“Moalboal.”
If you’re thinking of traveling to Cebu, I’ll bet you’ve already heard of it.
Why?
Because Moalbaol is the go-to spot for every nature-lover in Cebu, tourists and locals alike.
With stunning coral reefs, playful marine creatures, pristine white-sand beaches, sparkling waves, and lively nightlife…
…this little town on the southwest of the island is the perfect weekend (or longer!) getaway for you.
But what exactly can you do in Moalboal?
Great question with an easy answer!
Here are 13 Moalboal tourist spots you NEED to visit in 2025!
Note: check out my full Moalboal travel guide here.
My Top 13 Spots to Visit in Moalboal (They Can Be Yours Too!)
Moalboal is a GREAT place to visit, especially in the summer when the weather is warm and you’re craving for a swim.
But where should you head to once you arrive in the bustling little town?
Here are 13 spots I’ll recommend any day:
- Moalboal Sardine Run
- Moalboal Turtle Point
- Moalboal Mermaid Statue
- White Beach
- Moalboal Plaza
- Colase Sanctuary in Samboan
- Kawasan Canyoneering
- Inambakan Falls
- Dao Falls
- Osmena Peak
Note: Not all these spots can be found in Moalboal itself.
Moalboal is a small town that you can literally walk through (if you like walking).
However, I thought to add tourist spots close to Moalboal, you can get to with a quick bus or motorcycle ride.
That’s because who knows how long you plan to stay?
If you’re staying longer than 3 days, you should definitely check the other sites out!
Now, before we dive into the tourist spots, here’s a quick word on:
How to Get Around Moalboal (The Best Way)
Yes, Moalboal is small.
The tourist spots are close to each other, and you can walk to each one if you’re the type who likes exercise.
However, I recommend renting a motorcycle to drive around.
That’s because there’s so much to explore so close to Moalboal!
Yes, you can walk from Panagsama Beach to your hotel room or the nearest local restaurant.
If you’re only staying a day or two, maybe you should do just that.
But if you’re staying longer and want to explore and experience more?
Rent a motorcycle and drive yourself around.
This costs only PHP350-500, and you can find rental places all over Moalboal town and Panagsama strip.
All right!
Now we’re ready to get into:
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #1: Moalboal Sardine Run
Photo by: John Cuyos @_bad.jaw_
If you could go to only ONE spot in Moalboal, I would tell you:
“Visit the Moalboal Sardine Run.”
Seriously, you can’t say you visited Moalboal without seeing this amazing spot.
This is its main attraction, and boy, is it mindblowing.
Imagine yourself swimming in cool, pristine water.
All around you, you are wrapped in blueness – different shades of it, from cerulean to turquoise.
You can’t even see the ocean floor beneath you.
You’re suspended, floating, feeling like flying.
And then you see them below you.
Silver glints in the water, and a low, strange, free sound, like wing beats.
The sardines!
Hundreds of thousands of them, mingling, merging, forming, and disintegrating.
You can dive in to be with them, or simply watch them in awe from the surface.
Photo by: John Cuyos @_bad.jaw_
I tell you, this sight changed my life.
I went from wide-eyed tourist clinging on to a floater to fully-fledged freediving instructor encouraging everyone to just…go see those sardines!
Trust me, it’s a sight you’ll never forget.
Entrance Fee: Php0 – Php100 (depending on where you enter)
Opening Hours: No opening hours, however, it’s best to come here early morning
How to Get Here:
The sardine run is found in Panagsama Beach. Once you get to the beach, just swim out a few meters, and you’ll find the sardines hanging out around the drop.
You can get a guide for around php300 – php500.
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #2: Moalboal Turtle Point
Photo by: John Cuyos @_bad.jaw_
Ever swim with a sea turtle?
It’s a magnificent experience.
These dignified, majestic creatures glide gracefully through the water.
If you swim up beside them, they will glance at you out of the corners of their deep, dark eyes.
Here’s a fun fact: the turtles of Moalboal aren’t afraid of swimmers, snorkelers, and divers.
They won’t shy away from you or hide from you in the deep end of the sea.
Probably it’s because they’re used to tourists checking them out.
So if you visit Moalboal Turtle Point, you can see turtles lying in the shallow water, sleeping in beds of corals, and even eating in the grassy area near the beach.
You can dive in beside them, lie in the water next to them, and just enjoy the peace and majesty of their presence.
Photo by: John Cuyos @_bad.jaw_
Don’t miss it.
