Cebu is one of the most popular islands in the Philippines and is a major economic and travel hub. We spent two nights in Cebu, and I’m going to share exactly what we did, where to stay, how to get around, my honest opinions, and if Cebu is worth it for you.

We flew into Cebu from Bacolod, which was a very short flight, only about 30 minutes. We were coming from a wedding in Bacolod, which is what brought us to the Philippines in the first place!

The main reason I wanted to visit Cebu was the sardine run. Cebu is one of the few places in the world where you can see a massive sardine run with such easy accessibility, right off the coast and throughout the year. And when I say easy access, I mean it. We literally just swam out from the beach and there they were!

So, is Cebu actually worth adding to your Philippines itinerary? Here’s my honest take.

How to Get Around Cebu

You could definitely rent a car in Cebu, but since we were only there for a short time, we decided to have our hotel coordinate transportation for us.

The biggest downside to Cebu for me was the driving. It takes a LONG time to get anywhere, especially once you head south.

It took us over 3 hours to get to Moalboal, and our drive back toward the airport was closer to 4 hours with traffic. From Moalboal to Oslob, it took us a little over 2 hours.

If you get carsick, I highly recommend bringing some ginger pills because those drives can be rough!

The good news is that I really don't think you need to stress about renting a car.

For getting to your accommodation, you can coordinate a pickup and drop-off with your hotel or arrange transportation through one of the many transportation services available online.

For activities, most tours will offer transportation as well. We booked our whale shark experience through our hotel, and transportation was included. Canyoneering tours also typically offer pickup and drop-off.

The sardine run was the exception because we were staying in Moalboal and could simply walk to the beach.

So, unless you really want the freedom of having your own car, I personally wouldn't bother renting one for a short trip.

How Long Should You Stay in Cebu?

I would plan on 2–3 nights in Cebu, depending on what you want to do.

When I originally planned our trip, I wasn't pregnant, so our main activities were going to be the sardine run and canyoneering. The sardine run can be done pretty quickly and at various times throughout the day, while canyoneering is at least a half-day adventure and can take longer depending on the tour.

Two nights worked well for us because it gave us one full day for activities.

Since I found out I was pregnant before our trip, canyoneering was obviously no longer an option for me. Instead, we used our full day to swim with the whale sharks, which we absolutely loved.

If you want to do all three major activities - sardine run, whale sharks, and canyoneering, I'd lean toward three nights so you aren't rushing.

You may also be able to find a tour that combines whale sharks and canyoneering. Our whale shark experience had us back around 10:30–11:00 AM, so depending on tour schedules, it could potentially be possible to fit something else in that afternoon. Just know you may want to nap after the whale shark experience, we got up at 2:45am this day!

Another option would be doing the whale sharks on the day you leave Cebu, but I would only consider this if you have a very late flight. You need to account for the early morning whale shark experience, the 3.5–4 hour drive back toward the airport, traffic, and getting to the airport several hours before your flight.

Personally, I wouldn't want to make that day any more stressful than necessary.

Where to Stay in Cebu

Where you stay in Cebu really depends on what you want to do.

The most popular areas for the activities you'll likely be doing are Moalboal, Oslob, and Southern Cebu in general.

The southern part of Cebu is where you'll find many of the island's major adventure activities and beaches. The northern part is much more focused around Cebu City and the airport.

Stay in Moalboal if...

Your main reason for visiting Cebu is the sardine run.

This is exactly why we chose Moalboal. We didn't want to book a tour just to see the sardines because you can easily access them yourself from the beach.

We stayed close enough to the beach that we could simply walk over whenever we wanted.

We did really enjoy our accommodation in Moalboal, room was nice, pool was great, and having a restaurant on the property was really helpful. I’d definitely recommend staying here, location was great especially if you want something more quiet.

Stay in Oslob if...

Your main goal is swimming with the whale sharks.

This will save you time on getting up in the morning, since this is such an early adventure.

Stay farther south if...

You're primarily interested in canyoneering and other Southern Cebu adventures.

There are plenty of tours that will pick you up from popular areas, so you can also choose your hotel based on the overall experience you want rather than feeling like you have to stay directly next to every activity.

My biggest advice is to choose your location based on your activities. Cebu is a large island, and the driving time adds up quickly.

What Is Cebu Known For?

Cebu is really an adventure destination. If you're looking for iconic experiences and unique things to do, this is where the island shines.

The three activities you'll hear about most are:

Sardine Run — Moalboal
Swimming with Whale Sharks — Oslob
Canyoneering — Southern Cebu

We did two of the three, and I really wanted to do canyoneering but couldn't because I was pregnant during our trip.

Sardine Run in Moalboal

The sardine run was actually what brought me to Cebu.

I eat sardines every week, so naturally I thought swimming with thousands (or millions!) of sardines would be a pretty cool and unique experience.

And it is!

The sardine run is located right off the coast of Moalboal. You can literally swim just a few minutes out from the beach and see the huge schools of sardines.

You do not need a tour for this. You can go out on your own, although tours are available if you'd prefer to have a guide.

