Backpacking: Most Visited Tourist Destinations in Cebu City, Philippines

Welcome to Travel+Experiment!   

These are the top destinations that I would recommend if you'll visit Cebu. The reasons I choose these destinations are because of its popularity and worthwhile of your time, money within your schedule. This is a great place to spend your vacation due to the fact that I have visited this place several times. Make sure that these activities are in your tour package and discover what the city has to offer! 

Cebu activities & Attractions must see.

Destination: Introducing Cebu City!

I. Cebu City Tour

Cebu City is the capital of Cebu and the second busiest city in the Philippines. For decades, some heritage sites had been retained and there are some newly places of attraction you’ll surely don’t want to miss.

Colon Street 

Colon Street is the oldest street in the country. Built by the Spaniards in the 16th century, it was once became the heart of Cebu City’s business and shopping activities and was named after Christopher Columbus who is Cristobal Colon in Spanish. I walked around into Colon Street. I had the chance to see and experience how the oldest street of the Philippines looks like. I remember walking here every day during my college days. 

How to get there & Away: 

Easily accessible from most parts of Cebu by clearly marked public utility vehicles. A ride in this great form of public transport is also a must do. At 9 pesos a ride it is also a bargain. Note that Colon Street is not the main attraction but is the center of downtown Cebu and a little run down and very busy, lots of shops and movie houses, schools, inexpensive hotels as well as vendors and department stores. Please be careful and be aware of your belongings as plenty of pickpockets wandering around looking for victims.

Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino de Cebu

Basilica Minore Del Sto. Nino del Cebu is a 16 century old church, the oldest in the Philippines. It houses the original Sto.Nino which Magellan brought from Spain and is the most popular symbol of Cebu city.

The story goes that a sculptured image of Santo Nino was spotted on the exact site left behind by Portuguese and Spanish explorers in 1521 preserved in a burned wooden box. This religious place is extremely popular and teems with devotees each desperately trying to catch a glimpse of Santa Nino statue. The church was a splendid century old cathedral with antique chandeliers, painted ceilings and old statues. 

How to get there & Away: 

The location is at the end of the Osmena Boulevard and very close to Fort San Pedro, mostly marked public utility vehicles will take you there or you can even walk to Basilica from Colon Street by yourself. The local people are very devout when it comes to attending The Mass. Specially on Sundays, people turn out on their Sunday best to attend the Church.  A full schedule of masses from 5:00 AM to 12:00 Midnight are held every Friday at the basilica for devotees of the Holy Child Jesus and followers of novena and the area rally gets packed with both pilgrims and local plus foreign tourists.  

Cebu Taoist Temple

Cebu Taoist Temple is a towering temple elevated by 300 meters above sea level located in Beverly Hills Subdivision. Its entrance is a replica of The Great Wall of China and the structure was built in full colors by the local Chinese community. The prayer temples are gorgeous though they forbid you to take pictures inside them. The whole place looks like China complete with dragons and the great wall. You need to visit this place a little earlier than 5:00 PM because the temple closed at 6:00 PM. There is no entrance fee inside the temple.

How to get there & Away: 
I recommend taking a cab from the city to temple and as you reach there, just tell the driver to wait for you for half hour, cause at that place it’s hard to find a cab back to city. So, just for another "100-200 Pesos" the driver will wait for you at the little car park at the lower entrance of the temple.

Shopping Malls such as Ayala Center & SM Cebu

Ayala Center & SM Cebu are the region’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. With the movie theaters, great restaurants, bars and shopping, it is a place you could spend a whole day and really enjoy yourself. Ayala & SM presents an array of shops and establishments and boasts an impressive architectural and interior design.

How to get there & Away: 

I would recommend taking a cab going to the shopping mall to save time and to avoid traffic. Sometimes taking a public utility vehicle might not be a good idea as snatchers are wandering around looking for potential victims.

