The Moalboal Sardine Run is a famous gathering of millions of sardines just 20m from the shore at Panagsama beach. What makes it so special is that there is only one other place in the world where you can see this phenomenon, therefore this is one not to miss on your trip to Cebu.
Not only will you experience the sardines but you can swim close up to turtles, surely we’ve sold you this place already! I hadn’t snorkelled before but Mike did mention this was some of the healthiest marine life he’s seen. Will it stay that way though? We’re unsure as the tourism in this area is booming and you can already see damage starting to happen on the coral heads, therefore if you visit please be mindful and try not to step on the coral.
Here’s everything you need to know before visiting the Sardine Run Moalboal, from price, tour information vs DIY, the best time to visit and if its worth it.
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What Is The Moalboal Sardine Run?
The Sardine Run is a natural phenomenon where millions of sardines gather near the surface to feed on Plankton and stay safe from larger predators, forming a huge bait ball of fish in the process. The Sardine Run on the island of Cebu is the second largest in the world following South Africa and best bit, is that you can access it right from the beachfront, just a stones throw away from the shore is a huge drop-off, perfect for the gathering of Sardines. Whether you dive, snorkel or just swim its truly a once in a lifetime experience to witness.
You can also take a Day-Trip from Moalboal to Pescador Island for some of the best coral!
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Moalboal Sardine Run Best Time
The Sardine Run happens all year round. During the wet season (June – November) sardines migrate to Moalboal, so this is a great time. Do not worry though as we went in the dry season (December – May) and still saw lots of sardines and wildlife. Sometimes it’s even better to go in the dry season as you won’t be at risk of a dangerous typhoon.
The best time to go is in the morning when the fish are most active and the tours haven’t started yet, but we saw them all throughout the day. If you want to miss the crowds head out early on a weekday.
Where Is Panagsama Beach And The Sardine Run?
You can find the beach and snorkelling on the island of Cebu in the town of Moalboal which is south of the island. The best snorkelling place is located at the end of Panagsama road on Panagsama Beach.
How To Get To The Sardine Run In Moalboal?
Public Transport – Bus
Moalboal is easy to get to from Cebu City, you take a bus from the south terminal (they leave every 30 minutes) and the journey will take roughly 3 hours. They have both aircon and open air options, the latter is primarily used by locals and comes at a cheaper price, we recommend the aircon bus which is still reasonably priced.
There are also plenty of Private Taxis available or the option of a Rental Car
Day Trip From Cebu City
You can also book a day trip to Moalboal from the city however that comes at a cost due to the same day transfer fees, as well as guides and food. In our opinion, you need more than one day here – plus it’s great to stay in the town. To help you plan your trip we have created a 150+ page guide that you can take with you.
How To Get Around Moalboal?
When you’re in Moalboal the beach is located at the end of Panagsama road. You can easily catch a tricycle if your hostel is further away or if you’re near the sea you can walk to the front. The beach isn’t the most beautiful but you can find diving schools along the front and some have seating and a café looking out into the sea. We can recommend June Dive school as this is where we rented flippers.
Moalboal Sardine Run Price
You can get a tour which means you will have a guide to point out sea life and help with the all important photo but if you’re on a budget like us you can do it for free (or just by hiring snorkel if it don’t own any). The sardine run Moalboal tour has amazing reviews and gives you the extra confidence to go into deeper water and dive down to where the sardines are.
For the best photos with the Sardines, it really helps to have a guide
DIY
We travel with our snorkelling masks but you can hire a mask for ₽100 down by the beach. We also recommend renting flippers at least once as these will help you dive down an immerse yourself within the sardines. The flippers cost us ₽150 each which is roughly £2.
What Will You See At The Moalboal Sardine Run?
We went snorkelling three times while we stayed in Moalboal. We were lucky enough to see a handful of majestic turtles. They swam so close to use we could see the ornate detail of their shells which is something we’ll never forget. Please remember do not touch the turtles, you are in their habitat so be respectful. As well as these you can also find an abundance of other species and corals however the Sardines & Turtles are the stars of the show here.
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Is The Moalboal Sardine Run Ethical?
In terms of seeing the Sardines, they are not fed and are naturally here. Only locals are allowed to line fish by hand , there is no net fishing allowed. When you enter the beach there is a sign asking you to pay an environmental fee for going on the beach or snorkelling. This wasn’t enforced and it wasn’t clear whether you had to pay or where the money was going.
One thing I’m going to say is we stayed away from tours. The groups are large and often include people who can’t swim. They had to wear life jackets and were pulled along in a rubber ring by a guide. They did sometimes get in the way. One annoying thing we did see was a tour guide touch a turtle with a white stick, it looked like he was taunting it to get a good photo.
Cebu is also home to the beautiful Malapascua Island. One of the only places to dive with Thresher sharks in the world
Why Is Panagsama Beach Good For Snorkelling?
Just 10m out the rock drops away leaving the perfect snorkelling area. The big drop off attracts lots of different sea life. Being so close to shore makes it a prime place to snorkel.
What Should I Take To The Moalboal Sardine Run?
- Snorkel (or hire)
- Flippers (or hire)
- Waterproof Sun Cream
- Mens or Womens Rash vest for UPF Protection
- Go Pro
- Waterproof Phone Case
- Dry Bag
- Microfibre Towel
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
Best Attractions In Moalboal
We stayed 4 nights in Moalboal, this is enough time to visit the famous Kawasan Falls, see the Sardine Run and explore the coast. If you would like to head down to the South of Cebu to visit the islands waterfalls we would recommend staying a little longer. Here’s our highlights.
Top Pick: Kawasan Canyoneering
Jump from 10m and swim through a jungle canyon to the famous Kawasan Falls with its turquoise blue waters. Try and get an early tour to avoid the crowds.
Best Beach: Panagsama Beach
Here you can experience the sardine run, one of the only places in the world where you can snorkel with huge bait balls & turtles! For white sand visit the nearby Basdaku Beach
Best Hike & View: Osmena Peak
The short hike leads to beautiful surroundings of the Canyon and allows you to see the Rainforest from above.
Other Things To Do On Cebu
Best Moalboal Tours
Top Tips For Travelling Cebu
Below we share our favourite tips for travelling Cebu or you can check out our full Cebu Travel Guide.
- 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
