This article takes you to the best beaches in Cebu, Philippines. This contains affiliate links which you are free to access to.
YOU CAN ALSO CHECK “7 HALAL RESTAURANTS IN CEBU CITY” ARTICLE HERE.
The Philippines boasts so many beach destinations, some of them are very reachable, while some of them have a very challenging accessibility. Among the most accessible and popular ones are the beautiful beaches in Boracay and Palawan. However, little did most people know that the province where the so-called “Queen City of the South” belongs (I’m talking about Cebu), also offers a lot of beautiful beaches.
So, without further ado, let’s proceed to the list!
But before that, note that the booking links take you to kkday.com and agoda.com websites. This website (www.sherlynmaehernandez.com) is a certified Agoda and kkday affiliate, hence I will earn a small commission if you will book through the links I provided (which I use for the maintenance of this website), with absolutely no additional costs on your part. I would appreciate your support to this passion project.
OSLOB
For accommodation options in Oslob via agoda.com, click here.
Sumilon Sandbar in Oslob is popular because apparently it’s “moving” around the island. You could compare the blue green-ish waters of this part of Cebu with those in Palawan, but I can assure you it has its own natural beauty. Another thing you can do here is to see and swim at Tumalog Falls. Of course, who would forget whale shark watching?
AVAILABLE KKDAY TOURS IN OSLOB
HOW TO GET TO OSLOB
If you want to have a DIY tour instead, you can follow the instruction below on how to get to Oslob:
FROM CEBU CITY
- Ride a bus bound for Oslob at the Cebu South Terminal. The fare is around Php155 and will take you 3-4 hours to get there.
- Going to Tumalog Falls is best riding a habal-habal which will cost 2 persons around Php120.
- To get to Sumilon Island, you have to ride a boat for 15 minutes from Oslob Port which costs around Php35.
- Otherwise, you can book a private transfer service via kkday here.
FROM DUMAGUETE
You can book your transfer from Dumaguete to Oslob here and your transfer back to Dumaguete here.
FROM BOHOL
You can book either a one-way or round trip transfer to and from Bohol here.
MACTAN ISLAND
For accommodation options in Mactan Island via agoda.com, click here.
Mactan could literally be your closest beach escapade from Mactan Cebu International Airport and it is very close to the Cebu City Center. You can find a lot of upscale resorts and 5-star beachfront (!) hotels in Mactan. You can also charter boats (mostly via your resorts) to explore nearby islands or perhaps go diving and snorkeling.
AVAILABLE KKDAY TOURS IN MACTAN ISLAND
How to get to Mactan Island?
You can hail at taxi or Grab from Mactan Cebu International Airport or anywhere from the Cebu City Center.
ALCOY
Tingko Beach in Cebu is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in the province. You can also charter a boat here to go island-hopping.
How to Get to Alcoy
From Cebu South Bus Terminal, ride a bus bound for Oslob and asked to be dropped-off at Tingko Beach in Alcoy. The trip takes around 2 hours and will cost you around Php120. There is a Php10 entrance fee to the beach.
CAMOTES ISLANDS
Camotes Island is also known as “The Lost Horizon” and has also a very undeniable beauty that captured the wanderlusts of both local and international travelers. The lush forests it has that is very close to the beach front makes it stand out among other islands in Cebu. Other nearby islands that can be explored are Ponson, Tulang, Pacijan, and Poro. Also nearby is Cebu’s largest lake, Lake Danao.
How to Get to Camotes Island?
- From the Cebu North Bus Terminal at the Reclamation Area, ride a bus going to Danao Port. The bus ride will cost you Php40.
- From Danao Port, ride a boat going to Consuelo Port in San Francisco, Pacijan Island. An air-conditioned boat ride costs around Php200 and a non-air-conditioned ride costs around Php180.
BADIAN
Badian is located at the southwestern part of Cebu, and Lambug Beach is known to be one of the least crowded islands in the province, especially in off-peak seasons. The sand can actually be white or cream, depending on the time of the day. A popular destination in Badian is the Kawasan Falls (yes, that one you always see on Instagram!). You can go canyoneering there where safety gears are provided for activities like hiking, sliding down, and swimming.
