Hilutungan Island: A Highly Popular Snorkeling Spot for Island Hopping Around Cebu Island

Cebu Island boasts numerous snorkeling spots that are beloved by enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world, but among the most popular is Hilutungan Island.

While Cebu Island is surrounded by beautiful seas, Hilutungan Island stands out in particular. Its crystal-clear waters have earned it the title of “Cebu Island’s top snorkeling spot,” making it a must-see destination for those wanting to experience the beauty firsthand.

Hilutungan Island is conveniently located just a 20-minute boat ride from Mactan Island, a common base for tourists exploring Cebu. This makes it perfect for a day trip, allowing visitors to fully enjoy its stunning marine life and scenery.

In this article, a local Cebu tour company provides a comprehensive guide to the exceptional snorkeling spot, Hilutungan Island. We will also introduce tips on how to choose the best tour company to make the most of your visit to Hilutungan Island, so be sure to use this as a reference.

Crystal-Clear Waters! Discover Hilutungan Island, Just 20 Minutes from Mactan Island

Let’s introduce Hilutungan Island, often referred to as “Cebu Island’s top snorkeling spot.”

Hilutungan Island is a small island located just a 20-minute boat ride from Mactan Island, where many tourists visiting Cebu choose to stay. While it’s not an uninhabited island, its population is relatively small, with around 1,000 to 2,000 residents. Rather than being a developed resort, the island retains much of the local lifestyle, giving visitors an authentic experience.

The waters surrounding Hilutungan Island are designated as a marine sanctuary, and its emerald-green sea is incredibly clear. The water is so transparent that you can easily spot fish swimming beneath the surface from the boat. The combination of clean water and warm seawater creates an environment where a wide variety of fish and marine creatures can thrive.

With such perfect conditions, Hilutungan Island is an ideal spot for snorkeling.

There are two main ways to enjoy Hilutungan Island: one is to stay on the boat and snorkel near the island without setting foot on land, and the other is to land on the island itself. However, since the primary allure of Hilutungan Island lies in its waters, most tour packages focus on snorkeling without setting foot on the island.

Three Main Attractions of Hilutungan Island

For those who have never visited Hilutungan Island, here are three key attractions that make it worth exploring:

Attraction 1: Enjoy Island Hopping

Hilutungan Island is surrounded by many smaller islands, making it an ideal spot for island hopping.

Island hopping involves renting a boat to visit various nearby islands, where you can enjoy activities like snorkeling, barbecuing, and beach volleyball. Since Hilutungan Island is an excellent location for snorkeling, you can board a boat and explore the surrounding seas, encountering a variety of marine life and beautiful seascapes.

Another reason why island hopping is so convenient here is its proximity—just 20 minutes from Mactan Island.

How to Enjoy Island Hopping:

• Book a tour that includes island hopping for Hilutungan Island. This is the best option for beginners. By arranging a tour through a tour company, you can ensure that everything, from the boat to snorkeling gear and guides, is properly organized.
• Hire a local island hopping operator. If you prefer not to use a tour service, you can book directly with local operators. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to communicate in the local language or English.

Additionally, they may initially quote a high price, so you’ll need to negotiate to rent a boat at a reasonable rate. For those not accustomed to international travel, booking a tour might be a more convenient option to avoid spending time and energy on negotiation.

Attraction 2: A Variety of Marine Life

Hilutungan Island is a beloved spot for divers due to the wide variety of marine species that can be observed here. Even if you’re not a strong swimmer, wearing a life jacket will allow you to safely enjoy snorkeling. This makes Hilutungan an excellent spot for both beginners and marine sports enthusiasts alike.

Marine Life You Can See at Hilutungan Island:

• Clownfish species, including the iconic Nemo (Clown Anemonefish)
• Schools of Giant Trevally and Batfish
• Needlefish
• Blackfin Dartfish
• Juvenile Barracudas

Attraction 3: Close Proximity to Mactan Island

Since Hilutungan Island is only a 20-minute boat ride from Mactan Island, you can enjoy its beauty without spending much time in transit. The boat ride itself is also pleasant, as you can enjoy the refreshing sea breeze.

Advantages of Hilutungan Island’s Proximity to Mactan Island:

• You can save energy for activities like snorkeling and fully enjoy them.
• You don’t need to wake up too early in the morning to start snorkeling.
• If you’re on a 3-night, 4-day tour, you can dedicate one full day to relaxing and catching up on sleep, without feeling rushed to explore.

Tours Are the Best Way to Access Hilutungan Island!

When visiting Hilutungan Island, it’s highly recommended to use a tour package. While arranging your own trip locally isn’t impossible, it can be quite a hassle and difficult to navigate.

By booking a tour online in advance, you can avoid any confusion on the day of your visit. Tour packages usually include everything you need, from boat arrangements to the necessary equipment for snorkeling and diving.

Some tours even offer hotel pick-up and drop-off, ensuring that you can fully enjoy your Cebu trip with all the necessary support in place.

Our company, CebuPre, offers private, exclusive island hopping tours to Hilutungan Island (details about the tour can be found at the bottom of this page).

