Discover Cebu

• Cebu City - Philippine Queen City of the South
• One of the most developed provinces in the Philippines
• Main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the central and southern parts of the country.
• Named 8th best Asian-Pacific island destination in 2005, and 7th in 2004 by UK-based Condenast Travellers Magazine

Airport

Cebu is served by the Mactan International Airport (MIA/CEB), 45 minutes from the city center. Both international airports have adequate traveler facilities: duty-free shopping centers, souvenir shops, tourist information centers, hotel and travel agency representatives, and car rental services. Mactan-Cebu International Airport & 5 Feeder Airports. The following airlines serve at the Mactan International Airport:

• Asiana Airlines (Seoul-Incheon)
• Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong)
• China Airlines / Mandarin Airlines (Kaohsiung, Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan)
• China Southern Airlines (Shanghai-Pudong)
• Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
• Malaysia Airlines (Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur)
• Qatar Airways (Doha)
• Singapore Airlines / SilkAir (Singapore)
• Air Philippines
• Asian Spirit
• Cebu Pacific
• Philippine Airlines
• South East Asian Airlines

Visa

Nationals from the following countries are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of stay of twenty-one (21) days or less.

Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Cote d’Ivoire
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Norway
Oman
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Republic of Tanzania
United States of America
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Rest and Recreation

• White sand beaches and diving spots:

o Mactan Island
o Bantayan Island
o Malapascua Island
o Olango Island
o Camotes Island
o Moalboal Island
o Panagsama Island

• Historical sites

o Magellan’s Cross
o Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino
o Parian district, the oldest district of the Philippines
o Casa Gorordo
o Fort San Pedro, the oldest and smallest fort in the Philippines
o Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
o Taoist Temple

• Bohol Island

o Chocolate Hills
o Loboc River ride
o viewing of the Tarsier, smallest known primate
o white-sand beaches of Panglao and Balicasag Islands

Transportation

• Taxi
• Jeepney
• Buses
• Rent-a-car (with the option for a chauffeur)
• Ferry boat

Business Hours

Banks and Government offices:
Banks are usually open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
Offices:
Government and private offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays; though some may open on Saturday, the weekend is generally considered day off.
Shops (Hours vary):
Most shops open at 10:30 a.m., closing at around 7 p.m. Lunch hour is usually from noon to 2 p.m.

Climate

Cebu is best from December to May when the weather turns dry. It is coolest from December to February, hottest from March to May. Temperature can rise higher than 100F in the summer. The rainy season begins in July bringing torrential downpours that would sometimes inhibit movement. Cebu's weather is relatively moderate, having no distinct wet and dry season, the perfect vacation spot for all seasons. One can bask under the sunshine the whole year through since Cebu is blessed with tropical climate. Humidity is 78 percent usually expected during the months of December to February, while the wettest time of the year occurs during November.
Average Annual Rainfall: 1,638.20 mm
Minimum Monthly Rainfall: 50.40 mm
Maximum Monthly Rainfall: 206.50 mm
Mean Temperature Range: 26.49 C - 28.79 C
Minimum Temperature: 22.69 C
Maximum Temperature: 33.19 C

Clothing

Lightweight summer clothing is sufficient. Jackets may be used for slightly more formal occasions. A light suit would be appropriate for business. Clothes for men and women are much like the West. Wear natural fiber, lightweight clothing. You'll feel more comfortable. Bring shorts, hat sunglasses, bathing suit, insect repellent, flashlight, sun block cream, tough shoes for walking, rubber slippers for the beach.

Country Code

The Philippines country code is 63. When calling Cebu direct, pls. add 63 + 32, Cebu's area code.

Currency

The Philippine currency is peso, divided into 100 centavos. Next to the peso, the US dollar enjoys wide acceptance. The currency code is PHP. It stands for Philippine peso. Bank notes come in P20, P50, P100, P200, P500 and P1000 denominations, while coins come in 5c, 10c, 25c, P1, P5 and P10.

Credit Cards

Major foreign credit cards such as VISA, Diners Club, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted in major establishments. However, visitors are advised to bring sufficient amount of change in small bills or coins.

Health Risks

Health care in Cebu is cheap and good compared with most of Asia. If you have medical problems, it easy to get good quality attention. Ask for advice about which doctor/hospital to go to from a dive shop; they are often more current than the guest houses or resorts. Visitors are advised to drink bottled or boiled water. Tap water in the hotel is potable. Bottled drinking water is also available in the hotel room, compliments at most hotels. Some doctors suggest getting your hepatitis shoots and staying away from uncooked fruits and vegetables. Some also recommend staying away from pastries due to how milk is pasteurized in the PI. But all interested in visiting should consult your own personal doctor for advice and recommendations.

Time Zone

+8 GMT. Philippine standard time is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime. EDT +13 hours.

Geography

Located between 9925' and 11915' latitude and between 123913' longitude in the center of the Philippine archipelago, Cebu is 365 miles south of Manila and can be reached in an hour through air travel. Cebu is located in Central Visayas, 365 miles (588 kilometers) south of Manila---the country's capital city. The Philippine Islands are an archipelago of over 7,000 islands lying about 500 mi (805 km) off the southeast coast of Asia. The overall land area is comparable to that of Arizona. Only about 7% of the islands are larger than one square mile, and only one-third have names. The largest are Luzon in the north (40,420 sq mi; 104,687 sq km), Mindanao in the south (36,537 sq mi; 94,631 sq km), and Samar (5,124 sq mi; 13,271 sq km). The islands are of volcanic origin, with the larger ones crossed by mountain ranges. The highest peak is Mount Apo (9,690 ft; 2,954 m) on Mindanao.

Population

Cebu Province has a total population of around 3 million.

Ethnic Groups

Malay mixed with Chinese and Spanish ancestry.

Languages

Cebuano is the native tongue. English and Filipino are commonly understood and spoken.

Religion

The Cebu is predominantly Catholic. Islam and Protestantism are also practiced. There are also Filipino independent churches such as Aglipay and Iglesia ni Cristo founded by some locals.

Travel Information

http://www.mactan-cebuairport.com.ph

International Flights to Cebu

International Flights from Cebu