15 Moalboal Tourist Spots And Things To Do In Moalboal

15 Moalboal Tourist Spots And Things To Do In Moalboal

We will show you our favorite Moalboal tourist spots and things to do in Moalboal, where to eat in , transportation around and where to stay.

Our first visit to Moalboal was a great surprise. Moalboal in Cebu is a small town with very beautiful, quiet beaches with clear and blue water and many things to do in Moalboal for spending a week or a weekend if you dont have enough time. It’s a perfect plan to escape from Cebu City– to go to Moalboal and spend a few days in the town which is just a 3-hour bus ride from the main city in Cebu.

Read here 2 Days Moalboal itinerary and where to stay in Moalboal!

SIM CARD AT CEBU AIRPORT

I wouldn’t recommend you to buy a sim card at Cebu airport. If you wish comfort you can buy eSim online and if you aren’t in a hurry just go around phone shops in the city and compare prices to buy the cheapest sim card in Cebu. Read here Philippines sim card for tourist and best Philippines eSim

WHERE TO STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES

You can get accommodation starting from 800-1000 PHP (less than $20 USD) for a room in a guesthouse. Can you imagine if you are two of you traveling in the Philippines, it will be $10 USD each.

Click here to book your accommodations before your trip to Cebu with Booking and Agoda!

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review

You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included

How to get to Moalboal

From the South Bus Terminal, buses are going from Cebu to Moalboal. The price for a ride is around $2.25 USD. These are local buses with no air conditioning but work just fine. They stop by various terminals in around every 20 minutes so going to Moalboal from Cebu will take 3-4 hours, depending on the traffic.

Click here to book your private transfer Cebu City to Moalboal!

Once you reach Moalboal, it will take you 3-4 kilometers to reach White Beach and Panagsama Beach. Tricycle fare is around $2 USD. If you are a foreigner, some tricycle drivers may try to charge you double. There is no exact price. It really depends on how honest your driver is, ha! My main tip for these situations is you should start walking until you find an honest guy who will give you a fair price

The best way to go around Moalboal is to take rides on a tricycle. The typical fare for a tricycle ride from Moalboal to Panagsama Beach costs less than $3 USD, but you can even ask the drivers to take it down to less than $2 USD; just make sure you don’t pay any more than $3 USD.

Moalboal Tourist Spots And Things To Do in Moalboal

There are many things to do in Moalboal and all of them are very interesting activities that both groups and solo travelers will enjoy. Cebu, aside from being home to lots of really nice beaches, offer many things to see in Moalboal like the Kawasan Falls, the Moalboal sardine run at Pescador Island and Panagsama Beach, and the Sumilon sandbar.

There are also plenty of interesting places to try local cuisine, from restaurants to local joints. Aside from being a coastal destination, Moalboal is also a party town with bars featuring live bands, DJ sets and disco nights. In your Moalboal itinerary, don’t forget to put down island hopping, canyoneering, Moalboal snorkeling, scuba diving and free diving in the agenda to get to know Moalboal’s waters up close and personal. When it comes to adventure and nature, what more can you ask for?

1. Visit Pescador Island Tour

You can do snorkeling in this beautiful island. The private tours start early morning so you should wake up really early if you want to catch up. We were supposed to see dolphins at that time but unluckily, we didn’t see them.

We were feeling so sorry as our little one, Han, was super excited about this. We woke up at 5 AM but we weren´t lucky that time. Hopefully on our next trip!

Read here the best places for diving in the Philippines!

The tour was great and you can do snorkeling 3 times! During the first one, you will see a lot of fishes and coral. With the second one, you will swim with the sardines and it was so impressive! On the last one, we saw giant turtles.

They will provide snorkeling gear which is included in the price, plus they will also guide you to the turtles. As always, quality and prices really go hand in hand with tours in the Philippines.

Click here to book your private tour in Pescador Island with Klook!

2. Visit the Local Market

If you like visiting local markets like us, then you should visit the local market here. Moalboal in Cebu is busy and you will find carinderias and local bakeries here where you can eat very affordable food. Around the beach, restaurants are more expensive than in the local market but food are still affordable.

