Splash out in Cebu

In the southern Philippines island of Cebu, get your head underwater to really enjoy things. A Cebu guide to hotels, resorts, dining and nightlife.

Written and photographed by Vijay Verghese

FLYING INTO CEBU, depending on which side of the aircraft you're seated, two things become quickly evident as you swoop over the brilliant azure seas. Firstly, there's a beautiful mountain spine running the north-south length of this long, relatively narrow island. Secondly, as far as the eye can see, there are no beaches. What? As the plane descends, you'll spot the traffic-choked smudge of Cebu City, then ...

See Cebu Slide Show

Relax. Things will be just fine. As with most things in the Philippines, don't let first impressions fool you. Get to know the place and you'll discover why ..., and devoid of the lines and chaos of Manila.

Cebu City Hall

Transport, as elsewhere in the Philippines is a carnival. Brightly painted jeepneys, tricycles...

Cebuanos (as the residents are termed) are a terrific lot. Laid back, friendly, accommodating, chatty and hospitable, they will charm and entertain you relentlessly. Everyone has time. Lots of it.

Magellan's Cross

Mactan is where most of the gleaming four and five-star resorts are to be found, some of them with manicured artificial white-sand beaches that wouldn't look out of place in Hawaii. ...

The welcoming Shangri-La Mactan

Mactan Island Resorts

The pick of the resorts on Mactan is Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort & Spa. Set discretely in generous grassy acres with coconut trees, flowering plants and jogging trails, this is the getaway that put Cebu on the map when it opened in 1993. It's easy to see why. The spacious 547-room resort has two pools, ...

At the far southeastern corner of Mactan, is the much talked about Plantation Bay Resort and Spa. What sets this place apart from most is the fact that it's entirely "artificial". So what does that mean? Well, the lagoon,...

North of Cebu and Sogod

Alegre villa

A one-and-a-half-hour drive north from Cebu City, along the east coast, is the pleasant farming and fishing area of Sogod...

South of Cebu and San Fernando

An hour's drive south from Cebu City in the San Fernando area, the newish Japanese-run Pulchra is a sight ...

Cebu West Coast, Panagsama and Badian

If a tan - and sand - are all you want, drive across to the island's west coast to Moalboal's quiet White Sand Beach. Yes, it is white and natural, ...

Badian Island resort room interior

Cebu City Hotels, Shopping and Nightlife

Driving into Cebu City, as opposed to actually staying there on business, can be a shock to the system. It takes a while to acclimatise. But once in, there's much to do and enjoy. The old and more colourful parts of downtown Cebu around atmospheric...

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