Entrance Fee: php0 – php100 (depending on where you enter)
Opening Hours: N/A
How to Get Here:
The turtles also hang out in Panagsama Beach, in the shallow areas next to the sardines. If you swim around this area, there’s a BIG chance you’ll run into a turtle.
You could also look for where the tourists are. Or, if you have a guide for the sardines, ask him to find some turtles for you!
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #3: The Mermaid Statue
Photo by: John Cuyos @_bad.jaw_
See the photo above?
Haunting, isn’t it?
You can almost feel the mermaid’s longing as she gazes out to the deeper end of the sea.
You can feel time move as she waits to become flesh again and disappear beneath the darkness of the ocean.
But for now, she sits there, impassive eyes gazing into the blue depths.
That’s Moalboals’ mermaid statue, and if you’re in the area, you can go and pay her a visit.
She rests 4-6 meters below the surface (depending on the tide), and you can dive in and swim around her rust-colored torso.
It’s a haunting experience, especially if you do it at night.
YES, we did it at night!
I remember her strange form beneath the waves, her silhouette in the dark, the green and rust of algae cloaking her human and fish parts.
If you love underwater photos, you shouldn’t miss this spot.
Photo by: John Cuyos @_bad.jaw_
I mean, wouldn’t you love to have pictures like this to remember your trip by?
Entrance Fee: N/A
Opening Hours: N/A
How to Get Here:
Head over to Moalboal Treeshade Resort. Take the road that leads all the way to the water, then dive in!
The mermaid statue is not far from the shore.
Want to know more about freediving in Moalboal? Check out my complete guide here.
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #4: White Beach
After a long day diving with the sardines and turtles, you’ll want to sit back, relax, and watch the sunset fade into the horizon.
Looking for the perfect spot to chill and rest those aching muscles?
You got it: Moalboal’s White Beach.
White Beach is a long stretch of powdery-white sand and crystal-clear waters. (Yup! That’s where the name White Beach comes from – obviously.)
Vacationers and locals alike love to sit at the sea’s edge with picnic blankets spread out with snacks.
Want to go for a cool-down swim?
Why not?
The waters in this area are shallow, and you don’t need to worry about the ground sloping down into a sudden cliff.
In fact, this is the perfect place to bring the kids if you don’t want them swimming in the deep waters of Panagsama (where the sardine run can be found).
What to bring when you visit White Beach: a blanket, a book, and all the snacks you can lay your hands on!
Entrance Fee: PHP10
Opening Hours: N/A
How to Get Here:
From Panagsama, take a tricycle to White Beach, or search it in Google Maps and drive there with your scooter!
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #5: Moalboal Plaza
Ok, let’s move to something outside of the water.
Maybe you’re not a diver, and don’t even enjoy swimming.
So why not head to a cultural spot where you can watch the sun go down over Moalboal?
Perfect spot for you: Moalboal Plaza.
The plaza is set in the center of town, and it’s a mixture of soft green grass and glinting ocean views.
The sun goes down right in front of it, so if you make it in time, you’re in for some spectacular celestial color shows.
If you’re craving a snack, you can always grab a bag of green mango sticks with hipon (salted baby shrimp dyed a bright pink), fried peanuts with garlic, or kwek-kwek (battered, deep-fried quail eggs).
Sometimes, the people here also play Netflix movies on the stage, so you can sit down on the grass and watch!
Entrance Fee: N/A
Opening Hours: N/A
How to Get Here:
Moalboal Plaza is found close to the highway, a couple of minutes away from the main tourist zone.
You can take a tricycle or habal-habal here. Or pin it in Google Maps and head there on your own.
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #6: Colase Marine Sanctuary in Samboan
Ok, ok!
It’s time to head out of Moalboal.
Let’s say you’ve already spent 3 days in Moalbaol and seen all the tourist spots there.
You’ve dived with the sardines, swam with the turtles, took photos with the mermaid statue, chilled at White Beach, and watched the sun go down in the plaza.
Well, it’s time to head to Samboan!
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don’t have photos of Colase Marine Sanctuary.
We didn’t bring a GoPro when we dived there, and could only take our memories back with us.
But here’s the thing: You HAVE to see it if you’re in the area.
Colase Sanctuary is breathtakingly stunning.
Huge corals branching out just 3 meters below the surface, ranging from rusty colors to bright green and orange.
Schools of fish playing in the clear blue shades of the water.
A magnificent turtle or two.
And yes…baby black-tip sharks!
The reef is alive and teeming with movement, and you’ll leave feeling stunned and up to your ears with joy.