Sunday to Saturday opening hours. Except for public Holidays.
10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Sky Experience Adventure Tour - Crown Regency Hotel

Another way to spend your time in Cebu is to have an extreme adventure! Sky Ride Experience is the newest adventure attraction of Crown Regency Hotel and Towers in Cebu City. It is the world’s first Edge Coaster and the Philippines’ first and only Sky Walk tallest hotel tower. Conquer your fear through this 4 minute coaster ride or 10-15 minutes sky walk. This fun thrilling action will let you walk around the edge of the building, having 360 degrees view in the city. We were asked to wear an orange jumpsuit and white sneakers before stepping out in the platform. There are also guides that walked us through the edge of the building aside from the harness as support of course. 

If the sky walk adventure didn't satisfy your adrenalin rush, try the Edge Coaster; located on the 38th floor of the Crown Regency Hotel. It is situated at the edge of the building and tilts at 55 degrees!!! It’ gives you the feeling of like falling into your seat but it’s not.

How to get there & Away: 

The location of Crown Regency Hotel and Towers - Cebu is just a 30-minute drive from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, in close proximity to major points of commerce and recreation in the city. Such a central address lets guests further enjoy their stay, gaining easy access to public transportation options. I would still recommend taking a cab going to the hotel.

Entrance fee: 700 pesos but we had a promo to pay half of its price (back in the days)

Monday - Friday (Open from 2 PM till 12 MN) 

Saturday - (Open from 10 AM till 2 AM) 

Sunday - (Open from 10 AM till 2 MN)

Magellan's Marker

This cross is housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño Park Area, Facing the Basilica Minore De Santo Nino (Magallanes being the Spanish name of Magellan). On a day tour around Cebu, tourists are recommended to visit this site, where Christianity in the Philippines began. The giant cross housed inside a dome represents the cross that the renowned Portuguese explorer brought to the island of Cebu in 1521.  

How to get there & Away: 
Magellan’s Cross on a separate island from Mactan Island, where Cebu International Airport is located. Tourists coming from or staying at hotels on Mactan Island will have to drive or hire a cab going to Cebu City. It takes around 20 to 30 minutes to travel from Mactan to Cebu City. The easiest way for tourists to get to Magellan’s Cross is via cab as they would definitely know where it is located. You can also get on a public utility vehicle with a signboard going to the city hall or the basilica. It is open same time as the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño church. Admission is free.

Sinulog Festival

Sinulog in honor of the Sto. Nino is the the famous Sinulog festival in Cebu City. It is held every year on the third Sunday of January. The festival is characterized by a very long parade with many groups of persons dressed in colourful costumes, finding their way through the streets while dancing the Sinulog. This festival is characterized by a different dance. This Sinulog dance is now the traditional and ritual dance in honor of Santo Niño. The dance is accompanied by the sound of the drums:  all the time moving two steps forward followed by one step backward. Though the dance is already very old, the parade is rather young! 1980 was the first year that the parade was organized. While dancing, people are shouting petitions and thanksgivings to the Santo Niño. Shouting is necessary because the pilgrims have to be sure that they will be heard by the Santo Niño.

“Pit Señor! Señor Santo Niño...." The Sinulog became indeed a dance ritual in honor of Santo Niño!

Hill Tops Lookout

Combine an afternoon panoramic tour with a dinner at a hilltop restaurant to enjoy the evening skylight. The evening's highlight is a rendezvous at "The Tops" to watch the city awaken at night in full panoramic view. Then Cap your wonderful evening with a quiet dinner of Filipino/Spanish cuisine at a hilltop restaurant called Chateau de Busay. Bring a light jacket and enjoy a cool evening! The hill top is one of the things that everyone visiting Cebu should experience. The ride up there is an adventure itself. On a clear day you can see all of Cebu City and many of the neighboring islands. It is beautiful and well worth the trip.

How to get there & Away:

It’s really a nice view over the city but you need to rent a taxi, for an hour or two, but well worth it with your loved ones. The 100 pesos entrance fee is well worth the view once you enter the yard.

• The easiest way to get up to Tops is certainly by private car. Relatives or friends residing in Cebu will unquestionably be familiar on how to get up to the steep and winding road to the area.
• Taxis are also a great option and will cost you around 800 to 1000 Pesos to get you to and from Tops Lookout. Some claim that it will take you around 600 Pesos from Escario St. to Tops. It is quite expensive as you will probably have to pay for the driver’s admission too.
• You can also take a jeepney to Lahug along Osmena Boulevard and ask to be dropped off at the J.Y Square Mall in Lahug. Look for a motorcycle to take you to Tops as they are usually waiting at the entrance of the mall’s parking area. This motorcycle will cost you a round trip of around 100 to 150 pesos, which includes waiting time. Brace yourself, though, as the ride is already an experience in itself.

