What’s the best thing to beat the summer heat? The beach, the beach! It’s undoubtedly the best place to spend some time this summer. And it gets even more fun if it’s for free or if you want champagne on a beer budget. Ladies and gents, it’s truly an honor to present to you TEN of the most beautiful public beaches you can find in the Queen City of the South!
1. LOGON BEACH IN MALAPASCUA
Malapascua is one of the BEST places to spend your dream summer escapade! Once you step on its shore, you’ll forget about how long you’ve traveled. Aside from the undeniably gorgeous white beach, there are also lots of fun activities you can do in Malapascua such as scuba diving, thresher shark watching, wake boarding, etc.
- Distance from Cebu City: ~80 km going North
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 3 hours
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Maya in North Bus Terminal. Then ride a boat in Maya Port going to Malapascua.
- Transportation cost (one-way): P250.00-300.00
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: Blue Corals Beach Resort (0917-627-2941), GUANNA’s Place (0935-127-6709/0915-330-6359), Hideaway Resort (0926-980-1134), Bamboo Room (0915-605-1508), Mike & Diose’s Beach Cottage (318-2978/0917-875-4736)
2. LAMBUG BEACH IN BADIAN
Badian’s hidden paradise. Who would have thought that you can enjoy this beautiful beach all day and all night for free? It’s also near to Kawasan Falls!
- Distance from Cebu City: ~100 km going Southwest
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 3 hours
- Fees: ₱500 (Cottage); ₱50-150 (Tent charge, bring your own); NO entrance fee
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Badian in South Bus Terminal. Ask the conductor to drop you off in Lambug, Beach. Then you will need to ride a tricycle or habal-habal to reach to the beach.
- Transportation cost (one-way): ₱140 /head (bus); ₱30 /head (tricycle)
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: link
3. MARAVILLA BEACH IN TABUELAN
While Cebu has so many popular beaches, there’s this newly discovered public white beach that trended on social media in early 2018. This is the Maravilla White Beach in Tabuelan, which offers an escape not just from the city life, but also from the noise and crowds of the usual getaway destinations. The best part? There’s NO entrance fee — for now.
- Distance from Cebu City: ~96 km going North
- Travel time from Cebu City: 2-3 hours
- Fees: NO entrance fee; NO tent charge; ₱300-500 for Cottages;
- How to get there? rom the North Bus Terminal, ride any bus going to Tabuelan – fare is ~P100 per person. Drop off at Tabuelan Public Market – where you can buy ahead your food. From the Public Market, ride a motorbike or habal2x going to Maravilla Brgy Hall. Once you’ve arrived at the Barangay Hall, you will see a basketball court behind it. Walk through the eskinita or alley for about 3-5 minutes until you reach to the beach.
- Transportation cost (one-way): ₱100 /head (bus)
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: link
4. TINGKO BEACH IN ALCOY
If not the most, Tingko beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cebu! Cebuanos and even foreigners just can’t get enough of the white beach and the affordability of the resorts surrounding it.
- Distance from Cebu City: ~100 km going South
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 3 hours
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Oslob in South Bus Terminal. Ask the conductor to drop you off in Tingko, Beach. There’s no need to ride a tricycle or habal-habal.
- Transportation cost (one-way): P90.00-150.00
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: Cartagena Beachwalk Resort (483-9057/0919-319-1781), Edward’s Place (0922-278-1159), Barangay Beach House (0918-287-4023)
5. BASDAKU BEACH IN MOALBOAL
Moalboal is a popular place for scuba diving. Little did some people know, it has its own beautiful beaches too. Indeed, Moalboal is a perfect destination for swimming, snorkeling and diving where both the parents and the kids can enjoy.
- Distance from Cebu City: ~100 km going Southwest
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 2.5 hours
- Entrance Fee: ₱5 per head
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Moalboal in South Bus Terminal. Ask the conductor to drop you off in Basdaku, Moalboal. Then you will need to ride a tricycle or habal-habal to reach to the beach.
- Transportation cost (one-way): P150.00-200.00
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: Club Serena Resort (474-0050), Ester Escabas (0927-578-5983)
6. HIDDEN BEACH IN ALOGUINSAN
Literally the hidden beach of Aloguinsan! If you want to have fun and relax at the same time, then this is the best place for you. It’s clean, greenery and uncrowded.
- Distance from Cebu City: ~60 km going Southwest
- Entrance Fee: ₱50 for adults; ₱25 for kids
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 1.5 hours
- How to get there? Take a v-hire or van bound for Pinamungajan in Citilink Terminal. Ask the driver to drop you off in Hidden Beach in Aloguinsan. Then you will need to ride a habal-habal to reach to the beach.
