Cebu Island is the heart of the Philippines and perhaps the most contrasting place in all of Southeast Asia. Here, modern skyscrapers stand side-by-side with wild jungles, and bustling streets give way to quiet lagoons inhabited by marine giants. If you are planning a vacation in the Philippines in 2026, Cebu must be on your itinerary.
Why Cebu? It is the only island in the Philippines that offers the perfect balance: it features stunning diving, extreme sports, white sandy beaches, ancient history, and developed infrastructure. You won’t have to choose between comfort and wild nature—Cebu has it all.
In this detailed guide from the Werdana Travel and Tours team, we have gathered the 10 best locations on the island that will turn your vacation into the adventure of a lifetime. We will tell you not only what to see but also how to get to these places without stress or overpaying.
If you ask any tourist why they are flying to Cebu, in 90% of cases, the answer will be the same: whale sharks. Oslob is a small fishing village in the south of the island that has become world-famous for the unique opportunity to swim within arm’s reach of the largest fish on the planet.
Whale sharks reach lengths of 10–12 meters, but they are completely safe for humans—these giants feed exclusively on plankton. Every morning, local fishermen feed them, and the sharks swim into the shallow waters to have breakfast along with the tourists.
What awaits you: You board a small boat (banca) with a guide and sail literally 50 meters from the shore. As soon as the boat stops, you put on a mask and jump into the water. Seeing a spotted giant the size of a bus swim slowly and gracefully right beneath you is a breath-taking emotion. You will have about 30 minutes for snorkeling and amazing underwater photos.
Tips for tourists:
Arrive early: The sharks are fed only from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The earlier you arrive, the clearer the water will be and the fewer tourists you will encounter.
No sunscreen: Chemicals in sunscreens are harmful to the sharks. You will be asked to wash off all cosmetics before diving.
Do not touch the sharks: Touching the animals in the Philippines carries a heavy fine (and even the risk of imprisonment). Maintain a distance of 2–3 meters.
How to get there without stress: The road from Cebu City to Oslob takes about 3.5–4 hours by bus. To make it to the morning feeding, tourists often have to leave at 2:00 AM, find the bus station, and push through queues. Want to sleep in and arrive in comfort? At Werdana Travel and Tours, we organize individual excursions to Oslob. We will pick you up directly from your hotel in a comfortable air-conditioned car, buy the tickets ourselves, hold your spot in line, and provide a GoPro action camera for the best shots!
If Oslob is about the emotion of meeting nature, then Kawasan is pure adrenaline and delight. Kawasan Falls are considered the most beautiful in the Philippines thanks to their incredible, glowing turquoise water. The water gets this hue from the high concentration of limestone in the local rocks.
But simply coming to look at the waterfall is boring. The main hit of Cebu is Canyoneering along the Matutinao River, which forms Kawasan.
What is canyoneering? It is a descent down a mountain river without boats. You put on a helmet, life jacket, and water shoes, and then, together with an experienced instructor, head downstream. You will have to scramble through dense jungle, slide down natural rock slides, swim through azure gorges, and, most importantly, jump from waterfalls into deep pools.
Jump heights vary from 2 to 12 meters. Don’t worry: if you are afraid of heights, almost all high points can simply be bypassed on foot.
Tips for tourists:
Comfortable shoes that fit tightly on the foot (coral shoes or sneakers you don’t mind getting wet) are a must.
Canyoneering takes from 3 to 5 hours depending on your pace, so have a hearty breakfast.
The route ends at the main, largest cascade of Kawasan Falls, where you can have lunch and take classic photos on a bamboo raft.
Safety first: Canyoneering is forbidden without a certified guide. To avoid street barkers with poor equipment, book your Canyoneering tour with Werdana Travel. Our guides know every stone in the river, will provide reliable insurance, and will take hundreds of great photos and videos on your phone while you jump into the water!
Just a 30-minute drive from Kawasan Falls is the town of Moalboal. This is a Mecca for divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. Even if you have never scuba dived, Moalboal will give you some of the best underwater experiences of your life right from the water’s surface.
There are two unique natural phenomena here:
Sardine Run: You don’t need to take a boat far out to sea. Literally 20 meters from the shore, on the house reef of Panagsama Beach, lives a school of several million sardines. They huddle into giant silver balls and clouds that change shape synchronously at the slightest movement of predators or divers. Swimming inside this silver tornado feels like being in a National Geographic documentary.
Sea Turtles: Giant green sea turtles live constantly in this same area. They are not at all afraid of people and calmly munch on seaweed in the shallows. You can swim near them for hours; the main rule is not to touch the shell.
Tips for tourists:
The best time for snorkeling is early morning or midday when the sun’s rays pierce the water and the schools of sardines sparkle most brightly.
For snorkeling in Moalboal, be sure to bring a mask, snorkel, and fins (or rent them on-site).
The perfect one-day itinerary: Want to see the maximum in one day? The most popular request among our clients is the Combo Tour: Sharks + Canyoneering + Turtles. Yes, it’s possible! Write to us at Werdana Travel, and we will create the perfect timing for you, allowing you to see all the marine inhabitants and jump from the waterfalls before sunset, with comfortable transfers between locations.
