Cebu is easily one of the most interesting provinces in the island archipelago of the Philippines.
It’s filled with historical landmarks, colonial-era gems, and a bustling, infectious energy kept alive by its bars, clubs, restaurants, and many tourist destinations. While it’s impossible to fit everything you can do in Cebu into one article, we took a crack at it anyway. Here are some of the best things to do when you’re in the province of Cebu, Philippines.
Check Out the Temple of Leah
In the hills of Cebu, there sits a large Roman temple adorned with granite Doric columns and various Grecian statues. No, neither the Greeks nor the Romans settled in this area. As ABS-CBN News reports the Temple of Leah is not an ancient relic, but a somewhat recently built gesture of love by Teodorico Soriano Adarna who had it built in the memory of his late wife, Leah Albino-Adarna. The man reportedly spent 80 million pesos or upwards of $1.5 million to complete the 5,000-square-meter and seven-story tall temple primarily in the style of ancient Roman architecture.
Visit The Marine Sanctuary at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa
Here on Expat Choice we’ve previously mentioned the fact that Shangri-La Cebu has its own marine sanctuary. The six-hectare property is home to 160 species of marine life and around 70 giant clams. Take a dive in the pristine waters and you might spot some banner fish, blue tang, butterfly fish, clown fish, lion fish, puffers, rainbow fish, and many other species endemic to the Central Visayas region. As part of Shangri-La’s stewardship obligations to the area, the local government releases wildlife captured from poachers in the protected area, including tropical fish and several hawksbill turtles.
Grab Some Lechon
No trip to Cebu is complete without at least having a taste of the local lechon or slow-roasted suckling pig. If that word sounds familiar, that’s probably because of the No Reservations episode in which Anthony Bourdain calls lechon “the best pig ever”. While lechon can be found all over the Philippines, Cebu lays claim to being one of the first Filipino islands to perfect the Spanish tradition. Stuffed with a combination of ingredients that include tamarind, lemongrass, green onions, star anise, garlic, and chili leaves – and paired with either a vinegar sauce or thick gravy – you shouldn’t leave the Philippines without experiencing this dish at least once.
Go Hiking
Metro Cebu is surrounded by some of the most gorgeous verdant, tropical landscapes you’ll ever see in your life. Trek Effect writes the area offers a lot of hiking opportunities including the popular Mount Babag, a hiking spot frequented by Cebu’s seasoned mountaineers. There’s also Mount Kan-Irag also known as Sirao Peak, from which you can see almost the entire city of Cebu in the distance. The local guides are very well-versed in the many paths with which you can explore the surrounding mountains.
Shop at Taboan Public Market
As a thriving metropolis in the middle of Central Visayas, the city of Cebu is a trading hub for all sorts of goods, a lot of which can be acquired at Taboan Public Market. Even Filipinos who are in Cebu for vacation drop by this famous market to bring home some of the local goods. Seafood lovers will delight in its wide collection of dried squid, espada, anchovies, danggit, and other delicacies. This is also the place to score some of Cebu’s signature dried mangoes. Just make sure to take a bath immediately after visiting Taboan – the only thing stronger than its seafood collection’s stellar reputation is its smell.
Find Peace at Cebu Taoist Temple
The Cebu Taoist Temple can be found in the city’s Beverly Hills Subdivision. Philippine Airlines description of the Cebu temple states that the colorful, multi-tiered traditional Taoist temple was built by the city’s Chinese community back in 1972. The entrance is a replica of China’s Great Wall and the elevated location presents many opportunities to see many other parts of Cebu from a distance.
Cebu province is just one of the many gorgeous vacation spots that can be found in the Philippines. It’s as good a place as any to start getting to know the famed island archipelago.
