When we landed in Cebu, the first thing we did was get out of Cebu City. The city has its charms, but the real adventure is down south in Moalboal. It’s the perfect base for exploring waterfalls, going canyoneering, and swimming through the famous sardine run.
But getting from Cebu City to Moalboal isn’t exactly straightforward. The airport doesn’t have a direct bus to Moalboal, and the town is a good 3–4 hours away. You’ll first need to make your way across Cebu City to the South Bus Terminal, and from there, hop on a bus heading to the southern coast.
The process is a little complicated but doable for most people, even if it’s your first time in the Philippines. As long as you have the patience to deal with public transportation, you’ll save a ton of money by catching the bus to Moalboal.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to get from Cebu City to Moalboal by bus. I’ll also provide some tips and our own experience riding the bus to Moalboal as it was, for us, our first glimpse of the Philippines.
How to Get from Cebu City to Moalboal by Bus
Step 1: Get to the Cebu City South Bus Terminal
Buses from Cebu City to Moalboal depart from the Cebu City South Bus Terminal. Unfortunately, getting there is a little complicated.
The fastest way to get to Cebu South Bus Terminal is via taxi or Grab. If you’re splitting your costs with a group or have tons of luggage, you might want to consider this option.
To give you an idea of the cost of using Grab to get to the Cebu South Bus Terminal, we paid 379 pesos for a Grab from Cebu Airport to SM City Cebu. After going shopping for a few items, we paid 212 pesos for a Grab from SM City Cebu to the Cebu South Bus Terminal.
If you want to get to the Cebu South Bus Terminal the cheapest way possible, you can ride MyBus from Cebu Airport to SM City Cebu for 50 pesos. MyBus departs every 30 minutes. From SM City Cebu, catch the 01K jeepney to Elizabeth Mall for 20 pesos. The Cebu South Bus Terminal is right across the street from Elizabeth Mall.
Step 2: Buy a Bus ticket to Moalboal
Once you arrive at the Cebu South Bus Terminal, you’ll need to find a bus heading to Moalboal. The good news is, there are multiple daily departures and you won’t have to wait long for one.
You have a few options for buses.
Buses that go to Moalboal are labeled “Bato via Barili,” “Badian,” or “Moalboal.”
Instead of trying to figure it all out yourself, I recommend heading straight to the ticket counter and asking for a ticket to Moalboal. The staff there are used to helping travelers get to Moalboal and will put you on the right bus.
We paid 209 pesos per person for an air-conditioned bus ticket from Cebu City to Moalboal.
Step 3: Ride the Bus to Moalboal
After you’ve got your ticket, head to the bus waiting area. Each bus has a designated bay, so make sure you go to the correct one (the staff will usually guide you if you’re not sure).
While you wait for your bus, you’ll find plenty of snack vendors selling everything from chips to calamansi juice.
However, what I recommend you do at the bus terminal is use the restroom before you get on the bus. There is a rest stop along the way, but it’s at least two hours into the journey. Usually longer.
The ride from Cebu City to Moalboal takes about 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic.
Throughout the first hour of the bus ride, vendors will occasionally hop on the bus to sell snacks and drinks. Chloe bought a small bag of chicharon for 15 pesos. She still swears it was the best chicharon she’s ever had. From a vendor on the bus.
I also learned my very first Visayan word on that bus ride. A guy selling bottled water got on the bus, and went from seat to seat saying “tubig.” That’s how I learned that tubig means water in Visayan.
Once the bus gets to Barili, it will stop at a rest area for about 15 minutes. You can stretch your legs and use the restroom (5 pesos for #1, 10 pesos for #2). The rest area also sells pastries, we didn’t try them but they looked amazing.
Step 4: Ride a Tricycle to your final destination in Moalboal
From the rest area, it’s a straight ride into Moalboal. The Bus will drop you off on the main road in Moalboal outside a Jollibee.
If your accommodation is in Panagsama Beach or White Beach, you can hire a tricycle from the bus drop-off point. We paid 150 pesos per person for a tricycle ride to our accommodation near Panagsama Beach. The ride took about 10 minutes.
