Cebu 5-Day Adventure + Bohol

Activities

1. 12:00 CEB Airport arrival + Mactan resort check-in 2 hours

   Direct flights from Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok. Grab $5-8 / 15 min to Mactan resort district.

   Cost: Grab $5-8 TIP: Pre-arrange Klook airport transfer $20 for stress-free arrival.
2. 14:00 Mactan resort beach + infinity pool 3 hours

   Shangri-La, Crimson, Movenpick, Plantation Bay, JPark — all within 15 min of CEB. Groomed white sand beach, infinity pools, resort bars.

   Cost: Resort included TIP: Reef-safe SPF 50+ mandatory. Pool bar drinks ₱200-400 ($4-7).
3. 17:30 Mactan western sunset + cocktails 1.5 hours

   Sunset 17:30-18:30. Beach bar happy hour 17:00-19:00 with cocktails $6-11.

   Cost: $6-15 TIP: Honeymoon-photo time at infinity pools.
4. 19:30 Dinner — Zubuchon (Bourdain lechon) 1.5 hours

   Anthony Bourdain canonical lechon — crispy skin + lemongrass-marinated meat. Order by weight 250g per 1-2 people.

   Cost: $7-15 TIP: Reservation Fri-Sat. Try Cebu Kinilaw + Pinakbet as sides.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 04:00 Pre-dawn pickup — combo day tour 15 hours

   Korean-tourist canonical circuit: 04:00 pickup + 4h drive to Oslob + whale shark 06:00-08:00 + 1h drive to Badian + canyoneering 11:00-15:00 + return 19:00. $120-150 combo. Pre-book Klook.

   Cost: $120-150 TIP: Long day — pre-arrange 24h resort late checkout. Bring change of clothes + waterproof phone case.
2. 06:30 Oslob whale shark 30-min swim 1.5 hours

   Guaranteed encounter with 8-12 wild whale sharks. Ethically contested. ₱1,500 ($28) entry included.

   Cost: Included TIP: No touching (₱5,000 fine). Reef-safe sunscreen mandatory.
3. 13:00 Kawasan canyoneering (3-tier turquoise waterfall) 4 hours

   Cliff jumps 5-15m + waterslides + waterfall swim. Helmet + life vest + guide included.

   Cost: Included TIP: November-April dry season only. Water shoes + waterproof phone case.
4. 19:00 Light dinner — Larsian BBQ (locals' canonical) 1.5 hours

   Open-air locals' BBQ — chicken inasal + pork BBQ + puso + San Miguel beer ₱200-400.

   Cost: $4-8 TIP: Cash only. Iconic Cebuano evening experience.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Magellan's Cross + Basilica del Santo Niño + Fort San Pedro 3 hours

   1521 Magellan's Cross + 1565 Basilica del Santo Niño (Philippines' oldest Catholic church) + 1565 Fort San Pedro (Philippines' oldest fortress) + Carbon Market.

   Cost: Free + ₱30 ($0.60) Fort TIP: Cover shoulders + knees in basilica. Sunday Mass packed.
2. 13:00 Lunch — CnT Lechon (local-favorite) 1.5 hours

   Cebuano-local lechon with stronger seasoning. ₱300-600.

   Cost: $6-12 TIP: Walking from Carbon Market. Cash preferred.
3. 15:00 Mactan return + 10,000 Roses Café Cordova 2 hours

   30-min drive to Cordova for LED-lit artificial rose garden. ₱150 ($3) entry includes drink. Sunset 17:30-19:00 = peak photo time.

   Cost: $3-7 TIP: Long photo lines on weekends. Combine with Lantaw Native dinner.
4. 18:00 Sutukil dinner — STK ta Bay (Mactan canonical) 2 hours

   Pick fresh Lapu-Lapu fish + tiger prawns + crab + scallops + 3-style preparation (Sugba grilled + Tula sour soup + Kilaw raw ceviche).

   Cost: $15-30 TIP: Reservation Fri-Sat. Lapu-Lapu fish is canonical choice.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 06:00 Cebu Pier 1 → Tagbilaran Ocean Jet fastcraft ferry (2h) 2 hours

   2-hour fastcraft ferry from Cebu Pier 1 to Tagbilaran, Bohol's capital. PHP 600-1,200 ($12-25) round trip. SuperCat + Ocean Jet + Lite Ferry all run 8-10 daily departures.

   Cost: Ferry $12-25 RT TIP: Pre-book ferry online (Ocean Jet has the best schedule). 4:30 AM hotel pickup recommended. Pre-pay Bohol day tour package $95-120 via Klook for all-inclusive (ferry + transport + entries + lunch).
2. 09:00 Chocolate Hills viewing deck (Carmen, Bohol) 1.5 hours

   1,200+ cone-shaped limestone hills that turn chocolate-brown in dry season (November-May). Climb 213 steps to the viewing deck for the canonical Bohol panorama. ₱50 ($1) entry.

