Here’s the best things to do in Moalboal to make the most of your trip in Cebu, Philippines.
I suggest staying in Moalboal for at least three or four days. With more time, you can also discover Bohol, Siquijor and Caminguin, three islands accessible by ferry. You can check out my articles on Bohol and Siquijor here.
Cebu is an island located in the center of The Philippines, and Moalboal is a municipality located 3 hours south-west of Cebu City.
Below you’ll find all the top things to do in Moalboal – from the famous sardine run to beautiful viewpoints, including the best coffee and dinner spots.
The easiest way to reach Moalboal is by taking a plane from Manila to Cebu City, then a bus or a taxi (should be around 1500php one way) to reach Moalboal. The drive is around 3 hours.
One of the main reasons to visit Moalboal is for the famous Sardine run. You can either rent the mask and fins and head to the main beach to see incredible sardine banks or go with a local guide. We chose this option and it was one of the best things we did. He showed us the best places to see the sardines but also many turtles, far away from where the tourists are concentrated.
For an additional fee (usually around 800php), he’ll bring a GoPro and film everything for you to have great memories to look back over. The shots were very nice and definitely worth the extra fee.
It was such a special experience that I went twice to Moalboal to free dive with the sardines, and I’m already planning to return.
If you are looking to pass your Wave 1 freediving certification or just take a course on freediving, I can recommend you to Grae, my amazing Molchanov’s Certified Freediving Instructor in Moalboal. Here’s where you can contact him if you need it : on IG @suroy.swimmingandfreediving or his number +639176512849.
If you are looking for beaches near Moalboal to rest and enjoy a bit of farniente, I would recommend Basdaku Beach, located less than 15 minutes away by scooter.
It is a beautiful and long beach, almost only frequented by locals, with turquoise and warm water.
A bit further away, after Badian (so around 30 minutes away from Moalboal), you can discover Lambug Beach for a very local and lively beach.
The roads surrounding Moalboal are very nice, you can stop all along because there are beautiful spots here and there :
Now, if you are up for a challenging road in scooter (uphill all the way), you can head to Osmena peak. It is a bit less than an hour from Moalboal, and you can stop halfway at Badian Highland Peak to admire the view. It is a terrific spot to observe the sunset as well.
The road is absolutely breathtaking all along, and you might even come across some random cock fights in the middle of the road :
Once you arrive at Osmena Peak, you willl need 10-15min to walk to the top with a mandatory guide.
If you prefer thrilling activities, you can spend a day canyoning at Kawasan.
You will get picked up and dropped off at your hotel, get properly geared up and then you can choose to get to the gorge either with a zipline (extra fee) or by walking (around 15min tops even though the guides say 1+hour). You will get one or several guides per group and they will take care of everything: they will take pictures for you and guide the group, so you don’t have to worry about anything and just enjoy your time there.
There are many jump spots, sliding, deep pools, all in a stunning setting. The gorges are unreal and the water is a deep turquoise.
You will end at Kawasan Falls, a stunning waterfall, that can also be accessed directly for people who don’t wish to do the whole canyoning tour.
The tour lasted from 10am to 2pm, with an included fairly light lunch at the end and transportation.
The area along the beach in Moalboal (where the Chili Bar is located) is very nice in itself, it’s the perfect place to observe the sea and watch the sunset every night. Which are among the best ones I saw in the Philippines:
If you have more time in Moalboal, you can explore the countless waterfalls in the south, such as Inambakan Falls, Dao Falls, Binalayan Hidden Falls… You can either book a tour or drive there yourself.
I wouldn’t really recommend to book a boat tour to Pescador Island, as the typhoon Odette severely damaged the corals in the area, so snorkeling there is not worth it at all. But the boat tour is still very much enjoyable.
To enjoy a well deserved massage in Moalboal, you can book at Moalboal Spa and Massage. Their 4-hands massage and swedish massage are really great. It’s located on Parrot Road, which is the main street with all the cafes and restaurants:
There are a lot of good places to enjoy good breakfast, lunch or even drinks. I’ll list here my favorite ones among the ones we tried during our stay.
For breakfast, I would recommend Smooth Cafe, they have amazing breakfast options, both savory or sweet and a nice atmosphere.
For great breakfast bowls, I’d suggest Bawud Cafe just nearby, especially the Chunky Monkey one (see picture 1 and 2 below).
Finally, another great breakfast option is Westcoast Cafe. Their scrambled egg toast with mushrooms and artichoke was delicious, and it is a bit secluded from tourist crowds (picture 3 to 5 below).
For lunch or dinner, I would recommend The Boundary Cafe and Restaurant. They have a beautiful terrace upstairs, made of bamboo and lamps made from shells. Definitely order the pandan chicken, adobong talong (eggplant), kinilaw and cooked scallops, I went twice and it was as excellent both times.
If you’re in the mood for some spicy Thai food, you can head to AJ Street Thai food. Their Kra Pao are really good, and if you can tolerate the spice, ask for “Thai spicy”, you won’t be disappointed. Other addresses we liked are Lamika Cafe and Smooth Cafe again but for lunch.
For drinks and party, Chili Bar is the place to be. Located on the water, it is also a nice place to enjoy a cocktail or a beer while watching the sun set on the sea. If it is full, don’t worry, Ester’s Bar just nearby is also really nice to enjoy the sunset and some good cocktails.
Lastly, if you’re looking for all kinds of cuisine, you’ll find your happiness at El Mercado de Moalboal. This food court has all many different stalls and bonus: buy one get one cocktails, which are really good. I personally recommend the sushi stand; they are made on the dot and quite tasty.
If you are looking for a nice place to stay in the area, i definitely recommend Sedona Resort. It’s 5-minute by walk from the main road and the sea as well, the pool is really nice, and the service was perfect every time we stay here.
That’s it for my Moalboal recommendations!
I hope this article gave you a better idea of what to expect from a trip in Moalboal, it’s definitely a place worth discovering and staying for a while.
If you plan on coming to Moalboal or The Philippines anytime soon you can check out my article regarding what to know before going to The Philippines here.
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
