Private Kawasan Canyoneering and Moalboal Sardine Run from Cebu

Overview

This private day trip from Cebu combines the two most exciting adventures on the island's southwest coast. We pick you up at your hotel in Cebu City or Mactan and drive you in your own vehicle to Moalboal, where a licensed guide takes you snorkelling over the famous sardine run, with sea turtles often seen nearby. Then you put on helmet and life jacket for the full Kawasan canyoneering course: jumps, slides and swims through a turquoise river canyon that ends at Kawasan Falls. Lunch, gear and the local fees are arranged. The day is only for your party, so the pace, the start time and the photo stops follow you. It suits active couples, friends and families with confident swimmers.

Highlights

• Snorkel with the huge shoal of sardines just off Panagsama Beach in Moalboal
• Look for green sea turtles grazing on the reef, always at a respectful distance
• Canyoneer through a turquoise limestone gorge with jumps, slides and natural pools
• Finish at the tiered cascade of Kawasan Falls in Badian
• Private vehicle and licensed guides for your group only, with hotel pickup in Cebu City or Mactan
• Choose your own start time between early dawn and morning
• Freshly prepared Filipino lunch, with vegetarian, vegan and halal on request
• Helmet, life jacket, canyoneering shoes, mask and snorkel provided

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup in Cebu City or MactanOur driver meets you at your hotel at the start time you choose, between about 4:00 and 8:00 in the morning.
2. Drive to MoalboalAbout 2.5 to 3 hours in your private vehicle across the island to the southwest coast, with stops on request.
3. Sardine run snorkelling at Panagsama BeachBriefing and gear fitting, then about an hour in the water with your guide over the sardine shoal, watching for sea turtles from a distance.
4. Transfer to the canyoneering startA short drive of around 30 to 40 minutes to the trail head in the hills, where you change and get your helmet, life jacket and shoes.
5. Kawasan canyoneeringThree to four hours following the river down the canyon with jumps, slides and swims; higher jumps are optional.
6. Kawasan Falls and lunchRest and swim at the falls and enjoy your Filipino lunch; timing of lunch can vary with the day.
7. Return to your hotelAbout 3 hours back to Cebu City or Mactan; the full day lasts around 12 hours.

What's included

• Private pickup and drop-off at hotels in Cebu City and Mactan
• Guided snorkelling at the Moalboal sardine run with mask, snorkel, life vest and buoy
• Full Kawasan canyoneering course with helmet, life jacket and canyoneering shoes
• English-speaking licensed local guides
• Freshly prepared Filipino lunch (vegetarian, vegan, halal and other diets on request)
• Granola snack and bottled water
• Entrance and environmental fees

Not suitable for

• Non-swimmers who are not comfortable in deep water with a life jacket
• Pregnant travellers
• People with heart, back or serious respiratory conditions
• Travellers with reduced mobility or wheelchair users
• Young children who cannot manage wet, uneven trails

Meeting point

We pick you up from your hotel or address in Cebu City or Mactan at the start time you select, between about 4:00 and 8:00 in the morning. Please wait in the lobby a few minutes early; driver and vehicle details are confirmed before the tour, and we drop you back at the same place in the evening.

Important information

• Wear swimwear under quick-dry clothes and bring a full change of clothes and a towel (towels are not included)
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a waterproof phone pouch and some cash for snacks and the optional zipline
• Canyoneering shoes, helmet and life jacket are provided; you do not need your own gear
• Higher jumps in the canyon are optional and can always be skipped
• Sea turtles and other marine life are watched from a distance and never touched; sightings are not guaranteed
• Activities depend on weather and river conditions; heavy rain, mostly from June to November, can pause canyoneering for safety
• Tell us about any diet (halal, vegetarian, allergies) when you book so lunch can be prepared
• Expect a long day of about 12 hours, much of it active