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Flight chronicles of the backpacker Tutubi, with travelogues, pictures/photos/videos, travel guides, independent and honest reviews, affordable, recommended resorts and hotels (including inns, guesthouses, pension houses, lodges, hostels, condotels, bed and breakfast and other cheap accommodations), commuting guides, routes (sometimes street maps and GPS coordinates/waypoints) and driving directions to answer "how to get there" questions, information and tips on tourism, budget travel and living in Philippines, Exotic Asia and beyond!

Backpacking, independent travel, and flashpacking are cheaper than the "cheapest package tours" and promotional offers around but you can also use travel information for family vacations, even romantic honeymoon destinations.

More than the usual tourist spots and "places to see," this blog advocates heritage conservation, environmental protection, and history awareness for Filipinos, foreigners, and ex-pats wishing to explore Paradise Philippines and Exotic Asia!
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    Cebu Travel Guide, Tourist Spots (Information on the Cheapest Package)

    Cebu, once marketed itself as "an island in the Pacific," has been experiencing a boom in economy and tourist arrivals and also now the favorite retirement place of Americans and Europeans as well as Koreans, Japanese and Chinese tourists making it a tropical island vacation come true - balmy weather, nice beaches, turquoise waters, and luxurious resorts that cater to usual tourists accustomed to comforts of city life as well as backpackers looking for cheap accommodations and basic facilities.

    N.B.: This is a work in progress, to be edited and refined once photos and information are available.

    Cebu City and the larger Metro Cebu is the ideal gateway to the backpacking Visayas trail due to the fact that you can explore nearby islands in the Visayas by hopping into a plane, boats/ferries/fast crafts, and buses.

    Tutubi compiled these information for your reference mostly based on his personal travels and knowledge:

    Interesting Places to See/ Cebu Tourist Spots/Sightseeing:

    Magellan's Cross - a wooden cross planted by Ferdinand Magellan (Magallanes, a Portuguese explorer/navigator in the service of the Spain) who arrived (not discovered) in the islands soon to be known as the Philippines in March 1521. Note that the true cross is inside the visible cross.

    Fort San Pedro - triangular Spanish fort constructed

    Magellan Shrine - the site of the historic battle between Magellan's men and Lapu-lapu in the promontory of Punta Engaño, Mactan

    Lapu Lapu shrine - located on Mactan Island,

    Calle Colon (Colon Street) - said to be the oldest street in the Philippines, named after Christopher Columbus

    Kan-irag Nature Park - a 71 hectare eco-tourism park with indigenous trees, plants and flowers on a watershed. It's open from 7am to 5pm

    Tops Skyline Garden - situated on the hills of Busay, can be reached only by a hired taxi or private vehicles on steep roads but you'll be rewarded with a panoramic view of Cebu City and the islands of Mactan and Olango.

    Cebu City Chinatown
    Cebu City Japantown
    Cebu City Koreatown

    Taoist Temple

    Cebu Landmarks:

    Cebu Provincial Capitol
    Marcelo Fernan Bridge - one of two bridges connecting Mactan Island to mainland Cebu
    Cebu International Convention Center (right beside Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino)


    Cebu Shopping Malls and Public Markets:

    SM City Cebu
    Ayala Center Cebu
    Gaisano Country Mall
    Taboan Public Market: where to buy dried fish (e.g. danggit) in bulk at low prices

    Heritage City of Carcar for heritage Spanish houses

    Old Heritage Churches in Cebu (Visita Iglesia)


    Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City
    Carcar Church: St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church
    Boljoon Church:
    Dalaguete Church:
    Argao Church: Church of St. Michael the Archangel
    Pardo Church: Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva
    Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
    Naga Church: Church of San Francisco de Asis
    San Fernando Church: Church of San Isidro Labrador
    Carcar Church: Santa Catalina de Alejandria
    Oslob Church:
    Talisay Church: Parish of Sta. Teresa de Avila

    Cebu Museums:

    Cathedral Museum, Cebu City
    Carcar Museum (between Carcar Church and and City Hall building)

    Waterfalls in Cebu:

    Bugasok Falls in Argao - can be reached by trekking or hiring habal-habal to take you there
    Kawasan Falls in Badian - about 30 minutes trek along the pristine river. (Tutubi was here in April 2003)
    Sta. Rosa Falls in Danao
    Mantayupan Falls in Baranggay Campangga, Barili (water diverted to a hydroelectric plant)


    Mt Manunggal, the highest mountain in the island and the crash site of the ill-fated Douglas C-47 plane named "Mt. Pinatubo" in 1957 that killed the 7th President of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay.

    Some people looking for cold places in Cebu Province, try Barangay Mantalongon, Dalaguete, known as the “Summer Capital of Cebu," and Barangay Gaas, Balamban, Cebu where Mt. Manunggal is located, enjoy cooler temperatures.