AVAILABLE KKDAY TOURS IN BADIAN
How to get to Badian?
- From Cebu South Bus Terminal, ride a bus going to Bago via Barili and asked to be dropped-off at Badian Public Market. The trip will be around 2-3 hours and will cost around Php120-147.
- From Badian Public Market, ride a habal-habal going to Lambug Beach for around Php25.
- Otherwise, you can choose the option of a more comfortable transfer from Cebu City to Badian via a private transfer here or here.
BANTAYAN ISLAND
Bantayan Island is located at the northern part of Cebu, which is, btw, different from Daanbantayan. Several beautiful beaches can be found in Bantayan Island, including Alice Beach, Maricaban Beach, Paradise Beach, and Sugar Beach. You can also charter a boat to explore nearby islands such as Cabulauan (Hilantagaan Island) and Virgin Island.
How to Get to Bantayan Island
- From Cebu North Bus Terminal, ride a bus bound for Hagnaya Port in San Remigio. The trip will be around 2.5 hours and will cost Php170.
- From Hagnaya Port, ride a boat going to Santa Fe. The trip will take an hour and will cost you around Php170 plus a Php10 terminal fee.
MOALBOAL
For accommodation options in Moalboal via agoda.com, click here.
A very great snorkeling spot in the Philippines, Moalboal can be compared to other island destinations like Maldives. Popular spots in Moalboal include Basdaku White Beach and Pescador Island.
AVAILABLE KKDAY TOURS IN MOALBOAL
How to get to Moalboal?
- From Cebu South Bus Terminal, you can ride a bus ether bound for Barili or Badian and asked to be dropped off at Moalboal. The trip can take around 3 hours and will cost around Php120 plus Php5 for terminal fee.
- From Moalboal, ride a tricycle (Php100) or a habal-habal (Php50) to Basdaku Beach and/or specify the name of your resort.
MALAPASCUA ISLAND
Looks like Boracay, right? Your eyes are not tricking you! This is Malapascua Island located at Daanbantayan, Cebu. A popular destination in this beautiful island is Bounty Beach, where you can find most of the resorts, and restaurants. Because of its very rich marine life, Malapascua is also regarded as a top diving destination because it has a lot of corals reefs and shipwrecks.
For advance divers, you can head to Monad Shoal to see some rare thresher sharks. Malapascua is a good side trip if you’re in Bantayan Island. Moreover, if you want to have another side trip to another town, you can consider Kalanggaman Island in Leyte.
How to get to Malapascua Island?
- From Cebu North Bus Terminal, ride a bus bound for Maya Port. The trip takes around 5 hours and will cost you either around Php190 (for an air-conditioned ride) or Php150 (for a non-airconditioned ride).
- From Maya Port, you can ride a boat going to Malapascua which will cost around Php100.
ALOGUINSAN
Due to its proximity to Cebu City proper, this has become a popular weekend destination for Cebuanos. Sounds a little crowded, right? But you can opt to go to the secluded Hidden Beach for a more peaceful stay. Divers can enjoy the corals and marine life at Hermit’s Cove. You can also opt to explore the mangroves at the Bojo River Cruise.
How to get to Aloguinsan?
- From Cebu South Bus Terminal, ride a bus bound for Toledo. The trip will be around 2 hours and will cost you around Php70.
- From Toledo, ride a jeepney going to Barangay Bojo or Aloguinsan for Php30.
- From Aloguinsan, ride a habal-habal going to Hidden Beach (Php25) or Hermit’s Cove (Php50).
ALSO READ:
MANIWAYA ISLAND, MARINDUQUE: 5 SPOTS TO VISIT
There you have it! Who would have thought that the vibrant city of Cebu has a lot of stunning beaches nearby? They may not be as popular as Boracay or Palawan, but I’m sure their beauty can be at par with them. The best thing about it, a lot of international destinations fly directly to Cebu!