3. Lambug Beach

Lambug beach is such a cool surprise! One of our followers in Instagram recommended us this beach with a picture. We just went for it. It was easy to reach from Panagsama Beach. You can rent a motorcycle, or ride a bus. Just get a tricycle or just walk from the bus stop is South direction and it will take you half an hour to go there.

The beach was lovely! Around it were cottages. It was a white sand beach with clear water and was full of starfishes. We enjoyed swimming, flying the drone, and playing with the sand. Our little one, Han went crazy with the colorful starfishes. He loved it so much!

4. Kawasan Falls

We already wrote a full blog post about how to get to Kawasan Falls. Just rent a motorcycle or go there by bus. You can´t miss Kawasan Falls when visiting Moalboal. If you like adventure, you can also do canyoneering which you will absolutely love!

Click here to book your Canyoneering experience in Cebu!

5. Rent a Kayak

We rented a Kayak but not the usual one. It was a transparent kayak which we enjoyed a lot because the water is so clear and you can see where is the right place to snorkel.

For the rental Kayak is only for guests at Pescador Seaview Resort (check below the pictures). It costs 150 PHP for 15 minutes and first 15 minutes are free of charge.

6. Moalboal Snorkeling

From all of them that we practiced in Cebu. Moalboal snorkeling was our favorite one. You can do on your own. Just 5 minutes swimming and we were able to spot turtles and many fishes.

Make sure you are bringing your snorkeling mask as we always do. If you are staying around Pangasama Beach you will be able to rent a snorkeling mask.

7. Moalboal Sardines

You can see the popular Sardine Battle Run in Moalboal. It was so incredible to see thousands of sardines in Moalboal. We only saw them while doing snorkeling. But if you like diving the experience will be amazing for sure in Moalboal!

8. Diving in Moalboal

If Moalboal snorkeling was amazing you will have to try diving in Moalboal. There are a few points close to Pangsama Beach where you can dive from the boat to see the turtles and the sardines battle run. There are also night dives.

Prices for diving in Moalboal can go from 1200-1500 PHP for one dive. There are packages of 5-6 dives for 5000-6000 PHP. There are a few places to check prices if you are staying around Pangsama Beach.

9. White Beach

White Beach is a popular beach destination in Moalboal. For us it was little bit crowded, still beautiful. Easy to get there from Panagsama Beach where we were staying in Moalboal. It takes 15 minutes by bus North direction, motorbike or tricycle you can reach White Beach from Panagsama Beach.

10. Panagsama Beach

Panagsama Beach is full of bars, restaurants and resorts. The water isn´t very clear but you can go for a swim. There is no white sand and it´s not so beautiful as White Beach and Lambug Beach that we mentioned above. But for sure we can recommend as things to do in Moalboal.

11. Enjoy Nightlife in Moalboal

Around Panagsama Beach there are bars and restaurants. After the sunset is perfect time for dinner and also having beer. You will find great nightlife in Moalboal. And we were surprised how many people went around at night even is a fisherman village tourists are coming more often, Moalboal is becoming very popular in Cebu.

More Moalboal Tourist Spots And Things To Do in Moalboal

If you stay in Moalboal for a few days as we recommend you so much. There are more things to do and see around the area.

12. OSMEÑA PEAK

From Moalboal you can rent a motorbike for 500 PHP. You have to stop in Dalaguete junction to go to Osmeña Peak. It will take 45 minutes from this junction to  Osmeña Peak entrance.

The entrance fee for Osmeña Peak is 30 pesos per person. The way will take you 20-30 minutes to reach the top and get amazing views. The weather is usually very cloudy. If you go with enough time, you can wait to take a great picture or if you are lucky a good sunset.

If you want to enjoy a sunrise, you can camp and wait for the next day. Camping is allowed and we saw a few people do that. If it´s raining during your day of visit (which happened to us), the way is very slippery. For rainy weather, you can rent or bring your own boots, which should help you climb the area faster.

Osmeña Peak is similar to The Chocolate Hills in Bohol. The difference is that you can walk around Osmeña Peak, unlike in Bohol, where you need to view the Chocolate Hills from a viewing deck. We liked the experience here because you really get to see the beauty of the place. Be careful. We didn’t rent boots, and didn’t expect that it will rain, so it was TOO slippery going down the hill. Make sure to prepare the necessary precautions.

