Moalboal Travel Guide: Best Things to Do & 3-Day Itinerary

Are you passing through Cebu on your Philippines itinerary? You can’t miss Moalboal, where you can swim with thousands of sardines, go canyoneering in the stunning blue waters of Kawasan Falls, and much more. In this travel guide, we’ll share the best things to do in Moalboal, helpful tips to make the most of your visit, and our thoughts on the places we visited.

First time in the Philippines?
Read How to Plan a Trip to the Philippines: 33 Essential Travel Tips

---

---

Table of Contents

In this guide, we’ll cover the following topics.

Best Things to Do in Moalboal

Here’s a list of the best things to do in Moalboal, along with our experiences and thoughts on each activity.

1) Sardine Run – Swim with Thousands of Sardines

Our main reason for visiting Moalboal was to swim with thousands of sardines. There is a phenomenon off the coast of Moalboal called the Sardine Run, which is a natural event where schools of sardines gather and move in synchronized patterns near the shore all year round. It’s definitely a unique experience.

To snorkel with the sardines, you need to pay an entrance fee. You can rent snorkeling gear, fins, and even a GoPro if needed. We rented a snorkeling mask and tube for 100 PHP, but if you walk along the shore towards Panagsama Beach, you’ll find better prices. If you’re a good swimmer, fins aren’t necessary—a mask will do. However, I highly recommend wearing water shoes since the bottom is rocky, and you’ll need to walk a bit before you can start swimming.

To find the spot for the Sardine Run, simply search “Moalboal Sardine Run” on Google Maps. The “beach” isn’t really a beach—it’s mostly rocks. When you enter the water, you only need to swim a few meters from the shore to see thousands of sardines moving together near a steep underwater drop. It’s incredible to watch them move as one and quickly change direction when you get close.

If you swim a little farther, you can also see colorful corals and different kinds of fish. We even saw a turtle! If you’re not a good swimmer, you can wear a life jacket and go with a guide.

We recommend arriving as early as possible, as it can get crowded with tours and snorkeling guides. This can be a bit frustrating if you want to swim without bumping into others.

2) Snorkeling at the White Beach

When in Moalboal, you cannot miss the White Beach. It has super clear blue water and a long stretch of soft white sand. Many people come here just to relax, but not everyone knows that there are beautiful, healthy corals and plenty of colorful fish just a few meters from the shore. I think the reason the corals are so well-preserved is that not many people know about them.

The White Beach is also a great spot for watching the sunset and is very popular with locals, especially on weekends. We visited twice during our time in Moalboal, and on Sunday, it was packed—not just with tourists but also with lots of locals.

There’s also a small barbecue stall where you can get a delicious lunch.

The White Beach is just a 15-minute ride from the Panagsama Road, the main area in Moalboal. If you have a motorbike, it’s easy to get there. If not, plenty of tricycles can take you there and back—just make sure to negotiate the price.

3) Canyoneering at the Kawasan Falls

Another reason many people visit Moalboal is to go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls—you walk, slide, and jump through waterfalls and natural pools. If canyoneering isn’t your thing, you can visit the waterfalls directly instead.

My boyfriend isn’t a fan of cliff jumping, so we went straight to Kawasan Falls and swam there instead. To get to the waterfalls, you need to walk around 15 minutes from where you park the motorbike.

The water is incredibly blue and refreshing, and we had a great time. I would say it was the bluest water I’ve ever seen—the color is just incredible. The waterfall is also much bigger and stronger than it seems on the pictures. It is 14 meters high with a depth of 7 meters.

Make sure to arrive early if you don’t want to share the place with too many people. We got there before 9 AM and had it all to ourselves. When we left around 10:30 AM, it was already getting packed with group tours.

To enter and swim at the waterfall, you need to pay a small entrance fee, and lifejackets are mandatory.

4) Relaxing at the Lambug Beach

Not far from Kawasan Falls, you’ll find Lambug Beach in Badian. It’s quite similar to the White Beach in Moalboal, with soft white sand and clear blue water, but it’s much less crowded. It’s an ideal place to relax after swimming at the Kawasan Falls.

