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Explore / Best Beaches in Cebu

Best Beaches in Cebu

Public beaches, coves, and island sandbars — Mactan's shore, Moalboal's coves, and the white sand of Bantayan and Camotes.

All Cebu City Mactan Northern Cebu Southern Cebu Bantayan Island Camotes Islands
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Cebu's coastline runs from the reef towns of Moalboal and Badian to the white sandbars of Bantayan and Camotes and quiet coves down south. Here are the best public beaches, coves, and island sandbars in Cebu, with photos, directions, and what to expect before you go — beachfront resorts have their own page under Resorts.

Places in this collection

View of Sumilon Island's turquoise waters and coastline from a seaside walkway

Sumilon Island

A limestone island off Oslob with a tide-shifting white sandbar and reef snorkeling.

Oslob

attraction

A person in a black swimsuit walks along the white sand shoreline at Paradise Beach in Bantayan Island, Cebu, surrounded by clear turquoise water, rocky cliffs, and a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

Sandira Beach (Paradise Beach)

Paradise Beach is a quiet Bantayan Island spot with clear water and sandy shores.

Bantayan

attraction

Large white block letters spelling "VIRGIN ISLAND" on a white sand beach in Bantayan, Cebu.

Virgin Island, Bantayan

A tiny Bantayan island with fine white sand and a sandbar that surfaces at low tide.

Bantayan

attraction

View from an outrigger boat approaching the sandy shore and palm trees of Baigad Lagoon in Bantayan, Cebu.

Baigad Lagoon, Bantayan

A calm turquoise Bantayan lagoon ringed by mangroves, reached on foot or by short boat.

Bantayan

attraction

Aerial view of Hermit's Cove in Aloguinsan, featuring a white sand beach curved around turquoise ocean waters and framed by lush green hills.

Hermit's Cove

A quiet white-sand cove with clear waters and a scenic West Cebu road trip.

Aloguinsan

attraction

Sunny white sand Medellin Beach with turquoise clear water, palm trees, and a blue sky with light clouds.

Medellin Beach

A quiet Medellin coastline with tropical views, open sea, and scenic road-trip vibes.

Medellin

attraction

Aerial view of Malapascua Island's white sand beach with two distinct palm trees casting shadows toward clear turquoise ocean water.

Malapascua Island

A tropical island known for white-sand beaches, clear waters, and thresher sharks.

Malapascua Island

attraction

Gentle white ocean waves washing over golden sand at Suba Beach under an overcast sky.

Suba Beach

A golden-sand shoreline near Maya with calm waters, coconut trees, and sunset views.

Daanbantayan

attraction

Massive sardine run formation creating a dark aquatic arch underwater in Moalboal.

Basdiot, Moalboal — Diving & Sardine Run

Moalboal's diving hub, famous for sardines, turtles, reefs, and Pescador Island.

Moalboal

attraction

Wide white sand shoreline and clear blue sea at Basdako Beach in Moalboal.

Moalboal Beach — Basdako

Moalboal's beautiful white-sand beach, perfect for swimming, relaxing, and sunsets.

Moalboal

attraction

Sunrise over a beautiful white sand beach in Alcoy, Cebu.

Tingko Beach

A beautiful white-sand beach in Alcoy with clear waters and stunning sunsets.

Alcoy

attraction

Aerial view of Maravilla Beach in Tabuelan with coconut palms, outrigger boats, and clear turquoise water.

Maravilla Beach

A laid-back North Cebu beach with clear waters, wide shores, and beautiful sunsets.

Tabuelan

attraction

White sand beach and turquoise water at Kota Beach, Bantayan Island under a clear blue sky.

Kota Beach, Bantayan

Bantayan's iconic white-sand beach with shallow waters and a beautiful tidal sandbar.

Bantayan

attraction

Wide view of a sandy beach in San Remigio, Cebu, showing clear, shallow ocean water and driftwood in the foreground under an overcast sky.

San Remigio Beach

A quiet North Cebu coastline with long sandy shores, shallow waters, and sunsets.

