Moalboal on the island of Cebu is an insider tip for anyone looking for crystal-clear waters, spectacular coral reefs and unforgettable nature experiences. Known for the breathtaking Sardine Run, colorful diving spots and paradisiacal beaches, this coastal town is a must for backpackers, divers and nature lovers.
Whether you’re snorkeling through the fascinating underwater world, exploring breathtaking waterfalls or simply relaxing on the white sandy beach – Moalboal offers the perfect adventure for everyone. Find out here what you shouldn’t miss on your trip!
Arrival Moalboal
By plane to Cebu
Your trip to the Philippines will probably start in Manila, as direct flights to Cebu City or other islands are very rare and very expensive. Most flights from Germany arrive in Manila late in the evening, so you will have to spend a night in Manila and then fly on early in the morning.
For the short stopover near the airport, we can recommend the KHotel Manila*. Comfortable double rooms with a balcony and air conditioning await you here.
Early the next morning, you will travel on to Cebu City. From there you continue to Moalboal. We wouldn’t recommend staying in Cebu City as it doesn’t really have much to offer and is loud and uncomfortable.
Getting to Moalboal from the airport
There are several ways to get to Moaboal from Cebu Airport. Here you will find everything from cheap and slow to fast and expensive. We will now show you the best or cheapest way to get from Cebu Airport to Moalboal:
Cab (fast & expensive)
At the exit of Cebu City Airport there are plenty of cab drivers who can take you directly to your hotel in Moalboal for 2000-2500 pesos. You can bargain a bit here to get a better price.
In our opinion, this option is the best as it is the quickest and you will be taken directly to your hotel. For 2 people, this option only costs around 1000 pesos (17 euros) more than the cheapest option by bus or minivan. However, you will save yourself a few hours of travel time and will be traveling comfortably and safely. You may also be able to find other passengers at the airport and divide the price by 3 or 4 people.
Minivan (slower and cheaper)
We chose this option, but wouldn’t do it again. From the airport, take a cab to the van terminal on Junquera Street in Downtown (Google Maps). This takes about 30 minutes and costs 500 pesos. There you get into the next waiting minivan. However, you will have to wait until it is full.
This can sometimes take an hour. The minivan costs 180 pesos per person. If you have large rucksacks with you and they block a seat, you will pay the price of one person.
At the van terminal you have the opportunity to buy food or drinks in numerous stores. The journey by van takes about 3-4 hours to Moalboal. There you will be dropped off at a large parking lot in the center of town. There you have to pay a “tourist tax” (pass slip) and can then take a trike to your hotel.
Bus (even slower and a little cheaper)
It’s similar if you take the bus to Moalboal. You take a cab to the South Bus Terminal (Google Maps), which will take around 30 minutes and cost around 500 pesos. There you get on the next bus to the south. A ticket costs 150 pesos per person. The bus takes about 5-6 hours, as there are passengers getting on and off along the way.
Our Experience with the Journey to Moalboal
As mentioned, we chose the cab and minivan option on our Philippines backpacking trip. We had to wait another 1 hour at the van terminal, which we would have preferred to spend on the beach. As the fares are generally quite cheap, we would recommend the faster cab option.
However, the ride in the minivan was still okay once we finally got going. We spent the whole time looking out of the window and got our first impressions of what to expect in the Philippines. As a result, the journey went by very quickly for us. Nevertheless, we were really happy when we finally arrived in Moalboal.
In Moalboal, we first paid the tourist tax and then drove on to the fantastic Ravanela Hotel on the beautiful Whitebeach in just under 10 minutes.
Hotel Recommendation Moalboal
Ravenala Beach Bungalows The Ravenala is an absolute recommendation from us. It really is the most beautiful hotel in the area and a wonderful place to feel at home. The photos on Booking.com* simply do not do justice to this great place. The hotel is located in a beautifully maintained garden with several bungalows, from which you have a view of the beach and the sea.
- super delicious food (breakfast included)
- beautiful garden
- directly at the beach (White Beach) and the sea
- huge coral reefs only a few meters from the beach
Here we threw on our swimming gear and jumped straight into the sea. If you get there early enough, you should also go snorkeling. The reef directly on White Beach and in front of the hotel is beautiful and there is a good chance of seeing turtles here, especially at sunset.
