What's in your travel bucket list anyway? I'm pretty sure we all do have a long list of it. Mine? I wanted to see Philippines first and Cebu is on my list. Thanks to social media for showing what Cebu can offer, from natural to man-made beautiful places.
But before we do that, we have to book our flight! We planned our getaway ahead of time to catch cheap flights in advance. So as soon as we heard Airasia's seat sale promo we grab the opportunity and book our flight 5 months (November 2016) before our scheduled flight (March 2017) for P3, 086 each round-trip, 2 person with add-ons check in baggage of 20kg. It's still a good deal anyway, but you can spot a more cheaper tickets than ours. Oh btw, we travelled in group! 6 pax actually.
This small two storey cafe located at the end of Barangay Day-as in Cordova is the new must visit spot in Cebu! Attracting tourist because of 3 feet tall LED roses that makes the place unique. Strolling around the cafe while waiting for dinner time.
Our last activity is in Car Car Market, it calls for Lechon food trip!!! Yumm :) There is spot in Car Car Market where you can buy wide selection of cheaper lechon than Rico's, Doloras and Zu Buchon. Don't worry! I know what you're thinking :) It's safe and it's not double dead or something.
After pigging out at Car Car Market we're heading back to the city and our package includes drop off in our hotel in Cebu City. We stayed at USDA Dormitory Hotel located at Palaez Street Brgy. Kamagayan. Fyi, that's excluded in our package, we book our hotel thru booking.com. The hotel is a short distance in famous Magellan's Cross, Sto. Nino Basilica, SM Seaside and Mactan Cebu International Airport so that's the reason why we decided to have our overnight stay here. The hotel is fine but not ideal for long stay their rooms are small especially the bathroom.
CITY TOUR
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL 1:50PM MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - RICO'S LECHON - CEBU GUEST INN
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL 1:50PM MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - RICO'S LECHON - CEBU GUEST INN
When it comes to lechon in the Philippines, Cebu is very popular and our first mission is to taste the Cebu's best lechons, on the list is Rico's Lechon House (near the airport, taxi P50+). This is not my first time to try Cebu's lechon, the first lechon that I've tried was Cora's Lechon in Robinsons Fuente and it's so delicious! 2 rice that day! If you're going to visit Cebu make sure drop by in any lechon house.
After we had our late lunch we headed to Cebu Guest Inn, book thru Agoda.com for P556 only. We decided to book our hotel near Taoist Temple, Sirao Farm Garden and Temple of Leah so we can get there early in the morning. We thought this guest inn is really near in these three tourist spots because that's what appeared in Google hahaha but no! There are more hotels up there but it's kinda look pricey :) and these three tourist spots are really far from hotels. We arrived late because we got lost for a moment looking for this guest inn.
DAY 2 - 7:30AM FOR SIRAO FARM GARDEN - TEMPLE OF LEAH - TAOIST TEMPLE - CORDOVA HOME VILLAGE - 10, 000 LED ROSES - LANTAW RESTAURANT
DAY 2 - 7:30AM FOR SIRAO FARM GARDEN - TEMPLE OF LEAH - TAOIST TEMPLE - CORDOVA HOME VILLAGE - 10, 000 LED ROSES - LANTAW RESTAURANT
We woke up at 5AM to prep up and get ready for our breakfast. Woooh! Adventure starts now but unlucky it's raining but thanks to Kuya Marvin for granting our late request last night, they supposed to fetch us in guest inn after our tour, but since it's raining and there's no way we're gonna take habal habal, we requested if our service can give us a ride to those three places before heading to our next stop and without second thought he agreed. It's not even 7AM but our service is already outside of the guest inn, wow. We leave exactly 7:30AM at the guest inn and start our adventure right away. For this trip we pay for P4,500 inclusive of Sirao Farm Garden, Temple of Leah, Taoist Temple, Magellan's Cross and drop off to Cordova Home Village.
SIRAO FARM GARDEN with entrance fee of P50
This is the perfect place for a selfie when you're in Barangay Sirao!