Lantaw Native Restaurant

With the great view of the city and fresh air when dining here, you can enjoy their great food with affordable prices. It is 30 minutes away from Cebu City. If you have travel plans to dine in this place, be sure to call and reserve a table to prevent waiting in line for an hour or two. And be there on time before your table reservation is given to other customers waiting in line.

Business Hours:
11:00 AM-11:00 PM, Mon to Sat 

How to get there & Away: 

• The easiest way to get up to Lantaw also is certainly by private car. You may invite friends and relatives to enjoy the view of the city
• Taxis are also a great option and will still cost you around 800 to 1000 pesos to get you to and from Lantaw Native Restaurant

II. Mactan/Lapu-Lapu City Tour

Mactan Island is known for its beaches and five star hotels. It is a tropical modern island for leisure and island getaway. Also known for furniture and industrial factories, Mactan Island is also acknowledged to the musical instrument production of ukuleles, guitar and other stringed instruments.

Lapu-Lapu Shrine

After you got to visit the Magellan’s Cross, let’s go to the spot where Magellan died. Lapu-lapu’s Monument is a constant reminder of a Filipino bravery. Datu Lapu-lapu, a Mactan Island Chieftain, battled with Ferdinand Magellan, a Spanish invader in April 27, 1521. The latter was slain forcing its army to retreat and leave the place. Located in barangay Mactan, this piece of historical landmark reminds us of Magellan's discovery of the Philippines. In this island also where Magellan was killed by Lapu-lapu's men.  It's simply a park you can walk around in about 15 minutes. There are some nice vendors selling handmade goods inside the park which is great for souvenirs. Lapu-Lapu’s monument is a 66ft bronze standing very tall in the island.

How to get there & Away: 

This place is a bit far from Cebu City and a lot of transferring of public vehicles, so I recommend taking the cab instead. No admission fees, donation box is on the entrance. Open: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily.
The restrooms are clean. You have to take off your shoes before entering but you can use the wooden slippers or “bakya” near the door. On the right side of the entrance there are numerous souvenir shops that you’ll find very interesting and cheap stuffs to choose from.

Resorts& Hotels

Shangri La Beach

Best to stay in Mactan and is very comfortable-very friendly staff- nice place to spend your holidays! It has very clear water, good food, and lovely staff in the club lounge, Acqua and Cove Bar and good live music. The rooms are clean, spacious and well-appointed with average internet speed. There are a lot of facilities to keep you busy, fantastic lagoon-shaped white beaches, snorkeling, pools and many other options. The hotel was amazing! Being one of Mactan's most High Class Resorts, it also comes with a high class price.

How to get there & Away:

This place is 30 minutes bit far from Cebu City and I recommend taking the cab instead. Taxis are available at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The journey to and from the hotel is no more than 20 minutes and costs approximately between 120 pesos and 150 pesos. A scheduled hotel Airport Shuttle Bus is also available for a minimal charge of 200 pesos per person, per way. Complimentary Wi-Fi access is available in the airport shuttle bus. Guests staying in the hotel and Suites can enjoy complimentary airport shuttle bus transfers. 

Maribago Blue Water Beach

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort is a AAA 5 hectare resort that sits on prime white beach sand in Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines. It has 2 lagoon-shaped swimming pools, 102 luxuriously furnished cottages with hot & cold running water, mini bar, refrigerator, individual airconditioning and individual private verandas. It has also complete array of aqua sports facilities, conference rooms and 100 meter pure white sand beachfront. Again, one of the higher price resorts here in Mactan.

How to get there & Away:

This place is 40-50 minutes bit far from Cebu City and I recommend taking the cab also. Taxis are available at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The journey to and from the hotel is 15-25 minutes and costs approximately between 200-250 pesos. Guests staying in the hotel have a round transfer fee of $25.00 per person.

