Our Unforgettable 5-Day Central Visayas Trip That You Can Easily Follow For Your Trip

Our 5-day Central Visayas Trip (Cebu-Bohol) is one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever had.

It was under a week, but we packed in every single Cebu and Bohol experience on our list. Adventure. Iconic attractions. Spectacular natural phenomena. Historical landmarks. Cultural immersion. I am fortunate to have experienced all of them.

They changed the way I look at life. It’s a privilege to share everything with you; my pleasure to help you prepare your own unforgettable Cebu-Bohol getaway.

Day 1 — Bohol

From Manila, we flew to Bohol and kicked off our trip right from Panglao Airport with a group tour.

First, our tour guide introduced us to the historical side of Bohol with visits to the Blood Compact Shrine in Tagbilaran City and Baclayon Church. Then he brought us to a mini-zoo in Loboc, where we had fun checking out exotic animals and butterflies.

It was lunch time after that, so we headed over to the Loboc River Cruise for a meal. This part turned out to be a wonderful surprise for me. We ate on a floating restaurant, packed with stunning river scenery and live traditional music. It was absolutely amazing!

Come afternoon, we started heading toward the Chocolate Hills, with a couple of quick stopovers along the way. First, the Bilar Man-Made Forest for quick photo ops, then the Tarsier Conservation Area to meet the cute little creatures.

Finally, we reached Carmen for the main viewpoint. There, we took in the spectacular scenery of the Chocolate Hills before heading back to Tagbilaran to catch the ferry to Cebu.

That night, our driver picked us up from the Cebu port and drove us straight to Moalboal, where we kicked off the next 4 days of our trip.

For complete details, check out my one-day Bohol itinerary. I’ve included first-hand travel tips, so it also serves as your guide.

Day 2, 3, and 4 — South Cebu

For three days, we stayed in Moalboal. And from this town, we visited different parts of South Cebu (Moalboal, Badian, Oslob, and Samboan) and tried the best the region has to offer. We booked a private vehicle (almost equivalent to a private personalized tour) so we could get around conveniently and efficiently.

We felt so adventurous that time, so we kicked off with Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls in Badian.

That experience? It was absolutely unforgettable! I conquered my fears jumping high into the water and laughed like never before, thanks to my witty joker friend.

Before day 2 ended, we unwound at Moalboal beach until sunset.

Adventure continued the next day and this time, we went to Pescador Island to see the turtles. And not only that! We also marveled at thousands of sardines as they formed massive schools, creating different shapes and forms. I mean, you gotta see the sardine run. It is seriously spectacular! I could watch it for hours and hours.

We went to another beach after that for another sunset and got some nightlife after.

On our 4th day, we went all in for adventure.

We hiked to Osmena Peak to catch the sunrise. Then we got to Oslob to see the whale sharks before 10. You won’t believe how wild it is to see a whale shark open its mouth right next to you. Crazy amazing experience!

After that, we went to the Sumilon Island sandbar. We grabbed a few shots and splashed around in crystal-clear water. Heaven on earth beauty!

We felt pretty satisfied and tired after all the things we’ve tried, but Aguinid Falls called louder. We gave in and went chasing waterfalls after. Boy, Aguinid Falls was challenging. But it turned out to be an incredible experience, too! Climbing a waterfall is one for the books.

There’s a lot to unpack for our adventures in South Cebu. I detailed everything in my South Cebu itinerary and travel guide. I’ve included the exact timeline to give you realistic estimates for your travel plan. Don’t forget to check it out!

Day 5 — Cebu City

From Moalboal, we drove straight to the Cebu City highlands during the last day of our trip. We had to wake up very early that morning because travel time is more or less 3 hours.

Was it worth it? Definitely! We arrived in Sirao Pictorial Garden without many tourists. It’s like we owned the place for our visit! We took countless photos with hundreds of flowers and mountains without falling in line. And without photobombers in our shots.

We headed to Cebu TOPS next. From there, we took in the most scenic and panoramic overlooking view of Cebu City. The view reached as far as Mactan Island!

Next place we checked out was the Temple of Leah. It is very close to TOPS. Among all the places we’ve visited during our trip, it was the most unique. Built with Greco-Roman Neoclassical architecture and situated above the city, the temple gave an impression that we’re on Mount Olympus.

Cebu Taoist Temple was our last stop before we hit the city center. It’s a destination that could have given us a unique experience, considering Cebu is the birthplace of Catholicism in the Philippines.

But we didn’t stick around in the temple for long. We felt like we needed to head over to House of Lechon already. Getting there early meant we wouldn’t get stuck waiting forever for our food. We could grab lunch on time. And that’s exactly how it went down. Good decision!

We headed to the Crown Regency Hotel after that for one last fun activity. Up top, they have the Sky Experience Adventure. It’s a mini amusement park with 360-degree views of the city from above. Finally, we bought our souvenirs and local treats and headed to the airport for our flight back home.

I have a separate post about the Cebu City highlands. Check it out to see what awaits you there. For more details on our last day in Cebu, check out my 1-day Cebu City itinerary. It serves as your inspiration and guide for your trip.

Plan Your Trip

On our way home, I had plenty of realizations.

Like, how lucky Cebuanos are because they pretty much have everything on their island. Or Bohol. It is indeed such an interesting place because it’s not only beaches, tarsiers, or chocolate hills.

Another realization is about the duration of the trip. For us, 5 days were enough, but we still wished we stayed a bit longer. I’d say a 7-day trip could’ve been way better.

Sure, we loved all the adventure, but we barely had time to kick back and chill. Maybe an extra day in Bohol just for the beach and another in Cebu for food hunting and nightlife would’ve made it absolute perfection!

If you’re visiting Cebu and Bohol soon, I have a travel planning page for Cebu and Bohol to help you prepare for your trip. Check them out!

Category	Cebu	Bohol
Accommodation	Best Place to Stay in Cebu	Best Place to Stay in Bohol
Car Rental	Top Car Rental Deals in Cebu	Top Car Rental Deals in Bohol
Experiences	Must-Try Activities in Cebu	Must-Try Activities in Bohol
Flights	Flights to Cebu	Flights to Bohol

Explore Central Visayas

There’s more to see in Central Visayas.

Give Cebu and Bohol a closer look. There’s so much to discover! Check out all four of my maps.