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In the hunt for a spot within the Philippines with diving, seashores, waterfalls, and quick access, we ended up within the area of Moalboal on Cebu Island.
The small vacationer city of Panagsama Seashore is a backpacker hamlet with a plethora of actions, dive retailers, bars, eating places, and a gorgeous shoreline. For those who’re anxious about staying busy, there are loads of issues to do in Moalboal.
This information will cowl a few of the greatest issues to do in Moalboal, the common price, the place to eat, the place to remain, and tips on how to get round Moalboal.
Moalboal is a superb escape from Cebu Metropolis and a brief distance from the airport. Nonetheless, given Cebu’s horrendous site visitors, it requires at the least three hours by automobile to get from Cebu to Moalboal.
The Greatest Issues to Do in Moalboal, Cebu
Hang around at Panagsama Seashore
Panagsama is the primary strip in Moalboal and the place just about all the things is positioned on the town. Most eating places, tour operators, lodging, and bars are positioned right here. The city isn’t very charming and facilities round one soiled, noisy road.
There aren’t plenty of seashores right here because it’s principally retaining partitions and a reef. Nonetheless, it’s a candy spot for a swim, and that is the place you could find the well-known bait balls that used to run round Pescador Island.
Water readability is comparatively weak for snorkeling. Many algae, jellyfish, garbage, and sand are floating across the water; nevertheless, in case you are scuba licensed or can freedive, the water readability will get good round six meters in depth.
Apart from chasing the bait balls proper offshore, Panagsama Seashore makes for an ideal place to benefit from the sundown and calm down. There are even a number of seaside bars to have a drink or San Miguel when you watch the day finish. Or, if you would like some extra leisure, there are quite a few therapeutic massage parlors and nail salons.
Earn Your Freedive Certification
Lots of the nice actions in Moalboal middle across the ocean and its ample marine life. For a very long time, we had wished to grasp freediving ideas. I do know we talked about freediving above to see the bait balls, and that’s exactly what we did whereas in Moalboal, as we knew it was one of the simplest ways to get down deeper and be extra comfy within the ocean.
We took our introduction course at Freediving Planet Moalboal, one of many most important locations to get licensed. Freediving depends on strategies that contain coronary heart fee management and breath-holding to dive to depths of scuba divers and past. It’s an unimaginable sport with components of meditation and physique consciousness to discover the ocean’s wonders.
It was simply an introduction for us, however we’re keen to grasp extra in regards to the dynamics of the game sooner or later.
Scuba Dive at Pescador Island and The Bait Ball
Among the finest issues to do in Moalboal is go diving. Diving primarily based out of Moalboal is taken into account a few of the greatest diving within the Philippines from the inhabited islands. (It’s important to tell apart it from a number of well-known dive websites that require taking a liveaboard within the Philippines.)
There are two well-known dive websites out of Moalboal and a number of other first rate dive sights alongside the coast with nice coral. We had sufficient time to spend one-day diving and went to the 2 hottest dive websites, Pescador Island and the Home Reef, for the sardine ball. Each dives are wall dives with an abundance of coral and small fish.
If you wish to discover frogfish, nudibranchs, tender corals, and barracuda, Pescador Island is a superb dive web site. Then there may be at all times the uncommon probability to identify the legendary thresher shark; nevertheless, if you wish to see a thresher shark, head as much as Malapascua Island, the place it’s virtually assured.
For those who dive in Moalboal, you have to take at the least one dive with the sardine balls proper off Panagsama Seashore. Though you’ll be able to technically swim out and snorkel to see them, I guarantee you that the expertise is ten instances higher underwater.
There are two dive retailers that we are able to safely suggest on the town. Our first selection is Cebu Dive Centre which is run by a welcoming American who needed to flip us away as they had been booked up for days.
The second selection is Savendra, a well-run dive store proper within the middle of city; that is who took us diving. Our dive teacher was skilled, and the gear in a contemporary dive store was nicely maintained.
Guide a Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Sumilon Sandbar & Pescador Island with Sardines
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Cruise Round on a Motorcycle
Every time we’re within the Philippines or wherever in Southeast Asia, we love to choose up a bike for transport. It opens up the flexibility to discover, and it’s enjoyable to cruise round. We picked up a bike for 2 days and took to the roads to seek out some epic waterfalls.