Island Hopping Adventure with Picnic Lunch - Mactan and Hilutungan Islands plus Nalusuan or Pandanon

A visit to Cebu is not complete without cruising the islands off Mactan on board a local motorized banca. Swim or snorkel off the islands of Hilutungan and Nalusuan. Drive to Mactan Island, as your jump off point for a day in the sun. Take your "banca" (motorized canoe) and head to Hilutungan Island for a snorkeling adventure in a marine sanctuary. Go fish feeding and so on you will have these colorful creatures feasting from your hands. Go to deeper waters at the reef for a cool swim or a free dive; then continue to Nalusuan Island or the farther Pandanon Island, for a delightful picnic lunch of grilled seafood, chicken or pork and fresh fruits for dessert. Take a nap or doze a bit after lunch. Or get into an animated discourse with bare-chested fisher folks or boat handlers. Whatever your choice of activity to while away your time will surely be unique experience of relaxation and fun. Return to your hotel at midafternoon.

How to get there & Away: 

• Meeting Point: Hotel pick-up from central Cebu and Mactan city hotels
• Duration: 6 hours
• Contact: Check Hotel Concierge Availability

Price:

• For 1 person

           Price per Adult: $ 370.00

           Price per Child: $ 117.00

• From 2 and more persons

           Price per Adult: $ 195.00

           Price per Child: $ 117.00

    Include:

• Hotel pickup
• Air-conditioned transport 
• Services of an English-speaking tour guide 
• All entrance fees
• Grilled picnic lunch 
• Mask and snorkel 

Mactan Cebu Int'l Airport

The Mactan airport is located in Central Visayas region, is the second busiest airport of the Philippines. It is located in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island, part of Metro Cebu. The airport opens 24 hours and has flight round the clock. Inside the airport you will find a taxi counter, money changer, luggage room, car rental and etc. The Departure Area is Divided into the Domestic and International Areas but there is a common airline check in area for both and there is a sign going to the international area where you go to immigration on the right side and on the domestic area on the left side and you will have to pay a 200 peso airport terminal fee. There are several shops and restaurants on the departure area.

How to get there & Away: 

Cebu international airport is about 20-30 minute from Cebu center ( downtown) if no traffic. Taxi is a fastest way to reach Cebu City, there is a shuttle bus directly to Cebu City but this service is very slow and it didn't leave if is not full. There is an airport transfer arrangement whenever you booked hotels in Cebu. I suggest that you take a cab ahead of your schedule flight schedule to avoid traffic. 

III. Cebu South Tour

Oslob

Watch and Swim with Whale Sharks (Butanding). Get fascinated to watch friendly creatures of the sea as you enjoy watching and swimming with the friendly whale sharks (tuki) in Oslob Cebu. Whale sharks can be seen in a small barangay Tan-awan, which is 10 km away from the center town of Oslob. Whale shark watching in Cebu started last September 2011 and it became popular all over the world when the news hit in the internet last November 2011. By December 2011, local fishermen’s interact with the whale sharks by feeding them that result to flocking of tourist to the beach of Tan-awan.  Large numbers of tourists began arriving in Oslob not just to see the whale sharks being fed but also to snorkel or dive with them.

How to get there & Away: 

1.     Take a Ceres bus which has "via oslob" on its front sign. The bus station is located at Natalio Bacalso Ave. The cost is 150-160.00 pesos. Tell the conductor that you want to get off at at the Barangay Hall Tan'awan for the Butanding. It’s about a 3-hour ride.

2.     Walk a few steps back from the barangay hall and look for a blue gate with the ‘Whale Shark Watching’ sign just beside the road.

3.     Go inside the resort and then pay the fees.

Tip: Go there before 4:00 PM, before it gets dark. Best to drop by on would be weekdays when there are not much people around.

