Moalboal Travel Guide: Southern Cebu’s Underwater Paradise

Moalboal

Moalboal is a coastal town two hours drive from Cebu City, a gateway to some of the best diving spots not only in Cebu but in the entire Philippines. At first glance, it seems to be a sleepy town but its rich water is where all the action is.

Moalboal is a well known tourist and diving paradise due to its unspoiled fine white sand beaches and diverse marine life. Divers and snorkelers will enjoy the rich and colorful underwater life of its numerous dive sites that serve as home to hammerhead sharks and the famous sardine run. Dive shops are located in Panagsama Beach in Basdiot. Beach bummers on the other hand can stroll in the white beach of Basdako.

Whether you are an adventure lover or a laid back type, Moalboal promises a relaxing and fun getaway that will surely make your stay in this lovely town worthwhile.

Moalboal
Sunset at Basdaku Beach

How to Get to Moalboal

From Cebu City

From the capital of the province, Moalboal is three hours drive by public bus. Ceres and Librando buses going to Moalboal are located in the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Fare for non-aircon bus starts is P116 while for aircon bus is P127 (October 2019 rate).

Meanwhile, vans that ply Cebu City to Moalboal are stationed in Cebu South V-hire Terminal in Junquera Street near University of San Carlos. Travel time is considerably shorter at two hours, fare is P100.

To go to Panagsama Beach or White Beach, hire a trike or habal-habal to get you there, fare cost around P80 per trip.

You can book your bus ticket or private transfer from Cebu City to Moalboal and vice versa below.

BOOK YOUR BUS/PRIVATE VAN FROM CEBU TO MOALBOAL

From Dumaguete

It is also possible to reach Moalboal via Dumaguete within three hours. From the downtown Dumaguete, catch a minibus or multicab to Sibulan Port for P7. From Sibulan Port, take a pumpboat to Bato (Santander) for P50, terminal fee included. Upon reaching the Port of Bato, transfer to a bus to Cebu via Barili and get off at Moalboal, travel time from Bato to Moalboal is around 2 hours and fare is approximately P60.

 

Moalboal
Basdaku Beach

Moalboal Downtown to Panagsama

Buses and vans alight passengers at the downtown. To get to Panagsama Beach, catch a tricycle for a 10-minute ride, fare is P20-30 per person or P200 per trike for special trip.

Where to Stay in Moalboal

The Panagsama Beach in Basdiot is where tourists usually stay in Moalboal. Panagsama Beach is home to variety of hotels and dive shops. For backpackers and budget travelers, Moalboal Backpackers Lodge have dormitory rooms for as low as P350 per night per person and private rooms for as low as P400 per night. The whole area has free wifi.

For booking, reservation or more information, visit their site: www.moalboal-backpackerlodge.com or contact them at +63-32-4743053/+63905-2278096/+63908-6076240, email [email protected].

Top-Rated / Highly Recommended Accommodations in Moalboal

The Blue Abyss Resort

The Blue Abyss Resort
Basdiot, Moalboal
Starts at 1,500 PHP

BOOK NOW

Pescadores Seaview Suites Moalboal

Pescadores Seaview Suites Moalboal
Basdiot, Moalboal
Starts at 2,300 PHP

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Mangoes Place

Mangoes Place
Basdiot, Moalboal
Starts at 1,400 PHP

BOOK NOW

Panagsama Beach House

Panagsama Beach House
Basdiot, Moalboal
Starts at 3,500 PHP

BOOK NOW

Top-Rated Budget Accommodations in Moalboal

JJ's Place

JJ’s Place
Basdiot, Moalboal
Starts at 600 PHP

BOOK NOW

Bamboo Huts

Bamboo Huts
Basdiot, Moalboal
Starts at 600 PHP

BOOK NOW

Things to Do in Moalboal

  • Diving/snorkeling: The dive sites of Moalboal include Pescador Island, Sunken Island, Kasai, Plane Wreck, Tongo and Sampaguita among others, plus the marine sanctuaries in Basdiot and Saavedra.
  • Beach bumming in Basdaku
  • See the church ruins of Old Moalboal Church
  • Beach sports: volleyball, frisbee
  • Spelunking in Busay Cave
  • Side trip to Kawasan Falls in Badian
  • Explore the other waterfalls in South Cebu
  • Visit the old churches of Boljoon, Oslob, Dalaguete, Carcar, Sibonga and Argao, all in Southern Cebu.