There was a man selling buko juice at the beach. At the time, I had no idea what it was. We decided to try it, and it ended up being one of our favorite drinks. It is a refreshing coconut drink made from young coconut water and soft coconut flesh, and also some sugar. Try it — you won’t regret it and it’s also quite cheap. We also found a small barbecue stall where we had lunch.

5) Chasing Waterfalls

Besides Kawasan Falls, there are many other waterfalls in Cebu worth visiting, some closer to Moalboal and others farther away. Here are a few I had pinned on my map: Lusno Falls, Mantayupan Falls, Cancalanog Falls, Inambakan Falls, Dao Falls, and Aguinid Falls.

However, most of these waterfalls are quite far from Moalboal. If you want to visit more waterfalls, we recommend staying in a more southern area to be closer to them, like Alegria for example. Or, you can use the buses—ask at your accommodation how they work. Alternatively, you can find waterfall-chasing tours in Moalboal, which can be a great option if you don’t want to deal with long rides on your own.

We ended up visiting Mantayupan Falls, about an hour away by motorbike. At the Mantayupan waterfalls, there are two levels and you can swim on both of them. It is mandatory to wear a life-jacket to swim on the waterfalls. There is also a colorful hanging bridge that you need to cross to get to the higher level of the waterfall. It will definitely be a challenge if you’re afraid of heights.

The falls were beautiful, but we wouldn’t recommend the ride—it was a rough journey with lots of trucks, buses, cars, motorbikes, dust, and noise.

6) Views at Osmeña Peak

Near Moalboal, there are also great viewpoints in the mountains. The most famous and easiest to reach are Osmeña Peak and Casino Peak.

If you’re heading to Osmeña Peak, keep in mind that the distance signs on the road are inaccurate—the place is much farther than they indicate. We tried to get there, but our motorbike started overheating on the steep inclines, so we had to turn back. However, along the way, we found a great viewpoint that made the trip worth it.

We don’t recommend doing this ride if you’re not confident driving a motorbike as you’ll drive in mountain roads. Alternatively, there are tours in Moalboal that can take you there. If you’re a confidente driver, I don’t think you’ll have any problems.

7) Try the Local Food

When in Moalboal, there are many restaurants where you can try local Filipino food. We tried chicken adobo, made with chicken simmered in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and spices. We also had pork and chicken sisig, a sizzling dish made from chopped meat, onions, and chili, served on a hot plate with an egg on top. For dessert, we tried mango float, a creamy layered dessert made with sweet mangoes, crackers, and condensed milk. We also tried barbecue banana covered in butter and sugar next to the Kawasan falls. It’s delicious, but definitely not healthy.

If you’re not much into local food, there are several restaurants selling international food and also great pizza.

8) Dinner at El Mercado de Moalboal

On the Panagsama Road, there is a food market called El Mercado de Moalboal, with several stalls serving dishes from different countries.

You can find Italian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Korean, and more. It’s a great place to go with friends since everyone can choose from a variety of options. Additionally, it’s also a bit cheaper than going to an actual restaurant.

3 Days in Moalboal Itinerary

If you have three days in Moalboal, here’s our suggested itinerary. This was more or less the itinerary that we followed. If you’re short on time, you can probably fit most of the activities in just two days.

Day 1 in Moalboal

• Morning: Snorkel at the Sardine Run and swim with sardines.
• Late Morning: Enjoy breakfast and then snorkel at the Panagsama Beach.
• Afternoon: Relax and snorkel at the White Beach. Watch the sunset at the White beach or near the Sardine Run.

Start your day by snorkeling at the Sardine Run and swim with thousands of sardines. If you’re lucky, you can even spot a turtle.

Afterward, enjoy a nice breakfast and head back for more snorkeling at the Panagsama Beach. It has some great corals.

In the afternoon, relax and snorkel at the White Beach. This is a popular place to watch the sunset, but we always watched the sunset next to the Sardine Run since it was closer to our accommodation and we didn’t want to drive at night.

Day 2 in Moalboal

• Morning: Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls or visit the falls without canyoneering.
• Lunch: Barbecue lunch and relax at Lambug Beach (if not canyoneering).
• Afternoon: Visit Osmeña Peak and Casino Peak for great mountain views.

On the second day, you can go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls or visit the waterfalls directly if you prefer not to do the canyoneering.

