Cebu

Maolboal

I started my time in the Philippines by flying into Cebu City and then took a cab to the bus station and jumped on a local bus to Moalboal about 3 hours south. It was pouring rain and I quickly learned that there was a typhoon (guess I should have checked the weather!). The bus was really easy despite the fact that I was the only non Filipino. And it’s cheap – $5 versus a $60 cab! The driver was nice enough to help me with where to get off in the middle of the night so I could take a motorbike the rest of the way to my hotel.

Moalboal is a cute little dive town with enough restaurants, bars and cafes to keep you happy. I stayed at Quo Vadis Dive Resort the first 3 night so I could finish my PADI certification – proud to have finally passed! The diving in the Philippines is truly spectacular. The reefs at Pescador Island are healthy and colorful. We saw about 10 sea turtles on one dive. On another dive, we saw millions of sardines. They swirl around you in balls and have iridescent scales that reflect the light. So magical!

Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Falls is known for its unbelievable turquoise water. Inland about an hour from Maolboal, I took a bus, motorbike and then a 30min hike to get to the start of the canyon. There are 3 main waterfalls as you traverse through the canyon through the river and jump off of cliffs ranging from 10 to 30 feet. It’s quiet the tourist attraction but totally worth the crowds.