Cebu, a famous tourist Philippine destination for its beautiful beaches and magnificent waterfalls. Cebu is well-known for so many good stuff and among them are South Cebu’s Waterfalls Hopping, Canyoneering, Sardine Run, or Trekking at Cebu’s highest point the Osmeña Peak. Others rather prefer the northern part of Cebu in Bantayan or Camotes for the breathtaking long stretch white sand beaches and of course thresher shark diving in Malapascua. But Cebu is not just the south and the north, there is also the western part that is yet to be explored. Today, let me guide you to the beauty of northwest Cebu.
Northwest Cebu Travel Guide
This 3-day itinerary started at Toledo City going to the towns of Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, Tabuelan, San Remigio, Bantayan, and a side trip to Danao.
First Day Toledo City and Balamban
| Particular | Cost | Note |
| Going to Toledo | ||
| Meet up at Cebu South bus Terminal | The early you start the better | |
| Bus ride to Toledo City | 80.00 php | Non-Ac bus, 80.00 php for AC bus |
| Drop at Lutopan, Toledo Market | ||
| Hire habal-habal to Biga Pit (roundtrip) | 200.00 php | Per person. Habal-habal can accommodate 2 persons |
| View Biga Pit | ||
| Habal-habal back to Lutopan market (near the church) | ||
| Ride jeepney to Toledo City Proper | 20.00 php | You have an option to wait for a bus, but it is mostly full |
| Drop at Toledo City proper | ||
| Ride motorcycle/pedicab to Capilla Santa Ana Museum | 8.00 php | |
| Capilla Santa Ana Museum and Community Center | 100.00 php | Guided tour inside the museum. 200.00 php fee for foreigners and 50.00 php for students. |
| Labyrinth | Located in the grounds of Capilla Santa Ana Museum | |
| Ride motorcycle/pedicab back to Toledo proper | 8.00 php | |
| Lunch in an eatery near Mcdo and Jollibee | 70.00 php | 280 php for 4 persons |
| Going to Balamban | ||
| Walk to bus/jeep/multicab stop | ||
| Ride multicab to Balamban | 25.00 php | |
| Drop at Balamban proper | ||
| Hire habal-habal for Balamban tour | 140.00 php | Per person. Habal-habal can accommodate 2 persons |
| Foressa Trail | Open 7 am to 4 pm | |
| Cambuhawe Spring | Parking Fee: 10 motorcycles, 50 for 4-wheel vehicle | |
| Balamban Market for snacks | 30.00 php | Visit Senyang Pasalubong and Snack Counter |
| Balamban Baywalk for Sunset viewing and dinner | 87.50 php | Barbeque – 150 php and Liempo – 200 php |
| Rest at your hotel/lodge/Airbnb | We stayed at a friend’s place |
Toledo City
Toledo City is 56.5km via Naga – Uling Rd and 47.3km via Cebu – Toledo Wharf Rd or Toledo – Manipis Rd. The city is famous for the mining industry and now is starting to be known for its hiking trails.
What to Do in Toledo City
As mentioned there are several hiking trails in Toledo City but here are the must go to places when in Toledo City.
Capilla Santa Ana Museum and Community Center
Capilla Santa Ana Museum and Community Center were built in 2011 by the Tesari Charitable Foundation to serve as a multi-purpose building for charitable and religious works. The place has a chapel that can accommodate around 200 persons and chambers that house 18th and 19th-century religious icons, relics, and artworks from Europe and around the world. The Gaite family acquired and gathered the exhibits and also runs and preserves the place.
Labyrinth of Capilla Santa Ana
Situated in the grounds of Capilla Santa Ana and is one of the picturesque parts of the place. It has a diameter of 25 meters and as per our guide, it will take one whole rosary prayer or 5 minutes of walking, or 2 minutes of light running to reach the center of the labyrinth.
