Discover the wonders of Cebu ❤

Cebu is known as the queen city of the South not only because of its scenic views but also because of the warm hospitality of the Cebuanos.

We visited Cebu last April 21-24, 2018. We prepared our DIY Itinerary and made the most of the whole experience. The best thing about DIY Itinerary is that you can experience and discover the places at your own pace. You don't have to hurry moving from one place to another without having the chance to breathe in the ambiance of a place. My idea of travelling is to relax and at the same time to visit famous historical places, discovering different cultural practices and meeting the locals.

Cebu offers a lot of fun activities and cool places that will give you an experience of a lifetime. We've tried some activities and visited places that made a mark in our hearts. See the list below.

Just one tip, since we visited Cebu in Summer, the weather was scorching hot so better bring a cap, an umbrella or anything you need to protect yourself from the heat of the sun, or else you'd be like a human barbecue under it. 😉

1. We visited Basilica del Sto. Nino. This is a huge church which is visited by tourists and locals alike. They conduct open-air mass and art/photo exhibits inside. They have a mini museum along the hallway that showcase portraits of the priests who have been part of the church's history. We, Filipinos believe that if it's your first time in a church, you can make a wish and it will be granted. So, you can give it a try. 😉

2. We rode jeepneys. One interesting piece of information is that jeepneys in Cebu have different codes (it's a combination of a number and a letter) that represent their routes. So be aware of the right jeepney to ride to avoid getting lost in the city. If in doubt, always ask the locals or other passengers and they will help you.

3. Oslob: Swimming with the Whale Sharks

We rode a bus for 3 hours to get to Oslob. We left at 4am since this activity is only until 10am. So it's better to leave early and just sleep on the bus. Bring a thick jacket as it can be chilly inside the bus in the early morning. You will be amazed at how marvelous the whalesharks are. You will be given orientation on the Do's and Don'ts while swimming with the whalesharks. Bring your own gopro so you can take your desired Instagram-worthy pictures with these gentle giants.

4. After swimming with the whale sharks, we treated ourselves to a nice lunch by the beach. The food there is delicious and very affordable.

5. 10,000 Roses and Cafe.

Eventhough this place is quite far, (we rode three jeepneys and one pedicab to get here) when you get there, it's so worth it! This is a famous landmark and shouldn't be missed when you are in Cebu. I think it looks better at night. Just expect a lot of people but nevertheless, you can still take decent pictures. The cafe is a perfect complement to the 10,000 roses. The cafe offers a luxurious and relaxing vibe. They have the most delicious mocha frappe I've ever tasted. The ambiance makes you feel like home.

6. Magellan's Cross. This is a famous historical place in Cebu. There are vendors who sell colored candles which corresponds to the things you want to pray for, like love, good health, money, etc. You can buy a particular colored candle or all the colors and light it in the lighting area near the church.

7. Fort San Pedro. This place will take you back in time as they have a museum of valuable things that were used in the past and historical photos and paintings on the wall.

Even though we haven't been to several places in Cebu, we can't be any happier to reminisce the wonderful places we've been to and the amazing memories we've made together. We came back home refreshed, fulfilled and happy.

P.S. Next time, we'll go international. Stay tuned. ;)

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