It is no exaggeration to say that a trip to Cebu means the beach, as the beautiful beaches of Cebu are captivating. And
There are many beaches on Cebu that perfectly match the image of a tropical beach. The combination of the pure white sandy beaches that spread over a vast area with the clear blue sea and sky is so spectacular that it will make you think “I’m glad I came to Cebu!”
This time, we will introduce 10 beaches that are highly recommended by local tour companies in Cebu. We will also introduce the characteristics and ways to enjoy each of the 10 beaches, as well as recommended information for those who want to “enjoy while keeping costs down!”
We hope you will find this information useful to help you enjoy Cebu to the fullest.
10 recommended stunning beaches in Cebu!
One of the ways to enjoy a trip to Cebu is to experience the spectacular beaches that you can’t see in Japan. First, we will introduce the recommended spectacular beaches in Cebu and how to enjoy them.
Recommended Beach 1: Mactan Island
A recommended beach near Cebu is Mactan Island, located next to Cebu City.
On Mactan Island, local businesses near resort hotels offer marine activities. In this way, guests staying at beach resorts can enjoy the beaches of Mactan Island for free, and even those who are not staying at the resort can enjoy the beaches for a fee.
Prices vary, with cheaper beach resorts costing just 150 pesos (about 310 yen) and more expensive ones costing 4,000 pesos (8,280 yen) and offering beaches, pools, water slides and lazy rivers, making it fun for everyone, from children to adults.
Being able to enjoy these activities right near the hotel reduces the physical strain and travel time, and another attractive feature is that you can have fun to your heart’s content and then return to the hotel to rest.
Recommended Beach 2: Nalusuan Island
Nalusuan Island is an uninhabited island located about 40 minutes by boat from Mactan Island.
Nalusuan Island is a small island located in the Philippines, specifically within the province of Cebu. It’s part of the Mactan Island group, which is situated in the central part of the Philippines. The island is known for its clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and vibrant coral reefs. It is a popular spot for snorkeling and diving due to the rich marine biodiversity.
It is famous for its photogenic pier, which is longer than the island itself, but the shallow waters offshore make it a great place to enjoy the beach. The waves are gentle, so it is a safe place for families with children and those who are not good at swimming to enjoy themselves.
[Nalusuan Island Tour Introduction]
– “Island hopping to two islands (Hilutungan Island + Nalusuan Island)”
・”Island hopping 3 islands (Pandanon Island + Nalusuan Island + Hilutungan Island)”
*Cebupre’s Nalusuan Island tour usually involves going close to the island and enjoying snorkeling from a boat, but if you wish, you can also go ashore on the island and enjoy playing on the beach or swimming in the sea.
If there’s anything you’d like to do, please feel free to contact us.
Recommended Beach 3: Pandanon Island
Pandanon Island is a remote island located about 60 minutes by boat from Mactan Island. As the furthest remote island accessible from Cebu Island, it is attractive for its almost completely untouched white beaches and crystal clear seas that shine a truly emerald color. Due to its beauty, it has been described as “the island closest to heaven” and has captured the hearts of many tourists.
The waters offshore in Pandanon Island are only about waist-high for adults, so swimming is the main activity. Other popular ways to enjoy the beach include relaxing and playing beach volleyball or having a barbecue.
[Tour introduction to enjoy the beaches of Pandanon Island]
– “Island hopping 3 islands (Pandanon Island + Nalusuan Island + Hilutungan Island)”
*Cebupre’s Nalusuan Island tour is usually a plan where you go close to the island and enjoy snorkeling from a boat, but if you wish, you can also land on the island and enjoy playing on the beach or swimming in the sea.
If there’s anything you’d like to do, please feel free to contact us.
Recommended Beach 4: Sumilon Island
Sumilon Island is a remote island located about 15 minutes by boat from Oslob, which is famous as a snorkeling spot with whale sharks. It is about a three-hour drive or bus ride from Cebu City to Oslob, so it is a plan that you can enjoy a day trip.
The appeal of Sumilon Island’s beaches is their pure white sand and clear shallow waters, where you can enjoy a wide variety of coral reefs and tropical fish.
Half of the beach on Sumilon Island is a private beach for the island’s only hotel, the Sumilon Blue Water Hotel. Since the beach is only available to hotel guests, you can only use it if you stay overnight or take advantage of the day-use plan (a plan that allows day-trippers to freely use the hotel facilities during the day).
Even if you are not staying at a hotel, Sumilon Island is a popular spot with a variety of ways to enjoy the island, including sandbars (shallow waters that appear at low tide) and taking commemorative photos with the beautiful scenery as a backdrop.
[Sumilon Island Tour Introduction]
・”Whale shark snorkeling + Sumilon Island & Kawasan Falls tour”
・”Whale shark snorkeling + Sumilon Island & Tumalog Falls Tour”
・”Whale shark snorkeling + Aguinid Falls & Sumilon Island tour”
As mentioned above, CebuPre offers a plan to enjoy snorkeling with whale sharks at Oslob and Sumilon Island in one day.
