Moalboal Guide
If snorkeling or diving is a non-negotiable on your Philippines trip, look no further: include Moalboal in your itinerary. This small coastal town in the southwest of Cebu island will offer you the magical experience of swimming among a school of thousands of sardines and turtles and exploring the spectacular seabeds of Pescador Island, but it is also the perfect base to explore the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines: Kawasan Falls. Ready? In this Moalboal guide, you will find everything you need to enjoy this visit.
We aren’t going to lie to you: the town of Moalboal isn’t very pretty nor does it have much charm, but everything around it more than justifies coming to this part of Cebu. If you dive, don’t even hesitate, it’s one of the best places to do some dives. But, if you don’t dare with the tank yet, just a few meters from the shore lies a huge school of sardines that will win you over. Furthermore, from Moalboal you can explore Kawasan Falls and a ton of much less known waterfalls. As you can see, if you like fresh water as much as salt water, this is your place! Discover all its possibilities in this Moalboal guide.
THINGS TO DO IN MOALBOAL
We have already given you a small sneak peek, but allow us to whet your appetite further with the Moalboal Guide and its dedicated articles:
- Snorkeling: as easy as getting in the water in front of the Saavedra dive school and you will encounter the huge Moalboal sardine run. Plus, it is not rare to also see a turtle or two and, with a lot of luck, a whale shark. There’s a reason it is one of the best places for snorkeling in the Philippines.
- Diving: Moalboal is one of the best places for diving in the Philippines. You can do the House Reef dive to see the sardine run from below, but there are also other interesting spots like Tongo Point, White Beach, or Umbrella Point.
- Pescador Island: this small island, about 20 minutes by boat from Moalboal, is an incredible place for both snorkeling and diving. It houses some of the best dive sites in the Philippines.
- Beaches: while Panagsama Beach, where most of Moalboal’s accommodations are, is not very pretty, you will like White Beach. Try to visit it from Monday to Friday, when it is quieter. If you have more time, don’t miss Lambug Beach.
- Kawasan Falls: these intense turquoise waterfalls are the most famous in the Philippines. You can take a relaxing dip or enjoy canyoneering.
- More waterfalls in the Badian/Samboan area: Inambakan, Dao, Cambais Falls, Montpellier, Binalayan, Aguinid…
- Osmeña Peak: from Moalboal, you can also hop over to do this beautiful route through the mountains of Cebu.
Our advice is to dedicate at least 2 full days to see the basics of Moalboal (snorkeling and Kawasan Falls). But, if you like getting lost on a motorbike and seeing lesser-known corners, you could easily give it 3 or 4 days and explore much more.
This Moalboal guide is just an appetizer, discover much more:
KAWASAN FALLS FROM MOALBOAL
The spectacular Kawasan Falls are the most Instagrammed waterfalls in the Philippines. You can take a dip in their most well-known level, but also be more daring and do canyoneering, which consists of following the course of the river jumping between pools. If you want a little adrenaline on your trip to the Philippines, don’t hesitate!
More information:
EAT IN MOALBOAL
Moalboal, on our first visit many years ago, made it a bit difficult in terms of places to eat. With the passage of time and the opening to tourism, a great variety of businesses appeared offering dishes for all types of tastes.
So, now you can eat practically anything you imagine. Traditional Filipino cuisine, Mexican, Italian, vegetarian, vegan… You will find all that and some bars where you can have a drink and enjoy a good sunset in this guide on Where to eat in Moalboal:
HOW TO GET TO MOALBOAL
Located in Cebu, you can easily access Moalboal from the island’s capital by van or bus. These leave Cebu City 24 hours a day and the journey takes about 3 hours, depending on traffic. Of course, you can also get to Moalboal from other nearby places like Bohol, Siquijor, Malapascua, or Bantayan. Discover everything in detail at:
WHERE TO STAY IN MOALBOAL
Panagsama Beach is the best area to sleep in Moalboal. You will find backpacker hostels, but also charming hotels at a good price and with sea views. We tell you everything at:
TIPS FOR VISITING MOALBOAL
- HOW MANY DAYS TO SPEND IN MOALBOAL? A minimum of 2 full days, but, as you have seen in this Moalboal guide, you could spend many more, especially if you like waterfalls and diving.
- HEALTH IN MOALBOAL: the town has some basic infrastructure, but if something happens to you, the best thing is to go to a top-tier hospital in Cebu City (like Chong Hua). To ensure the treatment doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg, remember to travel with travel insurance for the Philippines like ours. Here is a 5% discount for your policy.
- MONEY IN MOALBOAL: you have ATMs in Panagsama and in the town of Moalboal itself. You will also find exchange bureaus.
- GETTING AROUND MOALBOAL: you can rent motorbikes for about 300 pesos a day or hire the services of tricycles to get around the area. Buses pass along the main road that will drop you near the entrance to Kawasan Falls.
- WHERE TO EAT IN MOALBOAL: in addition to cheap local carinderias, you have places like AlTrove (pizza), Ven’z Kitchen (with vegan options), The Three Bears (burgers), or TESS Food Hause (Filipino food)
- WHEN TO GO TO MOALBOAL? The best time runs from November to May, but, you know, the climate in the Philippines is unpredictable.