Moalboal, Cebu : Travel Guide

Moalboal is a sleepy town located in Southern Cebu.  Best known for its beaches and colorful underwater world, it’s an impeccable weekend get-away from the hurried capital of Cebu.  It’s the best snorkeling site in the Philippines that I have been to so far because of the teeming corals and fishes in the shallow waters of  Tuble Marine Sanctuary. For Moalboal diving, head to Pescador Island.

 

How to Get to Moalboal from Cebu City

 

There are buses from Cebu City South Bus Terminal  to Moalboal (City Hall)  for roughly 2.5 to 3 hours ride for PHP 110 ($2.20/€1.96) -PHP 120 ($2.39/€2.14)  + PHP 5 ($10/€0.09) terminal fee. Ride a Ceres Bus bound for Moalboal via Barili or Badian.  Vans are also available at One Citilink Terminal in Cebu City.

The bus will drop you off at  the bus stop.  Once you’re in Moalboal town, you can hire a tricycle to take you to Moalboal beach – White Beach or Panagsama Beach where most beach resorts are located. Tricycle fare is roughly PHP 80 ($ 1.60 /€ 1.43)- PHP 100 ($2/€1.78).  Alternatively, you can also take a habal-habal (motorcycle) for PHP 50 ($ 1 /€0.89).

 


 

MOALBOAL/ PESCADOR ISLAND PRIVATE TOUR

 

For a hassle-free tour from your hotel in Cebu ir Mactan (includes hotel pick up), you can avail of the private tour that will take you directly to Moalboal for snorkeling in Pescador Island. The private tour includes a local guide, snorkeling gear and safety gear. You will be picked up from your hotel at around 7:30 AM and estimated arrival in Moalboal is around 9:30 AM. BOOK A MOALBOAL/PESCADOR TOUR HERE

 

 


 

Moalboal Tourist Spots

 

 

sardine-run-3-1-of-1

*Sardine Run

 

 

For snorkeling, there are several boats for hire in White Beach. You can just approach a boatman.  Island hopping boat in Moalboal is roughly PHP 2,000 ($ 40/€ 36) (good for 8-10 persons).

 

Alternatively, you can also book a private tour from Cebu or Mactan to Moalboal and Pescador Island. The private tour includes hotel pick up (Cebu or Mactan) and drop off, local guide, snorkeling gear and safety gear. You will be picked up from your hotel at around 7:30 AM and estimated arrival in Moalboal is around 9:30 AM. BOOK A PESCADOR SNORKELING TOUR HERE

 

 

Pescador Island

This uninhabited limestone island with a charming lighthouse is a marine sanctuary and a famous diving spot because of its schools of sardines and turtles. This is where you go for the sardine run.

 

Marine Sanctuaries

Aside from Tuble Marine Sanctuary, you can also check out Bgry. Basdiot and Saavedra Marine sanctuary.

Busay Caves and Springs

 

The underground springs and caves are located in Brgy. Busay, Moalboal.

You can also take a side trip to Kawasan Falls  located near Moalboal, in Brgy. Matutinao in Badian. Bus fare is Php 33 from Moalboal to Badian.

For me, Moalboal beach is just an ordinary white sand beach in the Philippines.  The water is clean, but the sand is not that powdery and there are rocks and dead corals under the water so be careful when swimming near the shores.  Wear aqua shoes.  You can rent snorkeling gears and auqa shoes from dive shops.  The real beauty of Moalboal is hidden under the water, so snorkeling and diving in Moalboal beach is highly recommended.

 


 

MOALBOAL TRIP BUDGET

 

sardine-run-5-1-of-1

*Sardine run

Here’s a list of Moalboal travel budget good for  person, if you have travel buddies, it will be cheaper.

ACTIVITIESEXPENSES
Bus to Moalboal (roundtrip)PHP 110 x 2 = PHP 220 ($ 4.39 /€ 4)
Habal-habal to Moalboal (roundtrip)PHP 50 x 2 = PHP 100 ($ 2 /€ 1.78)
ResortPHP 500 ($ 10/€ 9)
Food budget  (x # of meals)PHP 100 x 3 = PHP 300($ 6/€ 5.35)
Boat to for island hoppingPHP 2,000 ($ 40 /€ 36) (good for 8-10 persons)
Tuble Sanctuary Fee per personPHP 25 ($0.50/€ 0.45)
Snorkeling GearPHP 100 ($ 2 /€ 1.78)
GRAND TOTALPHP 3,245 ($ 64.76/€ 57.85)

 *Rates based on PHP 1 = ($ 0.02/€ 0.02)

 


 

 

MOALBOAL RESORT

 

 

BUDGET

 

moalboal-Hotel Sister’s Inn

Hotel Sister’s Inn

 

Private Road 12 Basdiot, Moalboal

Check room rates here

 

moalboal-Moalboal T Breeze Coastal Resort

Moalboal T Breeze Coastal Resort

 

South of White Beach, Saavedra,, Moalboal

Check room rates here

 

moalboal-Maya’s Native Garden

Maya’s Native Garden Resort

 

Check room rates here

 

 

MID-RANGE

 

moalboal-Marcosas Cottage Resort

Marcosas Cottage Resort

Panagsama Beach/Basdiot, Moalboal

Check room rates here

 

 

moalboal- Quo Vadis Dive Resort

Quo Vadis Dive Resort

Panagsama Beach, Moalboal

Check room rates here

 

 

agoda - moalboal beach resort

Moalboal Beach Resort

 

Sitio Kalingking,Brgy. Saavedra, Moalboal

Check room rates here

 

HIGH END

 

moalboal -Turtle Bay Dive Resort

Turtle Bay Dive Resort

 

Tongo, Basdiot, Moalboal

Check room rates here

 

moalboal-The Blue Orchid

The Blue Orchid

 

Saavedra, White Beach, Moalboal

Check room rates here

 

 


Where to eat in Moalboal

moalboal 6 (1 of 1)

There are several dirt cheap carinderia and small restaurants lined up in White beach,Moalboal you can also use there videoke/ video cinco  for PHP 5 ($0.10 /€0.09) per song.

 


 

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

ALSO READ:

 

OSMENA PEAK + KAWASAN TRAVEL GUIDE

Travel Guide : Swimming with the Whale Sharks in Oslob

Cebu City Walking Tour

THINGS TO DO IN DUMAGUETE 

Siquijor Travel Guide

BOHOL TRAVEL GUIDE


 

First published : November 17,2011

Last Update: Nov 2016

Photos with * = public domain


 

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