Expenses:
Air conditioned bus Fare from Cebu South Bus Terminal to Tan-awan, Oslob: 156 pesos
Entrance Fee: 100 pesos
Boat Fee for 40 minutes: 200 pesos per person
Snorkeling Gear with Flippers: 100 pesos
Bus back to Cebu City: 156 pesos

Whale Shark Code of Conduct (Source – WhaleSharkProject.org)

·         Do not attempt to touch, ride, or chase a Whale Shark

·         Do not restrict normal movement or behavior of the Shark

·         Maintain a minimum distance of 3 meters from the Whale Shark

·         Do not undertake flash photography

·         Do not use underwater motorized diver propulsion

Moalboal

Moalboal is on the Cebu Island mainland; an easy 90 kilometers from Cebu City. It is famed for some of the best diving in the Philippines, and its white sandy beaches. There are two main tourist beaches, and most Moalboal Hotels and Resorts are located on either Panagsama Beach or White Beach. White Beach is has a slightly nicer beach, and Panagsama Beach has more of the restaurants and nightlife. The nightlife is generally calm and relaxed. During the day, there are waterfalls and caves and other beautiful sights to be explored. Moalboal Hotels and Resorts are mostly suited to diver and value travelers, although there is something for every taste and budget. You may also check online where to stay and the hotel prices in Moalboal.

How to get there & Away: 

Panagsama Beach in Moalboal is about 92km from Cebu City or 112 km from the airport in Mactan. Usually it takes you about 2 hours to get there, or 2 1/2 hours from the airport in Mactan.

These are your options to cover the distance: You may also ask the final price before agreeing to visit the place.

By Car

The most convenient way to get to Moalboal is to let us arrange your transfers. They have a team with a reliable rent-a-car service at the airport, accredited by the Department of Tourism. Most of the resorts/dive shops in Moalboal propose to hire van from Cebu airport to Moalboal. Be ready to pay around ₱2500 for this 2.5 hr trip.

By Taxi

If you are up to some adventure, you can hire just a regular taxi in Cebu City or at the airport. Usually there are cheaper but check if the taxi is ok and be prepared for some surprises which sometimes occur, like some bartering about the price, hidden costs and unplanned stop-overs. Taxis can be hired at Cebu Airport for ₱2,400 (fixed rate as of Nov 2012). Many of the hotels and guest houses in Panagsama Beach will send a car or van for pickup for about ₱2,000.

By Bus

If you are really adventurous, take a taxi (insist on meter) to the Southern Bus Terminal in Cebu City. The driver should take you to the LIBRANDO or CERES bus terminal; a bus to Moalboal leaves about every full hour (Filipino time). Choose a seat in the front next to the driver for some thrilling experiences. Once in Moalboal, take a tricycle to Panagsama Beach. In rare cases a tricycle driver might take you not to the resort or dive center you requested, because he gets a commission from another resort, so be persistent. 

As usual, the cheapest method is a local bus (2.5-3 hr). From Cebu airport, take a taxi and ask to go to the south bus terminal (the airport is in Mactan, quite far from Cebu city, so being ready to pay around ₱200 for this). The yellow airport taxis are more expensive - expect to pay around ₱300. White taxis can be found at the top of the ramp leading up to departures.

Then take the bus here (the main company is the yellow color buses of Ceres Liner). Be sure to use an already almost full bus to avoid waiting. The no-aircon (most are like this) travel will cost you ₱107 (Jan 2013) + ₱10 of terminal fee if you don't pay directly in the bus. Air-con buses are ₱111 (May 2012)

Coming from Dumaguete, it is possible to take the ferry boat between Sibulan (ca ₱100 by tricycle from the city center) and cross to Lilo-An on Cebu island. There, take another tricycle (around ₱50) to the nearby bus station. Yellow Ceres buses headed for Cebu City stop there regularly, and some of them go via Moalboal (ask the driver). The bus fare is ₱70 (aircon, Aug 2013)

Note: there are no ATM's in Panagsama beach so bring enough pesos for your stay. There is, however (2012), an ATM in the 360 pharmacy in MoalBoal town (about 4 km from the beach, reachable by tricycle). Sometimes it doesn't work.

III. Cebu-North Tour

Bantayan Island

Bantayan Island is located at the northernmost tip of Cebu mainland and is composed of three municipalities, namely Sta. Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos.Bantayan Hotels and Resorts dotting the island's shores offer a mix of local and international cuisines as well as vast arrays of fresh seafood to choose from. It would take you several days to completely explore the Bantayan Island.

