The Island Experience
With its gorgeous beaches and large collection of islands, the scenic province of Cebu offers you the opportunity for true adventure.
Cebu is a dynamic province in the Philippines. With over 3 million residents, it is home to the country’s first capital, Cebu City. Cebu offers you the chance to enjoy its diverse range of exciting activities. The leading attractions of the province include Cebu Taoist Temple, Mactan Island, and the Jumalon Museum, Butterfly Sanctuary and Art Gallery.
Cheap flights to Cebu are now available for a limited time, so seize this amazing opportunity to discover this gorgeous region. The province is served by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB), which is a 1-hour drive or a scenic 1-hour and 30-minute train ride from Cebu City. This airport serves a large number of airlines, including SilkAir, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Philippine Airlines. Popular flights departing to Cebu are available from Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
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With its gorgeous beaches and large collection of islands, the scenic province of Cebu offers you the opportunity for true adventure.
Cebu’s rich history has resulted in a striking blend of cultures, as evidenced by such famed local sites as the historic Magellan’s Cross and the beautiful Taoist Temple.
Courteous and curious locals will go out of their way to ensure that your experience in Cebu is a pleasant one.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
Country | Philippines |
---|---|
Currency | Philippine Peso (PHP) |
Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 3.88 PHP |
Language | English and Filipino |
Hub Airport | Mactan-Cebu International Airport |
Airline | Philippine Airlines |
Time Zone | GMT + 8 |
Travel Adaptor | Type A / B / C |
The best time to visit Cebu, in terms of weather, is during its winter season (November – February). While the summer months of March to May are extremely hot and humid, the winter season brings sunny days, cool nights and a lower level of humidity. This is also an ideal time to visit because the colourful Sinulog Festival takes place in January, where you can experience the true culture of Cebu. Unfortunately, this is also peak tourist season in the Philippines, with more tourists coming and hotel rates rising. If you want lower accommodation rates, consider a visit during the summer months, but make sure then to bring a hat, light clothing and plenty of sunscreen.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low °C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 25°C | 26°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C |
High °C | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 33°C | 32°C | 31°C | 31°C | 32°C | 31°C | 31°C | 30°C |
Rainfall (mm) | 90 | 90 | 70 | 50 | 110 | 170 | 160 | 140 | 170 | 150 | 140 | 130 |
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, home to Cebu Island as well as its 167 surrounding islands. Its capital, Cebu City, is the province’s cultural hub and a major tourist destination, complete with a range of historic and contemporary attractions.
Explore the collection of sacred sites, which include Magellan’s Cross, the symbol of Christianity; Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, the first church to be built on Cebu Island; and the Taoist Temple, which is the symbol of the Philippine’s Chinese population. The Taoist Temple additionally offers a breath-taking view over Cebu City.
To add more variety to your experience of Cebu, take a tour through Gorordo Museum, discover a diverse range of butterfly species at the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary, or test your luck at Casino Filipino at the Waterfront Hotel.
Compare several airlines, and book your cheap flights to Cebu online with Travelstart!
You will not need a Visa to enter the Philippines for the first 21 days of your stay. Make sure that your passport will still be valid for six months after your return date and that you have at least two blank pages available for stamps.
South African Embassy in the Philippines
Address: 29th Floor, Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila, 1227 Phone: + 63 889 9383 Fax: + 63 2 889 9337
Visit your doctor to find out what routine vaccinations you need to get before entering the Philippines. In addition, you should guard against potential diseases such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B, typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, and Rabies. Malaria and Zika also pose a threat in the Philippines, so make sure to take steps to prevent mosquito bites, such as mosquito repellents, and light, long-sleeve sweaters and pants in the evenings.
Beware of the market areas in the centre of Cebu City, since pickpocketing and robbery are a common problem there. In port areas, be cautious; cab drivers may harass you for a fare and pickpockets will take advantage when you are distracted.
Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | Cebu |
---|---|---|---|
Meal (inexpensive restaurant) | R 90.00 | R 100.00 | R 51.00 |
Domestic beer (0.5 litre draught) | R 22.00 | R 20.00 | R 12.00 |
Cappuccino (regular) | R 19.00 | R 20.00 | R 27.00 |
Taxi 1km (normal tariff) | R 10.00 | R 12.00 | R 4.00 |
Pack of cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 35.00 | R 35.00 | R 18.00 |
A great number of hotels are available close to the coast of Cebu Island, while some are close to the airport on Mactan Island. Many offer affordable accommodation rates, ranging from ₱ 771 to ₱ 7714. A large selection of them include spas, fitness centres, pools, restaurants, free breakfast and even nightclubs. The most credible establishments include Cuarto Hotel Cebu, Residenz Guesthouse, Haruhay Dream Resort, Queensland and The Henry Hotel.
Most tourists use taxis to get around the province. Plenty of the drivers know where everything is, but if you flag down one that doesn’t, simply flag down another one. The taxis charge around ₱ 33 for getting in, and under ₱ 3 for every half kilometre. The taxis use metres; however, some drivers will not use the metre or demand more payment than the metre states.
Alternatively, there are the colourful and noisy jeepneys, which have specific routes, and which go around the downtown area before heading back to the start or end of their route.
Buses also operate around Cebu Island; most have air conditioning. A 2-hour trip from Cebu City to Dalaguete in the south in one of these will cost around ₱ 100.
Compare several airlines, and book your cheap flights to Cebu online with Travelstart!
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