8 Moalboal To-Dos

written on June 13th, 2016 by Kristiana Rule

At roughly 85 kilometers away from the main city in Cebu, Philippines, Moalboal is one of the area’s top summer destinations.

Here are some of the cool things you can do in this southern paradise:

1. Walk Along the Beach at Basdaku

If you love a long stretch of white powdery sand then head on to Basdaku, Moalboal. Its name literally translates to “Big Sand.” That’s exactly what you’ll get: 2 kilometers of pure white goodness. Along this white sand beach, you’ll find various resorts and inns for your stay.

2. Spend a day at Pescador Island

Pescador Island is one of the most bio-diverse places in the south. It has numerous species of colourful live coral, fish and other marine creatures like sea turtles. It is only about 30 minutes away from Basdaku. Ask the locals for boat rides to the island—there are plenty, don’t be afraid to haggle to make sure you get the best price. Our last trip cost us Php 2,500 for 14 people and it was one of the best times I’ve ever had. One must not miss a snorkelling trip to Pescador.

3. Fill yourself with fresh sea food

Moalboal doesn’t seem to run out of fresh seafood. One of the best ones are sa-ang, a local shellfish that has this wonderfully sweet and salty flavour. Make sure to wake up early to get a fresh batch. Local fishermen pick them up at dawn and put them up for sale in the morning. Some locals also catch suwaki (sea urchin) which they sell for a small price per bottle. This is best eaten as kinilaw (cooked in vinegar). Yum yum!

4. Learn how to Dive

Moalboal is known as a prime diving spot. The drop offs are near the shore and offer a lot to see— tropical fish, corals and even a sardine run on good days. If you wish to go diving, Panagsama Beach at Bas-Diot is the place for you since they have numerous dive shops and services to cater to your diving needs. They also offer diving lessons for beginners. Look around to get the best deal.

5. Swim with a school of fish by Freediving

Freediving is becoming increasingly popular in Moalboal. Free diving, according to Wikipedia, is a form of underwater diving that relies on divers’ ability to hold their breath until resurfacing rather than on the use of a breathing apparatus such as scuba gear.

6. Enjoy the sunset

Being at the southwest tip of the island, Moalboal’s sunsets are a thing to behold, even on slightly cloudy days. Catch the orange-pink-purple colors of the sun as it sets behind the island of Negros just across the strait.

7. Sleep under the stars

At White Beach, Moalboal, you only have to pay an entrance fee of 5php to get to the beach itself. From there, you can choose to stay at any of the lovely accommodations or camp out. The area is backpacker-friendly, you can literally pitch a tent and spend the night gazing at the stars.

8. Or enjoy resort accommodations

If you’re not too comfy with roughing it out, there are a lot of other accommodations that offer style and comfort. One of the resort accommodations we’ve tried is Club Serena. Their Treehouse Rooms are especially delightful—spacious, comfy and since it’s high up a tree, very private. They also have two pools and lots of lounge areas. One other place we frequent is Bigsand Campgrounds which is great for big groups. Here, you can rent a room or an entire house. Bigsand provides areas for cooking and preparing your own meals. It also has volleyball and basketball courts, a pingpong table, lots of hammocks and camp gear.