Those looking for a place where there’s nothing to do other than laze on a beach will love Bantayan Island. Located off the northwest tip of Cebu, here you don’t need to get the guilt for not maximizing your time with active pursuits: there’s no diving, no canyoning or volcanoes to scale, just a blinding white-sand beach, fantastic food and lively drinking spots. The relaxed, bucolic town of Santa Fe on the island’s southern coast is where you’ll find the nicest stretch of beach and low-key resorts. You may also check online where to stay and the hotel prices.

How to get there & Away:

From the North Bus Terminal Via taxi from Cebu City: make sure it’s a METERED taxi to avoid a price gouge, and insist the driver actually uses the meter (if not, just get another taxi; there's plenty to choose from without a long wait time)

1. Go to the North Bus Terminal in Cebu City near SM Mall.

2. From the North Terminal, Ceres Coach Busses (yellow & white) & Cebu AutoBus Corp. (orange & white) run all day from 5:00 AM onwards at 150 pesos aircon from very early in the morning, to the port town of Hagnaya in Northern Cebu (travel time 2.5 to 3hrs. or longer - and buses depart every 30 to 45 minutes, or thereabouts)

3. From Hagnaya's Port you'll hop a 75 min. Ferry Boat 170 pesos to Santa Fe Bantayan Island, and the boats run from 5:30 AM early morning until the last boat leaves Hagnaya at 5:30 PM.

Tip: arrive at the Cebu City North Bus Terminal by 1:15 PM /2:00 PM at the latest, in order to make the last Ferry of the day at 5:30 PM in Hagnaya Cebu.

Also, please be aware of road repair work being done on the Cebu City main highway north, and this will increase your travel time beyond 3hrs especially when traveling later in the day (early am travel is always best). Aircon Busses currently run only occassionally from Cebu City - Non Aircon Busses run every day, all day long.

Malapascua Island

It is both a peaceful, remote tropical island with an awesome beach, and a diver's paradise destination. There are some fantastic dive sites near the island, the most famous being the Thresher Shark dive. Diving with the thresher sharks is the main highlight, and it’s one of the best places in the world to see these distinctive-tailed sharks. The island is 3 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide, with a population of about 4,000. The main beach (Bounty Beach) has white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. The west coast is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. A walk or tour of the whole island can be done within half a day. Malapascua Hotels and Resorts are mostly budget hotels, but the higher end hotels are of good value.

How to get there & Away:

Take a taxi to the Northern Bus Terminal.
Take a bus to Maya. Ceres buses are the best; they are the big yellow ones. Rough Riders live up to their name. Cost is about 80 pesos.This will take you all the way to Maya port, so just get off at the end of the line.

From there, go to the little ticket booth at the end of the pier and they will help you get the next public boat. There is no fixed boat schedule as the boats wait until they are full to leave. The last boat usually leaves around sundown. Price for a public boat is 50 pesos.

Beware of scams at Maya, the touts can be merciless. They will tell you that there are no more boats going to Maya, but it is usually not true. The last boat usually leaves between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. You may have to wait for a while, but you can usually get across for 50 pesos. If you want to go straight away, you can hire a private boat for 1000 pesos. If it is late or bad weather or the captain just does not want to go, expect to pay up to 2000 pesos.

Keep some small change in pesos. You may need it for porters. Also, if it is low tide, you will have to get a small rowing boat to the banka ferry. This costs 20 pesos per person and per bag.

If you arrive really late, ask someone for the Abba guesthouse, which is very basic but close. Or get in touch with Skip's beach resort which is about 10 minutes away. They have a sign at the dock with all the necessary info. They have AC rooms for a very reasonable price 700 pesos and 1200 pesos as well as lots of free facilities.

 

Camotes Island

Camotes Islands comprises three major islands and one minor islet, divided between four municipalities. On Poro Island are the municipalities of Poro and Tudela. Pacijan Island's sole municipality is San Francisco. Ponson Island's sole municipality is Pilar. Tulang Island is an islet and part of San Francisco. The main islands of Pacijan and Poro are connected by a 1.5-kilometre-long (0.93-mile) causeway. Ponson lies about four kilometres (2.5 mi) northeast of Poro, across the Kawit Strait. Tulang is located a short distance north of Pacijan.

