Most people visit Oslob for its famous whale shark watching, but many overlook what the town itself has to offer. Oslob is a cute little town with a few spots worth checking out. One of those is the Cuartel Ruins, a Spanish-era structure located right along the coastline.
Besides being a major landmark in Oslob, the area surrounding the Cuartel Ruins also serves as a town square, where locals unwind at the waterfront park, enjoy the sea breeze, and watch outdoor movie screenings on the weekends.
In this guide, I’ll share what you need to know before visiting the Cuartel Ruins in Oslob, including how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
Cuartel Ruins Complete Guide
The Cuartel Ruins are the remnants of an unfinished Spanish military barracks, constructed in 1899 using coral stones. This massive structure stands along Oslob’s waterfront, right next to the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church and near the town plaza.
Originally intended to house Spanish troops during the Spanish-American War, the barracks were never completed. When American forces arrived in the Philippines, the Spanish abandoned the site, leaving the structure to decay over time. What remains today are its white archways and partially built walls.
There are no gates or fees, so you can enter the ruins at any time to explore. You can walk through and touch the ruins, and even spot fossilized imprints within the structure. The Cuartel Ruins are also a popular spot for taking photographs, as it’s become somewhat of a symbol of Oslob.
Next to the ruins, the nearby waterfront park is a great place to relax, especially in the evenings when locals come to hang out, eat street food, and watch outdoor movie screenings.
How to get to Cuartel Ruins
The Cuartel Ruins are located in Oslob, Cebu, right along the town’s waterfront.
So Cuartel Ruins are not located along the main highway. So if you’re just passing through Oslob, you’ll likely miss them. You’ll need to venture a little deeper into town to find them.
If you’re arriving to Oslob by bus, the ruins are just a short 5-minute walk from the main highway bus stop. Simply head towards the coastline, and you’ll spot the ruins near Oslob’s large white church and town plaza. If you’re driving or riding a motorbike, you can park nearby and explore the area on foot.
The map location below is accurate and can be used to navigate to the Cuartel Ruins.
Cuartel Ruins: Our experience
Most people visit Oslob just for the whale shark tour and leave the same day. But we decided to stay in Oslob for three nights. That gave us time to explore the town itself and check out nearby attractions in the surrounding area.
One evening, we hopped on our motorbike and rode over to enjoy the evening at Quartel Beach waterfront park.
That’s when we first saw the Cuartel Ruins.
At first, I wasn’t even sure what I was looking at. The ruins were impossible to miss, a massive, white structure with a row of archways standing starkly behind the rest of the town.
Curiosity got the better of us, so we parked our motorbike and went to check it out.
As we walked through the hallways of the ruins, the interior felt a lot bigger than it looked from the outside.
The unfinished structure seemed to have been designed for two levels, with small wooden stubs still jutting from the walls, probably to support a second floor that no longer exists.
The ruins were constructed using coral stones salvaged from a collapsed church bell tower nearby. You can still see fossilized imprints in some of the stones. But in certain spots, some of the coral stones have been replaced with limestone blocks, possibly due to wear from aging.
As the sun began to set, we wandered behind the ruins into the park. Locals started arriving on motorbikes, settling in to relax by the waterfront. We grabbed a couple of mango shakes from a nearby stall and found a spot to sit on the seawall, soaking in the last moments of daylight.
Then, something unusual happened.
A massive shadow stretched across the sky, cast by what seemed to be a mountain. I couldn’t see the mountains from this area of town, so I’m not sure exactly what was casting the shadow. Maybe it was a thick cloud?
Whatever it was, it created an eerie but beautiful effect, and we sat there watching it until the sunlight finally faded away.
Cuartel Ruins Photos
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 to Quartel Ruins in Oslob, Cebu. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