City costs begin at round 200 – 350 pesos a day for a bike, which varies by the kind of motorcycle you need. Bear in mind to put on a helmet – there aren’t any hospitals close by must you harm your self! (We solely took ours off for the photograph above however wore ours the remainder of the time).
Take a Boat out to Pescador Island
Probably the most well-known spot in Moalboal is Pescador Island, only a quick longtail boat experience away from Panagsama Seashore. You’ve two choices for exploring the island – scuba diving or go on an island tour with snorkeling included.
Nearly all of guests go for a tour on a long-tail boat. Most excursions start early to beat the warmth and guarantee calmer seas that may choose up with the wind later within the day.
Through the tour, you’ll make a number of stops; one is alongside the coast for snorkeling, and one is at Pescador Island. You possibly can anticipate finding a number of reef wall coral spots for snorkeling with an abundance of fish and sea turtles, plus an opportunity to see the sardine bait ball!
The sardine ball was as soon as positioned round Pescador, however after a hurricane disrupted the ecosystem, they moved to the coast proper off on Panagsama Seashore.
Go Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls
Among the finest issues to do in Moalboal is see Kawasan Falls! If you wish to discover probably the most stunning waterfall within the Philippines, you can also make an argument for Kawasan Falls. The falls are one of the well-known sights on Cebu island, with picture-perfect turquoise blue water.
The waterfall is a panoramic sight and is nicely value a go to – in the event you time it proper. Crowds listed below are bordering on uncontrolled, and in the event you go to in the course of the day, you in all probability gained’t have a good time. Get right here earlier than 7 am for probably the most peaceable and crowd-free time.
As a substitute of going to Kawasan Falls, go for the canyoneering journey within the river simply above the falls. It’s a favourite exercise and highly regarded, however as soon as you permit the entry level of the falls, teams unfold out, and you may benefit from the stunning water and canyon with simply your group.
Canyoneering is an exciting expertise that includes cliff jumps from 7, 10, and 14 meters together with a rope swing. If you wish to benefit from the tour, you don’t should tackle the large jumps as the biggest one required to finish the journey was solely a few meters.
It’s all fairly secure, too, guides be careful for the harmful factors, and everybody should put on helmets/life vests. We discovered our tour firm extraordinarily pleasant {and professional}.
Verify costs for this tour
Kabutongan Falls
Cebu has far more than Kawasan Falls, and one in every of our favourite waterfalls is Kabutongan Falls. To achieve the falls, observe a small path throughout a canyon crammed with blue water. You’ll discover the scenic waterfall and a cave on the finish of the course.
The path is fairly quick and simple for anybody of common health. It goes up and down small ravine partitions and a number of other giant boulders. Nonetheless, we had no issues discovering the route and making it to the waterfall.
A pair of water sneakers like Tropicfeels could be useful as you have to cross the stream a number of instances. It’s 100 Pesos to entry the falls and features a life jacket, however in the event you’re a robust swimmer, I don’t assume a life jacket is important and would solely get in the way in which.
When you attain the falls, you will get the perfect views in the event you head up the hill to the left, the place you’ll be able to cliff bounce into the pool under. The cliff bounce is about 8-9 meters, and the water is deep sufficient down under to leap.
I took a swim within the water with our diving masks, and the entire backside is freed from particles at about three meters deep. Nonetheless, it’s greatest to verify for your self as issues can at all times change, and nobody is accountable for your security however you.
When you’re within the pool, you’ll be able to swim underwater and right into a small cave. The cave is unimaginable, and the water is tremendous refreshing. It was a reasonably lengthy haul right down to the waterfall from Moalboal, a few 1.5-hour drive, nevertheless it was greater than definitely worth the effort.
White Seashore
White Seashore is a well-known seaside on Cebu Island, and it’s identified to attract a little bit of a crowd. It’s a brief 15-minute experience on a bike from Panagsama Seashore, so it’s value trying out when you’re there.
White Seashore makes for a wonderful early morning swim in the event you wish to snorkel, because the coral is in a lot better form than Panagsama. Be ready for the weekend crowds because the seaside is fashionable with locals who love massive picnics and loud karaoke.
Lambug Seashore
Nonetheless questioning what to do in Moalboal? Head to Lambug Seashore! This seaside is fairly much like White Seashore, nevertheless it’s a lot smaller, with fewer folks and crammed with cottages.
