Meet Cebu: Philippines’ Nature Adventure Capital

Cebu (see·boo, not seɪ·boo) is one of the 81 provinces in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas or Region VII. It’s home to over 1.7 million people with more than half of the population living in Cebu City.

Cebu consists of a main island and surrounding 167 islands and islets. It has 3 independent cities (Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu), 6 component cities (Talisay, Naga, Carcar, Danao, Toledo, and Bogo), and 44 municipalities or towns.

The name Cebu is derived from its ancient term Sugbu or Sugbo which means “scorched earth” or “great fire.” Locals often use these terms to refer to Cebu.

Metro Cebu is the largest metropolitan area in the Philippines after Metro Manila. It comprises the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Danao, Carcar, and Naga and municipalities of Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan, Minglanilla, San Fernando, and Compostela.

The capital city of the Province of Cebu is Cebu City, which is also the largest. Dubbed the “Queen City of the South,” Cebu City is the oldest city and the first capital of the Philippines, consisting of 80 barangays (/ˌbärəNGˈɡī/) or villages.

Cebu City is the center of commerce, trade, education, and industry not just in Cebu but in the Visayas. Cebu City has now transformed into a global center for business process outsourcing, tourism, shipping, furniture-making, and heavy industry.

Lapu-Lapu City is home to Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the busiest airport in the Philippines after Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

If you are looking to explore the entire Province of Cebu or Cebu Island as what we sometimes use on the website, the best way to approach divide your itinerary: North Cebu, South Cebu, Cebu City, and Mactan Island.

North Cebu

• Carmen
• Camotes Islands (with towns of San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, Pilar)
• Catmon
• Sogod
• Borbon
• Tabogon
• Bogo City
• Medellin
• Daanbantayan (with islands of Malapascua, Carnaza, and Gato)
• San Remigio
• Bantayan Island (with towns of Santa Fe, Bantayan, and Madridejos)
• Virgin Island
• Guintacan Island
• Hilantagaan Island
• Tabuelan
• Tuburan
• Asturias
• Balamban

South Cebu

• Sibonga
• Argao
• Dalaguete
• Alcoy
• Boljoon
• Oslob (with Sumilon Island)
• Santander
• Samboan
• Ginatilan
• Malabuyoc
• Alegria
• Badian
• Moalboal
• Alcantara
• Ronda
• Dumanjog
• Barili
• Aloguinsan
• Pinamungahan
• Toledo City

Cebu City

• Downtown
• Mountainside
• Nightlife

Mactan Island

• Lapu-Lapu City
• Cordova
• Olango Island

Metro Cebu

• Mandaue
• Talisay
• Danao
• Carcar
• Naga
• Consolacion
• Liloan
• Minglanilla
• San Fernando
• Compostela

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