Master Guide to

Moalboal, Philippines

Where to stay in Moalboal?

Pescadores Suites Moaboal.

Price: Around $35 (price varies by season)

Location: 9/10

I was able to walk everywhere that I wanted, and its proximity to the ocean was the best part.

Personally, I stayed in Pescadores Suites Moalboal. It was more than enough for what I needed. The breakfast did the job. The pool was gorgeous. And the room…had a bed. To be frank, the room was bland, but all I did there was play a few rounds of solitaire and read Ender’s Game before falling asleep.

Okeanos Hotel

Price: Around $38 (price varies on season)

Location: 8/10

You are located in town and only a short walk away from the beach.

I would’ve been all over this spot, but the one downside is that it does not have a pool. But had I known that I would only use the pool once in three days, I probably would’ve stayed here. This is the hotel that is owned by my friend JP and his wife. He’s a freediver and helps run Freediving Planet in Moalboal. He’s a wonderful guy from Belgium, and his wife is a local from the Philippines.

Go for the coffee. End of story. Hands down, this place has the best coffee in Moalboal. Also, the food here is amazing. I had lunch here every day and tried something different every time. It’s fresh, it’s healthy, and above all, it won’t give you diarrhea! Maybe a low bar, but that was the criteria for most of my Philippines trip.

Airbnb: Villa Silana Moalboal

Price: Around $405 per night (accommodates 8 guests)

Location: 6/10

A bit further away from the action. If you decide to rent a motorbike, you will have no problems and enjoy the seclusion.

This place holds 8 guests. My friends stayed here on their recent trip to Moalboal and had nothing but great things to say about it. You can use the BBQ pit on site and relax in the private pool when you’re tired of getting sand between your toes. 

Cebu Seaview Hotel

Price: $80-$120 (You guessed it, varies by season)

Location: 7/10

Still great. A touch further than Pescadores, but as long as you can handle 30 minutes of walking, you can arrive to pretty much anywhere that you would want to go from this hotel. This hotel offers PADI diving, which is a plu,s but don’t get too hung up on this because a lot of the hotels in Moalboal offer this.

Final thoughts on accommodation in Moalboal

Do not get too hung up on where to stay in Moalboal. There are no fancy pants resorts to ponder staying at. Most of the hotels are similar to each other, so don’t waste your money if one is way more expensive. You can go for the higher end and get a hotel with a nice pool, or save some cash and book a night in a hostel. But none of the hotels will blow your socks off, so don’t blow your budget on it. Save your hard-earned cash for the things to do in Moalboal.

How far is Moalboal from Cebu City

Answer: 2 hours-6 hours.

Be aware of when you want to go! I highly encourage you to leave early or in the middle of the night to avoid the insanity of the traffic in the Philippines.

When I went, I left at 7 AM, and it took us 3 hours. When I came back from Moalboal to Cebu City, I left at 11 AM, and it took us 3 ½ hours.

My friends left Cebu City at 12:00 PM and it took them 6 hours…

As you can see, the traffic is no joke between Cebu and Moalboal.

How to get from Cebu City to Moalboal

No matter what option you take, the time of departure is more important than the HOW you get there.

*No option for GRAB

Option 1: Take the bus 

Price: 300-350 pesos or potentially more if you would like air conditioning.

Time: Around 3 to 4 hours but it depends on departure time

There is no direct option from the airport to Moalboal. You will need to get to the Cebu City South Bus Terminal. The easiest option will be to get a GRAB to get to the bus station.  Once there, you are looking for buses heading to “Bato via Barili,” “Badian,” or “Moalboal.” But I would suggest going directly to the ticket counter, and they will get you sorted. They are used to tourists and are happy to help

There are plenty of daily buses from the South Bus Terminal to Moalboal, so do not stress if you miss one.

Things to note:

• Use the bathroom before you go; there are no bathrooms on the bus.
• Vendors will occasionally hop on the bus to sell snacks and beverages.
• The bus will make a pit stop halfway through. Here you can use the restroom (5-10 pesos).

Option 2: Take a taxi

Price: 4,000-5,000 pesos

Time: Dependent on the time of departure. 2.5 hours without traffic.

You can grab a taxi directly from the airport, but it will be expensive. You’re paying for them to get you to Moalboal, but also for them to get back to Cebu City if you think about it.

Option 3: Book a private car or van

Price: 4,000-6,000 pesos

Time: Dependant on the time of departure. 2.5 hours without traffic.

You can grab a taxi directly from the airport, but it will be expensive. You’re paying for them to get you to Moalboal, but also for them to get back to Cebu City if you think about it.