Click here to get a discount booking a tour to Osmena Peak with Klook!

13. WHALE WATCHING IN OSLOB

The activity is only first thing in the morning. Oslob is a touristic area full of accommodations, and whale watching in Oslob is one of the great plans to do when visit Cebu.

You can get there by bus until Bato more than one hour. From Bato you will have to commute the bus another hour going to Oslob. Make sure you go on time!

Click here to get a discount booking with klook a whale watching tour!

Our experience was great and impressive in the whale watching in Oslob. The tour lasts 30 minutes and it costs 1000 pesos for foreigners, 500 pesos for locals and it includes snorkeling masks. The three of us were surprised how big are the whales. Apart from this, it´s very touristic the activity in my opinion!

14. AGUINID WATERFALLS

From Moalboal you have to get a bus until Bato. The journey will take more than one hour. You will have to stop a few kilometers before Bato. Just ask the driver and he will tell you where to stop.

The entrance fee to Aguinid Falls is 40 PHP for locals and 60 PHP for foreigners. You will get a guide for yourself (you have to tip the guide since they don’t get money from that job). Not really sure why is happening that!  The guide is necessary, especially if you want to reach Level 7.

The waterfalls are amazing, the first one in Level 0 has nice colors and it’s very quiet. From Level 1 to Level 5, the waterfalls are nice but can be little bit crowded. We visited during a town fiesta, so there were some locals who are also staying to visit the area.

The normal tour is to visit the falls until the 5th level, but your guide can actually help you to see 3 more levels. They are trickier to climb than the first 5 ones, the reason why they don’t really suggest going up until they see that you can do it. Our guide was confident enough with us, plus he said we would really enjoy going up 3 more levels, where there are not so many people. And we weren’t disappointed!

In the entrance, they will keep your belongings, and allow you just to bring one camera to take pictures inside. Since you’ll be climbing different levels, you are not really supposed to bring your heavy bags with you. Cameras need to be waterproof too.

Or be places inside waterproof bags. If you do all the levels will take you a couple of hours, if not you can be done in an hour and a half. How was our experience in Aguinid Falls? It was amazing adventure and great pictures. We had so much fun!

15. TUMALOG FALLS

Image from Flickr

Tumalog falls in South Cebu is really for the waterfalls chaser because of its beauty. From Moalboal you will have to ride a bus to Bato more than an hour. Once in Bato you will commute for the bus going to Oslob. You will have to ride 30 minutes and the driver will tell you were to stop.

The pool from the falls isn’t deep enough for swimming but the falls itself is relaxing. The entrance fee costs only for about 20 PHP while the Habal-Habal ride going to the falls is 50 PHP.

Where To Stay in Moalboal

Pescadores Sea Views

We stayed at Pescadores Sea View Resort, and we recommend our stay 100%. The staff is super friendly and here you can enjoy a delicious local breakfast. There are board games and a pool table available in the reception area.

If you want to do activities like snorkeling and kayaking, they will provide the gear for FREE if you are a guest. The beach is really nice for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. You can even see turtles not so far from the seashore. Not to mention that taking pictures here or flying a drone were really awesome because of the stunning views. And the sunset, who doesn´t like to enjoy a magical sunset after an amazing day swimming and kayaking?

Click here to check availability and prices!

QUO VADIS DIVE RESORT

Quo Vadis Dive Resort is in front of Panagsama Beach and is it 1.9 mi away from the town of Moalboal. It is one of the top rated location is Moalboal. It offers a free airport shuttle, swimming pool, it also has free WiFi, and also offers free breakfast. You can choose from 6 room categories. Room rates for $43 up to $150.

Click this and see their availability and rates!

Where to Stay in Moalboal on a Budget

MOALBOAL HOSTEL

MoHo offers accommodation in Moalboal and it is 39 mi away from Tagbiliran Airport. The place offers free WiFi, airport shuttle, free parking and certain units has its own seating area. They offer dormitory rooms for as low as $5 to $10. The $10 dorm room has its own aircon.

