5 Reasons To Love Moalboal, Cebu

Cebu is a very well-loved destination, and for good reason: no matter what type of traveler you are, Cebu will dish out, quite effortlessly, a good amount of adrenaline, history, white sand, clear waters, good food, and many more your way. There is just too much to see — from the northern islands of Malapascua and Bantayan, to Camotes, all the way south to Sumilon — that it would take multiple trips to see just the well-documented sights of this province.

On the western side of the province, facing the Negros landmass and Tañon Strait — an incredibly rich marine environment — is the tiny town of Moalboal. Moalboal has a quiet, small-town feel, perfect for those of you yearning for a vacation from their vacation — until you discover what’s underneath its waters. Quiet, sleepy Moalboal sees unmatched action underwater — yet another reason to keep coming back to Cebu.

Here are 5 reasons why the three-hour bus ride to get to this underwater paradise is worth it, and why you should consider it for your next Cebu adventure:

Panagsama Beach’s Sardine Run

Sardine Run by Owen Ballesteros

The sardine run — a phenomenon in which millions, if not billions, of sardines form shoals as a defense mechanism against predators — is one of the most fascinating underwater spectacles to witness. Moalboal makes it rather easy to appreciate this sight: just off the shore at Panagsama Beach, millions of sardines congregate, creating long swaths or tornado-like shapes, moving in a slow rhythm that will leave most spectators speechless.

The best way to see the sardine run is from down below, by scuba diving or freediving. But it is still possible to see the sardines from snorkeling depths.

World-Class Scuba Diving

Diver surrounded by sardines by Owen Ballesteros

Moalboal is home to several spectacular dive sites, including Pescador Island, just 10 minutes from Panagsama Beach. Considered one of the world’s best dive sites, Pescador Island offers fairly regular sightings of sea turtles, schools of jacks, frogfish, sea fans, and sundry soft and hard corals. Snorkeling trips are also possible for non-divers.

Other dive sites around the area include Tuble, Tongo Point, White Beach, Ronda Bay Marine Park, Sunken Island, and Airplane Wreck, in which a two-seater plane was sunk to serve as an artificial reef. Sea turtles are also regularly sighted at the house reefs off Panagsama Beach.

With world-class dive sites just a stone’s throw away, Moalboal also makes for the perfect place to take scuba diving certification courses, which cost about ₱15,000 for the entry-level Open Water license. The non-certification course, Discover Scuba Diving, costs about ₱3,000 and can be continued to an Open Water license. Fun dives cost ₱1,100 to ₱1,300.

Freediving — plunging into the ocean without air tanks, as in scuba diving — is another skill you may want to try learning in Moalboal’s waters under Austrian freediving instructorWolfgang Dafert, who can hold his breath for more than seven minutes underwater and reach depths of 70 meters under a single breath. Like scuba diving, freediving offers a beginner program, with options to advance to certification courses.

Stunning Sunsets

Sunset at Panagsama Beach by Owen Ballesteros

Facing the west with a distant view of Negros, Moalboal’s sunsets are another stunning sight, especially after spending a long day underwater. It’s not unusual too to spot a sea turtle wading in the waters of Panagsama as the sun sinks and bathes the beach various hues of red, orange, and purple.

White Beach

White Beach, Moalboal, Cebu by Ian Ong

With its long stretch of white sand and clear waters, White Beach, or Basdaku, compensates well for Panagsama Beach’s lack of shoreline for those who want their dose of sun, sea, and sand. White Beach also hosts a line of resorts, making it an alternative base to Panagsama Beach.

Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Falls by Kenneth Gaerlan

Most travelers to Moalboal opt for a sidetrip to Kawasan Falls, which is about 45 minutes away by tricycle or motorbike in the next town of Badian. A multi-tiered falls, Kawasan’s first and biggest tier can be reached by walking 1.5 kilometers inland, where a natural pool awaits visitors. Snacks are available from stores surrounding the falls. Getting to the second and topmost tiers will require another 15 to 20 minutes.

How to get to Moalboal, Cebu:

Fly from Manila to Mactan International Airport in Cebu. From the airport, take a cab to the South Bus Terminal. At the South Bus Terminal, take a bus bound for Bato via Barili, which passes by Moalboal. Simply inform your driver to drop you off at the Moalboal Municipal Hall. Ride a tricycle to either White Beach or Panagsama Beach, both of which offer accommodations for travelers.

How to get to Kawasan Falls from Moalboal, Cebu:

To get to Kawasan Falls from Moalboal, you may hire a tricycle or motorbike (about ₱500) directly from Panagsama or White Beach, or hail a Badian-bound bus and ask to be dropped off at the entrance to Kawasan Falls beside the Matutinao Church. From here, the 1.5-kilometer trek to the first tier begins.

Places to stay in Moalboal, Cebu

Both White Beach and Panagsama Beach have ample accommodation options for travelers, from basic backpacker lodges to comfortable resorts. Both areas also have dive shops, although there are more of them in the Panagsama Beach area. Those who visit Moalboal precisely to go diving or snorkeling may well base themselves at Panagsama Beach for added convenience.

White Beach Area:

Hale Manna Beach Resort
White Beach, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
+63 32 316 2603 / +63 922 842 4939
www.halemanna.comThe Blue Orchid Resort
White Beach, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
+63 929 273 1128
www.blueorchidresort.comClub Serena Resort
White Beach, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
+63 32 417 2445 / +63 32 516 8118
www.clubserenaresort.comBarefoot White Beach Resort
White Beach, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
+63 928 493 9798 / +63 922 848 7497
www.barefoot.ph
Barefoot White Beach Resort

Panagsama Beach Area:

Moalboal Backpacker Lodge
Panagsama Beach, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
+63 917 751 8902 / +63 998 250 4188
www.moalboal-backpackerlodge.comQuo Vadis Dive Resort
Panagsama Beach, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
+63 32 474 3068 / +63 906 551 5969
www.quovadisresort.comSavedra Beach Resort
Panagsama Beach, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
+63 32 474 3132 / +63 917 321 1475
www.savedra.com