Spots to Visit Alongside Hilutungan Island

Hilutungan Island is a stunning location easily accessible from Mactan Island, but nearby, there are other popular spots like Nalusuan Island, known for its picturesque pier, and Pandanon Island, often called “the island closest to heaven.” Many visitors choose to enjoy these destinations together.

Both Nalusuan Island and Pandanon Island are just 30 minutes by boat from Hilutungan, making it easy to visit all three islands in one day. Each island offers a unique experience, which adds to the excitement of the tour.

Nalusuan Island: Safe for Kids with Shallow Waters

Like Hilutungan Island, Nalusuan Island is also a great snorkeling spot, but it features a different variety of marine life. Nalusuan is famous for its colorful tropical fish, which can be seen up close during snorkeling thanks to the fish feeding in the area. The island is also known for its long pier, a perfect spot for Instagram-worthy photos.

With shallow waters extending around 300 meters from the shore, Nalusuan Island is an ideal destination for families with children, providing a safe and enjoyable environment.

For more information on Nalusuan Island, check out the article [“Nalusuan Island: One of the Top Island Hopping Destinations in Cebu!”].

Pandanon Island: “The Island Closest to Heaven”

Pandanon Island is famous for its untouched natural beauty, making it a picturesque tropical paradise. Every angle of the island offers a photo-worthy view. Visitors especially love the Pandanon Temple, surrounded by white pillars and the bright blue sky, creating stunning photo opportunities.

Although the waters are shallow, making it less ideal for serious snorkeling, Pandanon is perfect for swimming with family or for those who aren’t confident swimmers. You can also enjoy beach volleyball, relaxing on the sand, and tasting local delicacies like sea urchins and shellfish.

This luxurious tour, where you can experience three distinctly different islands in one day, is a must-try!

For more information on Pandanon Island, visit [“Pandanon Island: The Must-Visit Island Hopping Spot in Cebu!”].

CebuPre’s Exclusive Private Tour to Hilutungan Island at the Best Price

If you’re looking to fully enjoy Hilutungan Island, one of the best snorkeling spots, we recommend the tour company CebuPre.

When you think of a “tour,” you might imagine a group tour, but CebuPre offers exclusive private tours. These tours can be booked for groups of two or more, and each group gets a dedicated driver and a friendly guide (including female staff). This allows you to enjoy the tour like a personal trip, without worrying about other tourists or adjusting your schedule.

You might assume that having a private driver and guide would make the tour more expensive than a group tour, but CebuPre stands out by offering private tours at a lower price than most group tours.

Let’s introduce the tour plans that allow you to experience Hilutungan Island with CebuPre. These tours also include visits to Pandanon Island and Nalusuan Island, which were mentioned in the previous section, making for a luxurious experience.

CebuPre’s Tour Plans:

• Island Hopping 3 Islands: Pandanon Island + Nalusuan Island + Hilutungan Island (from 3,100 PHP)
• Island Hopping 2 Islands: Hilutungan Island + Nalusuan Island (from 2,600 PHP)

These two plans let you efficiently island-hop from Mactan Island to all three islands, renting a large private boat to fully enjoy the tropical paradise.

At Hilutungan Island, you can snorkel in the shimmering emerald waters and observe a variety of fish species, including clownfish. For those not confident in their swimming abilities, life jackets are available, and boat staff are ready to assist you in snorkeling to ensure everyone can enjoy the experience.

Included in the tour:

• Entrance fees
• Private transportation
• Dedicated and friendly male or female guide
• Private large bangka boat
• Life jackets, masks, snorkels, and fins

Additional paid services:

• Underwater GoPro camera and commemorative photo service (800 PHP)

Please note that CebuPre’s Hilutungan Island plans focus on snorkeling activities and do not include landing on the island. However, since it’s a private tour, you can request adjustments, such as landing on the island, to tailor the experience to your preferences.

Other Tour Plans from Different Companies:

Here’s a tour plan from another company:

• Hilutungan Island Island Hopping + Island Exploration (from 4,100 PHP)

This plan includes snorkeling near Hilutungan Island, followed by landing on the island for a barbecue and island exploration. It also includes transportation from Mactan Island and services from dedicated and friendly staff.

Included in the tour:

• Entrance fees
• Transportation from Mactan Island
• Lunch
• Staff/guide
• Snorkeling gear

Additional paid services:

• Jet skiing (3,200 PHP) and wakeboarding (3,700 PHP) can be enjoyed for an additional fee.

Summary

In this article, we introduced Hilutungan Island, often referred to as the best snorkeling spot around Cebu Island.

Just a 20-minute boat ride from Mactan Island, where most tourists stay, Hilutungan Island is famous for its exceptional water clarity and the wide variety of fish species you can observe. Another great advantage of Hilutungan is its proximity to other islands like Nalusuan and Pandanon, which can easily be explored on the same trip.

If you’re visiting Cebu, we highly recommend experiencing the crystal-clear waters of Hilutungan Island. For an optimal experience, consider booking with CebuPre, an exclusive private tour company. Their reasonably priced packages cater to various requests, such as adding island landings like Hilutungan, allowing you to enjoy a truly customized adventure.