We are also currently planning a plan that allows you to use the day use plan of Sumilon Water Hotel. We will have even more plans that will allow you to fully enjoy the beaches of Sumilon Island, so please look forward to it.
Recommended Beach 5: Moalboal
Located about a three-hour drive southwest of Cebu City, Moalboal is a popular spot especially among Western backpackers (travelers traveling abroad on a budget) and divers. Moalboal has two beaches, Panagsama Beach and White Beach, each of which can be enjoyed in a different way.
Comparing the two beaches, White Beach is more popular as a beach where you can enjoy the experience more in the style of Cebu. White Beach has nearly 20 diving spots, and the creatures and scenery you can see vary depending on the spot, so you can enjoy snorkeling and diving to your heart’s content. It is also well-known for the beauty of its sandy beach, as its name suggests.
On the other hand, Panagsama Beach is a popular spot for backpackers, and is home to a number of diver’s shops, souvenir stores, restaurants and more.
[Tour introduction including Moalboal]
・”Snorkeling with sea turtles + Moalboal & Kawasan Falls Tour”
・”Snorkeling with Sea Turtles + Moalboal & White Beach Tour”
・”Swim with whale sharks and sea turtles + Moalboal & White Beach Tour”
Among the most popular tours offered by Cebupre are snorkeling with sea turtles at Moalboal’s White Beach and seeing a sardine tornado up close.
Recommended Beach 6: Bohol Island (Alona Beach)
Bohol Island is an island with a population of about 1.14 million people located about two hours by ferry from Cebu Island. The entire island is a popular tourist spot, with sights such as the Philippine Tarsier to be seen, but there are also several beautiful beaches within Bohol. The busiest of them all is Alona Beach.
Alona Beach is characterized by its long sandy beach, which stretches for 2km. There are many restaurants and cafes along the coast, and at night you can see band performances and dance shows.
Alona Beach has a tropical atmosphere and is the perfect place to relax and unwind, or enjoy a glamorous atmosphere.
[Bohol Island Tour Introduction]
・Bohol Island Day Tour (Zipline & Buggy Driving)
Recommended Beach 7: Caohagan Island
Caohagan Island is a remote island located in the eastern part of Cebu Island. It can be accessed from Cebu City in about two hours by boat, so it is an easy beach to visit for a day trip from Cebu City.
There are two main features of Caohagan Island.
The owner of Caohagan Island is Japanese (currently it is jointly owned by several people). While leaving the natural surroundings of Caohagan Island intact, they have built public toilets and accommodation facilities, making it an easy-to-use resort island.
② Powdery Sand Beach
The beach on Caohagan Island is covered with pure white powdery sand. The beach is so beautiful that it is also a very popular photo spot.
Recommended Beach 8: Olango Island
Olango Island is an isolated island that can be accessed in just 15 to 20 minutes from Mactan Island, and is also known as the “closest hidden place from Cebu.” There are many isolated islands near Olango Island, and there is a beach on Olango Island as well.
- Shalala Beach
Just behind Shalala Beach is a mangrove forest, giving it a different atmosphere from other Cebu beaches. This beach is more popular with local children than tourists, so you might be able to interact with the children of Cebu.
- Marine Sanctuary
Marine Sanctuary is located in the southwest of Olango Island. After passing through the mangrove forest, you will come to a long pier. If you continue along the pier, you will arrive at a tropical hut made of wood and bamboo where you can enjoy snorkeling. This beach is designated as a marine protected area and is home to beautiful corals and tropical fish.
Recommended Beach 9: Bantayan Island
Bantayan Island is located about a 4-5 hour drive north from Cebu City and then about an hour and a half by ferry.
Bantayan Island has several beaches.
- ANIKA Beach Resort
This is a completely private beach, so it is not crowded even at peak times. The beach is wide and clean, so it is recommended for those who want to spend a quiet time.
- NORTH VILLE Beach Resort & Restaurant
Northville Beach Resort is characterized by its relaxing beach with stilt cottages and palm trees that give off a tropical vibe. If you get tired from playing on the pure white beach, you can relax in the shade of the palm trees.
- Yooneek Beach
This beach has well-maintained facilities and is popular among Japanese people. Also, at low tide, a sandy beach appears from the shallows of the sea. This beach offers a spectacular view that is hard to find at many beaches in Cebu.
- Paradise Beach
This is located a little far from the center of Bantayan Island, about 15 minutes by motorbike taxi. The beach is a public beach and a usage fee of 50 pesos (104 yen) is required. The collaboration of the pure white sand, the clear blue sea and the sky is the most beautiful beach.
The charm of Bantayan Island is that, even though its beaches are as beautiful as a scene from a movie, they are less crowded than other spots. You can enjoy the feeling of having a luxurious tropical space all to yourself.
It takes a little longer to travel from Cebu City, but there are hotels on Bantayan Island, so if you are planning on staying for a long period of time, it is a hidden gem that you should consider.