Click this to check their availability and price!

JJ’S PLACE

JJ’s Place is 5 minutes walk from Panagsama Beach. And it is also walking distance to bar and restaurants. The place has a free WiFi, airport shuttle, has a bar, and also offer a wonderful breakfast. You can choose from 4 rooms categories. Room rates starts to $5 for their dorm room and $12 for their Budget double room and Deluxe Room.

Click this to check their availability and price!

What to eat in Moalboal

Lechon Cebu

A trip to Cebu will never be complete without trying lechon. This pig dish is a Philippine culinary treasure and is loved by both locals and tourists. What makes lechon so special? This young pig is cooked with a mix of herbs and spices (some of which are lemongrass and star anise) and is skewered on a bamboo pole as it roasts over hot coals.

This method of cooking makes the skin of the pig unbelievably crunchy and its meat just oozes with flavor. Lechon is a dish often served for the most special occasions like Christmas, birthdays and graduations. It can also be bought per kilo or with rice in certain restaurants. The best places that offer Lechon Cebu are Zubuchon, Rico’s Lechon, and CNT Lechon.

Kinilaw

The perfect appetizer and beer match in Cebu is kinilaw, a dish made from raw fish and vinegar. How does that work, you ask? In the same way that ceviche uses lemon or lime, the acidity from coconut vinegar is used to turn the raw, pink fish into soft, squishy and delicious opaque cubes. Kinilaw is served on a plate with onions, ginger, garlic and chili.

Biko

One of the many varieties of rice cake in the Philippines is biko, a sticky delicacy made with glutinous rice, coconut milk and sugar. Biko also comes with latik, a sweet sauce made with caramelized coconut milk and sugar. It’s sweetness all around for this dish! Biko is available in almost every Filipino and Cebuano restaurant there is, so make sure you don’t miss out on it.

Danggit

Wanna know how they do breakfast in Cebu? Danggit is one of Cebu’s most famous products and is eaten with fried rice, egg and vinegar (preferrably with chili). It is rabbitfish that has been salted and dried to a perfect crisp. You might also want to try some atsara, a side dish made from pickled unripe papaya, that goes perfectly well with danggit. You can practically eat these delicious combinations every morning!

Mangoes

I know you think you’ve already tasted (even liked or disliked) mangoes, but you’ve never really tasted this fruit unless you’ve had it in the Philippines. It is one of the country’s biggest exports and are available year round. The flavors that the mangoes in Cebu have leave foreigners speechless.

The mangoes turn golden yellow when ripe and produce a succulent flavor. Mangoes abound all over Moalboal, in fruit stalls and markets, even in malls. This fruit can be paired with rice cakes, turned into a juice or shake, or made into a no-bake dessert called mango float.

Festivals in Moalboal

Kagasangan Festival

As a thriving municipality in Cebu, Moalboal came up with another exciting idea that makes visitors from all over flock to their lovely town. Kagasangan Festival was initiated in 2009 and is relatively new compared to other festivals in the country. Despite its novelty, Kagasangan already has the captivating charm and reverence from both locals and tourist that is expected of any other tradition.

The festival is celebrated every 15th and 16th of May, coinciding with the town’s original fiesta, and honors San Juan Nepomuceno (St. John of Nepomuk). Kagasangan, a term which means “corals,” is a reminder for its people of how marine life brings the municipality wealth and happiness.

Sinulog Festival

Celebrated in the heart of Cebu, Sinulog Festival is a time-honored festivity in the Philippines and is Cebu’s biggest one. Every third Sunday of January, the streets of Cebu City come alive with processions, parades, street dance and lots and lots of fun. Here, you will see Cebu flaunt its beauty as it honors Santo Niño.

In fact, Sinulog is the grandest festival of the said patron saint. Aside from its religious aspect, Sinulog also hosts the craziest street parties the night before and the night of the festival itself.  Moalboal is only a few hours away from Cebu City. Join the crowd as they all chant, “Viva Pit Señor!”

That’s it for our Moalboal Tourist Spots And Things To Do in Moalboal. Hope you enjoyed it! If you have your tips to share, feel free to drop some advice on the comments section for your fellow readers. 

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Happy Travels!