Oslob and Moalboal - The Travel Guide

Getting out of the Airport ✈️

Using the app Rome2Rio we were able to see that from Cebu airport we needed to get to the bus station (South bus terminal ) and catch a Ceres bus for only for only 140 pesos [£2]. This is a for a 4 hour journey.

When you get out of the airport there will be lots of taxi drivers trying to take you the whole way to Oslob for around 3000 pesos.

White taxi’s are cheaper and you should always ask for meter as this will save you lots of money. On the way to the bus station our driver agreed to take us to Oslob for 1800 Pesos as we weren’t aware we had arrived on a Holy Day. The traffic was horrendous and the bus would have taken 6 hours so we agreed.

Accommodation in Oslob 🏠

In Oslob

New Village Lodge

We stayed here which we found on Agoda. The location was great and very close to everything we needed. The rooms are very clean and the WIFI is great in the reception area. They can help you plan all your trips you want to do from Oslob and arrange pick ups which is super helpful!

Noordzee Hostel

Another great accommodation which is located on a beautiful beach and the hostel itself is close to the ports with boats taking you to Bohol or Siquior.

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Things to do

Whale Sharks 🐋

Oslob is home to the famous Whale Shark experience. Here are some popular Whale Sharks FAQ

Time to get there? ⌚ – As early as you can to beat the crowds. We left our hotel at 5:30am and was in the water with the Sharks by 6:15.

How long does it take?⌛ – The whole trip takes roughly an hour depending on crowds but you get 30 minutes in the water.

Is there a safe place for belongings?🔒 – There is nowhere to leave bags or valuables so if you are doing this without a driver to look after your things, only take your camera and a towel.

How much is it to swim with the whales? 💸 1000 pesos per person and our travel to and from the Sharks cost us 300 pesos.

What do I bring? 📷 – Take your GoPro as it is a huge one ticked off both of our bucket lists!

What shall I wear?👙 – We recommend swimming suits with something over the top. Thats all you need as you will have to wear a life jacket.

This is a hugely controversial subject. Many people do not agree with the fishermen feeding them for a tourist attraction and beleive it is changing the feeding habits of the Sharks. Others believe it is keeping this once endangered species alive. Make of it what you will but I would suggest going with an open mind. Both times I have swam with these giants I arrived in Oslob not convinced if I would take part. This time (2018) swimming with the whale sharks was totally different. The locals have a much better structured interaction and seem to be handling the influx of tourists well. I did no witness any sharks being touched or bashing into the boats which I did witness in 2017.

Whale Shark Swimming - Oslob and Moalboal

Tumalog Falls and Aguinid Falls

The furthest of the two being a 40 minute drive away from Oslob town.

How much is the entrance fee?💸 They both have a 40-60 peso per person fee to enter and the whole journey cost us 500 Peso each.

What time should we get to these waterfalls?⌚ Both waterfalls can get very busy so I advise to go early again to beat the crowds.

Can I swim there?🏊🏽 – Tumalog is a pretty huge and you are able to swim. Aguinid falls is less swimmable. To get there, you trek up the waterfall with a guide. I wore wet shoes which saved my life as flipflops slide off the vertical walls you will walk up and I took my wet bag with me too.

The guide is free but they expect a tip.

TUMALOG FALLS - OSLOB AND MOALBOAL, PHILIPPINES

Oslob Heritage Park

Take a walk around this lovely building right on the water front of Oslob town.

Getting from Oslob to Moalboal 🚕

From the main road in Oslob we caught the Ceres Bus which is 40 peso per person. We got this bus to Bato where you get another bus from Bato to Moalboal which costs 90 peso per person. There are two buses, one with aircon and one without and I would wait for the aircon bus as it takes around 3 hours for this journey.

Pronounced Mo-ahl-bo-ahl

The main town of Moalboal is 90km from Cebu city, on the west side of the island. The part everyone goes to and talks about is actually called Panagsana Beach. In resent years Panagsana Beach has become internationally renowned for the incredible Sardine run just meters offshore 🐟 This tiny town is the most touristy part of the island we have come across. There are lots of bars and restaurants and is a great place to meet people.

🏧 In Moalboal its self there is an ATM but in Panagsana Beach there is only 1 ATM which doesn’t always work.🏧

Accommodation in Moalboal 🏠

We stayed at a lovely lodge called Divers Lodge which was 1500 peso a night for a luxury room..by luxury we mean a working shower and fan but the owner did hook us up with a great moped to rent for the whole time we were there.

Things to do in Moalboal 💦

Panagsana beach 🐢

This is a very small beach. You can hire a snorkel and flippers from a nearby shop and swim out to see millions of sardines. This beach is also home to hundreds of turtles 🐢 which are only meters off shore. No trip needed, swim out and see the turtles eating along the reef. The best spot to see these turtles are to the left side of the beach. We spotted 5 turtles within an hour.

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White Beach 🌞

If you are after a better beach, White Beach is about a 15 minute moped ride away which is mostly locals but it is a nice beach and not busy during the week. There are two goverment tolls on the way which I think were 5 pesos each. Famously beautiful beach.

Kawasan Falls

I have done the canyoneering here before and it is really fun and exciting but it is hard! It takes a moderate level of fitness and swimming and it does take 3 hours to finish.

TRAVEL TIP ↠ Save your GoPro battery for the end of the canyoneering as it is the most beautiful part.

If you don’t want to do the trekking, you can head straight to the bottom where it is 50 peso to park your moped and 75 peso to enter and you can swim around the bottom famously pictured waterfall. It does get very busy so go early as possible and head up to the left of the waterfall just above it to get some different shots to everyone else. Find more info on the perfect Instagram shots at this waterfall here.