The truth is, in order to get to the postcard beaches in Cebu, you’ve got to travel a little bit out of the city centre (about 90 minutes away). This would be the island of Bohol, where the Moalboal and Alona beaches are almost exact replicas of what you see on posters and in Cebu beachwear advertisements. For dive enthusiasts, they’ll be heartened by the country’s reputation for scenic dive sites.
If you have to choose, the ones at Bohol are rated as some of the finest in the world, with clear azure waters replete with corals and life deep down. Colourful sea slugs, turtles, starfishes, anemones – the marine ecosystem is as vibrant as it gets. Bohol itself is located to the east of Cebu, separated by a narrow strait which can be easily overcome by a one and a half-hour ferry ride. You’d step foot on Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital, and a 30-minute car ride will allow you to reach Panglao Island, where a series of accommodation options and dive centres are located. One example is the Alona beach stretch as mentioned – a short walk from a couple of affordable resorts – lining up heaps of bars, restaurants and myriad shops that open till late. If you’re keen to explore the area further, do not hesitate to sign up for a land or boat tour. This would prove to be inordinately easy as there are numerous people touting these services – which would allow you to drive a good, decent bargain.
