scenic trip up to Tops Lookout for a panoramic view of the city.
Dinner: Gerry’s
Gerry’s is a popular restaurant chain in the Philippines known for its delicious grilled dishes and Filipino comfort food. We stopped by and ordered their famous chicken and a plate of crispy lumpia (spring rolls), which hit the spot after a long day of exploring. The flavors were on point, and the portion sizes were generous—definitely satisfying for the price. Our meal cost around $20 CAD, and it was well worth it for the tasty, hearty Filipino fare! If you’re in the mood for classic local dishes in a casual setting, Gerry’s is a great choice.
This one-day Cebu itinerary gives you a taste of the city’s best shopping, food, and sights, making it a day well spent in the “Queen City of the South!”
ITINERARY AND HOW TO GET TO MOALBOAL
Day 2: Arrival in Moalboal and Sardine Snorkeling Adventure
Morning: Start your day early by catching the air-conditioned bus from the Cebu South Bus Terminal to Moalboal. The trip takes around 3 to 4 hours, and costs 418 PHP for two people. Once you arrive at the Moalboal bus stop, hop in a tuk-tuk to your hotel for around 200 PHP, plus a small 50 PHP environmental tax as you pass through town.
Pro Tip: Keep cash on hand. It was at this point in our Philippines trip that we realized there are a lot of micro-fees (small taxes and charges) everywhere.
Afternoon: After checking in at your hotel (we stayed at Gaja Go Dive and Inn), take a stroll around the area and check out local tour agencies if you’re considering scuba diving. However, the famous Sardine Run is actually super close to the shore, and you can enjoy it while snorkeling! After comparing prices, we decided to rent snorkel gear from our hotel (around 500 PHP for two people) and gave snorkeling a try the following day. (We thought that if we couldn’t see anything, we’d sign up for a scuba session on our last day). Spoiler Alert: Boy, were we in for a treat! Snorkeling with thousands of sardines just off the shore was an unforgettable experience. No scuba needed!
Dinner: End your day with a meal at Vanz, a cozy spot offering a variety of local and international dishes. We ordered lumpias (again), chicken adobo, a classic chicken soup, and a calamansi drink – setting us back about $19 CAD for the both of us!
Day 3: Sardine Run & Mermaid Statue Snorkeling
Morning: Head to the beach first thing in the morning, as the waters are calmer and the visibility is better. We arrived around 9 or 10 am – this is the perfect time to snorkel and swim alongside the sardines. The entrance to the beach is near Shaka, a smoothie bar. Once you arrive, pay the 200 PHP snorkeling fee (for two people) at the nearby ticket booth.
The Sardine Run in Moalboal is nothing short of magical. Imagine diving into the clear blue waters, and just a few meters from the shore, you find yourself surrounded by thousands—yes, thousands—of shimmering sardines, glimmering in the sunlight as they move in unison. As the light hits their silvery scales, the entire school seems to sparkle, like a living, breathing underwater galaxy.
What makes this experience even more surreal is that you can literally swim into the sardine ball. As you approach, the fish part around you, only to reform a dense, swirling mass of life just seconds later. It’s as if you’re in the middle of a mesmerizing aquatic dance. The way the sardines move—sometimes in tight formation, other times expanding into a larger, looser group—is a sight that feels almost otherworldly. Swimming through them feels like you’re drifting inside a shimmering cloud, and the sheer number of fish is overwhelming in the best possible way.
Whether you’re a seasoned diver or simply snorkeling, the sardine run is accessible to everyone. And the best part? It’s so close to shore that you can enjoy this incredible natural phenomenon without the need for scuba gear. It’s literally right off the shore! We thought this was the highlight of our trip in Moalboal and worth the travel from Cebu City.
As you move along the shoreline (the current will naturally take you north), you’ll eventually stumble upon the Mermaid Statue, a landmark for free divers! Our hotel told us about this, and we were surprised we could swim to it just as regular snorkellers! This stretch of beach is an amazing place to snorkel, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot the sardine ball in full motion again.
Afternoon: After your morning of underwater exploration, you can relax and spend the afternoon chilling at Shaka or other nearby beach bars. We ordered two smoothie bowls for $15 CAD.
Dinner: Grab dinner at Milas, a popular local restaurant serving hearty Filipino dishes and seafood. It’s definitely more local than the Vanz restaurant we ate at yesterday. We loved it and we spent only $13 CAD for two meals.
Day 4: Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Adventure
Morning to Afternoon: On your last full day in Moalboal, embark on a full-day adrenaline-filled Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Tour. We booked with a local agency directly in Moalboal, and they offered a great deal—3700 PHP for two people, including lunch. Definitely cheaper than booking online, which is what we were planning to do. The agency we booked at was located just a couple of shops next to Shaka – it’s called Baichan Tours and the lady who sold us the tour was named Reynalyn.
Be ready to jump into turquoise pools, slide down natural rock slides, and enjoy the stunning waterfalls! Note that lockers are available for 100 PHP, and if you want to use the swing for a jump into the water, it costs 10 PHP per person. Our guides, Jason and Richard, made the experience so much fun and ensured we had a blast throughout the tour. We’d definitely recommend going with them if you can! Pro Tip: Bring socks, a shirt, and shorts. The rocks will graze your skin.
Snacks: We came back from canyoneering to a town without power! Yep, the whole day, there was no power. A lot of restaurants had a generator, but since it was already past 5pm, those generators were starting to check-out too. Lucky for us, there was an icecream shop that was still in operation. We ended up ordering fro-yo with mangos from Yelo ($5 CAD) and waiting until power came back with the rest of the town.
Dinner: After a full day of adventure, and with the power back on (finally), treat yourself to dinner at Hungry Monkey, which we found to be the best restaurant in town. The food is fantastic, and it’s a great spot to unwind and chat about the day’s adventures. We spent $17 CAD for two meals – a sizzling spicy chicken dish and a beef curry – plus a pitcher of lemonade!
TOTAL COST for 4 Full Days in Cebu City and Moalboal (Approximate, CAD for 2 people):
Accommodations for 5 nights: $232
Activities (and associated fees and tips): $121
Food: $145
Transportation (and associated fees and tolls) including the flight from Boracay to Cebu City: $167
Souvenirs (stickers): $3
TOTAL: $668 (Roughly $67 per person, per day)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cebu and Moalboal have it all—from the bustling city streets to magical underwater experiences. Whether you’re after the best lechon or looking to swim with thousands of sardines, this corner of the Philippines won’t disappoint!
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