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Looking 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 outlets, bars, eating places, and an exquisite shoreline. For those who’re nervous about staying busy, there are loads of issues to do in Moalboal.
This information will cowl a number of the finest issues to do in Moalboal, the common price, the place to eat, the place to remain, and the best way to get round Moalboal.
Moalboal is a good escape from Cebu Metropolis and a brief distance from the airport. Nonetheless, given Cebu’s horrendous site visitors, it requires no less than three hours by automobile to get from Cebu to Moalboal.
The Finest 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 just isn’t very charming and facilities round one soiled, noisy road.
There should not a whole lot of seashores right here because it’s largely 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, if you’re 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 a fantastic place to benefit from the sundown and chill out. There are even a number of seashore bars to have a drink or San Miguel whilst you watch the day finish. Or, in order for you some extra rest, there are quite a few therapeutic massage parlors and nail salons.
Earn Your Freedive Certification
Lots of the nice actions in Moalboal heart across the ocean and its ample marine life. For a very long time, we had needed to know 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 best ways to get down deeper and be extra comfy within the ocean.
We took our introduction course at Freediving Planet Moalboal, one of many primary locations to get licensed. Freediving depends on methods that contain coronary heart fee management and breath-holding to dive to depths of scuba divers and past. It’s an unbelievable sport with parts of meditation and physique consciousness to discover the ocean’s wonders.
It was simply an introduction for us, however we’re keen to know extra in regards to the dynamics of the game sooner or later.
Scuba Dive at Pescador Island and The Bait Ball
The most effective issues to do in Moalboal is go diving. Diving primarily based out of Moalboal is taken into account a number of the finest 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, delicate corals, and barracuda, Pescador Island is a good dive website. Then there’s 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 should take no less than one dive with the sardine balls proper off Panagsama Seashore. Though you possibly can technically swim out and snorkel to see them, I guarantee you that the expertise is ten occasions higher underwater.
There are two dive outlets that we are able to safely advocate on the town. Our first alternative 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 alternative is Savendra, a well-run dive store proper within the heart of city; that is who took us diving. Our dive teacher was skilled, and the gear in a contemporary dive store was properly maintained.
E-book a Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Sumilon Sandbar & Pescador Island with Sardines
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Cruise Round on a Bike
At any time when we’re within the Philippines or anyplace in Southeast Asia, we love to select up a motorcycle for transport. It opens up the power to discover, and it’s enjoyable to cruise round. We picked up a motorcycle for 2 days and took to the roads to search out some epic waterfalls.
City costs begin at round 200 – 350 pesos a day for a motorcycle, which varies by the kind of bike you need. Keep in mind to put on a helmet – there aren’t any hospitals close by must you damage your self! (We solely took ours off for the picture above however wore ours the remainder of the time).
Take a Boat out to Pescador Island
Essentially the most well-known spot in Moalboal is Pescador Island, only a quick longtail boat journey away from Panagsama Seashore. You could have two choices for exploring the island – scuba diving or go on an island tour with snorkeling included.
The vast majority 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 decide up with the wind later within the day.
Throughout 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 storm disrupted the ecosystem, they moved to the coast proper off on Panagsama Seashore.
Go Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls
The most effective issues to do in Moalboal is see Kawasan Falls! If you wish to discover essentially the most stunning waterfall within the Philippines, you may make an argument for Kawasan Falls. The falls are probably the most well-known sights on Cebu island, with picture-perfect turquoise blue water.
The waterfall is a wide ranging sight and is properly price a go to – when you time it proper. Crowds listed here are bordering on uncontrolled, and when you go to in the course of the day, you in all probability received’t have a good time. Get right here earlier than 7 am for essentially the most peaceable and crowd-free time.
As an alternative of going to Kawasan Falls, go for the canyoneering journey within the river simply above the falls. It’s a favourite exercise and very fashionable, however as soon as you permit the entry level of the falls, teams unfold out, and you’ll 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}.