    Cebu Beaches and other islands:

    Mactan Island, connected to Cebu Island via two bridges

    Pescador Island - a small limestone island with excellent corals and marine life a few minutes away from the beach of Moalboal. (Tutubi was here in April 2003)

    Sumilon Island, fifteen minutes by boat from Oslob town, is a great SCUBA diving site

    Malapascua Island - an island north of the main island great for diving. Click here for a list of Malapascua Beach Resorts

    Bantayan Island - an island north of the main island great for diving. Click here for a list of Bantayan Beach Resorts

    Camotes Island, a two hour boat ride from Cebu City's Pier 1. It's the home of Lake Danao, the largest freshwater lake in Central Visayas

    Where to eat/Cebu Restaurants:

    Sutukil restaurants/carinderia in Mactan Island
    Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant
    Neo Neo
    CnT Lechon
    Binugoy
    Goodah-Gud,
    Tsibogs
    Boardwalk Compostela

    Cebu Food Specialties and Pasalubong:

    Sutukil
    Nilarang na bakasi (igat or eel)
    Chicken Halang-halang
    puso (rice wrapped in banana leaves)
    Shamrock Otap
    Lechon Cebu
    Dried Mangoes
    Danggit

    Towns, Municipalities and Cities:
    Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Aloguinsan, Argao, Asturias, Badian, Balamban, Bantayan, Barili, Basak Pardo, Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Daanbantayan, Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Liloan, Madridejos, Malabuyoc, Medellin, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Oslob, Pilar, Pinamungahan, Poro, Ronda, Samboan, San Fernando, San Francisco, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Santander, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Tudela

    Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Bogo City, Carcar City, Danao City, Naga City, Talisay City, Toledo City

    Cebu Festivals & Events

    Sinulog Festival - a colorful festival culminating on the third Sunday of January with lively street dancing and other activities

    Cebu Golf Courses and Country Clubs:

    Cebu Country Club
    Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, Pardo Cebu City, par 72, 18-hole championship golf course
    Verdemar Golf & Dive Resort, Bogo, Cebu, par 71
    Mercedes Plantation Golf Club in Bogo
    Cebu International Golf and Resort, Badian Island, 18-hole, par 72
    Mactan Island Golf Club


    How to get to Cebu:


    By Air: Regular flights to Cebu are available via various airlines from almost any major airport besides Manila. Cheap flights to Cebu are also available via budget airlines. International direct flights to Cebu include Doha (Qatar), Hong Kong, Busan (South Korea), Koror (Palau), Singapore, Taipei (Taiwan), Kaoshiung (Taiwan), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai China), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Kota Kinabalu (Sabah, Malaysia)

    Ferry: ferry schedules going to and from these ports: Bohol (Tagbilaran and Tubigon), Cagayan de Oro (CDO, Ormoc (Leyte)
    Bus:

    Getting Around Cebu:
    Jeepneys or multicabs are the principal ways of getting around the city. Various routes with signboards and route designations are available here. If you have the money, take taxis, they're everywhere

    Buses are available at the North and South Bus Terminals in Cebu City.

    Useful Information on Cebu:

    Backpacking Visayas: Beyond Cebu:

    Cebu to Dumaguete: Reachable via Ferry or Bus
    Cebu to Bohol: Ferry and fast crafts to Tagbilaran or Tubigon, where you can see the famed Chocolate Hills, the tarsier,
    Cebu to Bacolod: Reachable via Ferry or Bus
    Cebu to Ormoc, Leyte: Ferry

    Ferry Schedules


    Where to Stay in Cebu: Hotels, Inns, Pension Houses, Condotels, Appartelles, and other Accommodations

    Getting Out of Cebu:

    At Mactan- Cebu International Airports, there are two halls: one for Domestic and another for International Departures. Note that terminal fees for domestic travel is PhP200 and PhP550 for international flights.

    Should you wish to visit other islands, you can also hop on to various ferries and boats to nearby Leyte (Ormoc), Bohol (Tagbilaran City and Tubigon), Negros (Bacolod and Dumaguete City), Siquijor and Mindanao via Cagayan de Oro (CDO).

    Buses to nearby islands are available either at Cebu North Terminal and South Bus Terminal, both in the heart of Cebu City.

    Links:
    Suroy-suroy

    For other articles on Cebu, please Click the Label Cebu after this line or use the search box.

    UPDATED: September 21, 2008

    Labels: , ,


    posted by GingGoy @ 6:01 PM,

    4 Comments:

    At Oct 28, 2008, 11:00:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Thanks for the tip tutubi. I add this to my books list. Now i have an idea of where to go when i go to cebu. I visit the place you share in this blog. And eat lechon cebu. Yeheyyyy

    Keep on posting.
    God bless

     
    At Jul 5, 2010, 5:11:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Avoid having Alta Vista Golf & Country Club host or cater your event. They will change prices ON the day of your event after you've been served. Prepaid? Too bad, you'll get a bill and be hounded in front of your guests until you pay.

     
    At Jan 27, 2012, 9:30:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Hi There,

    I just came across your http://www.backpackingphilippines.com and found it quite appealing. I would request to please provide us email id of your webmaster so that we can work together to promote each other’s websites.

    Thanks,

     
    At Jan 27, 2012, 9:56:00 PM, Blogger GingGoy said...

    anonymous, email tutubi AT backpackingphilippines DOT com

     

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