Cebu Top 10 Things to do

If in Cebu a must do is the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino is where the miraculous Santo Nino image is enshrined. The Santo Nino de Cebu 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 have venerated the image. 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.

Try Canyoning. This adrenaline pumping action in Cebu's hidden canyons is a popular sport for anyone of average fitness. Rappelling down 30 m waterfalls is a challenge for everybody. However, even beginners can master climbing skills with the help of experienced guides. Canyoning is quite new on Cebu Island and its limestone mountains provide an ideal place for spectacular canyoning with crystal clear tropical warm water rivers. This is a fun activity for all but the youngest children in the family.

Go Cave Exploring (Spelunking) Check out Cave Busay with the kids. The 200 m long tunnel is an easy but exciting walk through. You will see bats and stalagmites and other spectacular drip formations. Take a dip in the fresh water spring and don’t forget your flashlight. One of the more popular caves is Barili Cave located in Barili, a town 55 Km southwest from Cebu City, which boasts countless cave systems throughout its mountainous surroundings. Lantoy Cave with its giant vertical openings impress even experienced "cavers" 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. One of the highlights is the final 25 meter repel of the cave exit, alongside a waterfall. This activity is obviously a little 'over the top' for the youngest members of the family.

If in Cebu you can't miss out on going Diving. Cebu has become a leading centre of scuba diving in the country, and planeloads of tourists arrive eager to sample the underwater treasure trove of the surrounding Visayan Sea. Mactan Island has benefited in particular from this boom and the number of high class operations along the rock and sand beaches around the Island testify to this. More information on the various dive site check out our Dive Site Information on our Sport and Recreation pages.

Fort San Pedro Museum is a great place to visit with the kids. Here one can find exhibits of artefacts taken from the old Spanish Galleon known as San Diego located off Fortune Island just off the coast of Nasugbu, Batangas. The museum used to house the offices of the Department of Tourism and the Philippines Tourism Authority. The artefacts on display include Ming porcelain pieces of all sizes and designs, coins, lockets, sword fragments, cannons and helmets.

Go Jungle Trekking can be done at the Kawasan Waterfalls. Take a 1 hour walk to Kawasan Falls, along the beautiful Matutinao River to its source. Experience the natural beauty, including 20-meter high waterfalls, diverse tropical vegetation, and wild life - butterflies, monkeys, lizards etc. The kids will enjoy a swim in the shallow natural pools of the river as you go.

Thrill at the speed and fly over bumps when you try Motocross. A network of remote mountain roads and trails invite exciting motor bike tours around Cebu Islands. Hire a motor bike and explore on your own, or join a guided tour.You can cross Cebu on seldom used paths and explore the beautiful country side or cruise along the coastal highway and circle the island following the shore- line with is breath taking view.

Take your camera and binoculars when you visit the Olango Wildlife Sanctury Olango Island supports 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.

Try River Climbing (upstream to the top) Free climb up waterfalls, swim against currents in the clear cool waters of a tropical river. Climb the Matutinao Valley, visiting numerous small waterfalls and swim through freshwater pools. See unique rock formations and vegetation lush and varied, monkeys, monitor lizards, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife as you scramble your way to the top. Other choice spots for this exciting family fun can be found at the Kawasan Falls.

Visit the Taoist Temple in Beverly Hills where the teachings and philosophy of the 600 B.C. Chinese thinker Lao-tze are preserved. Visitors can climb 99 steps to the temple where they can light joss sticks and have their fortunes read. Taoist ceremonies are held on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Note: For more information on things to see and do in and around Cebu, check out our Sports and Recreation pages, our Activities for Children pages and our Sightseeing  pages or Contact Us.