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Exploring Moalboal: A Guide to Beaches, Waterfalls, and Adventure

Updated: Dec 21, 2024

Planning a Trip to Moaboal?


If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably planning a trip to Moalboal, and I couldn’t agree more with your choice! Moalboal is one of the best places we visited in the Philippines, and you’ll see why below.


If you’re curious about other destinations in the Philippines, check out our articles on Bohol, Siargao, Siquijor and Palawan.


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Why Visit Moalboal?


Moalboal is known for its amazing marine life, from the stunning sardine run to the chance to swim with sea turtles. Kawasan Falls is another must-see, offering an exciting and beautiful adventure. But there’s so much more! You’ll find lovely beaches, great restaurants, and a lively, tourist-friendly vibe with lots of shops and activities. Whether you’re up for some adventure or just want to chill by the water, Moalboal  offers something for everyone. 



How to get around Moalboal


If you are following our Itinerary in the Philippines then you must be coming from Siquijor. We got to Moalboal by taking two ferries and a bus.


First, we took a ferry from Siquijor to Dumaguete, which took about 1.5 hours. Then, we caught another ferry from Dumaguete to Liloan at Sibulan Port, a quick 30-minute ride. Finally, we took a public bus from Liloan to Moalboal. At Moalboal the bus stops at the middle of the city and you still have to take a 15 min tricycle to get to Panagsama Beach town (the last tricycle ride shouldn't cost you more than 150 PHP, Always Bargain!!)

 

Ferry from Siquijor to Dumaguete: 250 PHP / 4.4 USD

Ferry from Dumaguete to Liloan: Cost: 255 PHP / 4.4 USD

Bus fare from Liloan to Moalboal: 140 PHP / 2.4 USD

 

Once you’re in Moalboal, consider renting a scooter from one of the local shops for at least one day to explore the region at your own pace. 


Scooter rental for the day: 350 PHP + 70 PHP for gas / 7.2 USD


 

TIP: Local buses are more affordable than tourist transport—make sure to ask for directions and negotiate for tricycle rides!  

Where to Stay in Moalboal


There are plenty of accommodation options in Moalboal, and we recommend staying near Panagsama Beach, where you'll find many restaurants and where most tours begin. Look for something along Panagsama Road. 


We stayed at Westcoast Beach House, which was a very budget-friendly option with private rooms and dorms, common showers, and a great location near Panagsama Beach. 


Accommodation fee (2 nights, 2 people): 1,630 PHP / 27.9 USD

What to Do in Moalboal


Day 1 - Panagsama Beach


Panagsama beach :  


After a long day of travel from Siquijor, we headed straight to the beach in hopes of seeing some sardines. They usually gather right at the edge of the beach where the water gets deep. We learned that the best time to see the amazing sardine run is early in the morning, around 6-7 am. There are far fewer people, and the sardines tend to swim closer to the surface at this time. You can still see them later in the day, but they might be deeper in the water and more spread out. See day 3 for more information ! 


TIP: You’ll likely encounter people trying to sell sardine tours or guides, but honestly it's not worth it, just bring your own fins and snorkel, or rent them. You can easily see the sardines and even turtles on your own! If you want to make sure you packed everything for your Philippines adventure check out my article : What to bring to the Philippines 


Day 2 - Kawasan Falls Canyoneering


Kawasan Falls Canyoneering :  


We were a bit hesitant to do this tour at first because it was priced higher than some other activities, but honestly, it was totally worth it. The experience includes jumps (the highest being a thrilling 10 meters!), slides, rope swings, and plenty of waterfalls. It’s a physically engaging activity, but not too intense. If you're not into the jumps or slides, the guides will offer an alternative route. What made the experience even more amazing for us were our guides—they were super friendly and really made the whole thing a lot more fun. You’ll need at least two guides per group for safety. 


The water was crystal clear blue and actually warm, kind of surprising since it runs through the mountains. Also, if you can, try to join the smallest group possible. We were lucky to arrive early, so it ended up just being the two of us on the tour. It was great because we could go at our own pace and really take the time to enjoy each waterfall. We saw some larger groups—up to 15-20 people—and it seemed much more hectic, with lots of waiting around if you're one of the faster ones.


TIP: There are several tour companies that offer pick-ups from Panagsama for an extra fee, but we opted to rent a scooter for the day. This gave us the freedom to explore other spots and head straight to the tour companies near Kawasan Falls, where we were able to negotiate the price. Not sure if you will get a tour agency offering you 1950 PHP per person (we bargain a lot to get that) but anything between 2100 and 2350 is a fair price!



Fee for Canyoneering (including guides, water shoes, helmets, access to the rope swing and lunch) : 1950 PHP per person / 33,3 USD  

 

White beach :  


White beach is a stunning beach near Panagsama in Moalbal, it is a great stop after the Canyoneering to unwind, swim, snorkel and watch a beautiful sunset.  

People sit on a beach at sunset with pink-orange clouds above, overlooking a calm sea. A few stand and walk along the shoreline. In White Beach Moalbal, Philippines
White beach, Moalboal

Entrance fee : 20 PHP per person / 0,5 USD 


Day 3 - Early Snorkeling

 

Panagsama beach snorkeling :  


As mentioned above, the best time to see the underwater life is very early in the morning, between 6-7 am, and that's exactly what we did on our last morning in Moalboal. We were lucky enough to witness an incredible sardine run and even see a beautiful sea turtle while snorkeling—a great way to end our stay. 

A snorkeler swims above a dense school of fish in clear blue water, creating bubbles and a tranquil underwater scene.
Sardine run, Moalboal

Afterward, we took the bus all the way back to Cebu to catch a flight to Siargao. Check out our article on what to do, where to stay, and how to get around Siargao. 


Budget

Type

Total (PHP)

Accommodation

1630

Transportation (ferry, tricycle, scooter, gaz..)

1800

Activities - Entrance fee

2040

Food

2800

Total

8270 (140 USD) for two people


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Hello! My name is Hisham Ibrahim, and I’m thrilled to share my travel journey with you. Three years ago, I took the leap into the world of traveling and camping, and it has truly transformed my life.


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