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TEMPLE OF LEAH with P50 entrance fee
Don't expect too much in this place some parts of Temple of Leah is still under construction but open for tourist.
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TAOIST TEMPLE no entrance fee
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From Busay we headed to Cordova Home Village arrived at 3PM, this is where we gonna spend our overnight in Cordova. This is actually a resort, so maybe before catching sunset in 10,000 LED Roses and dinner at Lantaw, why not dipping first in their pools or a night swimming? :)
10,000 LED Roses in Cordova with P20 entrance fee
After we had our dinner in Lantaw, we went back to see the 10,000 LED Roses at night. Yes! You can go back just keep your tickets with you :)
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Lantaw Floating Restaurant
We had our dinner at Lantaw Floating Restaurant. This was recommended by one of my officemate who lived in Cebu before. According to her, this restaurant is popular and served delicious Filipino food with a good ambiance.
Good food, view and fresh air hmmm :)
MOALBOAL ISLAND HOPPING + CANYONEERING TO KAWASAN FALLS
DAY 3: PESCADOR ISLAND - SEA TURTLE WATCHING - SARDINES RUN WATCHING- CANYONEERING TO KAWASAN FALLS
We leaved Cordova at exactly 5 AM and we arrived at 8 AM in Moalboal for our day 3 adventure!!!
But before going further, I wanted to show the some details of our 2 days and 1 night at Badian, here's the screenshot of Kuya Marvin's message. In original package whale shark watching was included but we decided to replaced it with Simala Church. You can contact Kuya Marvin here 0918 654 4111.
Going back, Malboal is known for best snorkeling site and colorful underworld in Cebu and there are popular activities in Moalboal that you'll truly enjoy like snorkeling in Pescador Island, watching turtles and sardines.
This is the most extreme activity I've ever done so far! Yup, I'm quite adventurous type of person and I like the things that makes me excited and scared at the same time that's why Canyoneering is one of the activities that I am very excited to do in our trip and you should try it too! It's super fun! :)
Going to Kawasan Falls, you can hop a bus at the Cebu Bus Terminal and tell them to drop you off at Barangay Matutinao. I don't have idea how much the bus fare since our tour was already fixed and we have a car the whole trip. For less hassle and to save time on your trip it's better if you have a tour guide or someone that can assist you their.
We parked at Matutinao Beach Resort and met one of our tour guide Kuya Raymark of Kawasan Canyoneering. For their package, inclusive of Habal Habal rides, helmet, lifejacket with water and biscuit, aqua shoes (P100), entrance fee and lunch at Matutinao Beach Resort.
But before going further, I wanted to show the some details of our 2 days and 1 night at Badian, here's the screenshot of Kuya Marvin's message. In original package whale shark watching was included but we decided to replaced it with Simala Church. You can contact Kuya Marvin here 0918 654 4111.
Going back, Malboal is known for best snorkeling site and colorful underworld in Cebu and there are popular activities in Moalboal that you'll truly enjoy like snorkeling in Pescador Island, watching turtles and sardines. 
CANYONEERING TO KAWASAN FALLS
Going to Kawasan Falls, you can hop a bus at the Cebu Bus Terminal and tell them to drop you off at Barangay Matutinao. I don't have idea how much the bus fare since our tour was already fixed and we have a car the whole trip. For less hassle and to save time on your trip it's better if you have a tour guide or someone that can assist you their.
We parked at Matutinao Beach Resort and met one of our tour guide Kuya Raymark of Kawasan Canyoneering. For their package, inclusive of Habal Habal rides, helmet, lifejacket with water and biscuit, aqua shoes (P100), entrance fee and lunch at Matutinao Beach Resort.
After riding habal habal, this is the starting line of trekking.
