Beaches · Cebu · Philippines
The best beaches in and near Cebu
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Aries Eroles, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Bounty Beach, Malapascua (About 4–5 hours by road and boat from Cebu City). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 6
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 29°C (84°F)
The beaches
About 4–5 hours by road and boat from Cebu City · Swimming, sunsets and diving
1.Bounty Beach, Malapascua
A curve of white sand on Malapascua's south coast with clear water, resorts and dive centres.
About 3–4 hours by road and ferry from Cebu City · Quiet beach days
2.Paradise Beach and Kota Beach, Bantayan
Powdery white-sand beaches near Santa Fe on Bantayan Island with shallow turquoise water.
About 2.5–3 hours by road from Cebu City · Snorkelling and families
3.White Beach, Moalboal
Moalboal's main sandy beach in Basdiot, calmer than Panagsama and good for swimming and snorkelling.
About 3 hours by road from Cebu City · Quiet afternoons
4.Lambug Beach, Badian
A long, quiet stretch of sand near Badian, handy after Kawasan Falls.
About 3–3.5 hours by road plus a boat ride · Snorkelling and photos
5.Sumilon Island sandbar
A shifting white sandbar in a marine sanctuary off Cebu's southern tip.
About 30–60 minutes from Cebu City · Families and short stays
6.Mactan resort beaches
Mostly small, resort-maintained beaches with calm water, close to the airport; quality depends on the resort.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| February | 27°C (81°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| March | 27°C (81°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| April | 28°C (82°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| June | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| July | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| August | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 32°C (90°F) |
| October | 29°C (84°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| November | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| December | 28°C (82°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and beach
Mactan Island
Mactan, linked to Cebu City by bridges and an expressway, holds the airport and most of the area's beach resorts along its eastern shore, many with man-made or small beaches, big pools and kids' clubs. Island-hopping boats leave from here for the reefs and sandbars offshore.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Resort facilities and calm water; Island hopping from the doorstep
- Watch out
- Beaches are smaller than on other islands; Traffic to the city
- Nearby
- Mactan Shrine, Hilutungan Island, Olango Island, Mactan–Cebu International Airport
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — Air-conditioned and ordinary Ceres buses leave the South Bus Terminal for Moalboal, Badian and Oslob and the North Bus Terminal for Maya (Malapascua) and Hagnaya (Bantayan).
- Ferry — Fast ferries run from Cebu City's piers to Tagbilaran in Bohol in about two hours, and regular ferries connect Hagnaya with Bantayan and Danao with the Camotes Islands.
- Boat — Outrigger bangka boats handle island hopping from Mactan and the short crossings from Maya to Malapascua and from Oslob to Sumilon.
- Car — A car with driver for the day is the most comfortable way to combine Kawasan, Moalboal, Osmeña Peak or Oslob, which are spread far apart.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in February–May. None of them is peak season, so beaches stay manageable.
Beach safety
Petty theft and phone snatching occur in crowded downtown Cebu City, so keep valuables secure. At sea, use licensed boat operators with life jackets and check weather warnings; typhoons and storms can cancel ferries. Canyoneering should only be done with registered guides and safety gear. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Cebu have beaches?
Yes: Bounty Beach, Malapascua, Paradise Beach and Kota Beach, Bantayan, White Beach, Moalboal, Lambug Beach, Badian, Sumilon Island sandbar and Mactan resort beaches.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Cebu?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Cebu?
Bounty Beach, Malapascua: A curve of white sand on Malapascua's south coast with clear water, resorts and dive centres.