Accommodation on Camotes Island

There are not many different options for accommodation on Camotes. It is actually pretty hard to find a place which offers rooms below 1000 Pesos a night. There are not that many tourists and as it is the same almost all year round - there are no off-season rates.

Payag – Beach House and Resort

This small Philippine owned and managed place is the cheapest spot (on the beach) we found on the island. It’s directly on the beach of Santiago village on Pacijan Island, owners are pretty nice but as all the rooms go out to the restaurant area it can be pretty noisy. The cheapest room starts at 700 Pesos (good for 2) for a fan room with bathroom outside. If you don’t want the bathroom outside and you want to have aircon there are rooms for 1200 Pesos a night. Rooms with aircon and bathroom inside are 1500 Pesos.

Also rooms for groups of six people are available. These rooms also have a fridge and a TV, of course aircon and the bathroom inside. The rate for this family room is 3000 Pesos per night

Santiago Bay Garden and Resort

Also on Pacijan Island in the village of Santiago you can find one of the big resorts of the island. It’s built up the cliffs overlooking the bay and beach where you can also find the Payag Resort. The view is pretty nice but that’s probably it. It has the same owner as the “Mangodlong Resort”.This place does not look that welcoming, food is way more expensive than on the beach and not much better. The cheapest room you can get here is 1000 Pesos per night for a fan room.

Mangodlong Resort

This resort belongs to the “Santiago Bay Garden and Resort”. It is situated in the village of Mangodlong at Himensulan, also on Pacijan Island. The Mangodlong Resort has a higher standard with room rates starting at 1700 Pesos a night (not on the beach front). Beach front bungalows are available starting at 2000 Pesos. There is also a diving shop belonging to this resort. A dive here is 1500 Pesos including equipment and 1250 Pesos if you have your own gear.

Flying Fish

This pretty new resort can be found on Poro Island in Barangay Cagcagan. It’s a nice place offering luxury accommodation, especially in the family room. Non aircon cottages are available for 1200 Pesos a night. A cottage with aircon is 1800 Pesos a night. Especially the huge family room which can accommodate a maximum of 6 people is great. It consists of a huge living room, two bedrooms (1 with bathroom inside) and a huge terrace with a great view. This room is 5000 Pesos per night. All room rates are including breakfast.

There is no sandy beach but the diving is supposed to be nice. A shore dive is 1000 Peso. If you want to go out diving by boat it is 1500 Pesos per dive (all rates as of June 2011).

My Little Island Hotel

A bit inside of Poro Island close to the town of Esperanza you can find this hotel. It’s a bit off the track so it’s probably recommended to have a motorbike as there is not much to do around the hotel. The hotel is also offering excursions throughout the islands. Or you just relax at the pool with a good book or enjoy a great massage. Room rates start at 1800 Pesos a night for a standard room including breakfast.

How to get there & Away

To get to Camotes Island, travel 1.5 - 2 hours by land from Cebu City proper to Danao Port. Fare is less than 30 pesos. From Danao Port, there is a Ro-Ro vessel (Jomalia Shipping) going to Consuelo Port in Camotes Island. Travel time by boat is approximately two hours.

One can choose to travel by public bus (take the north-bound Ceres bus from the North Bus terminal in Reclamation Area Cebu) or take a private transport.

Private vehicles may be parked overnight at the Danao pier for a fee of approximately PhP 300 per night. 

For those who wish to take their vehicle to Camotes Island, you may arrange with the ticketing booth at the port upon arrival. Rate is approximately PhP 1,200 per vehicle per way.

BOAT TICKET FROM DANAO TO CAMOTES ISLAND

*Rates may change without prior notice

• Non-aircon: PhP 180 per person per way

• Aircon: PhP 200 per person per way 

BOAT SCHEDULE FROM DANAO-CAMOTES ISLAND AND VICE VERSA

*Schedule below may change without prior notice

DANAO TO CONSUELO PORT (CAMOTES)

Morning: 5:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM

Afternoon: 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM

CONSUELO PORT (CAMOTES) TO DANAO

Morning: 5:30 AM, 9AM

Afternoon: 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM

Happy Travels!



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