Cebu Travel Guide, Tourist Spots (Information on the Cheapest Package)

Cebu, once marketed itself as "an island in the Pacific," has been experiencing a boom in economy and tourist arrivals and also now the favorite retirement place of Americans and Europeans as well as Koreans, Japanese and Chinese tourists making it a tropical island vacation come true - balmy weather, nice beaches, turquoise waters, and luxurious resorts that cater to usual tourists accustomed to comforts of city life as well as backpackers looking for cheap accommodations and basic facilities.

N.B.: This is a work in progress, to be edited and refined once photos and information are available.

Cebu City and the larger Metro Cebu is the ideal gateway to the backpacking Visayas trail due to the fact that you can explore nearby islands in the Visayas by hopping into a plane, boats/ferries/fast crafts, and buses.

Tutubi compiled these information for your reference mostly based on his personal travels and knowledge:

Interesting Places to See/ Cebu Tourist Spots/Sightseeing:

Magellan's Cross - a wooden cross planted by Ferdinand Magellan (Magallanes, a Portuguese explorer/navigator in the service of the Spain) who arrived (not discovered) in the islands soon to be known as the Philippines in March 1521. Note that the true cross is inside the visible cross.

Fort San Pedro - triangular Spanish fort constructed

Magellan Shrine - the site of the historic battle between Magellan's men and Lapu-lapu in the promontory of Punta Engaño, Mactan

Lapu Lapu shrine - located on Mactan Island,

Calle Colon (Colon Street) - said to be the oldest street in the Philippines, named after Christopher Columbus

Kan-irag Nature Park - a 71 hectare eco-tourism park with indigenous trees, plants and flowers on a watershed. It's open from 7am to 5pm

Tops Skyline Garden - situated on the hills of Busay, can be reached only by a hired taxi or private vehicles on steep roads but you'll be rewarded with a panoramic view of Cebu City and the islands of Mactan and Olango.

Cebu City Chinatown
Cebu City Japantown
Cebu City Koreatown

Taoist Temple

Cebu Landmarks:

Cebu Provincial Capitol
Marcelo Fernan Bridge - one of two bridges connecting Mactan Island to mainland Cebu
Cebu International Convention Center (right beside Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino)


Cebu Shopping Malls and Public Markets:

SM City Cebu
Ayala Center Cebu
Gaisano Country Mall
Taboan Public Market: where to buy dried fish (e.g. danggit) in bulk at low prices

Heritage City of Carcar for heritage Spanish houses

Old Heritage Churches in Cebu (Visita Iglesia)

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City
Carcar Church: St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church
Boljoon Church:
Dalaguete Church:
Argao Church: Church of St. Michael the Archangel
Pardo Church: Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Naga Church: Church of San Francisco de Asis
San Fernando Church: Church of San Isidro Labrador
Carcar Church: Santa Catalina de Alejandria
Oslob Church:
Talisay Church: Parish of Sta. Teresa de Avila

Cebu Museums:

Cathedral Museum, Cebu City
Carcar Museum (between Carcar Church and and City Hall building)

Waterfalls in Cebu:

Bugasok Falls in Argao - can be reached by trekking or hiring habal-habal to take you there
Kawasan Falls in Badian - about 30 minutes trek along the pristine river. (Tutubi was here in April 2003)
Sta. Rosa Falls in Danao
Mantayupan Falls in Baranggay Campangga, Barili (water diverted to a hydroelectric plant)


Mt Manunggal, the highest mountain in the island and the crash site of the ill-fated Douglas C-47 plane named "Mt. Pinatubo" in 1957 that killed the 7th President of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay.

Some people looking for cold places in Cebu Province, try Barangay Mantalongon, Dalaguete, known as the “Summer Capital of Cebu," and Barangay Gaas, Balamban, Cebu where Mt. Manunggal is located, enjoy cooler temperatures.

