Five-Day, Four-Night Ultimate Guide to Cebu, Philippines: Swim with Whale Sharks and Sea Turtles in the Ocean

Text / Photos byEvan

Today I’m going to share with you about Cebu in the Philippines and the popular Bohol Island. If you, like me, want to swim with whale sharks, see hyperactive tarsiers, visit Chocolate Hills and a trench (one of the things that totally amazed me on this trip)—you definitely need to plan this itinerary XDD

The route we’re introducing today is a bit different from the usual ones. Whenever I plan a trip, I aim to avoid backtracking as much as possible, and this route is also carefully designed that way. Feel free to take a look and use it as reference too!!

Many people ask: Is it safe?
When I went, it was quite safe, but recently the Philippines has been a bit more unstable—you can read up online to check the current situation.

Is it hard to travel independently?
It’s actually pretty easy because many people in these areas of the Philippines speak English, so communication isn’t too difficult.

How do I book the cheapest flights?
You can book with AirAsia or Cebu Pacific, but we got a special deal with EVA Air, so we went with them. If you’re planning to go, it’s worth checking out the deals.

Our Five-Day, Four-Night Cebu, Philippines Itinerary (All hand-drawn maps!)
The way to avoid backtracking is by taking a boat from Panglao to Oslob—there are boats available. It costs 700 pesos per person.

The most common route people take is:

Taking a round-trip van from Cebu to Oslob just to see the whale sharks, which takes over six hours of driving each way, and then taking another boat round-trip from Cebu to Panglao. So if you can loop around in one go, you’ll really save a lot of time and avoid the risk of your butt getting sore from all that sitting.

Philippines Cebu Five-Day, Four-Night Itinerary Outline & Tips

Languages used: English, Filipino
Best travel season: November to April
Currency used: Philippine Peso (best exchange rate at PTT XD), try to bring large-denomination USD and exchange at local malls—it’s most cost-effective at shopping malls in the downtown area.
Time difference: None
Preparation checklist: Cebu & Bohol Five-Day, Four-Night Trip — Preparations + Total Expenses

Special Notes:

1. Do not wear makeup or apply any products on your body when swimming with whale sharks.
2. Do not ride on the whale sharks (but they love suddenly darting under your feet—so it’s hard not to end up accidentally riding one).
3. Be careful as whale sharks might accidentally bump into you.
4. When choosing accommodations, be aware that some cheaper places don’t have generators during power outages—sometimes the electricity can be off for a day or two—you might not even be able to take a shower.
5. Choose only white-colored taxis to avoid being overcharged.
6. When you arrive at the port in Bohol, many drivers will approach you with sky-high prices. The ride to the city center only costs 200 pesos (also don’t book tours through these drivers—they tend to charge higher rates).
7. When booking a boat trip with boatmen, never pay a deposit in advance—always pay after the trip to avoid being scammed.
8. Don’t eat seafood in the Philippines—not because it’s not fresh, but because it’s not very tasty.

Recommended Foods

1. Balut (Duck Embryo)~
It comes with feathers, bones, or even partially developed ducklings~~~ I didn’t dare to try it~ but W did, and the locals were so friendly, teaching him how to eat it~ According to him, it was "super delicious," so everyone should give it a try!! He said it tastes like very tender chicken

2. Roast Suckling Pig

3.Bee Farm Restaurant

4. The slightly more upscale Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast

Our accommodation (about 300 TWD per person per night)

Name: Alona KatChaJo Inn (actually a homestay!) Booking website: https://goo.gl/WKx3qk

Actually, our accommodation was pretty good, the owner was nice, breakfast was delicious, it wasn’t too expensive and included private bathrooms, the rooms were big and clean, the location on the main street was quite convenient. The only downside is that if there’s a power outage, this place has no backup power, so you can’t take a shower~~~ So you can decide based on your preference. There are some options on the main street for over a thousand TWD per night, check the reviews, and specifically ask the owner if they have backup power during outages~ especially if you’re someone who absolutely needs to shower!!

Highly Recommended Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Operators

Shop Name: Piratas Alona Dive Center Phone: (+63)09487379395
Website: https://goo.gl/AjgnPh

1. The Spanish dive guide is handsome (that’s the highlight~~~~), great service
2. The boat is bigger, service is more thoughtful (there are also snacks, fruits, and drinks on board)
3. Snorkeling is free if you’re with a diver, because I’m a timid girl so there were two instructors on the boat accompanying me into the sea to see the trench~ in case I got lost

Total Cost and Breakdown of a Trip to Cebu, Philippines (per person, in TWD)

If you book a budget airline, there’s a chance the total cost could be just four digits!!

We wasted a little money along the way, like initially buying round-trip boat tickets, but later found out there was a way to do it without returning the same way, so buying round-trip tickets cost a bit extra. From Oslob back to Cebu City, we hired a private car, but taking the bus would’ve been cheaper. If you just want to go out for snorkeling, you can join others who are diving, and it’s free!!

Reflections:

W had always wanted to swim with a whale shark, but animals like whale sharks are rare encounters. But here in Cebu, it’s different—you can swim with them just by coming here. So to fulfill this little one’s wish, we specially arranged this trip. It felt magical, swimming with such a huge whale shark, and he wasn’t scared at all. I was personally super scared~ but watching him swim with the whale shark from the boat was quite fun~ like watching a feeding show

And the whale shark kept swimming right next to him, and I was holding my breath the whole time. But the whale shark itself is really cute!! It has an enormous mouth but doesn’t eat people, and it can suck up all the water around it in one gulp~ so adorable. But everyone must protect whale sharks!! Don’t harm them, so this place can remain sustainable!!

Diving enthusiasts must come to the famous Balicasag Wall. According to W, who has dived in seven countries, "this place is absolutely worth a special trip just to dive here a few times!" The snorkeling is also amazing~ I’m someone who’s really afraid of water, but I was still blown away by the snorkeling spots here, because it was the first time in my life I saw a trench. When I swam close to the trench, I was a bit scared, worried that if I fell in, I might never make it back up. But when I took that step across, I felt incredibly moved—first, because I felt I had overcome my fear, and second, because I marveled at the wonders of nature!! And on the boat, you can often see turtles coming up for air too!!

I feel that life is just like this—everyone can freely choose what they want to pursue, and there’s absolutely no right or wrong. But when I focus my heart on the wonders of nature and on having spiritual conversations with myself during each trip, I always feel like my life has advanced a little further~

Video of Swimming with Whale Sharks

More Photo Sharing

Chocolate Hills

Bamboo Bridge

Butterfly Museum (a bit boring), you can see some pupae, but I’m all grown up~ YOU KNOW~

Boat River Tour and Buffet (lots of crabs to eat to your heart’s content~) There’s also a LIVE SHOW on the boat

Thyroid Hyperthyroidism Tarsier

Trench

Underwater trash can XD

 Swimming with turtles

Swimming with whale sharks

The Norwegian guy at the bow of the boat~ I felt cold, but he felt hot so he was enjoying the breeze at the front XD

W and the dive guide

That day, because of the tide going out, the boat couldn't go out, so four handsome guys from Southern Europe helped push the boat—snapped a photo to remember it XD

Sky Mirror-like?

There's also a starfish on the boat~ Actually, walking along the shallow sea, you can see starfish and jellyfish all along the way

Beautiful beach

Magellan's Cross

Evangeline-Evan
Hello everyone, I'm Evan, someone who's timid and easily scared,
but through independent travel, I’ve slowly found courage,
and each independent trip has helped me discover a different side of myself.
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