Ever heard of Moalboal? If you haven’t, then you’re in for a wonderful treat in reading this article! Moalboal is a hidden gem located in the southwestern part of Cebu City. It is a small peninsula between the borders of Tanon Strait and the Negros Islands of the Visayas Region. Whether you’re a diving enthusiast or a tourist who just wants to experience a piece of tropical paradise, then visiting Moalboal would be perfect for you!
Moalboal is a haven for local and international divers alike. After all, it is one of the best diving destinations in the world! Its unspoiled and pristine, clear waters have a well-preserved marine ecosystem lurking underneath. Not only would you get to be as close as possible to these wonderful sea creatures, but you will also discover the diver spirit in you!
On top of these engaging diving activities, Moalboal also boasts of its world-class lineup of beach resorts and hotels offering some of the best accommodation services to pair with your unforgettable experience. From seaside bars and restaurants with exciting nightlife to serene and peaceful beaches with mesmerizing sunsets, your trip to Moalboal will certainly be legendary!
To further guide you with your memorable trip to Moalboal, let us help you find the best DOT-accredited hostels and top tourist destinations and activities in town!
Best Hostels in Moalboal
Eskapo Verde
Address: Santander-Barili Road, Brgy. Bugas, Badian, Cebu
First on this list is a perfect destination for some soul-searching and meditation. Escapo Verde is a secluded spot located in Santander, Cebu offering the best nature trips that are perfect for company outings, team buildings, and family getaways! No one would expect to find a tropical paradise as beautiful as Eskapo Verde’s surrounded by thick and abundant plantations of mangroves. So, this is definitely a gem worth visiting!
The hostel has the capability to host up to forty (40) guests with 4 being able to carry up to ten (10) persons. Each room comes with sufficient facilities and amenities without compromising the simple experience of being as close to nature. The hostel has its very own open-air restaurant offering some of the best-tasting Filipino and Asian feasts!
There are a plethora of activities to help you enjoy your stay at Escapo Verde even more! This includes canoeing, horseback riding, diving, hiking, snorkeling, and other watersports activities.
Ananas Guesthouse Moalboal
Address: Tubli Road, Moalboal, Cebu
Ananas Guesthouse Moalboal is one of the top picks by tourists to stay at in Moalboal. Aside from its premium location being only 0.6 miles away from the Pinagsama Beach, it also boasts of providing the best accommodation experience to tourists.
All of the rooms come with premium facilities and amenities to provide guests the highest degree of comfort and convenience. Moreover, Ananas also offers a shuttle service, rental car, and bicycle rental to help their guests navigate the city easier.
You can also upgrade your experience by trying out Ananas’ very own bar and other activities including diving, snorkeling, and karaoke services.
Villavante Backpackers Lodge
Address: Poblacion East Cooperative Building, Moalboal, Cebu
Being relatively close to some of Moalboal’s significant landmarks like the Fish Sanctuary, Pinagsama Beach, and Pescador Island is one of the reasons why Villavante Backpackers Lodge is a top choice for tourists. Aside from that, the hostel is complete with its very own bar, restaurant, BBQ facilities.
Moreover, guests are also guaranteed to receive only the best accommodation services because each room at Villavante Backpackers Lodge comes with premium facilities and amenities. The hostel also offers several recreational activities such as canoeing, snorkeling, and hiking!
Crazy Bears Hostel
Address: Pinagsama Beach Road, Basdiot, Moalboal, Cebu
Ah, here at Crazy Bears Hostel, guests have the supreme advantage of being able to access some of Moalboal’s popular landmarks such as the Pinagsama Beach, Pescador Island, Saavedra Marine Protected Area, and the Fish Sanctuary. Crazy bears is an adult-only accommodation facility featuring a bar, restaurant, and garden inside.
Guaranteed premium quality accommodation services are waiting for each guest because all the rooms of Crazy Bears come with clean and comfortable beds, air conditioning units, high-speed internet, a separate dining area, and more. Moreover, you can also try diving and snorkeling here!
Chief Mau Beach Life Cottages
Address: Chief Mau, Pinagsama Beach, Brgy. Basdiot, Moalboal, Cebu
Chief Mau Beach Life Cottages is only a 3-minute walk away from Pinagsama Beach. What a perfect way to live up to its name, right? Beach life! Chief Mau offers accommodation services that are popular with tourists. The rooms come with high-speed internet, clean and comfortable beds, spacious bathroom, and many more! There’s also a game room in the facility where guests can have a relaxing game of pool anytime.
Darius’ Residences
Address: Lot 1, Santander-Barili-Toledo Road, Moalboal, Cebu
Darius’ Residences is perfect for tourists looking for a budget-friendly yet classy place to stay in Moalboal. Darius has a total of seven (7) rooms all equipped with high-quality amenities and facilities. These include an air conditioning unit, flatscreen TV with satellite and cable channels, a spacious bathroom, and many more.
The guests can also enjoy having easy accessibility to some of Moalboal’s top destinations such as Pinagsama Beach, Badian Island, and White Beach.
Top Tourist Spots and Activities
Sardine Run
The Sardine Run of Moalboal is basically the reason why divers from all around the world visit the small municipality of Moalboal. It is considered one of the greatest marine events globally, right on top there with South Africa’s very own Sardine Run if not better.
It is a year-round natural phenomenon featuring the sighting of billions of sardines casually swimming around the pristine waters of Moalboal. Tourists are guaranteed to witness this mesmerizing event because a simple stroll at Pinagsama Beach already enables them to snorkel these lovely sardines!
Indeed, whether you’re a diving enthusiast or not, the Sardine Run should definitely be on your bucket list.
Pescador Island
Ah, the Pescador Island. The Spanish name “Pescador” translates to the word fisherman. A name truly fitting the island because every surrounding corner has abundant fish and marine life! This is the main reason why international divers and snorkelers flock to this island. It’s like you’re having a first-hand experience of those videos you can only see at National Geographic and Discovery Channels!
Moreover, the island is also relatively near Pinagsama Beach, so you can always add the experience of Pescador Island to your itinerary at any time.
Canyoneering in Badian
Ready to go for a sweat-dripping and memorable adventure featuring a close encounter with some of nature’s magnificent creations? Well, suit yourself because Canyoneering in Badian, Cebu will certainly give you that unforgettable experience!
Home to the Kawasan Falls, the jungle trail of Badian features a lot of jumping, hopping, skipping, swimming, swinging, scrambling, and sweat-worthy activities! Hey, who wouldn’t want to experience swimming in clear turquoise waters as if you’re surrounded by a pool of Gatorade, right?
Well, come to Badian and don’t ever leave without trying the Canyoneering trail! Don’t worry, you will be supported by a professional guide so you are in safe hands.
Moalboal House Reef
Ah, what have I said from the very start? Moalboal is indeed a diving and tropical paradise for all enthusiasts. You wouldn’t run out of majestic diving spots here! One of those must-visit spots is no other than the Moalboal House Reef.
Get ready to have a close encounter with the abundant and diverse marine life of Moalboal. Here, you are guaranteed to fall in love with these mesmerizing creatures and help you appreciate nature even more. Thousands of species are waiting to meet you such as the Round Crab, Cerianthids Green Turtles, Juvenile Round Batfish, Lion Fish, and many more!