Hailed as the Queen City of the South, Cebu is a diverse and multifaceted city that offers a myriad of activities to all sorts of travelers.

The city is primarily known for its powdery white sand beaches and famous lechon (roasted pig) but one of the many benefits about living in the Queen City is the proximity of unique destinations to another. With that said, spontaneous road trips and unplanned adventures are just within reach and are something that happen quite often in the city. As a result, Cebu City has continuously attracted intrepid travelers and adventurers around the world. From the sandy shores of the South to the majestic falls and springs of the south, it can easily be said that Cebu is an adventurer’s playground and a tourist’s paradise. From the island’s azure waters, lush green scenery in mountainous areas to the various tourist spots and undiscovered gems peppered all over the island, Cebu undeniably has some of the country’s best and well-loved places making it a prime pick for road trip and travel excursions. The best thing about planning road trips in Cebu is that within just a few hours and a little patience with the metropolitan’s traffic, you can readily see why the Queen City of the South is hailed as such.

THREE TIPS TO PREPARE FOR A ROAD TRIP

For many, planning a road trip may be a tad bit overwhelming especially if you are planning to make a lot of stops in a limited amount of time. With the tips below, you can maximize your time as well as adequately prepare for your road trip in the Queen City of the South.

1.) Pick your trip

While many people argue that having a more spontaneous trip is fun, you need to be realistic about where to go, the distance and possible road conditions. You do not necessarily have to plan your trip down to the dot but at the very least, you need to know where you intend to go and for how long you would stay. After you have decided on a location, research the road conditions ahead to know if your vehicle is capable of making the trip.

2.) Budget your trip

Your budget would depend on how many people are joining you, the length of the drive and whether or not you plan to stay in a resort or camp out for the night. How you decide the logistics of your trip will give you a rough approximation of what your budget looks like.

3.) Be prepared with your gear

There is no such thing as being overly prepared–especially when you are traveling to unfamiliar places. With that said, you need to be smart about the things you need to bring with you. If you wish to go on a road trip and if you wish to camp out, some of the things you will inevitably need are  as follows:

* Emergency Kit (should contain basic items such as flashlight, medical kit, etc.)

*Water Bottle (REI Co-op Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottle)

*Light Source (Black Diamond Moji Lantern)

* Tent (Adventure Kings Deluxe Double Swag Big Daddy)

*Portable Stove (Kovea Cube Stove)

While some might say that packing this many stuff for a road trip is excessive, you can never be too prepared. It is not about being paranoid but rather being smart, safe and prepared.

THE BEST ROAD TRIPS IN CEBU

a.) Carcar

If you wish to go on a road trip in Cebu, but do not want to commit to the lengthy drive your best option would be to plan a trip to Carcar. Technically, Carcar still lies within the Metro Cebu area but it is about 36 kilometers away from the city which warrants a couple of hours drive from Cebu City. With that said, it is the best place for spontaneous and on a whim road trips. It is considered as one of the oldest towns in Cebu, so you can probably get to see a lot of old houses on your trip. However, people often visit Carcar not for the old houses but for the lechon sold in the town’s public market which is said to be the best in Cebu.  

b.) Moalboal

Known as the backpacker’s paradise, Moalboal is a good stop on your Cebu road trip owing to its recreational diving and beaches. One of the best beach campsites in the area is White Beach (Basdako) which is known for its beautiful and powdery white sand. The area is easily recognizable as it is peppered with colorful tents during the summer. You can simply ride up to the beach and camp out here for a minimal fee. With attractions such as Pescador Island, amazing sunset views and getting the chance to swim among millions of sardines, Moalboal should definitely be one of your stops.

c.) Barili

Located 61 kilometers away from Cebu City, Barili is an ideal stop for long road trips. If you are on your way to Moalboal and Badian on the other side of the island, Barili is one of the towns you will stop by. With that said, why not make it an additional stop on your trip down to the south of Cebu as well? One of the main reasons Barili makes such a compelling stop is the Mantayupan Falls, which is considered as a top tourist draw and is one of the tallest waterfalls in the whole province. Just getting to witness the majestic falls in this town definitely warrants a stop on your road trip to the south.

d.) Badian

Badian is a popular stop among travelers who wish to visit the stunning and beautiful Kawasan Falls, a three-layered waterfall that has enticed tourists from all over the world to visit. Apart from the majestic three-layered falls, what makes Kawasan Falls beautiful is the amazingly blue waters. As the main waterfall circuit is near the highway and rather easy to ride and walk to, visiting Kawasan Falls should not prove to be a problem. Intrepid and adventurers travelers might want to try out their Canyoneering tours which are offered upstream of the waterfall, where the Matutinao river flows through a secluded canyon.

e.) Algeria

If you wish to go on a road trip to relax, one of your stops should be Alegria. You can enjoy a hot meal with a beachfront view and just enjoy the breeze from the beach with the sunset cascading over the waters.

f.) Santander

Santander is an excellent stop for those who wish to have an extended road trip and cross over to Sibulan, Dumageute on Negros Island through a boat that ferries them between the two islands. Apart from being an excellent jump off point to the island of Negros and to Dumaguete City, Santander also has a lot to offer to travelers in terms of stunning beaches and majestic views.

g.) Oslob

People going on a road trip all the way to Oslob typically do so to participate in the whaleshark interaction. Apart from having an up-close encounter with whale sharks however, Oslob is the perfect place for trekkers who wish to see Tumalog Falls. It is also where you can take a boat trip to Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort as well.

With a myriad of places to see, Cebu makes a compelling place for road trippers who wish to explore what the Queen City of the South has to offer. While it is easy enough to get around with the network of buses plying both the North and South routes, travelers who wish to make various stops can get more covered by doing their own road trip with their own vehicle. So, if you have always wanted to see more of Cebu, the above list shows you just where to go if you ever plan to go on a road trip.