Searching for adrenaline-inducing activities in northern Cebu? We put together a list of the 10 Most Exciting Things to Do in North Cebu for adventure-seekers enthusiasts like you.
North Cebu is home to many crystal clear white sand beaches in Cebu, particularly Bantayan Island and Malapascua Island. But there are so much more things to do in North Cebu other than basking in the sun.
Whether it’s going on a safari or diving from 40-foot-tall cliffs or skydiving 15,000 feet above the air, North Cebu never fails to impress both nature lovers and thrill-chasing tourists. Even if you just want to spend a lazy day on the beach, you are in for a treat.
What to Do in North Cebu
CEBU INSIDER presents the Top 10 Most Exciting Things to Do in North Cebu:
1. Go Island Hopping in Bantayan Island
Bantayan Island hopping is one of the most popular things to do in North Cebu. Most island hopping tours in Bantayan Island will bring you to Virgin Island, Baigad or Balidbid Lagoon, and Hilantagaan Island.
Virgin Island, also known as Sillion Island, boasts a soft white sand beach where visitors can do all sorts of water activities like snorkeling, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Hilantagaan Island is a small fishermen’s island surrounded by a rich marine ecosystem perfect for snorkeling. Baigad Lagoon is filled with thick mangroves and clear lagoon water where you can swim.
Depending on your arrangement, you may do Bantayan Island hopping tour for one entire or half day. Ask your hotel’s front desk about island hopping tours, or go directly to Santa Fe Tourism Office to arrange an accredited Bantayan Island hopping tour for you. Bantayan Island hopping tours start at 3,500 PHP (~65 USD).
Looking for a ride to Hagnaya Port, the jump-off point to Bantayan Island? Get this Private Transfer from Cebu City or Mactan to Hagnaya Port!
2. Bask in the Sun on Bantayan Island’s Beaches
If you are looking for affordable things to do in Bantayan Island, beach hopping it is. Bantayan Island is not short of white sand beaches. It has, in fact, some of the best beaches in Cebu.
Kota Beach is the most popular beach in Bantayan Island where people catch stunning sunsets. Right next to it is Sugar Beach, a less popular one. Sandira Beach and Paradise Beach are also situated next to each other. Santa Fe Beach and Bobel Beach are also nice options if you want a more private experience.
If you want to stay away from the crowd, go to Baigad Lagoon Beach. It is accessible by walking through the shoreline from Baigad Barangay Hall. Alternatively, you can take a boat either at the Baigad old wharf or the Baigad Lagoon pump boat station demonstrated in the photo below. Take the latter if you want to see the mangroves going to the lagoon.
Preparing for a trip to Bantayan Island? Read these useful guides:
- Best Hotels in Bantayan Island
- Bantayan Island Itinerary
- How to Get to Bantayan Island
- Bantayan Island Ferry and Bus Schedule and Fare
- Tourist Spots in Bantayan Island
- Bantayan Island Travel Guide
3. Go on Safari Tour at Cebu Safari and Adventure Park in Carmen
Cebu Safari and Adventure Park is the biggest safari park in the Philippines with an area of 170 hectares. It’s also the only attraction of its kind in Cebu.
Home to over 1,000 animals from 120 different species, you will see a white and an orange Bengal tiger, white lions, hyenas, zebras, African antelopes, giraffes, sea eagles, hawks, and many more.
Cebu Safari also has a few outdoor activities you might enjoy, such as ATV rides, sky biking, a giant swing, ziplining, and spelunking. Safari cabins and glamping are also available. Get your ticket at Cebu Safari and Adventure Park Ticket.
Looking for a private vehicle? Get this Private Transfer Between Cebu Safari and Cebu City or Mactan!
4. Dive from Towering Cliffs in Camotes Islands
Cliff diving is one of the most popular things to do in Camotes Islands. Buho Rock Resort is the most popular cliff-diving spot where you can jump from multiple cliffs, including an 18-foot and 40-foot-tall.
Located in Poro Island, one of the four islands that make up the Camotes Islands, Buho Rock Resort is the local kids’ favorite spot to hang out, so you will see them around most of the time. They can show you how to do it, or you can ask them to wait for you in the water in case you are not a good swimmer.
An up-and-coming cliff-diving spot inside Canlusong Rock Resort in Pacijan Island is also welcoming visitors. Their cliff-diving spot is not as high as Buho Rock Resort’s definitely a must-visit if you are chasing an adrenaline rush.
