The island of Cebu was our first stop on our Philippines itinerary. Cebu is a great starting point, due to its central location and international airport. Once landing in Cebu City, we immediately travelled to Moalboal, a roughly 4-hour drive to the other side of the island. Moalboal boasted great snorkelling opportunities with schools of sardines and turtles, and white beaches. Moalboal is also a great location to visit the famous Kawasan Falls and other magical waterfalls in the area. From Moalboal, we headed south to Oslob, where we based ourselves for a few more days of waterfall hopping, mountain climbing and lots of snorkelling!
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Quick Guide
How to Get Around Cebu
What to Do in Moalboal
Where to Eat in Moalboal
Where to Stay in Moalboal
How to Get from Moalboal to Oslob
What to Do in Oslob
Where to Eat in Oslob
Where to Stay in Oslob
HOW TO GET AROUND CEBU
There are a multitude of travel options in the Philippines, and travelling around Cebu was relatively easy. We travelled from Cebu City to Moalboal to Oslob, all with different transport options.
Buses – Local buses are an affordable travel option to get from one destination to another (like Moalboal to Oslob) in Cebu. However, they can also be quite jam-packed if you don’t arrive early enough. From our experience, we tried a few times to catch a local bus, but would wait over 2 hours just for a bus that had no room for us. So, although affordable, buses might not be the most convenient.
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Share Vans – While we waited for over 2 hours for a bus from Moalboal to Oslob, we decided to catch a ride in a share van instead. There are normally share vans at the bus stops, as the drivers know that people will be looking for a more convenient mode of transport, and we could split the cost between 10 people.
Scooter – For shorter trips, like daytrips to waterfalls and beaches or just to duck down the road for a smoothie bowl at Shaka, we rented a scooter for 300 PHP ($9 AUD) a day.
Tricycles – If you are not confident in riding a scooter, then taking a tricycle is also a convenient and affordable option for short day trips, and to see the sights. There are drivers with tricycles all over Cebu, and are really cheap.
Jeepneys – Riding in a Jeepney is how the locals travel between municipalities and towns. Jeepneys are an open-air small bus, and are super cheap. A Jeepney ticket is normally anywhere from 7 PHP to 12 PHP (21c-36c AUD) depending where you need to go. It is best to ask a local about the Jeepney routes, and which one you should take. It’s something you should experience at least once!
Grab and Taxis in Cebu City – Like in most Asian cities, you have access to taxis and the online transport booking app – Grab. Grab was our main mode of transport to travel around Cebu City. We actually took a Grab car from Cebu City to Moalboal, once we landed in the airport quite late, and the drive took roughly 4 hours. We recommend booking a transfer below to save money.
BOOK AIRPORT TRANSFERS TO AND FROM OSLOB HERE
BOOK AIRPORT TRANSFERS TO AND FROM MOALBOAL HERE
WHAT TO DO IN MOALBOAL
We arrived in Moalboal on our first night in Cebu, after a 4-hour ride from Cebu City Airport. Moalboal is a perfect destination to start your Filipino adventure, as you get a mix of everything. It is worth spending at least 3-4 nights here. Here is a list of everything you can do in Moalboal. For a more detailed guide, check out our full Moalboal Guide here.
- Snorkelling with turtles and schools of sardines at Panagsama Beach, or head on a boat trip to Pescador Island
- Spend the afternoon relaxing on White Beach with a coconut
- Cease the morning and do a canyoneering tour at Kawasan Falls
- Have an afternoon to yourself at Montpeller Falls
- Meet the locals at Cambais Falls
- Climb Osmena Peak for sunset (see here for more details)
WHERE TO EAT IN MOALBOAL
SHAKA CAFE – Our number one place to eat in Moalboal was at Shaka Cafe. We enjoyed their smoothie bowls every morning for breakfast, and fell in love with their coffee and juice menu.
VERANDA RESTAURANT – If you are looking for a perfect sunset location to enjoy your dinner and glass of wine, then look no further than Veranda Restaurant. We ate here twice here during our stay in Moalboal, and loved their pesto pasta.
WHERE TO STAY IN MOALBOAL
Where you choose to stay in Moalboal really depends on your budget, location preference and style. There are hotels, homestays and hostels filtered throughout the area. If you want easy access to restaurants and bars, then near Panagsama Beach is popular. If you are wanting more exclusivity and privacy, then near White Beach would be a great spot. Check out the latest hotel deals for Moalboal HERE.
Booking.comHotel Accommodation in Moalboal – If you are looking for accommodation with sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives and have some bucks to spare, then check out this list of luxury sustainable hotels in Moalboal!
Dolphin House Resort – With ocean views, snorkelling activities with great attention to the marine life and reef, refillable water bottles, and plastic waste reduction, this place has to be high on your list for luxury sustainable hotels in Moalboal!
Badian Island Wellness Resort – located off the coast of Moalboal on Zaragosa Island. this resort has a saltwater pool and organic garden, as well as many wellness activities to help you relax!
Hostel Accommodation in Moalboal – As a solo traveller on a budget, look no further then this list of some of the best hostels here in Moalboal. Perfect accommodation for a social setting and meeting new people.
Moalboal Eco Village – With private rooms and dormitories available, any budget traveller will love Moalboal Eco Village! Centrally located between Panagsama Beach and White Beach, this accommodation is a perfect nature escape!
Pig Dive Hostel – As one of the best reviewed hostels on Booking.com, Pig Dive Hostel offers air-conditioned dormitories and private rooms. The little decor touches make it a place that will feel like home!