- Transportation cost (one-way): ₱100.00-150.00
7. CARNAZA ISLAND IN DAANBANTAYAN
Carnaza Island is a 174 hectares (430 acres) turtle-shaped island located north of the mainland Cebu in the Philippines. The island is bordered on all sides by the Visayan Sea, and is part of Daanbantayan, Cebu.
- Distance from Cebu City: ~133 km going north (another island)
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 3-4 hours
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Daanbantayan from the North Bus Terminal. Ask the conductor to drop you off in Tapilon Port. From there, ride a boat going to Carnaza Island (₱150 per way). First trip is at 7am-10am but it would actually depend on the condition of the sea. When we got there its low-tide, so the first trip will be at 10am and departs by 1pm. So we rented a pump boat instead (since were only doing a day tour) for ₱7,000 roundtrip it can carry around 25-30 people. Tapilon Port to Carnaza Island travel time is 2 hours.
- Transportation cost (one-way): P220 for bus fare (one-way); P150 for boat fare (one-way)
- Entrance fee: P200 per head
8. SANTIAGO WHITE BEACH IN CAMOTES
Definitely Cebu’s pride, Santiago White Beach in Camotes is a place you must visit in your lifetime! This white-sand paradise is the best place to go island hopping, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kite surfing, and camping. One of the best places to create your dream summer getaway!
- Distance from Cebu City: ~280 km going North
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 4-5 hours
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Danao City in North Bus Terminal. Then ride a boat that goes to San Francisco in Camotes.If you’re going to Camotes Island, we recommend to stay at least 1 night and visit other nearby spots. Click here for the details.
- Transportation cost (one-way): ₱25-35 for bus/jeepney; ₱200 RoRo boat; ₱100 habal-habal
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: link
9. TULANG DIOT IN CAMOTES
If you’re one of the people who are not big fans of huge crowds and busy islands, then the Tulang Diot Island in Camotes – Northern Cebu is the perfect getaway for you. For only ₱10 per head as an environmental fee, you will get to enjoy its pristine white sand and crystal clear water.
- Distance from Cebu City: ~280 km going North
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 4-5 hours
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Danao City in North Bus Terminal, or any jeepney from SM City. Then ride a boat that goes to San Francisco in Camotes – ₱200 /head. From there, ride a habal-habal going to Tulang Daku – ₱100 /head. Then ride a boat to Tulang Diot – ₱10 per head only. (5-10 minutes to the island). If you’re going to Camotes Island, we recommend to stay at least 1 night and visit other nearby spots. Click here for the details.
- Transportation cost (one-way): ₱25-35 for bus/jeepney; ₱200 RoRo boat; ₱100 habal-habal; ₱10 boat fee; ₱10 environmental fee
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: link
- Distance from Cebu City: ~280 km going North
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 4-5 hours
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Danao City in North Bus Terminal, or any jeepney from SM City. Then ride a boat that goes to San Francisco in Camotes – ₱200 /head. From there, ride a habal-habal going to Tulang Daku – ₱100 /head. Then ride a boat to Tulang Diot – ₱10 per head only. (5-10 minutes to the island). If you’re going to Camotes Island, we recommend to stay at least 1 night and visit other nearby spots. Click here for the details.
- Transportation cost (one-way): ₱25-35 for bus/jeepney; ₱200 RoRo boat; ₱100 habal-habal; ₱10 boat fee; ₱10 environmental fee
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: link
10. STA. FE BEACH IN BANTAYAN
Cebu’s own version of the infamous Boracay! Pristine white sand beach, relaxing and fun environment, friendly people — you name it, Bantayan has it! You’ll surely never go wrong in creating beautiful memories in this beautiful island.
- Distance from Cebu City: ~150 km going North
- Travel time from Cebu City: ~ 4.5 hours
- How to get there? Take a bus bound for Hagnaya in North Bus Terminal. Then take a ferry going to Sta. Fe.
- Transportation cost (one-way): P250.00-300.00
- Affordable Lodges/Resorts: Kota Beach Resort (438-9042), Saint Bernard Beach Resort (0917-963-6162), Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort (0918-940-8066), Ogtong Cave Resort (438-0165)
The fare going to these beautiful beaches may be pretty much hefty, but I tell you, IT. WILL. ALL. BE. WORTH. IT.
Also, if you don’t plan to spend more on your escapade, instead of renting a room, just bring your own tent/s.
Do you want to add something? Feel free to comment below.
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