Moalboal is a must on any travellers bucket list, known for Kawasan Falls canyoneering and the famous Sardine Snorkelling. Whether you’re looking for adventure or a backpacking community this town is a must-visit, in fact it’s our favourite town on the island of Cebu.
Getting from Cebu City to Moalboal is easy and affordable, with multiple transport options including buses and private transfers. Moalboal is a tourist hotspot with lots of things to do, and a great addition to any itinerary.
In this guide, we’ll break down the fastest, cheapest, and most convenient ways to get from Cebu City to Moalboal as well as share travel times, costs and tips for a smooth journey.
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Direct Bus
3-4 Hours
From $4 pp
Private Taxi
3 Hours
From $68 pp
Where Is Cebu City In The Philippines
Cebu City is located on the island of Cebu in the Visayas Region and is the main city of the island with a large international airport. Most travellers will arrive via Mactan-Cebu Airport before making their way into the hectic Filipino City. From here travellers start their Cebu Itinerary.
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Where Is Moalboal In The Philippines?
Moalboal is a coastal town located on the southwestern side of Cebu Island.The town is about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Cebu City, making it popular with both locals looking to escape the city and tourists heading to Panagsama Beach.
How To Get From Cebu City To Moalboal
Cebu City To Moalboal: Bus
Direct Bus
3-4 Hours
From $4 pp
Luckily, getting the bus to Moalboal is straightforward. In fact, it was the very first journey of our first backpacking adventure!
Now, I know I’ve said it was straightforward, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t adventurous… or at least it was for us at the time.
Right, enough yapping—here’s how to get from Cebu City to Moalboal by bus.
Cebu City South Bus Terminal
The bus from Cebu City to Moalboal leaves from the south bus terminal. We found the easiest way to navigate Cebu City to be Grab, the taxis are super affordable and weave through the hectic traffic full of scooters and jeepneys. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative you could check out the buses or jeepneys however with Grab being so affordable we think this is the better option.
Having been on the road for a while we now understand the importance of mobile data, especially for ordering grabs! At the start of our backpacking journey we wouldn’t splurge on data, we wanted to save every penny, but we quickly learnt we needed it on travel days. We recommend Airalo, an E-Sim perfect if you’re always on the go!
When we arrived at the bus terminal, our taxi had to pay a fee to enter the drop off zone, actually we paid the fee and we’d recommend asking your Grab driver to drop you off just outside the terminal to avoid this!
Once you’re at Cebu City South Terminal you need to head to the ticket booth to buy your bus to Moalboal. This was easy enough and the tickets are super cheap at ₱209 ($4) per person. Once you have your ticket, the QR code will allow you through the barrier and to the waiting area where there are a few local stalls selling food and drink, although we also had vendors on the bus.
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Cebu City To Moalboal Bus Schedule
Island time is a wonderful thing and in the Philippines that even stretches to the busy cities so of course there is no exact bus timetable for Cebu City to Moalboal bus. Instead the buses run every 30-minutes or so between 6am and 10pm… but of course be prepared to wait an unspecified amount of time.
Throughout the day there are both A/C and Non A/C buses, we don’t recommend the non-A/C buses, they are incredibly cramped and we even saw people half out the window trying to cool off while the bus was speeding through the city! Wait the extra 30 minutes and hop on the A/C bus from Cebu City to Moalboal for a more comfortable journey.
Bus To Moalboal Our Experience
When we arrived at the bus terminal we were lucky and got straight on an A/C bus that wasn’t too busy and had other travellers that we could socialise with.
The buses from Cebu City to Moalboal aren’t exactly what you’d call comfortable. In fact, my first seat wasn’t even attached, and I could pick up the cushion! Many of the seats were covered in plastic, but we were so excited to be on the road that we didn’t mind at all!
The bus made two stops along the way where we could use the toilet or grab some food. Do you remember earlier when I mentioned the vendors? Well, we saw peanuts being sold, bags and bags of pork scratchings and loads of things we had no idea what they were!
The bus ride took 3 hours and we were dropped off in the main town of Moalboal by the Jolibees. Depending where you are staying you might then need further transport to your accommodation.
How to Reach Panagsama Beach
Most tourists and travellers actually stay at Panagsama beach which is 5km away from Moalboal town. When your bus arrives there will be plenty of locals waiting to offer you a tricycle ride to your accommodation. To keep costs reasonable, agree on a price before you get in or share with other travellers from your bus.
A ride to Panagasma should be no more than 200PHP.
We opted to walk to our accommodation, Southpoint Hostel, as it was only 10-minutes away, you can explore other accommodation in Moalboal here.
Once you’re in Moalboal there’s lots to do, check out the unmissable things to do in Moalboal!
Cebu City To Moalboal: Private Car/Taxi
Private Taxi
3 Hours
From $68 pp
Although a private car is more expensive to get from Cebu City to Moalboal it will no doubt be more comfortable, take less time and if you’re travelling in a group might be an option to consider. Your driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Cebu City and drop you off at your accommodation in Moalboal.
How To Get From Cebu Airport To Moalboal
Private Taxi
3 Hours
From $68 pp
If you’re wondering how to get from Cebu Airport to Moalboal you can organise a private driver to pick you right outside or hire a grab to take you to the Cebu City South Bus Terminal. The taxi journey from the airport to the bus station takes 25 minutes.
Heading to Siquijor next? Check out how to get from Moalboal to Siquijor
Best Time To Visit Moalboal
Best Places To Stay In Moalboal
Moalboal has lots of accommodation to choose from, whether you’re looking for a dive school, a luxury resort or a budget hostel you’ll be able to find somewhere. We recommend staying close to Panagsama Beach, this is where most of the restaurants are located as well as easy access to most of the island’s attractions.
Best Places To Stay In Moalboal
$ Budget
Southpoint Hostel
A great place on Panagsama Road that is affordable if you’re on a budget. Equipped with a small restaurant run by the owners and aircon it’s perfect for backpackers. You will need to get a short tricycle ride down to the beach front.
$$ Mid-Range
Crazy Bears Hostel
With everything just a walk away, the location of Crazy Bears is perfect for solo and couple backpackers. With a/c and an onsite restaurant this is a great hostel for meeting fellow travellers.
$$$ High-End
Kasai Village Dive Resort
Equipped with a swimming pool, sea views, hot tub and restaurant Kasai Village Dive Resort has everything you need all in one place. Experience the perfect blend of tranquillity and adventure.
Spacing
Top Tips For Travelling Cebu
Below we share our favourite tips for travelling Cebu:
- Cebu City is the second biggest hub in the Philippines, so expect chaos!
- Oslob’s Whale Shark swimming is really unethical for the animals!
- Moalboal is an amazing hub for backpackers for snorkelling and sunset drinks at Panagsama Beach
- When travelling around the Philippines in a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, agree on a price upfront and try to have the right change handy.
- Use an E-sim like Airalo to stay connected and remove the hassle of a physical SIM
- Malapascua is home to some of the only Thresher Shark diving in the world
- Don’t skip Kawasan Falls, the canyoneering tour early in the morning was one of our major highlights