Recommended Beach 10: Camotes Islands (Tulang Island)
The Camotes Islands are a group of four islands located about two hours by ferry “Ocean Jet” from the port of Cebu (Pier 1) (there are only two ferry services per day).
<Ocean Jet Timetable>
Timetable Cebu → Camotes 6:00-8:00 500 pesos (1,040 yen) 15:00-17:00 Camotes → Cebu
8 :00-10:00 17:00-19:00
Among them, Tulang Island, located another 5 minutes by bangkok boat from the Camotes Islands, is highly acclaimed for its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.
There are many other popular spots in the Camotes Islands!
・Buho Rock: Dive into the ocean from heights of 5m and 15m!
・Bukilad Cave: A mysterious limestone cave with a wide space that spreads out after passing through a deep entrance
・Timubo Cave: A cave with excellent transparency! You can swim in it!
The Camotes Islands are an area where local Filipinos often go to have fun, but they are also known as a hidden gem of beautiful beaches. There are also accommodation facilities on Tulan Island, so we recommend spending a relaxing night there without worrying about ferry times.
To enjoy the beaches of Cebu, we recommend “Cebupre”, the cheapest private tour for one group only
If you are going to visit the tropical island of Cebu, you want to make the most of the best beaches. To do so, it is ideal to use a tour company that offers plans that allow you to enjoy your trip to the fullest with peace of mind.
When traveling to Cebu, you can directly negotiate with local companies to arrange accommodation, transportation, and activities, but this is not realistic because Japanese is generally not spoken and negotiations are time-consuming. There is a high risk that negotiating with companies will tire you out or take too much time, and you will not be able to fully enjoy Cebu.
There is also the issue of public safety in Cebu. Cebu is known as a safe area, but compared to Japan, the risk of pickpocketing and baggage theft is still very high, and it is quite possible to get into trouble while traveling.
What is “Cebupre”?
CebuPre is a local tour company in Cebu that offers tours limited to one group at a low price.
A tour limited to one group is not a group tour that mixes various types of customers like a regular tour, but a tour that has a dedicated driver, a dedicated vehicle, and a dedicated guide (a female guide who understands Japanese) just for one group of customers.
Unlike group tours, where you don’t have to worry about other tour participants or adjust your schedule, you can enjoy the tour at your own pace, just like traveling alone. Also, if you suddenly need to go to the toilet along the way, or if there is a spot you really want to stop by, you can feel free to ask us for help.
Another advantage is that each group will be assigned a guide, who can help with any small issues, such as measures to protect against pickpockets and baggage theft, what to do if you don’t understand the language spoken by the local activity staff, advice on tourist spots and photo spots, and assistance with photography.
Despite offering such comprehensive services, we offer the lowest prices in the industry, and offer plans that are lower than group tours. (For example, the beach plan introduced here is available for around 8,000 to 15,000 yen per person. The average price for a similar tour is around 12,000 to 25,000 yen per person.)
We offer our customers something to please, both in terms of cost and the ability to enjoy Cebu’s beaches to the fullest with peace of mind.
Things to keep in mind when enjoying the beaches of Cebu
To fully enjoy the charming beaches of Cebu, there are a few things you need to be aware of. Cebu is a safe and globally developed resort destination, but if you are not fully aware of the precautions, you run the risk of running into trouble on the day.
Here are some points to be aware of.
4 things to be careful of on Cebu beaches
・Check in advance where the toilets and changing places are located
In Japan, places where you can enjoy marine sports or swimming are always equipped with toilets, changing rooms, shower rooms, etc., but in Cebu Island, these facilities are not necessarily available. For example, when accessing Moalboal from Cebu City, the journey takes about three hours one way, but there may only be one toilet break along the way.
It’s a good idea to find out about these places in advance so you don’t get into any trouble when the time comes. Also, if you’re a neat freak, it’s best to use the restroom at the hotel whenever possible.
· Bring your own toilet paper
. Public toilets in Cebu do not have toilet paper. Make sure to bring your own toilet paper.
・Check out retail stores
It is also important to check where convenience stores and retail stores are located to purchase snacks and drinks. There are limited retail spots on Cebu Island, so be careful, especially when visiting remote islands. If you use “Cebu Pre,” it will be easier to move around afterwards if you ask your guide questions in advance.
The sun is strong in Cebu, so it is essential to take measures against
UV rays. One thing to note here is that some beaches prohibit the use of sunscreen. Check in advance and don’t forget to bring a rash guard (such as a hoodie that you can pull over your body), sunglasses, a hat, etc. to prevent sunburn.
Summary
This time, we introduced 10 beaches in Cebu that are confidently recommended by Cebupre, a local private tour company in Cebu.
Although the beauty of the sand and sea at each beach is difficult to compare, there are different ways to enjoy them, so we hope you will use this article as a reference.
If you take advantage of this tour, which is limited to one group only, you can enjoy the various beaches and spots of Cebu Island as freely as if you were traveling on your own. We also introduce “Cebupre” tours, so please check them out.