Cebu Travel Guide: Places To Visit In Cebu City

Meghy — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 13:39:42 +0000

Cebu City is now the most developed and busiest city in the Visayas Region. It became as progressive as Manila where a lot of businesses and commercial establishments rises on the metropolitan city. But despite the busy lifestyle the city has to offer, it is still a worthy place where culture and beautiful attractions meet the modern city.

So here’s some of the tourist attractions within Cebu City vicinity that you can pay a visit.

Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño

It is considered as one of the most famous landmark of the Cebu Island. The church was founded in 1565 and said to be the oldest Catholic Church of our country.

Magellan’s Cross

It is just located few steps away from the entrance of Sto. Niño Church. Magellan’s Cross is a Christian cross planted by the Spanish explorers headed by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 that patent the natal of Christianity on our land.

Cebu Taoist Temple

It is a Taoist temple built in 1972 located in Beverly Hills, Cebu City. It has one of a kind architectural structure and a great spot to have a good view of Cebu City from above. It is open to the public (even non-worshippers) and a perfect venue for your morning jog.

Tops Lookout

Tops lookout gives tourists a chance of seeing the striking Cebu City skyline. The perfect time to visit this place is during the early morning and late afternoon to prevent exposing yourself on too much sun during noon and early afternoon. The place provides a panoramic view of the whole Cebu City and Mactan Island. During the night, the view makes more captivating as you can see the city lit up and bright up through the dark.

Temple of Leah

It is being tagged as the “Taj Mahal” of the Philippines. It was built by Teodorico Soriano Adarna in 2012 as a symbol of his undying love for his wife Leah Villa Adarna. It has Greek and Roman inspired architecture that makes the temple more fascinating.

Sirao Garden – Little Amsterdam

This flower garden will give you a taste of Europe! The garden is fmous for its Celosia flowers that has a combination of red, yellow, pink and orange and being used as the official flower of Sinulog Festival. There are other flowers aside from Celosia and they put up a windmill making the place more Europe-ish. There’s so much beauty and colors on the garden that you can’t stop looking on this breathtaking place.

Sirao Pictorial Garden and Camping Site

Yes, you read it right! There is another Sirao Garden and it is located just beside the Sirao Garden – Little Amsterdam (It will actually comes first). It is as picturesque as the little Amsterdam so you can take as many creative pictures as you can.

10 000 Roses

Though it is located in Mactan Island, this place is just an hour away from the Cebu main Island. This is where led-powered roses attraction started that eventually became famous across the country. It has 10,000 artificial flowers where a café stands at the center. Perfect time to visit this is during the late afternoon to witness the sunset and watch how beautifully the led-roses lit up at night.

Cebu Downtown (Colon Street)

I really loved how a province downtown highlights the old commercial history of the place. The busy streets of Cebu downtown were once the heart of Cebu City’s shopping and commercial activities before bigger known malls came to the picture. While visiting the Colon Street you will see how the past meets the present era. The place is a portrait of a busy and crowded street during the day and night.

Fort San Pedro

It is located in Plaza Independencia near the Pier area and was built as a military defense structure under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Fort San Pedro is said to be the oldest and smallest fort in the Philippines. You can pay a visit to learn more about the rich history of the province.

I’ve been in Cebu thrice and even live there for three months but the province still never failed to leave me in awe everytime I visit. Have you ever been to Cebu? Share your experience below!

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Discovering Cebu’s Hidden Gem: Bojo River and Hermit’s Cove Day Tour

Meghy — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 14:27:07 +0000

Cebu is one of the most visited province of our country today because of its beautiful spots no one can resist. If someone will be asked “Where you want to go in Cebu?” he/she will most likely to answer to go whale shark watching in Oslob, do Canyoneering in Badian, experience Sardine Run in Moalboal or simply taste the famous Cebu Lechon in Carcar. These are the must things to do in Cebu and due to its popularity, tourists flock making the places too crowded.

Aside from this popular attractions, there’s still a lot of things Cebu has to offer. Two of these hidden gems can be found in Aloguinsan, located southwest of Cebu, the Bojo River and Hermit’s Cove. These hidden sanctuary is as beautiful as the other Cebu’s top destinations BUT with lesser people. So for those people who always wanted to take the road less travelled by then you will surely love this place.

How to get there?

You can ride a bus bound to Pinamungahan at Cebu South Terminal. First trip is 5am and just asked the driver to drop you on Aloguinsan. Travel time is 2 hours. Once arrived in Aloguinsan, there are habal-habal that you can ride going to Bojo River and Hermit’s Cove
Another option is to ride a bus or Vhire bound to Toledo, travel time is 1 to 1.5 hours. Upon reaching the Toledo Terminal, ride a jeepney en route to Aloguinsan that may take another 30 minutes

Bojo River

Bojo River cruise is an eco-tourism activity and the premier attraction of Aloguinsan. It is more than just a tourist attraction. From the collaborative effort of the local government and its people, they came up with this eco-tourism campaign that provides additional and alternative source of income to its townpeople. Fishermen served as tour guides and most women are designated on reception service and food or souvenir making.

With the P400 per head fee, you will be experiencing the one-hour boat ride (they will allow you to borrow a Filipino native hat to wear) while a local fisherman explains the plants and animals that can be seen on the river. They are very knowledgeable of the river’s ecosystem, explaining different kinds of mangroves, tells local folklore and promotes care for the environment.

Contrast to other exhilirating Cebu destinations, Bojo River will embrace you with serenity and calmness while being mesmerized by the view it has to offer. Rock formations found on the river are being compared to those found in Palawan.

Upon reaching the mouth of the river where the river meets the sea, the guide will tour you briefly on the open sea and shows different kinds of corals that can be clearly seen due to the clarity of the sea water. The guide will let you swim for some time on the river’s mouth and they will gladly help you take pictures.

Hermit’s Cove

The same habal-habal driver picked us up on Bojo River after 1.5 hours and serviced us going to Hermit’s Cove. You will be passing through rough roads so better be careful. Upon reaching Hermit’s Cove located in Brgy. Kantobogon in Aloguinsan, we were greeted by the resort personnels who are from the local government unit on their baro’t saya uniforms. Entrance fee is P100 which includes the use of their tables or open cottages. They are too friendly and got surprised that we came too far just to visit their humble town. Before going down the staircase that leads to the shores of the hidden beach, the resort personnel will tell a brief history of the beach and discuss the Do’s and Dont’s. The beach was named after an old hermit that once lived on this place. Overnight stay is not allowed on this place.

Hermit’s Cove is a sheltered beach waiting to be appreciated. It has clear waters, white sands and though it is no longer a secret beach, the people is still lesser compared to those most-hyped Cebu beaches. On our case, there are only around 25 people on the area so you can really enjoy its waters and reconnect with nature.

How to get back to Cebu City?

You have to ride a habal-habal back to the town center of Aloguinsan and ride a bus bound to Cebu City. Last trip is 4pm
(Since it’s almost 4pm when we left Hermit’s Cove the drivers suggest us to take the Mantalongon route) Ride a habal-habal bound to Mantalongon and wait for a bus bound to Cebu City

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