CEBU RESORTS

Archive for the ‘Visiting Cebu’ Category

Cebu is the centre of scuba diving in the Philippines with an increasing international reputation. The best dives are found in the islands of Mactan, Moalboal and Camotes. Mactan is a good starting point with a number of high class operations along th erock and sand beaches around the Island. The dive spots around Cebu are the best the Philippines have to offer where you can see big fish like thresher sharks, manta rays and, if you are lucky, whale sharks. See fantastic coral gardens, steep, often overhanging walls and cliffs, teeming with reef fish.

Diving in Malapascua
Malapascua island lies at the northern tip of Cebu and west of Leyte. It takes about 3 hours by car from Cebu city to reach the island. Malapascua Island: there is a small Japanese landing craft in the northwest of the island. The beautiful Mandarin (dragonets) fish lives in the small reef around it. Visit this dive site around 4 or 5 o’clock in the late afternoon. That is the time these fish forage for food and are more easily seen. A special sight is the mating dance, when the Mandarin fish emerge from their hiding places and form pairs. There are 5 shipwrecks around Malapascua island. Some are quite far away so the dive operators Center only go there if there are enough divers interested.

Diving in Santander (South Point) and Sumilon Island
The Wall of Death dive site lies at the southern point of the large island of Cebu. It is one of several in this area all along a steep wall (Wall I and II, Lilly’s hideaway), combined with dives in flatter water (Canyon reef, 17m reef). Because of the current this dive is only for experienced divers. Hard and soft corals, sponges, many nudibranchs. With luck you find frogfish (we found a black one with orange warts!), ribbon eels, some scorpionfish, lionfish and cuttlefish. Mantas and whalesharks in March to June. Lilolan and Looc slopes down to 25m, then sand. Large coralheads, soft corals, rays, sandeels. There might be some fisherman that are working in this area. Close by is Sumilon Island marine sancturary where it slopes to 35m, then sand. Hard corals, many coralfish. Small caverns, sometimes sharks. On full moon and new moon there are strong currents.

Diving around Pescador Island
Directly across from Panagsama Beach and about 20 minutes banca(outrigger) ride away, offers some of the finest diving to be had in Moalboal. Even the uninhabited island itself guarantees and incredibly wide variety of marine life to view. Whale sharks have been spotted in open waters south of the island, and one is almost certain to see anywhere from 20 to 30 hammerhead sharks around the northeast edge of the reefat around 33 to 40 meters(10 to 120 feet). It was here at Pescador that the 500 millimeter long Spanish Dancer [Hexabrancha nudibranch] was captured on film by photographer Bob Yin. Divers can traverse the series of apertures of the Pescador Cathedral, an undersea formation resembling a giant funnel which drops to 115 feet. The Lionfish Cave on the northern edge of the reef was so named as it is the best place to spot lionfish and scorpionfish. Jacks and pelagic fsh as well as schools of sweetlips abound all around the reef.

Diving around Bas Diot and Sa-Avedra
These dive sites are recommended for their good coral coverage and a wide variety of large fish. Particular points of interest in Bas Diot include underwater caves at around 24 to 30 meters (80 to 100 feet) and sea snakes. Sa-avedra, on the other hand, features giant sea fans and gorgonians which dramatically jut out from the reef wall.

Diving around Tapanan and Tongo Point
Tapanan, with its undersea cliffs and coral arches and Tongo Point are even better diving sites and the easiest to dive during amihan, the northeast monsoon from November to February, when the waters are slightly rough but comfortably cool and exceptionally clear.

Discover Nature and Jungle Trekking in Cebu
Cebu is a great place for nature walks and jungle trekking. The Kawasan Waterfalls is a great 1 hour walk along the beautiful Matutinao River to its source. You will experience the natural beauty, including 20-meter high waterfalls, diverse tropical vegetation, and wild life such as butterflies, monkeys, lizards etc. Take frequent dips to cool off in the shallow natural pools of the river as you go.

Exploring Caves around Cebu
The is an abundance of caves around Cebu to explore. Cave Busay has a 200 m long tunnel that is an easy but exciting walk through. See bats and stalagmites and other spectacular drip formations. Swim in the fresh water spring but don’t forget your flashlight. Another popular cave is Barili Cave located in the town of Barili 55 Km southwest from Cebu City. There are many cave systems throughout its mountainous surroundings. Lantoy Cave has giant vertical openings that impresses even experienced cave explorers and is surrounded by the lush vegetation of the Argao Lantoy National Park, making this adventure one of the most exiting things you can do on Cebu Island. The 25 meter repel of the cave exit alongside a waterfall is one of the highlights but is not suitable for the less active.

Olango Wildlife Santury
Olango Island has the largest concentration of migratory birds found in the country. Migration starts from Siberia, Northern China and Japan. Anticipating the scarcity of food and winter cold, these birds fly south as far as Australia and New Zealand from late July until late November. By late February until May, the birds return to their breeding grounds in the north. The birds use Olango as a refueling station as well as a wintering ground, thus one can view many birds, not only from the Philippines but from other countries too.

Basilica Minore del Santo Nino
The Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino is the country’s oldest church, built in 1565 by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Fray de Urdaneta. Destroyed by fire on November 1, 1568, it was rebuilt in 1602 and rehabilitated in 1740. The church was conferred the title Basilica Minore del Santo Nino in May 1965.
This is also where the miraculous Santo Nino de Cebu statue is enshrined. This is the oldest religious relic in the Philippines given by Magellan to Queen Juana in 1521, the statue survived fires set by the Spaniards themselves in 1565. Since then Cebuanos in particular have venerated the image.

Fort San Pedro
Explore a real Spanish fortress with old canons pointing out to sea that were used to repel invading pirates. Now the entire fort is a Museum full of exhibits and artefacts from the Spanish colonial period including relics recovered from the old Spanish Galleon known as San Diego located off Fortune Island just off the coast of Nasugbu, Batangas. The artefacts on display include Ming porcelain pieces of all sizes and designs, coins, lockets, sword fragments, cannons and helmets.

Magellan’s Cross
This is a large wooden cross which Ferdinand Magellan brought with him in the year 1521 when he first set foot in the Philippines. The cross is not just only a local attraction but it is also a symbolism of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines which is now 98% Christian.

The cross is housed in a small chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño on Magallanes Street (Magallanes being the Spanish form of Magellan), just in front of the city hall of Cebu City. The cross is encased in an outer layer of tindalo wood, mounted on a concrete pedestal, and housed in a tile-roofed kiosk. This is to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of the cross for sourvenir purposes or in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers. At the roof of the said kiosk is a painting of the planting of the cross, the first mass in the country, and the baptizing of the first Catholics in the Philippines .
Some people, however, believe that the original cross had been destroyed or had disappeared after Magellan’s death, and the cross is a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully colonized the Philippines.
Magellan’s Cross is a symbol of Cebu City and the chapel’s image can be found in its city seal.

Your Philippines Holiday experience would not be complete without Visiting Cebu

Cebu City is the regional capital for the Visayas and the second most important city in the Philippines.  Metro Cebu (Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu Lapu City), is considerably cleaner, cheaper and less congested than Metro Manila. Metro Cebu has all the amenities of Manila without the hassels (usually) but with a lot more convenience.

Cebu offers many possibilities for sports and recreation: golf, tennis, cockfighting, watersports like scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, waterskiing, jet skiing, shopping, good food and entertainment. For the island-hopper, Cebu is one exciting playground for daring expeditions. Aqua sports top the list of what to do.