Biga Pit
Biga Pit as I may say is a beauty at nature’s expense. A controversial man-made lake with a stunning beauty but depressing story. Biga Pit is a huge tailings deposit facility owned by Carmen Copper Corporation popularly known by locals as Atlas Mining. There where news reports in 2012 that world war two era bombs discovered in Kawit Island were then taken to Biga Pit to be detonated.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lutopan
While waiting for our jeepney, I witnessed a beautiful church near the jeepney stop and it is the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
Other Places to visit in Toledo City
Here are other places I found online to go to when visiting Toledo City, most of these places are for trekking. Malubog Lake, Malubog Falls, Malubog Tunnel, Tagaytay Hill, Mount New Bucao, Mount Putting Bato, Udlom Peak, Mount Makatol, and Lapos-lapos cave.
Town of Balamban
Balamban is 52.8km from Cebu City via Cebu Transcentral Hwy. It is 24.6km from Toledo City via Antonio Y De Pio National Hwy. because of the Transcentral Hwy, it is now easy to take a break away from the city and embark an adventure with nature.
What to do in Balamban
Tourist attractions in Balamban have been sprouting like mushrooms. Coffee shops here and there as well as restaurants and adventure parks.
Foressa Trail
Formerly known as Canso X is an estate own by the AboitizLand. A 250-hectare mountain land developed to be Foressa Mountain Town. This place is developed for homeowners and everyone who enjoys outdoor nature activity such as hiking, trekking, biking, and camping. The place was already close when we got there so we were not able to roam around.
Cambuhawe Spring Pool
It is a spring pool enjoyed by the locals then helped developed by Tsuneishi Heavy Industries. It has one huge swimming pool and a mini river on the side.
Balamban Market
What best thing to learn more about the place is to visit the public market and enjoy all the goodies it has to offer? We particularly visited Senyang Pasalubong and Snack Counter in which we are told baked the best Filipino snacks and offers refreshing buko juice and oh! They are so right.
Balamban Baywalk
To cap the activity of the day is to wait for the sunset at Balamban Baywalk. Enjoy watching the amazing sunset as you wait for your food (barbeque) to be cooked. Then just buy a liempo at the market and dinner is ready. Below is a beautiful sunset photo from my good friend Mark Monta who has also published an article about this trip.
Saint Francis of Assisi Parish
Before starting day 2 of our trip we visited Saint Francis of Assisi Parish to hear mass and pray for guidance for the rest of the journey.
Other Things to Do and See in Balamban
Mt. Manunggal, Mt. Mauyog, Buwakan ni Alejandra, Baguio de Cebu Eco Mountain Adventures, D’Village Antique House, West 35 Eco Mountain Resort, Adventure Café, Florentino’s Little Tagaytay of Cebu, and JVR Island in the Sky.
Second Day: Asturias, Tuburan, and Tabuelan
| Particular | Cost | Note |
| Ride a Pedicab to Saint Francis of Assisi Church | 8.00 php | Attend Mass |
| Going to Asturias | ||
| Walk to the National Road to wait for van/jeep/multicab going to Asturias | It is at the back of the church | |
| Ride a Van going to Bago Asturias | 25.00 php | The van is headed to Tuburan |
| Drop at Brgy. Bago, Asturias the junction going to Buswang Lake | Just inform the driver | |
| Hire a habal-habal to Buswang lake (roundtrip) | 50.00 php | Per person. Habal-habal can accommodate 2 persons |
| Enjoy Buswang Lake | ||
| Back to Bago Junction and wait for V-hire bound to Tuburan | ||
| Going to Tuburan | ||
| Ride v-hire bound to Tuburan | 25.00 php | |
| Drop-off is at Tuburan Public Market | ||
| Negotiate habal-habal to go to Marmol Cliff (roundtrip) per habal-habal can accommodate 2 persons | 400.00 php | Marmol Cliff is a bit far. Contact Roldan at 09424554087 |
| Enjoy Marmol Cliff | ||
| Back at Tuburan Public Market | ||
| Going to Tabuelan | ||
| At the public market wait for a v-hire or bus going to Tabuelan | 40.00 php | This is bus fare. Other option is hire the habal-habal to get you to Tabuelan 250.00 php per trip per habal-habal |
| Drop off at Tabuelan Public Market | ||
| From Market hire a habal-habal to Maravilla Beach Resort | 70.00 php | Ask the driver to drop you off at Maravilla Public Beach where most of the lodging place is located |
| CLICK HERE on Where to Stay in Tabuelan | ||
| Eat Late Lunch | 100.00 php | |
| Enjoy the Beach | ||
| Enjoy the Sunset | ||
| Enjoy the rest of the night |
Town of Asturias
Asturias is located 74.3km from Cebu City via Cebu Transcentral Hwy and 71.9km via Central Nautical Hwy. It is in the center of Balamban in the south, Tuburan in the north, Tañon Strait in the west and Danao City in the east.
