Cebu itineraries

Old town and the hills in a day

Start at Magellan's Cross, walk the fort and the old houses, then taxi up the hills for the Taoist Temple, Temple of Leah and sunset at Tops. Finish at the IT Park night market. No beach, and you still get what Cebu is.

Two days on Mactan

Base yourself at JPark in Maribago. Day one is lechon, Mactan Shrine and the water park; day two is a morning boat to Nalusuan and Hilutungan for snorkelling, then lunch over the water in Cordova. Twenty minutes from the airport, and you never go into the city.

Three days in the south

Stay at Panagsama, Moalboal. Day one the sardine run, day two Kawasan canyoneering, day three up before dawn for the Oslob whale sharks, then back north past Simala Shrine and the SRP to the airport. Cebu City is just the road home.

Festivals & seasons

• 1 — Sinulog Festival
• 1 — Whale sharks and sardines all year
• 2 — Red Lantern Festival, Chinese New Year
• 3 — Dry season, the best months (February to April)
• 4 — Kadaugan sa Mactan
• 6 — Rainy season begins (June to October)
• 8 — Pasigarbo sa Sugbo
• 10 — Typhoon months (October to December)
• 12 — Christmas and the run-up to Sinulog

Souvenirs

• Dried mango (7D and Cebu brands)
• Otap and rosquillos
• Danggit, dried fish
• Vacuum-packed lechon
• Tablea cacao tablets
• A Cebu guitar
• Shell and rattan crafts