Want to know our Cebu Tourist Spots? Cebu is blessed with a lot of scenic spots that would make anyone pack their bags and visit it. As an island, one of its strong points are its beaches. However, there are more to Cebu than that. Here are some of the great tourist spots that you should visit while you’re here.
Here are our list of Cebu Tourist Spots
Crown Regency Towers
Hotels have a charm of their own. Some may compliment the natural beauty of the surroundings they’re located while some are provide outstanding services that people would go out of their way just so they could experience being served like kings. There are a couple of hotels that could provide just that here in Cebu and most of them can be found in Mactan. There’s one notable exception – this hotel located right at the heart of Cebu.
Crown Regency may just be one of the many high class hotels found in the province, but their recreational facilities established at the uppermost floors of the hotel makes them an exception. That’s because it’s the only hotel in the country that has a zipline course connected to another tower. Aside from that, they have the Edge Coaster – a roller coaster that goes sideways. And the course is none other than on the edges of the hotel, more than 30 floors up.
Crown Regency has become a favorite tourist destination for those seeking for a thrill ride like no other. And they still have more to offer too.
Taoist Temple
One would normally view Cebu City as a bustling city that always experiences traffic jams here and there. A noisy neighborhood for the people who aren’t used to it, trekking the city itself can make anyone feel stressed out. A way to relieve this stress is a quick hike to the Chinese Taoist Temple in Lahug.
Founded by Cebu’s Chinese Community, this temple sits on a hill, 300 meters above sea level. The actual location serves as a vantage point where you can get a panoramic view of the whole Cebu City, Mactan Island and the islands beyond it. The environment is well maintained so if anything else, you’ll be sure to get a breath of fresh air in here.
Simala Shrine and Basilica del Santo Niño
If you are a Christian at heart, then you need to visit these places. Basilica del Santo Niño is the oldest church in the Philippines and is hailed by the Holy See himself as the Mother and Head of all Churches in the Philippines. The place is also where the original image of the Santo Niño which was a baptismal gift given by Magellan to Rajah Humabon’s wife back in 1521. It is the oldest religious image in the country.
The Simala Shrine is a place of significant importance for the Catholic devotees as well. Located in Sibonga, it’s also called as the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist. It will take you about 1 to 2 hours of travel to reach this place from Cebu. This place is a prime destination for pilgrims coming from all over the province as well as other parts of the country. On an architectural outlook, the place looks like a large, magnificent castle overlooking the hills.
Bantayan Island
The islands surrounding Cebu are blessed with a lot great tourist spots that going into one of them is very much like getting a tour package. One of these great islands is Bantayan, located on the northern part of the province. The island itself boasts white sand beaches, great blue seas and very few people to ravish them – which makes it even more beautiful as it makes the beaches look unused and pristine. You can find most of these beaches in Santa Fe.
There are a couple of islets near this island that you can hop into and all of them are downright gorgeous. Virgin island in particular, is a small island with a white sand shoreline and a coral reef sitting right next to it. It’s the perfect place to unwind and take a dip in the sea undisturbed – or you can go scuba diving as well.
Malapascua Island
A few miles from Bantayan is the picturesque island of Malapascua. While it sports a couple of white sand beaches, particularly Logon and Bounty beach, the island itself is a prime destination for scuba diving. That’s because it’s right next to Monad Shoal – the only place in the world where you can see thresher sharks daily. Just make sure you set the trip before sunrise as that is the usual time they show themselves.
Mactan Island
Mactan is one of the most commercially developed places, not only in Cebu but in the whole Philippines. As tourist destination, you can see a lot of 5-Star hotels lining up its shores like the Shangri-La, the Abaca, JPark, Crimson, Plantation Bay and more. Surrounding it are a couple of world class dive sites like the ones in Hilutungan and Nalusuan Island marine sanctuary and the Marigondon Cave.
This is also where you can find Alegre guitars, Cebu’s famous guitar brand. Just take care though as guitar prices here can go up steeply before you even know it. For those who love history, the Lapu-lapu shrine is also a good visit.
Colon, Ayala and SM
Colon Street
Ayala Center Cebu
SM Seaside
These three separate places are the most visited shopping districts in Cebu. Ayala is located in the heart of Cebu’s Business District, SM near Cebu’s international piers and Colon right smack in downtown Cebu. A historical significance of Colon is that it is the oldest street in the country.
The Ayala Center not only acts as a shopping center but also a destination in itself as well. The architectural design is impeccable and is quite sophisticated, but the downside to it is that if you are unfamiliar with the place, you can easily get yourself lost. Navigating through SM is much easier as everything is inside one huge establishment. Testament to its sheer size, it was ranked as the 11th largest shopping mall in the world.
Moalboal
Kawasan falls is perhaps the most popular waterfalls in the province. It is a three-level waterfall and it is located in the municipality of Moalboal. It’s very popular destination for tourists, especially during the summer season. And while it can get very crowded on the first level, hiking up for an additional 15 minutes will grant you access to the second level which is more isolated.
There are also great beaches in Moalboal as well as a few diving sites, particularly in Pescador Island.
Oslob
The main tourist attraction of this municipality is whale shark sightseeing. In here, you can get to mingle with these gentle beasts and feed the in the process as well. Afterwards, you can either go to Tumalog falls, which is a short ride from the highway or go to Sumilon Island for some great beaches and sceneries.
While Cebu is indeed a beautiful gem of an island, visiting it shouldn’t just be for the purpose of seeing its destinations. That’s because there are so many things that you can do while you’re here. Aside from sightseeing, you can try its local delicacies, respect or attend various festivities and more.
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