What to Do in Asturias
A laid back town rich in natural wonders thus nature adventure are the best things to do in Asturias, Cebu.
Buswang Lake
Buswang Lake is Asturias’s major tourist attraction and is the biggest body of fresh water in mainland Cebu. “Buswang” is a Cebuano word which mean “to flow” or “to burst”. Buswang means water flowing out from the mountains.
I have read several old blog posts about the offerings of Buswang Lake like kayaking to explore the vastness of the lake but when we visited there it is still beautiful but there is no option to explore the lake. There are locals though resting under a nipa hut.
I hope the government of Asturias or Cebu province will do something to improve the place for people to enjoy it the most and of course to help locals in terms of tourism.
Other things to do and places to visit in Asturias
There are several springs in Asturias you can visit like Agtugop Cold Spring in barangay Agtugop and San Roque Hot Spring in barangay San Roque. You can also enjoy the beaches of Asturias, not white sand but the seawater is really good.
Town of Tuburan
Tuburan is located 91.9km away from Cebu City via Cebu Transcentral Hwy and Antonio Y De Pio National Hwy. Another option is via the Central Nautical Hwy and it is 83.6km away. Tuburan is derived from the Cebuano word “Tubod” which means spring because of the abundance of spring water in the town.
What to do in Tuburan
There are so many things to do in Tuburan, Cebu that will entice your life of adventure. You can enjoy the view of an amazing cliff, visit several springs and of course who would not want to go to the beach.
Marmol Cliff
Marmol Cliff is made up of two huge rocks with a river passage in between. Marmol is derived from the English word “marble” because the two huge rock formations that line the passageway of the river is as smooth as marble stones.
The river is shallow during summer but it rises up to 20 feet during rainy days. Going to Marmol Cliff is an adventure itself for you will be riding your vehicle on the river.
Other things to do and places to visit in Tuburan
Other things and places to do in Tuburan include visiting Tuburan Coffee Farm, Molobolo Spring, Lantawan Lookout or Lantawan Tunnel, Arcadio Maxilom Park, Little Baguio Beach (brown sand), and Vidar beach (white sand).
Town of Tabuelan
Tabuelan is 96.7km away from Cebu City via Central Nautical Hwy and 103km away via Cebu Transcentral Hwy and Antonio Y De Pio National Hwy.
Check Here on How to Go to Tabuelan
Things to do in Tabuelan
Tabuelan is best known for its beautiful white sand beach but there are more things to do in Tabuelan than just the beach.
Maravilla White Sand Beach
A public beach that is best known for its white sand and pristine turquoise water. Enjoy swimming and camping with friends or stay on the lodgings in the beach area. Click Here Where to Stay in Tabuelan.
Enjoy the Sunset
The sunset at Maravilla in Tabuelan is stunning. It reminds me of the good old day where there are no worries of adulting and how beautiful life is in general.
Other things to do and places to visit in Tabuelan
As mentioned, aside from the beach other things to do in Tabuelan include a visit to the bamboo boardwalk at Tigbawan, a quick stop at the memorial plaque at Olivio, and experience Tabuelan’s Floating Restaurant. Click here to read more about Tabuelan.
