Cebu is 200 kilometres of coastline with an island at each end and a scatter of smaller ones around it, and almost every stretch has a resort on it. ListGOPH lists close to two hundred under Beach Resort. This guide groups them by coast so you can pick a shore first and a resort second. Names link to listings with the pin and contact details; for road times, count on a bus from the South or North Bus Terminal taking three to four hours to the far ends.
The far north: Malapascua and Daanbantayan
Malapascua Island, off Daanbantayan, is the thresher shark capital, and its resorts are built around diving. Reach it by bus to Maya port, then a short boat.
- Dive resorts: Evolution Diving Resort, Exotic Island Dive Resort, Threshercove Resort, The Sharks Tail Dive Resort, Little Mermaid Resort and Divers' Lodge.
- On Logon beach: Tepanee Beach Resort, Ocean Vida, Hippocampus, Blue Water Resort, White Sand Bungalows and Malapascua Legend.
- On the mainland side of Daanbantayan: Kandaya Beach Resort, Virgin Beach Resort, AABANA Beach & Watersport Resort, Blue Coral Resort and Long Beach Resort.
Bantayan Island: Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos
White sand, flat water and a slower pace. Bus to Hagnaya port in San Remigio, then the ferry to Santa Fe. Most resorts cluster along the Santa Fe shore.
- Santa Fe: Kota Beach, Santa Fe Beach Club, Amihan Beach Resort, Anika Resort, Budyong Resort, Marlin's Beach Resort, Beach Placid Resort, Yooneek Beach Resort, Playa Estrella Beach Resort and InDai Aquasports Beach Resort on Okoy Road.
- Something different: Ogtong Cave Resort has a swimming cave, and Virgin Island Resort is the day-trip island off Santa Fe.
- Bantayan town: Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort on the Sillon-Tamiao Road and Maïa Beach Resort. Madridejos: Green Beach Resort.
The north coast mainland: San Remigio to Liloan
Closer to the city, and popular for a day trip or a company outing.
- San Remigio: Maayo San Remigio Beach Resort, San Remigio Beach Club, Hagnaya Beach Resort, Elegant Beach Resort and the free Lapyahan Public Beach.
- Medellin: Funtastic Island Resort. Bogo: Hisoler's Beach Resort and Lhuillier Beach Resort. Tabogon and Sogod: Alegre Beach Resort, Cebu North Coast Beach Resort and The Summer House.
- Catmon and Danao: Agua Villa Beach Resort, Rañola Beach Resort, Vista Azul, El Salvador Beach Resort and Sun Resort.
- Compostela and Liloan, under an hour from Mandaue: Estaca Bay Gardens Conference Resort, Green Lagoon and Pepito's Beach Resort.
Camotes Islands: San Francisco, Poro, Tudela and Pilar
Ferries run from Danao port. Santiago Bay and Mangodlong are the two beaches most people come for.
- San Francisco: Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort, Mangodlong Rock Resort, Santiago Bay Garden & Resort, Santiago White Beach, Coco Grove Nature Resort, Aizawa Beach Resort and The Amazing Island Cave and Beach Resort.
- Poro: Mactang Beach. Tudela: Puertobello Resort. Pilar: Cawit Reef and Resort and Moabog Reef and Resort.
The south-west: Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Samboan
Panagsama Beach in Moalboal has the sardine run a few metres off the shore; White Beach is the sand. Three hours by bus from the South Bus Terminal.
- Moalboal dive resorts: Kasai Village Dive Resort, Club Hari Dive Resort, Eve's Kiosk Dive Resort, June Dive Resort, Love's Beach and Dive Resort and Ming Yang Dive Inn on Panagsama Road.
- Moalboal stays: Club Serena Resort, Turtle Bay Resort, Dolphin House, The Blue Orchid Resort, Tipolo Beach Resort, Marcosas Cottages Resort, Hale Manna Coastal Gardens, Sea Turtle House and White Beach itself.
- Badian, for Kawasan Falls: Badian Island Wellness Resort, Cuestas Beach Resort and Restaurant and Grandure Beach Resort. Alegria: Abesol Beach Resort. Samboan: MDF Beach Resort. Aloguinsan: Hermits Cove.
The south-east: Oslob, Santander, Boljoon, Dalaguete, Argao
Oslob is the whale shark town and the jumping-off point for Sumilon Island; Santander is where the ferry to Negros leaves.
- Oslob: Bluewater Sumilon on its own island, Aloha Beach Resort, Masters Resort Cebu, Brumini Resort and AJ's Place Beach Resort.
- Santander: Albion Beach Resort, Pebbles Beach Resort, Resort Noblesse and New Ocean Terrace Beach Resort.
- Boljoon: Dive Spot Asia Beach Resort, Palanas By the Sea and Brumine Beach Resort. Alcoy: Meili Beach Resort.
- Dalaguete: Ocean Bay Beach Resort, Dakong Bato Beach Resort and The Beachhouse. Argao: Kingfisher Beach Resort, Bamboo Paradise Beach Resort, Looc Garden Beach Resort, Woodruff Resort and Sunshine Beach Club.
The west coast: Toledo, Pinamungajan, Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, Tabuelan
Over the Transcentral Highway, the quieter side of the island. Sunsets face the right way here.
- Toledo: Cowboy Beach Resort, Wild Geese Beach Resort and Ocean Breeze Resort.
- Pinamungajan: Hidden Valley Beach Resort, Park Place Beach Resort, Tajao Seaside Haven Resort, Tampisao Beach Resort and Carsen Beach Resort.
- Balamban: JVR Island in the Sky Resort and Coastal Roca Resort. Asturias: Owakiki Beach Resort, Coco Seaview Beach Resort and Cabo San Miguiel Beach Resort.
- Tuburan and Tabuelan: Formosa Camp Resort, Vidar Family Resort, Maravilla Beach Club, White Beach Resort and La Familia Beach Resort.
Nearest the city: Cordova and Mactan's islets
- Nalusuan Island Resort and Cordova Reef Village Resort in Cordova, reached by boat from the Mactan side, are the closest island-hopping bases to the airport.
Before you book
- Look at the pin. "Moalboal" covers both Panagsama and White Beach, twenty minutes apart. Open the listing and see where it actually sits.
- Call ahead for boats. Island resorts on Malapascua, Bantayan, Camotes and Sumilon depend on ferry and boat schedules that change with the weather.
- Book direct where you can. Many listings take bookings on ListGOPH, and the owner sees your request at once.
Planning the whole weekend? Save the resorts you like, then build an itinerary and share it with the group.
