Things to do in Moalboal, Cebu: sardine snorkeling, waterfalls and more

The best time to visit Moalboal, like the rest of Cebu, is during the dry season: December to May. We went in March and got ideal weather, with sunny days and no rain. If you can avoid the typhoon months (August to October), so much the better.

The most common (and cheapest) way to get to Moalboal is by bus from the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City. The trip takes about 4 hours and costs around 240 Philippine pesos. It's a long ride, so we recommend:

• Going early to avoid the traffic.
• Bringing something to eat and charging your phone.
• Telling the driver you want to get off in Moalboal.

The bus will drop you off on the highway, by a 7-Eleven. From there you can take a tricycle to your accommodation, which costs around 200 Philippine pesos.

👉 If you're planning your whole route around the island, also check out our complete guide to Cebu.

Without a doubt, the best way to explore Moalboal and the surrounding area is by scooter. We rented one for 350 PHP a day, and it was the best way to get around freely to the waterfalls, beaches and viewpoints.

If you don't feel comfortable riding one, there are other options:

• Local tricycles: ideal for short trips.
• Buses that run along the main road, though they can take quite a while.
• There are also motorbikes with a driver (a kind of motorbike taxi), very useful if you're traveling alone.

💡 We used a scooter almost every day, but to visit Osmeña Peak we preferred to hire motorbikes with drivers, because the road was longer and had steep climbs.

1. Snorkel with the school of sardines at Panagsama Beach

One of the most unique experiences in Moalboal (and in the Philippines) is snorkeling among thousands of shimmering sardines that move like a single living, synchronized mass. This school of sardines is only a few meters from shore, in front of the famous Chili Bar on Panagsama Beach.

You don't need a tour or a guide for this, but many locals offer their services if you want them to take epic photos of you (recommended if you don't have a GoPro!). We hired a guy who came with three other friends, and they took really good photos of us. You can also rent snorkel gear on the beach for about 150 Philippine pesos.

🕖 Tip: Go very early in the morning for better light, fewer people and a better chance of seeing turtles (if you see them, keep your distance). If that coincides with high tide, even better.

💦 Do you have a diving certification? You can do a dive with full gear for just 1,500 PHP. We did it after getting our Open Water, and it was an easy, shallow dive, but an unforgettable one!

2. Dive at Pescador Island

Just a few minutes by boat from Panagsama Beach is Pescador Island, one of the best dive spots in Cebu. The island has a spectacular coral wall and lots of marine life. You'll find plenty of dive schools on the beach; choose one that puts safety first, not just price.

👉 You can book this highly rated dive trip.

3. Go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls

I think it was one of our favorite activities in Cebu; it was a lot of fun.

A few years ago, you could walk up through Kawasan Falls, but after a typhoon they no longer let you go up to the different levels except on a canyoneering tour. If you plan to go on your own, you'll only be able to see Kawasan Falls at the first level, and unless you go very early you'll probably be disappointed by how many people there are 😬.

After reading a lot of comments about the canyoneering tour, we were torn about whether to do it. Many reviews talked about how many tourists there were, which made the experience a bit overwhelming. After a lot of research, we found a company that runs the tour privately or in small groups first thing in the morning, so we decided to give it a chance. And are we glad we did! It was incredible.

The agency is called Rayla Canyoneering and it's in Badian, almost 45 minutes from Panagsama Beach. We messaged them on WhatsApp literally the night before and booked to be at the agency at 7 a.m. Once we were there, they gave us footwear, a helmet and a life jacket (mandatory) and assigned us a locker for all our belongings except the GoPro and one phone. Then they took us by motorbike to the start of the falls.

Here they offered us the choice of doing one section by zip line or on foot. They told us the walk took about 40 minutes, to encourage us to pay the 600 PHP for the zip line, but it actually took 15 minutes at most. We decided to walk.