Things To Do in Moalboal
#1 Scooter Tour to the Waterfalls
The area south of Moalboal has an incredible number of waterfalls to offer, which you can experience as part of a tour or on your own. Our recommendation: simply hire a scooter and ride to the most beautiful waterfalls in the Moalboal area.
Here are the most beautiful Moalboal waterfalls for you:
Kawasan Falls
Kawasan Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls on Cebu. The multi-level waterfalls, which all have natural pools, are located in the province of Badian in the west of Cebu. The natural pools are filled with the beautiful blue water of the waterfall and invite you to swim and take lots of great photos. The nature along the Kawasan waterfalls is also simply unbelievably beautiful. Deep limestone gorges framed by the bright green of the trees and plants. Simply wow!
The best time to visit the waterfalls is during the dry season between the end of December and the beginning of June. This is when the waterfalls and the river have less water and can usually be visited without any problems. In the rainy season, the water level may be too high and the current too strong, making a visit to the waterfalls or a canyoneering tour impossible.
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls | Check prices*
Since the Kawasan Falls are one of the main attractions on Cebu, you should be here early in the morning. This way you can enjoy the waterfalls and the beautiful nature without many other people.
Montpellier
An untouristy alternative to the Kawasan waterfall is the Montpellier waterfall. Although there is no multi-level waterfall here, there is a very high one with a turquoise-blue natural pool in front of it. You can enjoy this waterfall in peace and don’t have to share it with lots of other people.
The Montpellier waterfall is around 1 hour from Moalboal. From the road, you can reach the Montpellier waterfall after a 15-minute walk. Unfortunately, the waterfall was closed during our visit to Cebu.
Cambais Falls
From Moalboal, you can reach the entrance to Cambais Falls after a 50-minute scooter ride. The route takes you into the mountains. Here you have to park and then walk for about 15 minutes to the waterfall. As the path is not so easy to recognize in places, we would recommend that you take a guide at least for the way there.
Our guide was a young boy who we gladly gave us a few pesos to take us to the Cambais waterfall. He also showed us how to climb up the side of the first small waterfall on the right to visit the waterfall behind it.
Here we said goodbye to our guide so that we could enjoy the wonderful natural surroundings and take a quick dip in the waterfall. We then walked back on our own and were able to spend a few more minutes with a couple of adorable little puppies.
On the way back, we stopped again and again to enjoy the wonderful landscape and soak up the impressions.
Cancalanog Falls
The drive to Cancalanoog Falls takes you south on the main road from Moalboal and then, after a short time, into the hilly center of the island of Cebu. Here the road immediately becomes much more adventurous. It is not asphalted throughout and you sometimes have to drive very carefully to keep the narrow scooter tires intact.
You can park your scooter at the official (very small) parking lot Google Maps) and then have to walk about 200 meters downhill through the forest. We have to admit, the waterfall is not really high and should not really be called a waterfall, as the water only falls a few meters here. But the natural basin into which the water falls is very beautiful and is lined with steep rocks.
We did several lengths in the cool water and were all alone at the waterfall. Well, except for the construction workers who were cutting up a tree with screaming chainsaws just a few hundred meters away. But you can’t have everything.
#2 Sardine Run
At Panagsama Beach in Moalboal, you can experience an incredible natural spectacle. It really is unbelievable, but true. You swim from the beach just 50 meters out into the sea and see thousands and thousands of sardines swimming around in a huge shoal just a few meters below you.
You should have fins with you or hire some, as they will allow you to get underwater very easily and then dive through the shoals of sardines while freediving. An incredible spectacle that you should not miss during your trip to the Philippines.
You can simply take the scooter to the town center and park it in a free spot near the beach. It doesn’t really matter where, but so that you have a point for your navigation system, you can also head for the following point to park the scooter there (Google Maps).
You can then simply go into the water here and swim to the spot where you can see the thousands of sardines in just a few minutes.
