Backpacking for Php 7000: A 5-days itinerary in the Queen City of the South
Okay, another panic booking has been done for this trip but, this is not just an ordinary adventure (for us) for this year, we need to explore the south cebu for a limited budget. The challenge is to get the cheapest accomodation and transportation so, Let's start!
Yes it is, I only spend 7000 PHP each for 6 person to this 5 Days trip including transportation, activities and accomodation except for the foods! anyway for the food, there's lot of karinderya don't worry about the food.
So, where is Cebu?
Cebu City is the capital of Cebu province, situated in Visayas. The locals here speak Cebuano, also known as Bisaya. It is believed to be the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Locals also speak Tagalog (Filipino) and English, so asking for directions and recommendations is pretty easy.
Cebu City is known for Sinulog, the grandest festival in the country held every third week of January in honor of the image of Sto.Nino, said to be a gift to Queen Juana (Hara Amihan), the wife of Rajah Humabon, by the Portuguese colonizer Ferdinand Magellan. The festival dance resembling the current of the river, locally known as sulog, is believed to be of pagan origin practiced by the locals even before the arrival of the Spaniards. Today, the cross that Magellan planted in the shores of Cebu is the poster image of the city.
TIPS TO TAKE NOTE
How to get to Cebu City?
Several Airlines fly between Manila (Manila International Airport) and Cebu (Mactan International Airport) such as Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia or you can take a ferry with 2Go.
- Visit the page regularly for promos and discounts
- Much conveniet is to like their page and set their page to see it first
How to get to South Cebu Badian?
Take any Cab or use Grab from anypoint of Cebu City going to South Cebu Bus Terminal this is much better if you're in a group of 3 to 4 person this will cost you around 150 PHP to 200 PHP, commutting will be so difficult because there's a specfic jeepney for each location that you should take note carefully.
- Take a ceres bus (air conditioned) going to Bato via Barili
- Much better to ask Guard (find the lady guard) rather than the lokals, communication is to hard for them to speak tagalog or english (not all but the Man who talks to us)
Best Accomodation before Canyoneering
I strongly suggest that you take the Accomodation on the Matutinao Beach Resort which they offer the also the Canyoneering, they can offer you a better rates and activities.
- Matutinao Beach Resort is just in right in front of Kawasan Falls Entrance beside the and Matutinao Church
- Along the way going the route of Bato via Barili
You're not gonna break the bank on this trip!
WHAT IS THERE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE IN CEBU?
Mountain Tour
One of top destination in Cebu City is what they called Mountain Tour composed of Temple of Leah, Sirao Flower Farm, Botanical Garden and Tops Look out and these locations is just 30 to 40 minutes away from Cebu City Proper
10,000 Roses Cafe
Well, the 10,000 Roses Cafe gave me overwhelmed feeling to see these roses made of Cotton and Plastic with matching of beautiful sunset (best time to be there is around 5pm to 7pm). This is the best place to for the both of you, a romantic place.
The coffee shop that has a view deck on top and is situated in a 3,300-square-meter lot, has another attraction, the Love Locks Fence, wherein lovers or couples have a padlock that they can seal their love for each other by the fence.
City Tour
Definitely your Cebu Adventure will not be completed without having Cebu City Exploration and these are the Sto. Nino Church, Magellan's Cross, Fort San Pedro, Taoist Temple, and Heritage Monument. All of mention can be done by walking around 1 hour to 2 hours except for the Taoist Temple, take a Cab for around 180 PHP (good for a group of 3 to 4)
Alegria Canyoneering
Canyoneering, yes definitely extreme and fun adventure from the word itself haha! If you missed this activity, please turn back and give it a try.
Since we're lucky to have in Matutinao Beach Resort to get there package, the Canyoneering starts here on this resort near the Matutinao Church, the original price of Canyoneering is 1,500 PHP per person including the guide fee, vest, helmets and fudgee bar with matching 500mL mineral water (foreigner or filipino rate), this Canyoneering last for about 4 to 5 hours or unlimited cliff jumping! Note: Wear trekking sandals! HAHAH A friendly reminder.
At the end of the tour, you'll be having your lunch.. heyyyyy this is surprice, NO! Just kidding this is included to the tour rate :D.
Kawasan Falls Bamboo Water Rafting
Now we arrived at kawasan falls, we should try the kawasan bamboo water rafting, making sure that I'll not gonna leave Cebu without trying this haha!! The result was, definitely fun and awesome feeling after hitting from the raged water of kawasan falls. I thought my bones gonna break into pieces and leave me from getting hit by this raged waterfalls hahahahahaa!!
Osmeña Peak of Dalaguete
After we've been to Kawasan Canyoneering, we head straight to Osmeña Peak even we're tired just to maximmized the time we alot and to see more of what South Cebu have, I yes the Osmeña Peak didn't break our heart.
You'll gonna witness the magnificent view of the entire island on the top highest peak of South Cebu "Osmeña Peak" in Dalaguete. Before you get there you'll gonna travel 1 hour habal habal from Badian and 20 to 30 minutes trekking.
Simala Church
Yes at least we arrived here at the Miraculus Church where the Virgin Mary cried long time ago but aside on this, the place is also known for it's truly amazing and spectacular. The Simala Church is like a huge Castle from afar that's how we describe this awesomse church found here in South Cebu.