Third-Day: San Remigio, Bantayan (to ride a bus going home), Danao City
| Particular | Cost | Note |
| Going to San Remigio | ||
| From Maravilla Hire habal-habal to Barangay Luyang, San Remigio. Per person, can accommodate 2 persons | 20.00 php | Ask the driver to drop you off the jeepney stop going to San Remigio |
| Wait for a jeepney going to San Remigio proper | ||
| Ride a jeep to San Remigio and drop off is at San Juan Nepomuceno Church | 25.00 php | Around 30 minute travel time |
| Visit San Juan Nepomuceno Church | ||
| Lapyahan sa San Remigio | White sand beach at the back of San Juan Nepomuceno Church | |
| Going to Danao City | ||
| Ride a tricycle from Lapyahan sa San Remigio or the Church going to Hagnaya Port | 10.00 php | |
| From Hagnaya Port, ride a Ceres Bus to Danao City | 125.00 php | Air-Con Bus rate. 175.00 php if going to Cebu City. |
| Ask the kondoktor/driver to drop you off at Sands Gateway Mall Danao | ||
| Eat late lunch or early dinner | 100.00 php | |
| See the worlds famous landmark miniature | Located at the back of Sand gateway Mall. Click here to view what to expect. | |
| Visit Danao Church – San Antonio de Padua Parish | Few meters away from Sands Gateway Mall | |
| Going Home – Cebu City | ||
| From Danao Church wait for a tri-sikad to Danao Terminal. Per person rate. | 5.00 php | Or you can just walk. It is just near. Ask around. |
| From Terminal ride a v-hire to SM City Cebu | 60.00 php | Or you can ride a multicab/jeepney 40.00 fare. |
Town of San Remigio
The town of San Remigio is the farthest northwest town of Cebu located 91.3km away from Cebu City via Central Nautical Hwy or 114km via Cebu Transcentral Hwy and Antonio Y De Pio National Hwy.
What are the things to do in San Remigio
Beach is always what comes to mind when thinking about San Remigio, Cebu and a visit to San Juan Nepomuceno Church will complete your journey.
San Juan Nepomuceno Church
The church was built on April 12, 1864, by Rev. Fr. Ceferino Montecillo who is the first Parish Priest in San Remigio.
Lapyahan sa San Remigio
Lapyahan sa San Remigio is the public white sand beach located just at the back of San Juan Nepomuceno Church.
City of Danao
Danao City is a 3rd class city of Cebu province. It is 33km away from Cebu City going north. The city is known for its then gun-making industry.
Things to do in Danao
Danao is usually the jump-off point when going to Camotes but there are more to Danao than this. Currently, Danao is slowly known for its beautiful hiking trails and mountain peaks plus a mountain resort that is worth a visit.
Danasan Eco Adventure Park
Nature and adventure in one. Enjoy the adrenaline rising rides in Danasan with the beauty of nature. From simple horseback riding to the heart-pounding sky-drop down to river trekking, Danasan has it.
Enjoy the following Danasan Eco Park Activities
Thrilling Height Activities in Danasan Eco Adventure Park
Adrenaline Rush Speed Activities in Danasan Eco Adventure Park
Wet and Wild Water Activities in Danasan Eco Adventure Park
Soothing Nature Activities in Danasan Eco Adventure Park
Hiking Trails in Danao
Danao City has recently been the Day-hiking grounds for trekking enthusiasts in Cebu. You can climb the highest peak of Cebu on the northern side – Mt. Manghilao, Do a 17km trek in the highlands of Danao, and for intermediate and advanced hikers, climb Licos Peak (Aldrich of Bisaya Traveler has written a beautiful piece of Licos Peak – Click here).
Around the World
Located in Sands Gateway mall Danao City, witness various miniature replicas of the Taj Mahal, Big Ben, Statue of Liberty, and a lot more. Read here more about this place.
Let’s get to know more Cebu and everything it has to offer. Also, summer is coming and longer holidays too, so make sure that you make the most of it.
Comment down below if you would like a copy of the itinerary.
TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY, LEAVE NOTHING BUT GOOD MEMORIES
If you have traveled the western part of Cebu just recently, it would help a lot if you share your thoughts, and feedback about the places you have visited. Please correct any misinformation found in this article too. Kindly contact Geemiz through comment down below or through social media and we would gladly update the details listed here.
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