You can easily spend several hours here or as long as your strength lasts. If you prefer to do the whole thing as part of an organized tour, you can book one here*. You will be picked up from your hotel and will be provided with a guide who will show you the perfect spot for the sardines, as well as snorkels and fins.
Book Free Diving at the Sardines Runs & Snorkeling Tour | Check Prices*
#3 White Beach, Moalboal
White Beach, also known as Basdaku Beach, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Moalboal and a perfect place for those who want to enjoy crystal clear waters and fine white sand. In contrast to the busier Panagsama Beach, White Beach offers a more relaxed atmosphere, ideal for sunbathing, swimming or snorkeling.
Just off the coast, you can explore colorful coral reefs and swim with tropical fish. The sunset is particularly impressive when the sky glows in bright orange and pink tones – a perfect end to an unforgettable day on Cebu.
#4 Kawasan Falls Canyoneering
Canyoneering, or canyoning, is a hike through a narrow gorge or the river that runs through it. You can’t do this tour on your own, you have to book a tour with a guide. We booked ours directly at our hotel, but you can also book a tour online*.
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls | Check prices*
After getting into the water of the Kawasan River, we were swept along by the (not too strong) current and could simply let ourselves drift and marvel at the steep walls of the canyon, which were certainly 50 meters high.
Over the next few hours, we alternated between floating in the water and climbing, hiking and, of course, jumping into the water. The guide always showed us exactly where to go and what to look out for.
The highlight of the whole canyoning hike at the Kawasan Falls are of course the many small and large jumps that you sometimes have to make (rather the small ones) and sometimes can make (rather the large ones). Of course, it’s not always easy and it’s a big thrill, but if the guide jumps ahead and shows you exactly where to jump (and where not to jump), then it’s all doable and relatively safe.
The last waterfall on our tour was very impressive and beautiful. We were lucky enough to be completely alone here and were able to take photos and enjoy nature in peace. We were also able to buy fried bananas and something cold to drink at a stand to fortify ourselves before heading back to the road and then to the hotel.
If you want to know more about Kawasan Falls Canyoning, read our travel report:
Kawasan Falls Canyoneering I Waterfall Hike in Cebu
#5 Pescador Island
Pescador Island off the west coast of Cebu is a paradise for divers and snorkelers. The small, uninhabited island is best reached from Moalboal – a short boat trip of around 20 minutes takes you directly to this underwater jewel. The main attraction is the impressive coral reef, which is home to colorful fish, sea turtles and even the famous sardine shoal formation.
Divers can also explore the spectacular cliff face, which drops down to a depth of 40 meters. It’s best to set off early in the morning to enjoy the best visibility and combine your trip with a visit to nearby Panagsama Beach, where you can often spot free-swimming sea turtles.
The Most Epic Boat Trip between El Nido and Coron
You can expect:
paradise islands- unique snorkeling experiences
- Overnight stays directly on the beach
- stunning views of the sea
- relaxed boat life
#6 Snorkeling at Panagsama Beach
Panagsama Beach on the island of Cebu is a true paradise for snorkelers. In addition to the schools of sardines, you can dive directly from the shore into a fascinating underwater world where colorful corals, playful schools of fish and, with a bit of luck, even sea turtles await you.
The special highlight for us was discovering a sea turtle just a few meters from us under the surface of the water. You should definitely explore the rest of the underwater world here and keep your eyes peeled for these elegant aquatic creatures.
#7 Lambug Beach
Lambug Beach on the island of Cebu is a true tropical paradise with fine, white sand and crystal-clear water – perfect for those who want to relax away from the crowds. The beach is close to the famous Kawasan Falls, which is only a short drive away and ideal for a refreshing dip. Adventure seekers can also go canyoning through the emerald green gorges.
Tip: Arrive early to have the beach almost to yourself and be sure to bring snacks as there are only a few restaurants. Lambug Beach is a perfect place for a relaxed day trip or a quiet beach day away from the hustle and bustle! A quiet, less crowded beach with fine sand and crystal clear water – ideal if you want to relax away from the tourist crowds.
We hope you enjoyed our tips and highlights for Moalboal on Cebu. If you have any questions, please leave us a comment. If you want to travel on from here, we can recommend the Palawan region as your next destination in the Philippines.