Examine costs for this tour
Kabutongan Falls
Cebu has rather more than Kawasan Falls, and certainly one of our favourite waterfalls is Kabutongan Falls. To succeed in the falls, comply with a small path throughout a canyon stuffed with blue water. You’ll discover the scenic waterfall and a cave on the finish of the course.
The path is fairly quick and straightforward 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 footwear like Tropicfeels can be helpful as you should cross the stream a number of occasions. It’s 100 Pesos to entry the falls and features a life jacket, however when you’re a robust swimmer, I don’t suppose a life jacket is important and would solely get in the way in which.
When you attain the falls, you will get the very best views when you head up the hill to the left, the place you possibly can cliff soar into the pool under. The cliff soar 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 finest to examine for your self as issues can at all times change, and nobody is liable for your security however you.
When you’re within the pool, you possibly can swim underwater and right into a small cave. The cave is unbelievable, 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 well worth the effort.
White Seashore
White Seashore is a well-known seashore on Cebu Island, and it’s recognized to attract a little bit of a crowd. It’s a brief 15-minute journey on a motorcycle from Panagsama Seashore, so it’s price testing whilst you’re there.
White Seashore makes for a wonderful early morning swim when you wish to snorkel, because the coral is in significantly better form than Panagsama. Be ready for the weekend crowds because the seashore is well-liked with locals who love huge picnics and loud karaoke.
Lambug Seashore
Nonetheless questioning what to do in Moalboal? Head to Lambug Seashore! This seashore is fairly much like White Seashore, nevertheless it’s a lot smaller, with fewer folks and stuffed with cottages.
The sand is completely white and surrounded by palm timber, and the snorkeling is superb. It’s a fantastic little escape from the primary vacationer factors and takes about half an hour through bike.
Occasion the Night time Away
There are a whole lot of bars round Panagsama Seashore, and after sundown is when the world comes alive. Simply take a stroll down the primary/solely road to search out one which fancies you. It’s not our factor and had a youthful vibe, however it might 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 day by 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 Funds for Touring Moalboal, Cebu?
You possibly can count on to spend anyplace from $30 to $75 an individual in Moalboal. It’s one of many extra reasonably priced locations on the earth, and I’m positive a backpacker or somebody on an excessive finances might are available in below $30.
On common personal rooms vary from $15 to $75 an evening. Meals is reasonably priced and may go anyplace from $2 to $10. Meals decisions vary from low cost native dishes to Western meals.
Actions fluctuate in worth, however they’re all very reasonably priced in comparison elsewhere. We paid $65 per particular person for 2 boat dives with tools, about $30 a dive. A motorcycle rental ranges from about $5 to $10 day by day, relying on high quality and haggling. In distinction, a ship tour for island hopping involves round $25 an individual.
The way 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 may have a large number of locations you possibly can attain on Cebu Island through bus or Taxi together with neighboring islands similar to Bohol through 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 should 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 method 110 PHP. Journey time to Moalboal through the bus is three hours, however that may take considerably longer, with Cebu site visitors sometimes round 4 hours. If coming from the airport, don’t overlook to consider time to the bus terminal. Altogether, it might 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 bike to take the 3-4 kilometers to succeed in Panagsama Seashore or White Seashore. The standard fare is round 100 – 200 PHP. For those who’re a foreigner, count on to pay about 200 PHP.
Taxi:
This feature is the best, and it’s how we made our method to Moalboal. The common 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 bought caught in 4 hours of site visitors. In a really perfect world, it ought to take two and a half hours with no site visitors.
Switch:
For those who’ve booked a dive bundle or resort in Moaboal, a lot of them will organize a personal switch for you. These are handy and may save a while, however they do price extra, and contemplating the convenience of a taxi, we’d not advocate 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 Finest Time to Go to Moalboal?
The very best time to go to Moalboal and Cebu can be from December to March. That is when you possibly can count on sunny days and heat temperatures. Like all seashore locations, you need to benefit from the sunshine and take within the seashore.
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 season months,” with March to June increase 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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