Sunrise

At sunrise the island awakens and Cebu brims with life.

History

It is widely joked that Cebu has two seasons: wet summer, and dry summer. Cebu's wet season, however, is relatively tame in comparison to many other tropical islands. The wet season typically runs from July to December, and the dry season falls between January and June. The average temperature typically ranges from 24-32°C.

Given it's geography at the heart of the Visayan Islands, Cebu typically avoids the strong winds of storms of typhoons. Surrounding islands divert extreme storms and limit their impact on the island.

Nature & Outdoors

Cebu provides the perfect mix of city life and relaxing seclusion. Away from the excitement of Cebu City, the island is covered with a range of diverse geography. Huge national parks with rugged forests, mountains, waterfalls, and mineral springs cover the island's interior and make excellent day treks. The rolling hills and mountain ranges of the interior meet limestone plateaus, plains, and gorgeous white sand beaches along the coast. No matter the location, peace and relaxation can also be found in any of Cebu's diverse environments.

Marine Life & Scuba

Cebu is world-renowned for its rich marine life, crystal clear waters, and first-rate scuba diving. Cebu's waters are host to a variety of colorful corals, ferns, anemones, sponges, and other reef life. Groupers, turtles and sea snakes are among the common encountered residents. There are superb wall dives, shark dives, caverns, and exciting underwater photography opportunities to capture images of the most colorful reef creatures imaginable. Whether you are an experienced scuba diver or a beginner the island's coastal reefs and surrounding islets are truly an underwater paradise.

City Life

The island's natural treasures are sharply contrasted by the hustle and bustle of Cebu City. It is the oldest and second most populated city in the Philippines. By day, there are a wide range of restaurants, shopping malls and modern amenities to explore. The cities rich historical sites are a point of attraction for both tourists and locals. At night the city comes alive with its many new and exciting restaurants, bars, and clubs. Cebu City offers no shortage of activities and things to see.

The People

Cebu’s greatest asset is their fun-loving, friendly and ever smiling people. It is a peaceful island inhabited by warm and hospitable people. Most recently it has become a melting pot of of various nationalities, including the Chinese, Japanese and South Koreans, many of whom have taken up permanent residence. Together they make Cebu a vibrant and diverse atmosphere rich in culture and flavor.

Food

Whether you are trekking in the mountains, chilling out at the beach, or taking a break from diving, Cebu's cuisine is sure to please. The day typically includes three meals, and a mid-afternoon snack. Rice is of course the staple of the diet, but Cebu's cooking relies on its local supply of fresh fruits, seafood, and meats.

Today, culinary diversity abounds in rich fusion-inspired menus. Early Chinese influence introduced rice, soy sauce, and the stir fry method of cooking. Later Spanish trade routes brought the tomato, chili pepper, onion, and garlic to the island. Since then, Cebu's cooking has grown with influence from east Asia, and the West.

Street food in Cebu is popular and is amazingly cheap. Traditional marinated sweet pork or chicken barbeque on sticks is a must-try, along with Halo-Halo, a refreshing mix of grated ice, sweet beans, tropical fruits and ice cream. There are an abundance of tropical fruits sold at the many fruit markets here, but Cebu is famous for its mangoes. They are characterized by their sugar- sweet taste and fragrance.