Homestay Accommodation in Moalboal – We always choose to support local, that is why homestays have always been our accommodation of choice every where we go. Not only are they affordable, local and offer authentic experiences, they are also great for couples!
Teobas Homestay – Teobas Homestay offers a restaurant and terrace and located right near the beach! The cute bamboo structures are a great introduction to authentic Filipino living.
Sea Turtle House – This perfect homestay is right in White Beach. Their own restaurant serves local food, and they have even implemented some sustainable practices throughout the guesthouse!
HOW TO GET FROM MOALBOAL TO OSLOB
After enjoying 3 nights in Moalboal, we decided to head to Oslob to explore more of Cebu. From our accommodation, we took a tricycle to the bus station. When we arrived, we were told that the buses leave every hour and we had just missed the previous bus by minutes. The plan was to catch the bus from Moalboal to Bato, where we would then catch another bus to Oslob.
However, after 2 hours of waiting we started to think of other options. As you could probably guess, we were pretty bummed we had just missed the other bus by only a few minutes. When the bus to Bato finally arrived, it was crowded! There were people literally hanging out of the door. There was no chance we could take this bus.
So, we, along with 10 other travellers in the same predicament, decided to head across the road to where the share vans were. Although a little more expensive, we were able to split the cost of 2500 PHP ($75 AUD) between 10 people, and not have to worry about an interchange in Bato, and drive just 1 hour straight to Oslob instead. With a group of people, we definitely feel like this is the best option. If you still wish to take the bus, arrive super early.
WHAT TO DO IN OSLOB
Oslob is normally a destination people choose to visit, so they can swim with the whale sharks. However, to many peoples’ surprise, we spent a full 5 nights here and did not swim with whale sharks, nor do we recommend anyone to. Instead, we saw many unique sights, from mountainous sunsets, local beaches, and adventurous waterfalls. Here is our list of everything to do here, if you would like a more detailed guide then check out our full Oslob Guide here.
- Take the scooter up north to Tingko Beach in Alcoy, a 30 minute drive from Oslob. Eat at Voda Krasma Resort, relax on the beach, and do some snorkelling.
- Climb Osmena Peak at sunset and see views over Cebu and neighbouring islands, a 1.5hour scenic drive from Oslob.
- Take the boat to Sumilon Island and swim and relax on the sand bar.
- Waterfall-Hop southern Cebu and explore Dao Falls, Binalayan Hidden Waterfall, Aguinid Falls and Tumalog Falls. Check out our full Cebu Waterfall Guide here.
WHAT NOT TO DO IN OSLOB
Although, the main attraction that draws people to Oslob is swimming with whale sharks, this was something we strongly opted out of and push other tourists to avoid as well. There are other places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks in a much more ethical manner. You can see a list HERE.
While swimming with such magnificent creatures sounds magical and fun, after further research, we decided that this was more than just a harmless snorkelling tour. Animal exploitation should not be at the expense of tourist entertainment. However, this is sadly the case in Oslob. Here are some reasons why.
The whale sharks in Oslob are fed krill daily, to attract them to stay in the area and encourage them to keep returning for food. Feeding wildlife is unsustainable, especially when they are only being fed one type of krill, and losing key nutrients from food they would otherwise obtain from foraging naturally. In addition, feeding them in one spot also manipulates their natural migration patterns and allures them to stay in one place.
In addition to feeding the whale sharks, several hundreds of tourists visit the area every day, hoping to snorkel and interact with them. Although people are told not to touch them, it is unavoidable that they’ll have some form of daily contact, as well as bumping into the boats and propellors.
We are by all means no experts on this subject, but when animals are compromised we choose to research further. If you are interested in finding out more information to make a more informed choice for yourself, then you can click HERE and HERE.
WHERE TO EAT IN OSLOB
We found Oslob to be not the most accommodating for vegetarians. However, there were a few cafes in the centre of town we recommend trying.
VLK PIZZA – We loved their pesto pasta and Halo-Halo.
LE BISTROT – Make sure you try the nachos.
PIZZA BORA – If you’re after pizza, this is your place!
WHERE TO STAY IN OSLOB
When choosing to stay in Oslob, you can either stay close to town, or anywhere along the coast. We also ventured north towards the towns of Baljoon and Alcoy, and witnessed some impressive accommodation choices along the beachfronts. Check out the best accommodation deals in Oslob HERE.
Booking.comHotel Accommodation in Oslob – If you are looking for accommodation with sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives and have some bucks to spare, then check out this luxury sustainable hotel in Oslob!
Granada Beach Resort – This resort is an “Adults Only” resort, meaning no children will be splashing around the pool or interrupting your much needed getaway time. Granada Resort incorporates eco-friendly ideals to lessen their environmental impact with sustainable practices throughout the resort.
Hostel Accommodation in Oslob – As a solo traveller on a budget, hostels are perfect accommodation for a social setting and meeting new people.
Way Shack Hostel – With funky decor and bright artwork, Way Shack Hostel is the perfect place to feel the buzz! From double, triple and quadruple rooms, this is one of the best rated hostels in Oslob!
Homestay Accommodation in Oslob – We always choose to support local, that is why homestays have always been our accommodation of choice every where we go. Not only are they affordable, local and offer authentic experiences, they are also great for couples!
Rising Sun Pension House – We stayed in Rising Sun Pension House during our time in Oslob. Our host was impressively informative and always helped us with travel advice.
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