San Remigio

attraction

A white wooden lifeguard tower on a wide white sand beach with calm blue water and a distant green shoreline under a bright blue sky.

Tulang Diot Beach

A gorgeous white sand beach on a quiet islet just off the coast of San Francisco, Camotes.

San Francisco

attraction

Long wooden boardwalk leading across clear shallow turquoise water toward Nalusuan Island under a bright blue sunny sky.

Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary

A marine sanctuary with clear water, snorkeling and a low-tide sandbar.

Cordova

attraction

Outrigger boats anchored near a white sand beach under a bright blue sky on Caohagan Island, Cebu.

Caohagan Island

A picturesque island off Mactan featuring a stunning sandbar and fresh local seafood.

Lapu-Lapu

attraction

A woman in a blue pattern bikini sunbathing in shallow clear water at Santiago Bay Beach in Camotes Islands under a clear blue sky.

Santiago Bay

Santiago Bay offers a wide stretch of white sand and shallow clear waters in Camotes.

San Francisco

attraction

How Cebuzone picks these places Every place on this list has been visited or vetted by the Cebuzone editorial team and is re-checked on a regular cycle. Nothing here is a paid placement.

Last updated September 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the best beach in Cebu?

There's no single "best" — it depends on what you want. Mactan is closest to Cebu City and best for a quick beach day, Moalboal and Badian pair sand with reef and canyon adventures, and Bantayan and Camotes have the widest, whitest sandbars for an overnight trip. Browse the list above and filter by what matters to you.

Are Cebu's beaches white sand?

Many are — Bantayan Island and the Camotes Islands are known for powdery white sand, and several southern Cebu coves pair light sand with clear water. Mactan's beaches tend to mix white sand and reef flats depending on the stretch.

What's the best time to visit Cebu beaches?

Cebu is warm year-round, with a dry season that runs roughly December to May. March to May brings the calmest seas and sunniest days but is also the hottest stretch; December to February is cooler and still good for swimming. June to November is the wet season and can bring rain and rougher water, especially on exposed coastlines.

Are Cebu beaches free to enter?

It depends on the spot. Some public beaches and coves are free to enter, while resort beaches and managed sandbars usually charge an entrance or environmental fee. Check each place's listing for what to expect before you go.

Which Cebu beaches are best for swimming?

Most of the beaches listed here are swimmable, but they differ in how. For shallow, easy water, Virgin Island and Baigad Lagoon on Bantayan, Tingko Beach in Alcoy, and Maravilla in Moalboal all shelve out gently. Suba Beach and Kota Beach on Bantayan are the calmest. If you want reef rather than sand, Sumilon Island, Malapascua, and Basdiot in Moalboal are the snorkelling picks. Facilities are thinner than the water is good — only a few spots have showers or changing rooms, so check the listing before you plan a full day.

Planning a trip to Cebu?

  • Cebu Itinerary: How to Plan 3, 5, or 7 Days
  • Where to Stay in Cebu: Choosing Your Base
  • Best Time to Visit Cebu, Month by Month
  • Cebu Island Hopping: Where to Go and How It Works
  • 3 Days in Cebu: A First-Timer's Itinerary
  • 5 Days in Cebu: An Itinerary With the South Coast
  • Southern Cebu Itinerary: A 2 to 3 Day Loop
  • Getting Around Cebu: Buses, Vans, and Car Hire
  • All Cebu travel guides

Browse Cebu by category and area

  • Explore by category
  • Best Waterfalls in Cebu
  • Best Beach Resorts in Cebu
  • Best Restaurants & Cafés in Cebu
  • Best Nature Spots in Cebu
  • Best Attractions in Cebu
  • Best Heritage Sites in Cebu
  • Things to Do in Cebu City & Metro Cebu
  • Things to Do in Mactan Island
  • Things to Do in Northern Cebu
  • Things to Do in Southern Cebu
  • Things to Do on Bantayan Island
  • Things to Do in the Camotes Islands

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