The sand is completely white and surrounded by palm timber, and the snorkeling is superb. It’s an ideal little escape from the primary vacationer factors and takes about half an hour by way of motorcycle.
Get together the Night time Away
There are plenty of bars round Panagsama Seashore, and after sundown is when the realm comes alive. Simply take a stroll down the primary/solely road to seek out one which fancies you. It’s not our factor and had a youthful vibe, however it could be enjoyable with a gaggle!
Have a Smoothie Bowl at Shaka Cafe
There are just a few spots we discovered scrumptious meals round Moalboal. The stand-out must be Shaka Cafe, like on Siargao. It’s a small chain of smoothie bowl eating places with a couple of places all through the Philippines.
They serve stunning smoothie bowls and low for a 300 Peso combo ($6 USD). We visited Shaka virtually every day in Panagsama Seashore and their different Siargao places. My private favorites are the Cloud 9 Kook, ¡¡Bom Dia!!, and Bakunawa Bowl.
Issues to do in Moalboal Map
What to Finances for Touring Moalboal, Cebu?
You possibly can anticipate to spend wherever from $30 to $75 an individual in Moalboal. It’s one of many extra inexpensive locations on the earth, and I’m certain a backpacker or somebody on an excessive finances may are available in below $30.
On common personal rooms vary from $15 to $75 an evening. Meals is inexpensive and may go wherever from $2 to $10. Meals decisions vary from low-cost native dishes to Western meals.
Actions differ in worth, however they’re all very inexpensive compared elsewhere. We paid $65 per particular person for 2 boat dives with gear, about $30 a dive. A bike rental ranges from about $5 to $10 every day, relying on high quality and haggling. In distinction, a ship tour for island hopping involves round $25 an individual.
Find out how to Get to Moalboal from Cebu?
Cebu Metropolis operates as a useful hub within the Philippines with a brand new worldwide flight terminal and dozens of home flights. From Cebu Metropolis, you could have a large number of locations you’ll be able to attain on Cebu Island by way of bus or Taxi together with neighboring islands corresponding to Bohol by way of ferry.
Moalboal is 92 km Southwest of Cebu Metropolis on Cebu Island and journey time there varies from two and half hours to 6, relying on site visitors.
Bus:
From Cebu Metropolis, you have to head to the South Bus Terminal, the place there are departures each half-hour to Moalboal. The very best bus line for vacationers is the extra comfy yellow Ceres Bus Line, which prices a technique 110 PHP. Journey time to Moalboal by way of the bus is three hours, however that may take considerably longer, with Cebu site visitors usually round 4 hours. If coming from the airport, don’t neglect to consider time to the bus terminal. Altogether, it could take round six hours, if no more— which for 92 km, that’s fairly loopy.
When you attain Moalboal, you’ll want to rent a tricycle or motorcycle to take the 3-4 kilometers to succeed in Panagsama Seashore or White Seashore. The everyday fare is round 100 – 200 PHP. For those who’re a foreigner, anticipate to pay about 200 PHP.
Taxi:
This feature is the best, and it’s how we made our method to Moalboal. The typical worth for a taxi from Cebu Airport is 2000 PHP to 2500 PHP. We paid 2500 and thought it was greater than a good worth after we received caught in 4 hours of site visitors. In an excellent world, it ought to take two and a half hours with no site visitors.
Switch:
For those who’ve booked a dive package deal or resort in Moaboal, lots of them will prepare a personal switch for you. These are handy and may save a while, however they do price extra, and contemplating the benefit of a taxi, we might not suggest going this route. The going fee for transfers is round 2800 PHP to 3000 PHP—a slight upcharge from the usual taxi worth.
When is the Greatest Time to Go to Moalboal?
The very best time to go to Moalboal and Cebu could be from December to March. That is when you’ll be able to anticipate sunny days and heat temperatures. Like all seaside locations, you need to benefit from the sunshine and take within the seaside.
Cebu and the Philippines, for that matter, expertise solely two seasons – dry and wet seasons. October to Could is the dry season with solely occasional rain showers. On the similar time, the moist season is from June to August, with frequent downpours that final for days. The top of the dry season additionally occurs to be the “summer time months,” with March to June build up in warmth and humidity.
We visited in mid-Could, and it was scorching and humid, however we hardly ever noticed rain.
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