Day trips · Cebu · Philippines
4 best day trips from Cebu
Where to go when you want a day away from Cebu, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
The classic day trip from Cebu is Bohol (About 2 hours by fast ferry, then 1 hour by road). The closest option is Carcar and Simala Shrine, about 50 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- Carcar and Simala Shrine (50 km)
- Most popular
- Bohol
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bohol | 125 km | About 2 hours by fast ferry, then 1 hour by road | Fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, then a hired car or tour | Families, First-timers, Couples |
| Camotes Islands | 65 km | About 1 hour by road plus 1.5–2 hours by ferry | Bus or car to Danao port, then ferry | Beach, Quiet stays, Budget |
| Carcar and Simala Shrine | 50 km | About 1.5–2 hours by road | Bus from the South Bus Terminal or car with driver | Culture, Food lovers, Families |
| Sumilon Island | 135 km | About 3–3.5 hours by road plus a short boat ride | Car or bus to Oslob, then boat | Beach, Couples, Families |
The day trips
125 km · About 2 hours by fast ferry, then 1 hour by road
1.Bohol
Bohol's countryside tour covers the Chocolate Hills, more than a thousand grassy domes that turn brown in the dry season, the tiny tarsiers at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River. It is a long day; many visitors stay overnight.
- Getting there
- Fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, then a hired car or tour
- Best for
- Families, First-timers, Couples
65 km · About 1 hour by road plus 1.5–2 hours by ferry
2.Camotes Islands
A quiet group of islands east of Cebu with white-sand Santiago Bay, the freshwater Lake Danao, swimmable caves such as Timubo and Bukilat, and little traffic. Better as an overnight trip than a rushed day.
- Getting there
- Bus or car to Danao port, then ferry
- Best for
- Beach, Quiet stays, Budget
50 km · About 1.5–2 hours by road
3.Carcar and Simala Shrine
Carcar is a heritage town with Spanish-era ancestral houses, a rotunda and the market famous for chicharon. Further south in Sibonga, the castle-like Simala Shrine (Monastery of the Holy Eucharist) draws pilgrims and enforces a strict dress code.
- Getting there
- Bus from the South Bus Terminal or car with driver
- Best for
- Culture, Food lovers, Families
135 km · About 3–3.5 hours by road plus a short boat ride
4.Sumilon Island
A small island off Cebu's southern tip with one of the country's earliest marine sanctuaries, clear water for snorkelling and a shifting white sandbar. Day visits are usually arranged through the island's resort and are often combined with Oslob or Tumalog Falls.
- Getting there
- Car or bus to Oslob, then boat
- Best for
- Beach, Couples, Families
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Go early; journeys south take about 3 hours and buses fill up at weekends.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Cebu?
Bohol. Bohol's countryside tour covers the Chocolate Hills, more than a thousand grassy domes that turn brown in the dry season, the tiny tarsiers at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River.
+How long does it take to get from Cebu to Bohol?
About 2 hours by fast ferry, then 1 hour by road — Fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, then a hired car or tour, about 125 km.
+How long does it take to get from Cebu to Camotes Islands?
About 1 hour by road plus 1.5–2 hours by ferry — Bus or car to Danao port, then ferry, about 65 km.