Afterward, enjoy a barbecue lunch and relax at Lambug Beach if you didn’t go canyoneering (you’ll have time for that).

In the afternoon, visit Osmeña Peak and Casino Peak to enjoy the stunning views from the mountains.

Day 3 in Moalboal

If you have an extra day, consider going on a tour to visit some of Cebu’s most beautiful waterfalls. Otherwise, you can revisit some of your favorite spots from the trip.

How to Get to Moalboal

The easiest way to get to Moalboal is to fly into Cebu City first, just like we did. From there, you can take a bus from the South Bus Terminal to Moalboal, which takes between two and a half to four hours. We took the bus early in the morning, and it took just under three hours.

If you’d prefer, you can also hire a private van or take a taxi. These options are more comfortable but will take about the same amount of time, as the road is mostly one lane without much chances to pass other cars or motorbikes.

Best Time to Visit Moalboal

The best time to visit Moalboal is during the dry season, from December to May, when the weather is sunny, and the sea is calm. This is the ideal time for snorkeling, diving, and enjoying the beach. We visited in February, and the weather was great, with only one cloudy day and just a few minutes of light rain.

For popular spots like the White Beach and Kawasan Falls, try to visit on weekdays, as they tend to get crowded with both tourists and locals on weekends.

How to Get Around Moalboal

To explore Moalboal, you can rent a motorbike, take tricycles, or join organized tours. If you’re comfortable riding, we recommend renting a motorbike for at least a day to visit White Beach, Lambug Beach, and Osmeña Peak. If not, tricycles are a good option for short trips, like getting to and from the White Beach.

For visiting waterfalls or going canyoneering, joining an organized tour is the best choice.

How Many Days in Moalboal

The main highlights in Moalboal are definitely the Sardine Run, and the Kawasan falls. If you’re short on time, two days should be enough. If you want to explore at a more relaxed pace and spend some time at the beach, add one extra day.

Where to Stay in Moalboal

The busy area in Moalboal is on the Panagsama road next to the beach where you can see the Sardines. There are several restaurants, bars and hotels on that road.

We stayed at the Three Sisters Guesthouse 2, which was approximately a 5-minute walk to the Panagsama road. It was in a quiet place, so no noise from the bars at night. If you want something more relaxed, search for places next to the White Beach.

Here are some other suggestions of accommodation:

• Chief Mau Moalboal Cebu (beautiful decoration, super well located, and delicious breakfast—we went there for breakfast twice during our time in Moalboal)
• Pescadores Suites Moalboal (incredible location right in front of the sea)
• Dolce Vita Resort (very close to where we stayed, highly rated and with a pool)
• The Hat Trick Hostel Cebu (right next to where we stayed, with a nice pool and beautiful instagrammable decoration)

Where to Go After Moalboal?

From Moalboal, you can easily travel to Siquijor, Bohol, or Negros Oriental. Another option is to return to Cebu City and take a flight to other islands.

In our case, we went to Siquijor after Moalboal. From Siquijor, it’s quite easy to continue to Bohol and then return to Cebu if needed.

Wrapping Up

If you’re traveling through Cebu on your Philippines itinerary, it’s definitely worth adding at least two days to visit Moalboal. Swimming with thousands of sardines is an incredible experience, as well as swimming in the Gatorade-blue waters of the Kawasan Falls.

We hope our guide helps you plan your time in Moalboal.

If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, take a look at our guides:

• How to Spend Four Days in El Nido: Travel Guide and Best Things to Do
• El Nido Island Hopping Tour A – Is it Worth It? What to Expect?
• El Nido Island Hopping Tours A, B, C, D — Which One to choose?
• How to Spend Two Days in Coron: Travel Guide and Best Things to Do
• Siquijor 3-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide: Best Things to Do
• Apo Island Snorkeling Tour — What to Expect
• Bohol 3-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide: Best Things to Do
• Manila One Day Itinerary (or Less) — Ideal for a Layover or Short Stay
• How to Plan a Trip to the Philippines: 33 Essential Travel Tips

Also, check our three-week itinerary for the Philippines:

• Three Weeks in the Philippines – Our Itinerary

Finally, you can use our links to book accommodation and activities and find cheap flights. You won’t pay more and you’ll be supporting our work.

Thanks for reading.