The last option is to contact anyone you may know who has traveled there, if they have a driver. Person-to-person will be the cheapest option and more comfortable, but do this with caution. I do this a lot with friends who have traveled to a city before me. Usually, once you find a driver and have the contact, they are more than happy to take referrals and give a discount for the ride.

Things to Know before going to Moalboal

• Cash is king. Your VISA with 0 foreign transaction fees will not get you far in this country. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ATMS.
• Don’t drink the tap water unless you are okay spending your trip on the toilet.
• It’s pretty easy to get around on foot, but there are tricycles around if you need or you can always rent a scooter.

What to do in Moalboal

There are more than enough things to do in Moalboal to keep you busy for three days. I’d argue that I should have stayed for a week. 

CASH IS KING. Don’t expect your credit card to get you far here. There are plenty of ATMs around so don’t feel the need to take a million pesos before you arriving.

1. Rent a scooter

Do it. This was my first time renting a scooter, and it was the best thing I did until I did the sardine run. I was absolutely petrified. If you follow me on Instagram, at the time, you would’ve seen my whole saga. I didn’t have my license, so I had to trust the nice lady at the motor rental place to keep my passport (praying to the all-mighty, this wasn’t the worst idea of my life). Then I ran out of gas and had to ask a nice woman in a small village to share some. I wouldn’t change a thing because driving through the mountains in the south of Cebu was worth the stress of not knowing if I would have to befriend someone to stay the night.

All in all, everything was fine and dandy, and I made it home for dinner. 

Barracuda Lake Entrance in Coron

2. Osmeña Peak

This is where I was heading on my scooter adventure! Not bad by any means, but it wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be. The internet listed it as a beautiful hike when in reality it’s a short 15-20 minute walk up to get to a viewpoint. I guess that’s a hike? It’s not an easy walk, but I also did it in my Birkenstocks. Anyone with a touch of fitness in their system can handle it.

The view is beautiful. But this view came with a forced guide that you have to pay for. You also need to pay for an “entrance fee”. In total, it was around 200 pesos ($4). I wasn’t annoyed so much at the price as I was annoyed that I HAD to have a guide to do the walk. It would’ve been worth the hour-plus drive from Moalboal if I could’ve taken in the view by myself, but the “guide” was insistent that she take photos of me at the top (I’m assuming she was working for a tip). For some, this could be a really nice way to capture the memory. Personally, I could’ve done without my guide asking me if I saw the flowers because she didn’t know any other information about the surrounding flora.

All in all you can probably skip this thing to do in Moalboal.

Even covered in fog, it was quite the site.

3. Casino Peak

The peak I wish I had done instead of Osmeña Peak. It’s only about 7 minutes south of Osmena, but the view is far more picturesque. Plus, you are not required to have a guide. They are available if you choose. The entry fee is 50 pesos. If you are short on time and cannot decide which hike/peak to venture to, I would suggest this one. I would have done it had I not been so late in the day to get to Osmeña.

4. Sardine Run

A tourist attraction for good reason. The Sardine Run in Moalboal was the highlight of my Moalboal trip. I had low expectations due to hearing about it so much. I was concerned it was going to be a tourist trap that had me focusing on anything but the surrounding nature. But I was wrong. I went in the low season, September, and I was nearly alone in the water surrounded by thousands of shimmering fish. Check out my articles dedicated specifically to this trip and make sure you contact @airishann on Instagram if you want to professionally document the experience.

An absolutely remarkable experience. 

5. Snorkel

Besides the sardine run, the area is also home to turtles, various reef fish, sea snakes, and thresher sharks on occasion. There are plenty of shops that sell or rent you snorkel gear for the afternoon, and I would take them up on the offer. The water is warm and crystal clear. If you’re not into free diving, no worries, you can watch the show unfold from floating on top of the water and spying on the wildlife from above.

Funny not so funny story. Had ZERO idea this was one of the most venomous snakes in the world, the black banded sea krait….oops.

6. Learn to Free Dive

This comes highly recommended. My friend, JP, who helps run Free Diving Planet Moalboal, is the guy to go to. I had no desire to learn free diving as I’ve had a few bad experiences scuba diving, but once you learn what free diving is about, I have a feeling your opinion will change. Free Diving is an activity based on breathing techniques to get you to relax. It can be as much a sport as it is a recreational activity. If you’re concerned at all or have extra questions, stop by the coffee shop Okeanos and ask to speak with JP. 

You can get certified as a level one free diver in one day. Half the day is spent on theory while the other half is based on practical (diving in the sea). You can also get certified at any level, from beginner to instructor, through Free Diving Planet Moalboal.

Free Diving Planet Moalboal. Not the worst location for a classroom, I must say.