Note: Colase Marine Sanctuary is 60 kilometers away from Moalboal town, and it will take you an hour to an hour and a half to drive yourself there.
Entrance Fee: N/A
Opening Hours: N/A
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #7: Kawasan Canyoneering
Just a town over from Moalboal, you’ll find arguably the most exhilarating experience you can go on in the Philippines:
The Kawasan Canyoneering Tour!
It all starts with a quick briefing at the jumpoff area.
Once you know all the safety guidelines, you get paired up with a guide. The guides here are 1-on-1, meaning you’ll have your own personal guide all throughout the adventure.
From there, you can either walk down to the jumpoff, which takes rouhgly 15-20 minutes, or you can ride a zipline down for an extra php600.
Either way, you’ll arrive at a strikingly blue river. So blue, you can easily mistake it for Gatorade!
Then the thrilling part: you have to jump in!
The jumps start short, like 5 feet and 10 feet. But it gradually gets taller and taller, until you reach a diving board 30 feet up!
You can also hop on a Tarzan swing for 20 pesos. Or stand in this dam that’s gushing with water.
At the end of the 3-5 hour adventure, you’ll find the majestic Kawasan Falls. The perfect end to an amazing adventure.
After swimming around for about 30 minutes to an hour, your tour organizer should have lunch for you, before taking you back to Moalboal.
Entrance Fee: Php2,100 (base), php2,400 (with tranpso)
Opening Hours: Morning
How to Get Here:
The best way to get here is by signing up for a tour in Moalboal. You can find tour operators in Panagsama Beach, or just ask your hotel — they should have contact information here.
If you’re driving, you can also head to Badian, and you’ll find many canyoneering offices around where you can just walk in and sign up.
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #8: Inambakan Falls
If canyoneering isn’t your thing, but you still want to see a brilliant blue waterfall, Inambakan Falls in Ginatilan is a great spot you can visit!
The waterfalls here are arguably better than Kawasan (maybe that’s just me).
And the best part?
It isn’t quite as crowded as Kawasan!
Aside from Inambakan, there are many, many other falls in nearby towns that you can visit. Inambakan is one of the very bests, but the others are also well worth a visit (especially since they aren’t as crowded as the more popular Kawasan).
Entrance Fee: Php70
Opening Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #9: Dao Falls
Another waterfall that is 100% worth visiting is Dao Falls in Samboan.
It’s a bit further away than the other falls (1.5 hours away from Moalboal), but it’s so beautiful, you just have to visit if you have the time!
There’s also a mini trek to get to Dao Falls that takes about 30 minutes, but it’s nothing too extreme like canyoneering.
At the end, you’ll find a super unique waterfall that you can enjoy all to yourself (because few people visit).
Entrance Fee: Php200 (Guide fee by donation, roughly php200-300)
Opening Hours: 7 am – 4:30 pm (cutoff 3 pm)
Best Moalboal Tourist Spots #10: Osmena Peak
Osmena Peak is a famous camping ground around 30 kilometers from Moalboal in a town called Dalaguete.
It’s well-known as the highest peak of Cebu, with an altitude of 1,013 MASL.
But no, it’s not a stiff, difficult climb.
You can drive most of the way to the jump-off point, then hike 15-30 minutes to the peak.
This is a super beginner-friendly hike/camp that can be enjoyed by kids, older people, and even those who have never hiked up a hill before.
Plus, the place is spectacular.
Think huge, bright stars at night, a view of the sea between Cebu and Negros, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, greenery, fresh air, and the solace that only nature can bring.
So, go on!
Pack a tent, bring some camping food, and spend a night or two stargazing at the top of Osmena Peak!
Entrance Fee: PHP30
Opening Hours: Officially 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, however you can arrive at any time if you know the way.
How to Get Here:
If you’re driving a motorbike, take note that the road from Moalboal to Dalaguete is still under construction. You can pass it, by if you’re not an experienced motorbike driver, I don’t recommend trying because it’s difficult! For inexperienced drivers, there’s a fully paved road from Alegria town to Osmena Peak.
Ready to Visit the Best Moalboal Tourist Spots?
I love Moalboal.
It’s the place I go to when I’m feeling tired, stressed, or simply bored.
There’s nothing like sun, sand, and sea to put me right in the mood again.
And here’s what I’m sure of: you’ll love it too.
From sugary white sands to a huge ball of sardines, snacks by the sea to majestic turtles…
…Moalboal has it all.
How about you?
Have you been to Moalboal?
What’s your favorite tourist spot there?
Note: Don’t forget to read my full Moalboal travel guide here.