Cebu, besides being a marvelous place of refuge and rest, is an exquisite place to experience many firsts.
Swim. Jump. Repeat. Indulge your wild side as you explore a rocky river system by paddling through cold water, walking between boulders and jumping from one waterfall to another. This 2-3 hour activity will not only challenge your adventurous side but will also exhilarate your fearless personality.
Dive into some of the best diving spots in the Philippines were underwater gardens, rich marine life and diverse aquatic species will welcome you to their world.
Osmeña Peak Trail Hike
(Dalaguete, Cebu) Take a short hike to the peak of Osmeña Peak, considered as the highest point of Cebu. Once at the top, you will not only see a breathtaking view of the Tañon Strait and Bohol Sea but as well as local farmers traversing hill slopes with basketful of harvests or tending to their vegetable farms. This is the reason why Dalaguete is called as the vegetable basket of Cebu.
The Bojo River Life Tour is a community-run ecotourism site that focuses on the everyday life of the local community living near the river. The 2-3 hour tour takes guests on a short cruise along the river where locals serve as guides, explaining the different species of flora and fauna inhabiting the river. After the tour, guests are served with a sumptuous lunch and a short lecture/demonstration on how to make a “puso” (hanging rice).
Farm Tour: Arapal Goat Cheese Farm and LAMAC Farm (Bogo City,
LAMAC Farm: (Pinamungahan, Cebu)
Spend a day in a farm and learn how to make cheese from goat’s milk or tend to farm animals such as carabaos, pigs and chickens. One can also learn how they process some of their products such as organic teas, chips, soaps and oils.
Hablon Weaving and Tablea Making
(Argao, Cebu) The tour will take guests to experience Argao’s cultural heritage. Hablon-making was a dying industry in Cebu but due to the efforts of certain NGOs and CTU, this age-old tradition was saved and preserved for generations to come.
Tablea or native chocolate is the perfect pair to Cebu’s version of puto (hence, puto sikwate). The Guilang family of Argao still makes this native chocolate the traditional way by drying and roasting cacao seeds before grinding them into small coin-sized pieces known as tablea.
Escape to a fun get-away under the sun as you hop from one idyllic island to another along the Mactan Channel. Jump into crystalline bluewaters to cool off, interact with the different marine life, get that sun-kissed tan or enjoy a sumptuous seafood lunch, the possibilities are endless for sun, sea and sand.
Pay homage to the local chieftain that defeated Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan almost 500-years ago. Datu Lapu-Lapu defied the Spanish conquistador and defeated his troops soundly when they waged a battle to conquer the local chief and his subjects. Because of his victory, Datu Lapu-Lapu is widely regarded as the country’s first hero.
The smallest tri-bastion fort in the Philippines, Fort San Pedro is a silent witness to the rise of Cebu as trading port to a global city that it is today. It was the stronghold of the Spanish colonizers in Cebu and over the years has been used as a garrison, hospital, school and office before being converted into a museum.
Take time to reminisce and imagine yourself living in the past as you explore this Spanish house in downtown Cebu. Once owned by the family of the first Cebuano Bishop, Juan Gorordo, Casa Gorordo is a quintessential “Bahay na Bato”, which illustrates the domain of rich Filipinos during the Spanish era. The house is well preserved and the family’s heirlooms and valuables are on-display, giving guests a glimpse on the past lives of Filipinos.
Dreaming of Amsterdam without leaving the city? The flower gardens of Busay is one of Cebu’s best kept secreats. Located in the upper barangays of Cebu City, the gardens offers a quick respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. The lush gardens, cool mountain air and nature’s relaxing sounds is enough to calm and revive one’s restless soul.
Enjoy an idyllic island get-away at Bantayan Island. Located in the far north of Cebu Province, Bantayan is a quaint island that offers the perfect escape for city life. Long stretch of white sand beaches, sun-kissed blue waters, pristine diving sites, adventure thrills and calming nature activities are just some of the reasons why people visit Bantayan. Oh did we mentioned that the best bulad (dried fish) are made in Bantayan?
Camotes Island is a charming island destination known for its rustic island life. Located east of Cebu, the island’s calm and tranquil atmosphere offers a serene environment for tourists who just wants to relax and unwind. However, there is much to do in the islands such as exploring the famous Bukilat Cave, go cliff diving at Buho Rock, spend the day boating/ kayaking at Lake Danao, communing with nature in one of the island’s many mangrove parks or go diving/ snorkeling at Pilar’s award-winning marine parks.
Want to experience an African safari Cebu-style? Explore the wild side of Cebu at Cebu Safari Park and get to meet wildlife that are not typically found in the Philippines. Nestled in the mountains of Carmen, Cebu, the park not only offers a once—in-a-lifetime experience to its guests but as well as lessons on the importance of conservation and preservation.
Aguinid Falls is a seven-tier wonder in Samboan, Cebu that offers unspoiled swimming holes and refreshing spring waters. Guests transfer from one tier to another through designated pathways but some are opting for a more adventurous ascent by scaling boulders amidst gushing waters. Nonetheless, no matter how you want to explore Aguinid Falls, this natural wonder offers an invigorating experience.
The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is considered as one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. Founded in 1565 by the Augustinians, the church is built on the exact spot where the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu was found during the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. The icon, which is still housed in the Basilica today, is the same one presented by Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon and Queen Juana during their baptism. On the Child Jesus’ feast day every third Sunday of January, devotees flock to the church leading to one of the grandest festivals in the country – the Sinulog.
Planted by Ferdinand Magellan and his crew during the first mass in Cebu, Magellan’s cross symbolized the start of Christianity in the Philippines. The original cross is made of tindalo wood but was encased inside a wooden cross as locals began to chip part of the cross for souvenir purposes in the belief that the cross posses miraculous powers.
Cabecera de Argao offers a glimpse of small-town colonial political setting during the Spanish era. The Cabecera houses buildings of great importance such as Casa Real (town hall), cuartel (currently the Hall of Justice), St. Michael’s Church, Puerto Marina (gate facing the once-port of Argao) and Capella Murtuaryo. One can rest and relax in the cabecera under the shade of the Saliw-Argao tree (which the town is named after) while sipping a cup of hot sikwate (local chocolate) and eating torta, Argao’s famous delicacy.