Cebu City to Moalboal Bus Route Map
For your reference, I have mapped out the route that the bus takes from Cebu City to Moalboal so you can plan your trip or keep track of your ride.
Riding the bus from Cebu City to Moalboal
The bus route from Cebu City to Moalboal departs from the Cebu City South Bus Terminal, then drives down Cebu S Rd to Carcar City. This is a busy route connecting two cities in Cebu, so expect there to be lots of traffic on this route. there was for us.
Once you get to Carcar the bus turns up onto a mountain road where it crosses over the center of the island. The drive over the mountain is very twisty, and bus drivers tend to drive fast, so you may get sick during this part of the drive.
Once you get over the mountains, the bus stops at a rest area in Barili for about 15 minutes. At the rest area you can use the restroom and get a snack. The price to use the restroom is 5 pesos for #1, and 10 pesos for #2.
At this point, most of the ride is done. Once you get back on the bus, its a straight shot down the coastline, about 40 minutes to Moalboal. In Moalboal the bus stops in front of a Jollibee.
There are plenty of tricycle and motorbike drivers waiting at the bus stop to take you to your final destination. We paid 150 pesos per person for a tricycle ride to Panagsama Beach.
Private Vehicle Transfer from Cebu City to Moalboal
If you need a private, direct transfer from Cebu City to Moalboal, I recommend booking with 12Go. This is the best option if you have lots of luggage, want to split the cost with a group, or would rather travel in comfort.
Where to Stay in Cebu
For most travelers, Moalboal is the best place to stay. It’s close to the Sardine Run, White Beach, and within range of Kawasan Falls Canyoneering.
Moalboal has a good mix of resorts, hostels, and food spots, making it a solid base for exploring Cebu.
If you’re planning to stay longer than 5 days, I recommend doing what we did by splitting your time between Moalboal and Oslob.
Oslob gives you easier access to whale shark watching, Sumilon Island, and nearby waterfalls like Tumalog and Binalayan. This way, you cut down on travel time and get to see more.
Here’s where we stayed at and recommend in Cebu:
- Moalboal: 3 Sisters Guest House 2 is just off the main strip in Moalboal, but still within walking distance of everything. We appreciated the security and cleanliness of the accommodation and ate breakfast there every morning of our stay.
- Oslob: Melronz Inn is situated a bit outside the town center, making it quieter and more relaxed. And the best part is that it’s located right on the water, with its own private ocean access.
What to Pack for Cebu
- Water Shoes: If you plan to go canyoneering, a solid pair of water shoes like these are needed. If not, you can always wear crocs or even your sneakers if you don’t mind them getting wet!
- Snorkel: With sardine run in Moalboal and whale shark watching in Oslob, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one for the best experience! Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a snorkel, which may be of… questionable quality.
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Cebu.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Cebu! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Our Free Cebu Google Maps Locations
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Are You Following Our Cebu Blog Series?
During our 7-day adventure in Cebu, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—milky blue waterfalls, limestone hikes, and incredible snorkeling spots. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start your planning here: Cebu Travel Guide
- Our Ultimate Guide to Cebu: 15 Incredible Things to Do in Cebu
- Our favorite waterfall (+ secret adventure) in Cebu: Inambakan Falls
- Hike to the highest point in Cebu: Osmeña Peak
- Our favorite hike in Cebu: Casino Peak
- Our favorite day tour in Cebu: Kawasan Falls Canyoneering
- The hottest hot spring we’ve ever visited: Mainit Hot Spring
- How to see the Moalboal Sardine Run without a tour
- Oslob Whale Shark Watching Complete Guide
- How to get from Cebu City to Moalboal
- How to get from Moalboal to Oslob
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide on getting from Cebu City to Moalboal. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
Hello dude, what about back way ? Can we find bus easily to go back to Cebu ? Can ı find middle of the night ?
Thank you so much for the guide! It really is helpful for our trip! God Bless ^^