Must-see attractions in Eastern Visayas

  • Tarsier in a tree at Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary.

    Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

    Bohol

    In Canapnapan, a barangay of Corella, you can see saucer-eyed tarsiers in the wild at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary. Over 100 of these territorial…

  • People praying at the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino in Cebu, Philippines.

    Basilica Minore del Santo Niño

    Cebu City

    Cebu's holiest church houses a revered Flemish statuette of the Christ child (Santo Niño) that dates to Magellan's time. The church is no stranger to…

  • Trail to the observation deck among the water at low tide at Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary.

    Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary

    Cebu

    Just 20 minutes from Mactan by public bangka, Olango Island is home to this important wildlife reserve. Taking in 1030 hectares of sand flats and…

  • Museo Sugbo.

    Museo Sugbo

    Cebu City

    This excellent museum comprises several galleries in a sturdy old coral-stone building that was Cebu's provincial jail from 1870 to 2004. Rooms are…

  • People swimming in Kawasan Falls.

    Kawasan Falls

    Moalboal

    Located in Badian, 17km south of Moalboal, Kawasan Falls comprise a series of three waterfalls; the largest cascades 15m into a massive, milky-blue…

  • Sambawan island, Philippines

    Sambawan Island

    Eastern Visayas

    This idyllic, slender island with its crescent-shaped white-sand beach and turquoise water has excellent snorkelling and some of the best scuba diving…

  • Bounty Beach, Malapascua, Phillipines

    Bounty Beach

    Malapascua Island

    This glorious stretch of pale sand occupies almost the entire southern part of the island. It's lined with hotels, restaurants, dive shops and massage…

  • Limasawa Island

    Leyte

    Tranquil Limasawa Island, a place of historical and religious significance, is well worth a visit. The island has around 6000 inhabitants and five tiny…

  • Ulan-Ulan Falls

    Eastern Visayas

    Ulan-Ulan means rain in the local dialect and these 25m-high falls, surrounded by dense tropical forest, are some of the most spectacular in Biliran. A…

  • Casa Gorordo Museum along Eduardo Aboitiz Street.

    Casa Gorordo Museum

    Cebu City

    Downtown, in a quiet residential area, this museum was originally a private home (built in the 1850s). Later it was purchased by the Gorordos, one of Cebu…

  • Fort San Pedro, Cebu City, Philippines.

    Fort San Pedro

    Cebu City

    Established in 1565 under the command of Miguel López de Legazpi, conqueror of the Philippines, Fort San Pedro has served as an army garrison, a rebel…

  • A cave at Lamonok Island, in Anda, Bohol, Philippines.

    Lamanok Island

    Bohol

    This island 7km north of Anda has several anthropologically important cave paintings – made with bare hands – that date back tens of thousands of years…

  • The Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines

    Chocolate Hills Main Viewpoint

    Bohol

    Views from this perch are indeed magnificent, surrounded by Bohol's famous chocolate hills. However it's highly commercialised, with kiosks selling…

  • Paradise Beach (Sandira Beach) at the Bantayan Island in Cebu, Philippines.

    Paradise Beach

    Bantayan Island

    Around 5km east of Santa Fe this sublime cove beach has white sand, shade umbrellas and excellent swimming, and the surrounding area is attractively…

  • White Beach Moalboal

    White Beach

    Moalboal

    Glorious White Beach, where there's a broad stretch of sand and several midrange and luxury hotels, is 6km north of Panagsama. After bargaining, tricycles…

  • Sumilon Island Marine Sanctuary

    Cebu

    The marine sanctuary off Sumilon Island is a conservation success story in the Philippines. Resorts in Lilo-an run dive trips to the reserve, or you can…

  • Casiawan Falls

    Eastern Visayas

    A bit north of Cabucgayan, these falls can put on a good show depending on the amount of recent rainfall, and remain appealingly undeveloped. There's a…

  • San Pedro Island

    Leyte

    This gorgeous desert island is inhabited by only 500 people, mainly fishers and their families, and has a lovely white-sand beach and good snorkelling. It…

  • Danao Beach

    Panglao Island

    Far more mellow than its noisy neighbour Alona, Danao Beach consists of patches of fine white sand backed by coconut palms – it's an idyllic tropical…

  • Tulang Island

    Eastern Visayas

    Tulang Island, off the northern coast of Pacijan, has a stunning sandy beach where you can play Robinson Crusoe for an hour or so. Boaters in Tulang Daku…

  • Borromeo Beach

    Eastern Visayas

    Off the main road south of Esperanza is stunning Borromeo Beach, a blinding expanse of white powder.