7. Scuba Dive

If free diving isn’t your thing, maybe you’ll be more interested in full submersion. There are an insane number of diving spots near Moalboal. Due to the healthy and happy reefs in this area, you can expect to see anything from sea turtles to octopuses, sharks, whale sharks, and all the reef fish your heart can desire. If you’d prefer this over free diving, you can also do the Sardine Run while scuba diving.

8. Check out the party scene

This came as a shock to me. When you first get to Moalboal, it will be a hard sell to convince you that this place has a party scene. But lo and behold, this little town can party. It may not be as crazy as Phuket, but there are tons of bars, clubs, karaoke spots, and restaurants that are happy to keep the doors open late. Most are near Panagsama beach if you’re itching to know.

9. Whale Sharks in Oslob

A common activity amongst visitors to Moalboal. Personally, I did not choose to do this, but I had friends who loved every second of it. With that, I will say from hearing how their experience went, I don’t believe this is the most eco-friendly tourist activity. Due to the nature of the tour guides feeding the whale sharks to lure them closer to the tourists, this type of interaction can negatively impact their migratory patterns. Just be aware and do your research before going :).

10. Kabutongan Falls

For a touch of adventure, an hour outside of Moalboal, I highly suggest Kabutungan Falls. There are quite a few waterfalls in the Philippines, but this stop is a gorgeous option for those staying in Moalboal. Kabutongan Falls is set inside a cave with that postcard-worthy shimmering blue water. It takes a bit of effort to get there, so I’d suggest accepting the offered guide at the beginning. You’ll be trekking for about 30 minutes to get to the falls. Be prepared to get your feet wet through river walking, some bouldering, and pulling yourself along some ropes. It’s a bit of an adventure but well worth the effort.

11. Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

A very popular tourist attraction for those visiting Moalboal. When someone asks you if you’re interested in canyoneering, they will most likely be talking about Kawasan Falls Canyoneering. It’s a day of adventure, including trekking, optional zip-lining, rock sliding, cliff jumping, swimming, and floating…did I miss anything? Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to try it, but my friends who had gone the month prior wouldn’t shut up about it. Hell, they’re still mad I didn’t go. So I think that’s enough of a recommendation anyone needs 😉

12. Find the Mermaid Statue

Funnily enough, I stumbled upon this little artifact while learning how to free dive with my guy, Giovanni at Free Diving Planet Moalboal. I was chilling underwater, working on my relaxation techniques, and noticed a stone woman in my foreground. I figured it might be time to grab some air in case I was going insane. I mentioned it to Giovanni who seemed unimpressed and casually said, “Yep, that’s Mermaid Point.” It is indeed just a statue, but it’s fun to see. It makes for some awesome photos and is a nice beginner challenge of 5-6 meters deep if you’re just starting out with free diving.

13. Busay Cave

Another morning adventure easily accessible from Moalboal. Busay Cave is about 15-20 minutes, depending on how fast you can take your motorbike. Make sure you bring cash, as Busay Cave is like many other tourist attractions that require a small entrance fee before going in. It will cost around 25-50 pesos.

The cave itself is gorgeous, and if you go on a weekday or in off-season, you may be lucky enough to have the cave to yourself. The mineral-rich spring water is cold but refreshing. If you can get your butt in the water, you’ll be gifted with lush green forest views contrasting the limestone cave with its hanging stalactites (stalactites are hanging rock formations from the ceiling, really cool if you’ve never seen them). Grab a torch before you go and explore the cave while you’re there :). The water is shallow enough to wade through if swimming isn’t your forte.

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A post shared by Eco Friendly Resort Moalboal (@moalboalecolodge)

This photo I pulled from Moalboal Eco Lodge’s Instagram because I didn’t get a chance to go to Busay Cave myself. But besides that, check out their website for more activities and help planning with such during your stay in Moalboal! I came so close to booking my accommodation here and am a bit disappointed I didn’t. Moalboal Eco Lodge is your nature escape. They have great amenities, they are eco-friendly, and you get to stay in all-natural bamboo huts right along the beach!

14. Check out the White Beaches

Of course, what is a beach vacation without some time on the beach? You’ll want to check out Basdaku White Beach or white beach, Moalboal.

Locals specify white sand beaches because not all of their beaches are created equal. Not all of the beaches in Moalboal are white sand beaches. Some are simply small stretches of sand to enter the water, but probably not what you’re thinking of.

15. See Giant Bats

Y’all have to do this and report back. I am SO MAD that I only found out about this after I left Cebu. They are called Giant Golden Crowned Flying Foxes, and they can grow up to 1.7 meters or 5.6 feet in wingspan. I will go back because I need to experience this with my own eyes. They are located in a few places in the Philippines, including Luzon, Bohol, Leyte, Mindanao, Mindoro, and occasionally Cebu.