Klook.com

Sample Itinerary: Three-Day South Cebu Adventure

Day 1: Cebu City – Badian – Moalboal

Catch a bus from Cebu to Badian in the morning, go canyoneering in Matutinao River and end your adventure with a waterfalls massage in Kawasan Falls. At noon, proceed to Moalboal and find a place along Panagsama Beach. Swim with the Sardine Run in the in the afternoon and laze in the White Beach for sunset afterwards.

Day 2: Moalboal – Samboan – Oslob

Go waterfall hopping! See Alegria’s Cambais Falls and Samboan’s Dao Falls, Binalayan Falls and Aguinid Falls. Drive towards Oslob in the afternoon and get a room at Cancua-ay Beach. Spend the rest of the afternoon and the sunset in Sumilon Island.

Day 3: Oslob – Boljoon – Dalaguete – Cebu City

Get up early for the sunrise then drive to the heritage town of Boljoon after breakfast. Proceed towards Barangay Mantalongon of Dalaguete and see the ragged roof of Cebu at Osmeña Peak. Don’t forget to take home a pack of Carcar’s famous chicharon on your way back to Cebu City.
Kawasan Falls
Kawasan Falls in nearby Badian.
Moalboal
Sardines in the shallow reef of Moalboal.

Tips

  • There are a lot of restaurants and kitchenettes in the area, but prepare to shell out at least P150 per meal, but the servings are quite big. Check out Little Corner Restaurant, they offer some great seafood dishes.
  • For divers, the most popular dive shop is the Savedra Dive Center in Panagsama. There are three scheduled dives per day, 7AM, 10AM and 2PM. They offer discounts for locals. Savedra Dive Center is a premier dive shop that puts safety above all.
  • Another great choice is Cebu Dive Center, they offer cheaper diving rate without sacrificing safety, and they are really fun to be with.
  • For non-divers, Cebu Dive Center and other resorts organize island hopping and snorkeling open tours
  • First trip of vans from Cebu to Moalboal and Moalboal to Cebu are both at 6AM, the last depends on the passenger volume
Moalboal
Finding nemo in Moalboal.

*First published: 7-Oct-2009 | Updates: 11-Aug-2012; 30-Jun-2015; 10-Jan-2018; 22-Feb-2018; 19-Jul-2019; 01-Oct-2019; 24-Oct-2019; 28-Apr-2020

Comments

  1. I know everyone is always suggesting Kawasan Falls when in Moalboal but there are much nicer waterfalls in the area and less touristy. I would advise to stay at least 5 days in Moalboal, go for hikes, visit the Casino Peak, see other waterfalls as the Cambais falls. Go one-day diving/snorkeling in the most beautiful reefs. Chill and enjoy the beautiful White beach one day…. I understand that not everyone has the time, but it’s worth it!

  2. […] something about Moalboal that beckons my senses, the sardine run, I guess. I haven’t seen other dive site in the […]

  3. Zorinne

    Hi. I enjoyed reading your blog. ahm, can you suggest/recommend an itinerary for cebu trip for 5d4n.. We really wanted to maximize our trip in cebu this nov, i hope you can help us. Thank you. Godbless. 😊

  4. joji

    hi good day…from Sibonga, SImala…is there a short cut road going to Moalboal?…which is near via Ylaya road or Barili?….how is the road status?…rough or concrete?….

  5. hi.. from Moalboal town.do you know how can i go to Busay Cave..hope to hear from you soon..or to anyone of your reader knows how to go there..thanks

  6. dib

    Good day! hope you could help or advice.. 🙂 if we’re from dalaguete after visiting osmena peak and we would like to go to moalboal after… would there be any public bus traveling from dalaguete to moalboal??

    1. Lee

      Hi same question I have. Have you gone there already?

  7. wanderer

    magkano po ung est budget for two? thank you po.

  8. Michael Palayan

    Hi,

    is the 2hour travel going to moalboal from airport a smooth or rough road?

    1. Hassle free ang pag travel from airport to Moalboal. Maganda po ang kalsada 🙂

Comments are closed.