  • Magellan's Cross, Cebu City, Philippines

    Magellan's Cross

    Cebu City

    Ferdinand's Catholic legacy, a large wooden cross, is housed in a stone rotunda (built in 1841). The crucifix on show is said to contain remnants from a…

  • Carbon market fish stalls in downtown.

    Carbon Market

    Cebu City

    The sprawling Carbon Market is a boisterous, cacophonous frenzy that seemingly never sleeps. It's a local affair: expect mounds of fruit and vegetables,…

  • Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary

    Cebu City

    This impressive butterfly sanctuary, in tropical gardens surrounding the home of late founder Julian Jumalon, harbours more than 55 species, though…

  • University of San Carlos Museum

    Cebu City

    This well-presented museum is best known for its anthropological and archaeological exhibits, including displays depicting the 16th-century practice of…

  • Hilutangan Island

    Cebu

    Hilutangan Island, about 4km southwest of Olango, is surrounded by a marine sanctuary, although the snorkelling isn't that great as the reefs were damaged…

  • Lake Danao Natural Park

    Leyte

    Lake Danao is beautifully situated in Leyte's inland hills 18km east of town, making it a good day trip from Ormoc. There's some great hiking around the…

  • Tops Lookout

    Cebu City

    This viewpoint, high above the city, is best visited at sunset. Cafes (which open from 4pm) sell drinks and snacks. Some taxi drivers may refuse to tackle…

  • Nalusuan Island

    Cebu

    This tiny island, southwest of Olango, encompasses a marine reserve which is managed privately by Nalusuan Island Resort & Marine Sanctuary. The…

  • Mainit Springs

    Moalboal

    These natural springs in Montañeza, 32km south of Moalboal make an attractive excursion (particularly on weekdays when it's less busy). The hottest spring…

  • Virgin Island

    Bantayan Island

    About an hour's boat ride from Santa Fe in Bantayan, this tropical islet is a popular (perhaps too popular) day trip. The white-sand beach is gorgeous and…

  • Agta Beach

    Eastern Visayas

    About 4km north of Almeria is Agta Beach, with Biliran's largest concentration of resorts, although it's a fairly mediocre stretch of sand and can fill up…

  • Bukilat Cave

    Eastern Visayas

    In the far east of the island, just north of MacArthur, is the remote, well-hidden Bukilat Cave. One inky-black corner is apparently the start of a long…

  • Caohagan Island

    Cebu

    This tiny island off southern Olango has a pretty sandy beach backed by (overpriced) seafood shacks and a fishing village. Locals sells handicrafts…

  • Rice Museum

    Bohol

    The friendly owners of this roadside place will explain about rice cultivation (humay) in Bohol. They have jars full of myriad rice varieties, and some…

  • Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House

    Cebu City

    The atmospheric Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House is among the country's oldest residential homes, built around 1680 from wood and coral stone, its design…

  • Tinago Falls

    Eastern Visayas

    Situated off the cross-country road, Tinago is the most accessible of Biliran's many waterfalls, with a paved access road and concrete bleachers that…

  • Tomalistis Falls

    Eastern Visayas

    On the east coast, and reputed to have exceptionally sweet water, the Tomalistis Falls pour from a cliff face and are accessible only at low tide (or…

  • Lighthouse

    Malapascua Island

    Enjoys striking views over the northern part of the island. Access is via a steep path (it's not signposted and you have to pass through someone's…

  • Logon Beach

    Malapascua Island

    Stunning crescent-shaped Logon Beach on the southwestern side of the island is framed by a wooded promontory and has sheltered aquamarine water. It's…

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