   Cost: $1 TIP: Best November-May dry season for chocolate-brown color. Iconic Bohol panorama photo.
3. 11:00 Tarsier Conservation Area (Corella OR Loboc) 1 hour

   The Philippine tarsier — world's smallest primate (10-12cm, eyes proportionally largest of any mammal). Daytime viewing of these nocturnal creatures resting in trees. Strict no-flash + silence rules (stress sensitivity, documented suicide cases). Corella sanctuary recommended over Loboc for animal welfare.

   Cost: ₱100 ($2) TIP: No flash, no touching, low voices. Rainy days = more active. Corella > Loboc for animal welfare.
4. 13:00 Loboc River cruise lunch (floating restaurant) 1.5 hours

   Floating restaurant cruise on the Loboc River with Filipino buffet lunch + cultural music performance. 1.5-hour scenic float through coconut groves + cliffs + Busay Falls turnaround.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Iconic Bohol experience. Filipino family-style buffet + live cultural music. Usually pre-included in $95-120 Bohol day tour package.
5. 15:00 Blood Compact site + Baclayon Church 1 hour

   Blood Compact monument commemorating the 1565 Spanish-Filipino peace treaty between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López de Legazpi. Baclayon Church (1596) — one of the Philippines' oldest stone churches.

   Cost: Free TIP: Iconic Spanish-Filipino heritage site. Photo opportunity + brief church visit.
6. 16:30 Return ferry Tagbilaran → Cebu Pier 1 (2h) 2 hours

   2-hour return ferry. Arrival Cebu around 19:00. Tired from full day.

   Cost: Included in RT ticket TIP: Buy snacks at Tagbilaran terminal before boarding.
7. 20:00 Light dinner — Casa Verde (Brontosaurus Ribs) 1.5 hours

   Cebu casual Filipino + Western fusion — signature 1kg Brontosaurus Ribs shareable for 3-4 people. ₱500-1,200 ($10-25). Multiple branches (Ramos + IT Park + Mactan).

   Cost: $10-25 TIP: Reservation weekends. Family-friendly. Brontosaurus Ribs is shareable iconic dish.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:00 OPTION A: Moalboal sardine run + Pescador Island 8 hours

   3-hour drive west from Cebu to Moalboal Panagsama Beach. Free-dive or snorkel from the shore (no boat required) into a swirling silver tornado of millions of natural sardines. Pescador Island 15-min boat for vertical reef-wall snorkeling/diving (PHP 1,500 / $30). Ethical alternative to Oslob whale shark.

   Cost: $60-90 day tour + $30 Pescador boat TIP: Pre-book Klook day tour. Bring own mask + snorkel ($8 rental). November-April for 30m visibility. Iconic Cebu marine experience.
2. 09:00 OPTION B: Mactan resort spa + pool + beach final day 6 hours

   Final-day relaxation at Mactan resort — spa massage (₱2,000-5,000 / $40-100), infinity pool, beachfront, sunset cocktails. Honeymoon-relaxation alternative to Moalboal.

   Cost: Resort included + spa $40-100 TIP: Pre-book spa 24h ahead. Resort late checkout (2 PM-4 PM) common with extra charge.
3. 15:00 Final souvenir shopping — Taboan Market (dried mangoes + danggit) 1.5 hours

   Cebu's canonical dried-fish + dried-mango market. Last-chance shopping for danggit (Cebu's iconic dried fish, $5-12 per bag) + dried mangoes ($5 per bag) + dried squid + dilis. Vacuum-pack for flight.

   Cost: $10-30 souvenirs TIP: Cash only. Bargain 20-30%. Bring extra suitcase space. Most authentic Cebu souvenir spot.
4. 18:00 Farewell dinner — Anzani (Filipino-Italian fine dining sunset) 2 hours

   Cebu's premier Filipino-Italian fine-dining restaurant on Nivel Hills — chef Marco Anzani's tasting menu with panoramic Cebu City + ocean views. Iconic honeymoon farewell.

   Cost: $30-70 per person TIP: Reservation 1+ week ahead for sunset tables (book the moment you arrive in Cebu). Smart-casual. Tasting menu $50 / a la carte $30-70. Closed Mondays.
5. 21:00 Mactan resort → CEB airport departure 30-45 min

   Late-evening Korean + Japan flight departures common 21:00-01:00. Grab from Mactan resort $5-8 / 15 min. Airport tax ₱350 ($7).

   Cost: Grab $5-8 + tax $7 TIP: Allow 2h check-in international. Last-chance dried-mango shopping at CEB airport.

Meal Recommendations