Due to some last-minute circumstances, I was off to Cebu with little planning. Well, I was there for an exam but then of course, I didn’t want to miss the chance to explore Cebu beaches which was something I kept on postponing the few times I went there.

So, why Moalboal? Apart from thinking it’s once of the closest to Cebu City, I found a cheap hostel there which is close to the beach. Pretty simple decision making, right?

The exam that I took ended around 12 noon so right after, I went straight to Cebu South Bus Terminal. I took the Ceres bus with AC to Carcar. Travel time was around 3 hours from the terminal to the Moalboal public market which costs P130. From there, I took a habal-habal to my hostel.

There’s a guy there who was commissioning on some habal-habal drivers. He told me it’s P100 to my hostel but I knew from my hostel’s instructions that it’s just P70. Anyway, we agreed with P80 and he led me to my habal driver. On our way to the hostel, the habal driver, Darwin, told me about the “commission” guy and honestly told me about the rates. If by tricycle, from the town proper to my hostel which is around Panagsama beach, it is P70, but by habal-habal, it’s P50. I appreciate honesty, and also because I didn’t take his offer of a guided tour, I want to make it up to kuya by recommending him, haha! Well, I think his rates were reasonable so here’s his contact number: 09323507792.

MOALBOAL BACKPACKER LODGE

Price: P 250/night in a 4-bed mixed room

What I got: Fan room, shared toilet, separate shower rooms, lockers inside the room (provide your own padlock), free Wi-Fi (signal’s not the best), a blanket and a towel, mosquito net, free water refill, no breakfast included

Actually, I booked through their website so I got this rate, unless you just appear in their doorstep and be lucky to have an available room. I paid through Paypal. I found they’re only in Hostelworld and the rate for my bedspace can be around P285+ through the travel website. I think the difference of the P250 and P300 mixed dorm was a hammock.

White Beach, Basdaku

I slept early the night I arrived so I woke up early the next morning and walked to White Beach.

I actually thought that once I reach point B, there is some road going to the beach. I couldn’t find someone to ask so I continued walking. When I reached point C, I asked one kuya and told me that there’s no shortcut or something and I should walk all the way to point D because the entrance to the beach was there. I was ready to start walking but he offered me a ride with his friend and his kid saying that it’s still too far. Yey! A lot of times, I’m still surprised there are people who are this kind.

Somewhere between point C and point D, we stopped where you have to pay for, I think, the environmental fee of P5.00, but I think kuya told them about my story of walking lost so they didn’t let me pay. Upon reaching point D, I paid for the entrance fee to the beach (P10).

It was a bit crowded maybe because it was a Sunday. Also, there were tents everywhere probably for rent even for daytime visitors.

I spent almost the whole morning there. There were also restaurants around and I found a karaoke somewhere in this area where I had my brunch:

I took the habal-habal going back to my hostel since it was a scorching midday. From White Beach, Basdaku to Panagsama beach,  I paid P70.

Apart from the beach, I didn’t have other plans in Moalboal. I had options like Kawasan, canyoning, or land tour somewhere. But I was on a budget and between these activities and going to Bantayan, I chose to push through with Bantayan so I kept my spending to a minimum while there. I was being the lazy me and I thought I’ll sleep the afternoon away but my roommate, Giuliano of Global Gabella, told me he’s going to go snorkeling. So, okay, I thought that since it’s better to do something than nothing, I went snorkeling too.

Snorkeling at Panagsama Beach

Beside the hostel, there was a shop renting out snorkeling gears for P100. Also, I rented a life vest (P100) ’cause I’m such a mermaid poser. Then we walked to the part of the beach which I wasn’t able to check out the other day. That’s when I actually appreciated Panagsama beach. I think it’s more of a snorkeling and diving place.

Some tourists actually rent a boat or maybe snorkeling is a part of their island hopping. In our case, we only went there by ourselves. Since I’m so weak, I got tired after just a few minutes of snorkeling and it was nice that one manong in a boat allowed me to take a rest for a while because the shore was just too far for me to swim.

Anyway, I regained my strength and eventually, we found the sea turtle. I was like a happy kid! I didn’t expect anything really aside from some fishes. Giuliano had a GoPro and he had some great photos and videos of the turtle so you can check out these links and follow, subscribe and like him in Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. He also had some photos and video clips of the sardines and it would have been amazing to see it for myself too but I was already afraid to go further. I was satisfied with the turtle.

Here’s Giuliano’s vlog about Cebu (and Moalboal). Just watch to find my few seconds of exposure 😉

Later that afternoon, me, Giuliano and Ocean, our new roommate, went out to see the sunset. That was when I realized where was the white sand beach of Panagsama beach, a few minutes walk after Chili Bar.

Seeing the sunset, I was reminded of one of the reasons why I love beaches. I love waking up to beautiful sunrises and relax at the end of the day watching the sunset.

After the sunset watching, I looked around for some tweezers or something. I caught some pointy thing on the sole of my foot while snorkeling. I went back to the carinderia where I ate dinner the night before because they have a sari-sari store. When I told Manang my dilemma, she told me it was a tuyom, which upon my research just now was a sea urchin, she offered me some remedy. That’s one of the things I love about travelling, the warmhearted help locals are willing to extend to their guests.

The next day, I took off early in the morning to Cebu City and towards Bantayan Island. I took the nonaircon bus which costs P115.

Follow this link for my Bantayan Island mini adventure. To stay updated with my stories, follow me on Instagram, or my Facebook page.