On the tour it was just the 2 of us with our 2 guides, one of whom acted as photographer. He offered to carry our phone to keep it dry and took thousands of photos and videos of us (guides in the Philippines love creating content). Best of all, we were the second group to reach the falls, so we had that beautiful place almost to ourselves. The place is divine, and the color of the water is mind-blowing! There are several jumps of different heights, but if one scares you, there's always an alternative. The tour with them costs a bit more than elsewhere, but since we don't think we'll ever come back here, we decided to pay the extra to enjoy it properly.

In Moalboal, hundreds of agencies offer the tour, and the convenient part is that it includes transport from Moalboal. We nearly went with this option because it was easy, but they usually don't leave until 9 in the morning and they take groups of several people. Another thing to keep in mind: for activities as touristy as this one, we recommend avoiding weekends, since Filipinos do a lot of local tourism on those days, so you'll see even more tourists than usual.

In short, for us it's a tour you can't miss in Cebu.

4. Relax at Lambug Beach

Cebu isn't famous for its beaches, but Lambug Beach, just 25 minutes from Moalboal, is a nice escape for an afternoon. White sand, peace and quiet, and clear water.

5. Watch the sunrise from Osmeña Peak

Osmeña Peak is famous as the highest point on the island of Cebu, with incredible panoramic views.

To get to Osmeña Peak, we hired 2 motorbikes to take us, because we'd read that the road was hard if you didn't have much experience on a motorbike. In hindsight, the road isn't difficult; it just has a lot of ups and downs and it's long… a little over an hour.

📍 Entrance fee: 50 PHP per person + 20 PHP for parking + 100 PHP for the guide (mandatory but unnecessary).

💡 Tip: Go at sunrise, bring something warm and avoid weekends. We went on a Saturday at sunset and it was packed 🫣.

6. Climb Casino Peak

Only 5 minutes from Osmeña Peak is Casino Peak, less touristy but with views that are just as nice. The walk is even shorter and there's also a 50 PHP entrance fee. Ideal for combining both on the same day (we didn't make it because it got dark on us 😅).

7. Visit the best waterfalls in southern Cebu

If you're a waterfall fan, southern Cebu is paradise. We decided to spend 2 nights in Samboan to be close to several of them. Bring water shoes and get ready for short walks:

• Tumalog Falls: near Oslob, with a delicate, beautiful curtain of water.
• Aguinid Falls: 8 levels (6 open). Entrance fee: 300 PHP, including gear, guides and tip.
• Binalayan (Hidden) Falls: easy access, with several drops. Entrance fee + mandatory guide.
• Dao Falls: we didn't get to go in because there were too many people, but there's a 30-min hike through the water. The waterfall is almost 50 meters (164 ft) high and drops into an impressive pool.
• Inambakan Falls: our favorite 💙. A drop of almost 100 meters (328 ft) and turquoise water. The trail to the falls is short and the entrance fee is quite cheap.

If you plan to snorkel with the school of sardines, visit waterfalls and maybe dive at Pescador Island or go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, 3 or 4 days in Moalboal is ideal.

We chose to stay 3 nights in Moalboal to really enjoy the area, and then spent 2 nights farther south, in Samboan, to be closer to the waterfalls and avoid so many motorbike rides. It was a great decision that helped us make better use of our time!

Moalboal is a small town, and the best area to stay is near Panagsama Beach, where you'll find most of the bars, restaurants and dive centers, plus direct access to the sea for snorkeling.

Recommended places to stay:

• D'Gecko Hotel: A few minutes from Panagsama Beach, with comfortable rooms at reasonable prices.
• Pescadores Seaview Suites: Ideal for divers, with direct access to the snorkeling areas.
• Turtle Bay Dive Resort: A bit farther out, but perfect if you're looking for peace and quiet and sea views.
• Chief Mau Moalboal Cebu: A cheap, very social option with a relaxed atmosphere, close to the beach.
• Secret Paradise Moalboal: Rated 9 on Booking, it's a new place a few meters from the beach with very good facilities.