After hours of trekking we finally reach the starting line of canyoneering! Wooh. We have to rest a bit and pray first :)
First fall
It's gonna be tiring and you might want to rest while eating. Surprisingly, there are people selling BBQs, banana, chips, soft drink and water in the middle or river and cliff so don't forget to bring some coins :)
Such a beautiful place <3
The 7 out of 7 falls! 40 feet. Proud of myself!!! Yehey! :)
After 4 hours, there you go! We reached the Finish line. The Kawasan Falls!!! :)
For non-adventurous person or if happened you have fear in height but still want to experience Canyoneering, you can skip some falls, you have to down in rocks but the 1st to 3rd falls you are obliged to jump and I know you can! because it's only 3 feet. And if you just want to see the Kawasan Falls without doing canyoneering there's a shortcut, it's about 1 to 2 hours of walking.
D. Allegre Travellers Inn is where we spend our overnight in Badian after canyoneering and included already in our package tour. I recommend this! It might look simple and not appealing outside but this is not bad! :) Not pricey yet comfortable to stay in, with wifi, new rooms and accomodating staffs. Thanks to Kuya Marvin for helping us upgrading our room! :)
OSMENA PEAK + SUMILON SAND BAR + SIMALA CHURCH + CARCAR MARKET
DAY 4 - 5 AM HIKE TO OSMENA PEAK - SUMILON SAND BAR - SIMALA CHURCH - CARCAR MARKET FOR LECHON
Osmena Peak is the highest mountain in the island of Cebu. Locals and tourists called it as The Chocolate Hills and Little Baguio of Cebu, because of sharp molded mound, cooler climate, foggy, vegetables fields like cabbages and carrots with outstanding and dramatic view.
There are plastic boots that are for rent (P50), we availed since we came there after raining and it's very muddy going up there like every where. Before you start hiking, tourists need to sign up at the Osmena Peak Tourism Center and pay for P30/pax for entrance fee and it's up to you if you want to avail a tour guide, it will cost you P150. For our hike, we did not get a tour guide since it's not that dangerous, instead we just followed other tourist. Hiking to peak from jumping-point will take you 20-30 minutes only, well it's up to you how you guys walk :). The best time to go there is sunrise or sunset.
Sad to say, Simala Church is our 2nd to the last in our 4th day activity in Cebu :( Anyway, Simala Church or Simala Shrine is a castle-like church located in Marian Hills, Simala, Sibonga Cebu. This is popular for several miraculous events and because of it's structure. After praying and being thankful, I roam around the church and saw cabinets with devotees letters whose prayer request are granted. They also selling rosaries, statues and pencils\ inside. We weren't able to queue going up to the altar because of long line and it's also Sunday lots of devotees and tourist are there. Make sure to wear proper attire when going there.
CAR CAR MARKET
After pigging out at Car Car Market we're heading back to the city and our package includes drop off in our hotel in Cebu City. We stayed at USDA Dormitory Hotel located at Palaez Street Brgy. Kamagayan. Fyi, that's excluded in our package, we book our hotel thru booking.com. The hotel is a short distance in famous Magellan's Cross, Sto. Nino Basilica, SM Seaside and Mactan Cebu International Airport so that's the reason why we decided to have our overnight stay here. The hotel is fine but not ideal for long stay their rooms are small especially the bathroom.
TABOAN MARKET + ZUBUCHON
DAY 5- 6 AM TABOAN - ZUBUCHON - MACTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Our last day in Cebu! :( You can't leave Cebu without pasalubong! So we included Tabaon Market in our itinerary to add up in our pasalubong so before our night end, we planned what time we gonna wake up for our dried fish shopping and decided to leave at 6 AM, but I didn't go, for the reason of my mom told me not buy dried fish anymore because we still have dried fish and she prefers lechon.
Oh fyi. Don't go there wearing your flight outfit! The smell of dried fish gonna stick on your clothes, hair and skin hahaha.
Before heading straight to airport we stopped at Zubuchon near in airport, for 1 kilo is P640 plus 20 pesos for the box.
That's all! Agh! Writing this makes me miss Cebu! And yes! that's our whole Cebu trip for 5 days. I hope you find my travel post helpful if you're planning to have your next trip in Cebu. One thing that I can guarantee on your trip, YOU GONNA LOVE AND ENJOY CEBU! Good luck and take care! :)
Watch out for my Cebu video blog!