At minimum, you'll want goggles. You can bring your own or rent equipment fairly cheaply from one of the shops near the beach.

To find the area where we entered the water, walk toward Chili Bar and Restaurant. There is beach access on either side, and this is where you can get into the water for the sardine run.

There isn't a specific time you have to go. We actually went twice.

The first time was in the late afternoon, but my GoPro was dead, which is obviously unacceptable when you're trying to document something like this, so we came back again around 6 AM hoping for calmer water.

Unfortunately, the water was still pretty choppy.

And honestly? I was a little underwhelmed by the sardine run.

It was really cool to see, but the water conditions made it difficult for me to actually experience swimming through the sardines. It was hard to swim down to them, and without a life jacket, I found it difficult to catch my breath with the waves constantly moving me around.

Instead of actually swimming through the sardines, I mostly ended up observing them from above.

The second time, I decided to wear a life jacket because the water was still pretty rough.

And then, as soon as I got into the water, I got stung by a jellyfish!

It was my first time ever getting stung by one, so I decided to get out of the water because I was a little concerned. The others stayed in and were able to get some great footage.

I'm not saying this is going to happen to you, but it's something to be aware of.

Overall, I still think seeing the sardine run was really cool. I just don't think my experience was quite what I expected.

Swim With Whale Sharks in Oslob

Now THIS was an extremely cool experience!

We actually did our pregnancy announcement photos here, which made the experience even more special and gave us one pretty iconic pregnancy announcement photo.

The whale shark experience takes place in Oslob and is another incredibly accessible marine-life experience in Cebu.

The biggest downside?

You have to get up REALLY early.

Depending on where you're staying, you also have a long drive ahead of you.

We were staying in Moalboal, so our drive was about 2.5 hours. We got picked up at 3 AM for our whale shark adventure because you need to be out on the water around sunrise, which was roughly 5:30 AM when we went.

When you arrive, your guide will check you in, go over the safety guidelines, and have you wait until your group is called. From there, you'll take a small boat just a few minutes offshore to where the whale sharks are.

You can actually see the area from land.

Once you're in the water, you get about 30 minutes of swim time with the whale sharks.

There were several whale sharks swimming back and forth, and you can get some absolutely incredible photos and videos with them.

And these animals are HUGE!

It was such a cool experience and definitely one of the highlights of our time in Cebu.

Is Swimming With the Whale Sharks Ethical?

This is where things get a little complicated.

Honestly, I would say the experience is questionable from an ethical standpoint.

The biggest issue for me was how close people get to the whale sharks. The animals are fed, and while there are guidelines about maintaining distance, it can be really difficult to do that in practice when the whale sharks are swimming back and forth and there are so many people in the water.

You're supposed to stay 6 meters away, but when a whale shark swims directly toward you, you don't have a whole lot of control over the situation.

And there were a LOT of people.

Keep in mind, we were there during the off-season, so I can only imagine how crowded it gets during peak season.

At the same time, this experience brings a significant amount of tourism to the area, and the local economy benefits from those visitors.

So, for me, this is one of those experiences where I think it's important to understand the ethical concerns before deciding whether it's something you personally want to do.

Canyoneering in Southern Cebu

Canyoneering was the activity I was most disappointed to miss!

Unfortunately, because I was pregnant, this wasn't something I could safely participate in. Our friends did it, though, and they said it was one of the best things they've ever experienced.

The adventure involves jumping and sliding through waterfalls and canyons, with cliff jumps and natural water slides along the way. You eventually end up at the famous Kawasan Falls.

As someone who loves cliff jumping, I already know this would have been a blast for me.

So, if you're an adventure junkie, this would definitely be at the top of my list for a return trip to Cebu.

Final Thoughts: Is Cebu Worth It?

Honestly, it depends on what you're looking for.

If it hadn't been for the whale shark experience, and getting my iconic pregnancy announcement photo there, I don't think Cebu would have been worth it for me.

I was underwhelmed by the sardine run and wasn't able to experience what I think would have been my favorite activity: canyoneering.

But that doesn't mean Cebu isn't worth visiting.

I actually think Cebu would be a great destination for adventure travelers. There are some incredibly unique experiences here that you can't easily replicate elsewhere.

The trade-off is that Cebu can be pretty exhausting.

There is a LOT of driving, and getting between destinations can take hours. So if you're picturing yourself relaxing on a beautiful beach, sipping a drink and doing absolutely nothing for a few days, this probably isn't the Philippine island I'd choose.

If you traveled all the way to the Philippines for beautiful beaches and relaxation, I'd spend more time on some of the other islands instead. There are plenty of incredible beach destinations throughout the Philippines where you can slow down and actually relax.

But if you want iconic experiences, adventure, unique wildlife encounters, and don't mind a little go-go-go, Cebu may be worth adding to your itinerary.

For me, Cebu was more of an experience destination than a relaxing island destination.

And knowing that before you go is probably the most important thing.

Cebu is worth it if you're going for the adventure. If you're going for the relaxation, I'd spend your time elsewhere.

Is Cebu, Philippines Worth It?