Heritage Park in Oslob
Heritage Park is 15 to 20 minutes away from the Whale Shark Watching Area, you just need to take a jeepney or tricycle to pass along the highway. Since commuting is a bit difficult on this part you may take habal habal to get there (in our case we hired a jeepney).
Once you get there in Heritage Park, It's easy for you to explore the entire Heritage Park composed of Spanish Cuartel, Immaculate Conception Church, Baluarte, Walls, Museum and the Park by the sea.
Tumalog Falls
(Photo courtesy by Lia Dulay, Instagram: @iamleeyah26)
Just WOW from the jump-off, we could already see the Tumalog Falls, and it was really huge like a giant curtain. We rode a habal habal just to get there at the bottom for around 50 PHP (if I am not mistaken). Getting there was actually the strange part because of the habal driver has no chill getting down there the hill "Om my god! it's a f^^king cliff" hahaha!!!
We're sad to see that Tumalog Falls is in a deep brown color due to soil erosion and continues rainfall, this is according to the lokals of Oslob. But hey, there's a right time to see the true beauty of Tumalog Falls surely will be back soon. Oh wait, there's a fishspa over there, give it a try!
Moalboal Island Hopping
Complete your Central Visayas without leaving Cebu with Island Hopping in Moalboal and fall inlove to Snorkling in Pescador Island, Moalboal Sardines Run Diving, Dolphin and Sea Turtle Watching. Note: Dolphin Watching is only available in early morning around 6AM.
ITINERARY AND EXPENSES
ITINERARY
DAY 01
Note: Mactan Airport to Temple of Leah (Approx: 1hr 30mins), Temple of Leah to Sirao (Approx: 30mins), Sirao to Tops (Approx: 30mins), Tops to 10000 roses (Approx: 2hr), 10000 to South Cebu Bus Terminal (Approx: 1hr 45min)
- 1100: ETA mactan airport
- 1330: Temple of Leah
- 1500: Sirao (Closing: 6PM)
- 1630: Tops (Closing: 11PM)
- 2000: 10000 Roses (Closing: 11PM)
- 2130: South Cebu Bus Terminal
DAY 02
Note: Cebu South Terminal to Badian - Ceres bus To Bato via Barili (Approx: 3hr 30min) and Tumalog Falls to Cuartel Ruins for Heritage Tour (Approx: 30min)
- 0230: ETA Matutinao Beach Resort
- 0245: Check in Matutinao Beach Resort
- 0730: Simala Church
- 1130: Lunch
- 1240: Start of Heritage Tour ( Cuartel, Immaculate Conception, Baywalk and Baluarte )
- 1530: Tumalog Falls
DAY 03
Note: Matutinao Beach Resort (the also offer habal-habal) to Osmena is 700 per head 2 persons per habal-habal
- 0630: Call time, Breakfast
- 0730: Start of Canyoneering Adventure
- 1300: End of Canyoneering Adventure, Lunch at Kawasan
- 1400: ETD for Osmeña Peak, Dalaguete
- 1500: Osmena Start Trail
- 1600: Back to Matutinao Beach Resort
- 1800: ETD For Moalboal Accommodation Moalboal Tropics
DAY 04
Note: Since strictly 12NN is the checkout, we manage to leave our things on the front desk and go ahead to Island Hopping
- 0600: Call time, Breakfast
- 0900: Start of Island Hopping
- 1200: Back to Moalboal Tropics
- 1330: Lunch, Back to Cebu City
- 1830: ETA Cebu City, Check in Allson's Inn
- 1930: ETD, Dinner at Larsian Barbeque
DAY 05
Note: Allson's Inn doesn't have any guest bag dropoff so we leave our things at SM Travel Lounge
- 0530: Call time, Breakfast
- 1000: SM Travel Lounge
- 1020: Start of Twin City Tour, Lunch (Sto. Nino Church, Magellan’s Cross, Fort San Pedro, San Diego-Yap Ancestral House or Museo Sugbo, Taoist Temple and Heritage Monument)
- 1600: Pasalubong at Taboan Public Market
- 1700: SM Travel Lounge (pickup baggage)
- 1900: ETA, Mactan International Airport
ESTIMATED EXPENSES
- Cebu Mountain Tour plus 10000 Roses: 3,000 PHP, 500 PHP/pax transportation for 6pax, 270PHP Entrances Temple of Leah, Tops, Sirao, Botanical Garden and 10000 Roses hosted by JDE Transport
- Cebu City to Matutinao Beach via Ceres on South Cebu Bus Terminal: 186 PHP
- Canyoneering and Accomodation: 2,650 PHP/pax hosted by Matutinao Beach Resort
- Kawasan Water Rafting: 600 PHP (Balsa & Guide) 100 PHP/pax
- Habal-habal Osmeña Peak: 700 PHP
- Osmena Peak Entrance Fee: 180 PHP
- South Cebu Tour: 2,500 PHP, 416.67 PHP/pax
- Matutinao Beach Resort to Moalboal: 60 PHP
- Moalboal Tropics Accomodation: 2,900 PHP, 484 PHP/pax
- Moalboal Island Hopping: 2,500 PHP, 416.67 PHP/pax hosted by Joel Torres
- Moalboal to Cebu City Ceres Bus Airconditioned: 150 PHP
- Allson's Inn Accomodation: 2,500 PHP, 416.67 PHP/pax
- SM Travel Lounge: 25 PHP
- Cebu City Transportation using Grab: 300 PHP
- myBus from SM City Cebu to Mactan International Airport Airport: 25 PHP
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