Cebu Beaches and other islands:

Mactan Island, connected to Cebu Island via two bridges

Pescador Island - a small limestone island with excellent corals and marine life a few minutes away from the beach of Moalboal. (Tutubi was here in April 2003)

Sumilon Island, fifteen minutes by boat from Oslob town, is a great SCUBA diving site

Malapascua Island - an island north of the main island great for diving. Click here for a list of Malapascua Beach Resorts

Bantayan Island - an island north of the main island great for diving. Click here for a list of Bantayan Beach Resorts

Camotes Island, a two hour boat ride from Cebu City's Pier 1. It's the home of Lake Danao, the largest freshwater lake in Central Visayas

Where to eat/Cebu Restaurants:

Sutukil restaurants/carinderia in Mactan Island
Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant
Neo Neo
CnT Lechon
Binugoy
Goodah-Gud,
Tsibogs
Boardwalk Compostela

Cebu Food Specialties and Pasalubong:

Sutukil
Nilarang na bakasi (igat or eel)
Chicken Halang-halang
puso (rice wrapped in banana leaves)
Shamrock Otap
Lechon Cebu
Dried Mangoes
Danggit

Towns, Municipalities and Cities:
Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Aloguinsan, Argao, Asturias, Badian, Balamban, Bantayan, Barili, Basak Pardo, Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Daanbantayan, Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Liloan, Madridejos, Malabuyoc, Medellin, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Oslob, Pilar, Pinamungahan, Poro, Ronda, Samboan, San Fernando, San Francisco, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Santander, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Tudela

Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Bogo City, Carcar City, Danao City, Naga City, Talisay City, Toledo City

Cebu Festivals & Events

Sinulog Festival - a colorful festival culminating on the third Sunday of January with lively street dancing and other activities

Cebu Golf Courses and Country Clubs:

Cebu Country Club
Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, Pardo Cebu City, par 72, 18-hole championship golf course
Verdemar Golf & Dive Resort, Bogo, Cebu, par 71
Mercedes Plantation Golf Club in Bogo
Cebu International Golf and Resort, Badian Island, 18-hole, par 72
Mactan Island Golf Club


How to get to Cebu:

By Air: Regular flights to Cebu are available via various airlines from almost any major airport besides Manila. Cheap flights to Cebu are also available via budget airlines. International direct flights to Cebu include Doha (Qatar), Hong Kong, Busan (South Korea), Koror (Palau), Singapore, Taipei (Taiwan), Kaoshiung (Taiwan), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai China), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Kota Kinabalu (Sabah, Malaysia)

Ferry: ferry schedules going to and from these ports: Bohol (Tagbilaran and Tubigon), Cagayan de Oro (CDO, Ormoc (Leyte)
Bus:

Getting Around Cebu:
Jeepneys or multicabs are the principal ways of getting around the city. Various routes with signboards and route designations are available here. If you have the money, take taxis, they're everywhere

Buses are available at the North and South Bus Terminals in Cebu City.

Useful Information on Cebu:

Backpacking Visayas: Beyond Cebu:

Cebu to Dumaguete: Reachable via Ferry or Bus
Cebu to Bohol: Ferry and fast crafts to Tagbilaran or Tubigon, where you can see the famed Chocolate Hills, the tarsier,
Cebu to Bacolod: Reachable via Ferry or Bus
Cebu to Ormoc, Leyte: Ferry

Ferry Schedules


Where to Stay in Cebu: Hotels, Inns, Pension Houses, Condotels, Appartelles, and other Accommodations

Getting Out of Cebu:

At Mactan- Cebu International Airports, there are two halls: one for Domestic and another for International Departures. Note that terminal fees for domestic travel is PhP200 and PhP550 for international flights.

Should you wish to visit other islands, you can also hop on to various ferries and boats to nearby Leyte (Ormoc), Bohol (Tagbilaran City and Tubigon), Negros (Bacolod and Dumaguete City), Siquijor and Mindanao via Cagayan de Oro (CDO).

Buses to nearby islands are available either at Cebu North Terminal and South Bus Terminal, both in the heart of Cebu City.

Links:
Suroy-suroy

For other articles on Cebu, please Click the Label Cebu after this line or use the search box.

UPDATED: September 21, 2008