Getting ready for your trip to Camotes Islands? Read these useful guides:
- Best Hotels in Camotes Islands
- Camotes Islands Itinerary
- How to Get to Camotes Islands
- Camotes Island Ferry Schedule and Fare
- Camotes Islands Travel Guide
5. See Malapascua Island’s Underwater Treasures
Malapascua Island is globally known for its diving wonders. Huge thanks to rare pelagic thresher sharks that show up 365 days a year. No other place on earth is known to have this consistent sighting of thresher sharks than Malapascua Island’s Monad Shoal.
Monad Shoal is also home to hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, manta rays, devil rays, barracudas, and wrasses, among many others. Other known diving sites in Malapascua Island are Gato Island, Kimud Shoal, Bugtong Bato, Lapus Lapus, and Dakit Dakit. There are many diving shops in Malapascua. Or ask your hotel’s front desk about it.
If you are not a diver, you can still enjoy the idyllic beaches in Malapascua Island such as Bounty Beach, Langob Beach (or North Beach), Logon Beach, Guimbitayan Beach, and Rock Beach, among others.
Preparing for your trip to Malapascua Island? Read these helpful guides:
- Best Hotels in Malapascua Island
- Malapascua Island Itinerary
- How to Go to Malapascua Island
- Malapascua Travel Guide
6. Swim in Natural Cave Pools
Camotes Islands is known for its abundance of caves and most of them have springwater pools where you can swim. Bukilat Cave is the largest and most developed in Camotes Islands located in Tudela, Poro Island. It has crystal clear blue water that goes chest-deep levels during high tide.
Smaller but equally stunning caves are found across Pacijan Island, including Paraiso Cave, Heaven Cave, Timubo Cave, and Amazing Island Cave. All of them have crystal clear blue water too where guests can swim. Admission to these caves ranges between 20-100 PHP (~0.1-2 USD).
7. Go Camping on Capitancillo Island
One of the most unique things to do in North Cebu is camping on Capitancillo Island, a protected marine sanctuary surrounded by three dive sites located off the coast of Bogo City. Live like a castaway on ‘Survivor’ and see if you can last on the islet.
Capitancillo was named after American Navy Captain Cillo who reached the islet during WWII. On the islet is a lighthouse built in the 1900s and some concrete benches, ruins of structures, ragged limestone cliffs, and coconut trees.
You can also do snorkeling and freediving around the island. It might be expensive to get here if you are alone, but it’s certainly one of the must-visit tourist spots in North Cebu.
8. Go on Extreme Adventures in Bantayan Island
If you’re looking for extreme adventures in Cebu, there’s nothing more extreme than jumping 15,000 feet above the air from an airplane. Skydiving is one of the unique things to do in North Cebu, and you can do it in Bantayan Island only. Guests are required to attend a 20-minute class first. Hand-held camera photos and videos are included in each skydive. Make sure to have at least a 4-gigabyte storage device and wear comfortable clothing and a good pair of shoes. For bookings, call Skydive Cebu at (+63) 917-167-3226.
Diving in the sky too extreme? Go kitesurfing instead. Kitesurfing in Bantayan Island is one of a kind because you are surfing on blue waters with a perfect backdrop of the blue sky and towering coconut trees. You can learn the basics of kite surfing through a 1-day course and get to ride the board by yourself. Once learned, you can kitesurf pretty much anywhere in the world. Contact Kite Bantayan at (+63) 995-092-4047.
9. Explore Off the Beaten Path Kinatarkan Island
If you are hunting for the best islands in Cebu that are not on tourists’ radar, check out Kinatarkan Island. Also known as Guintacan Island, Kinatarkan Island is located northeast of Bantayan Island. It’s accessible via Santa Fe, Bantayan Island or Maayahay Port in mainland Daanbantayan.
Some tourist attractions in Kinatarkan Island are Laaw Lagoon, Bitoon Beach, Langub Beach, Pasil Beach, Byaring Cliff, and a lighthouse. The island has several coves, caves, and cliffs you explore for yourself.
10. Go Camping in Carnaza Island
Carnaza Island is another secluded island that remains one of the most idyllic islands in Cebu. Located on the northernmost part of Cebu, this 429-acre turtle-shaped island is surrounded by white sand beaches, thick mangrove forests, and verdant greeneries.
The island has only one hotel facility, the Carnaza Eco-Park where you can rent a white woodshed tent for 200 PHP (~4 USD). It can accommodate up to 2 people. At night, you can lie down and experience the vivid night sky.
More Things to Do in North Cebu
That’s a wrap for our list of the 10 Most Exciting Things to Do in North Cebu. Our list is just
is just the tip of the iceberg. If you are looking for more fun activities, check out the 35 Best Things to Do in Cebu!
Got questions? Drop them in the comments. We will respond to you ASAP.
