Cebu Island is made for outdoor adventures such as canyoning, exploring beautiful waterfalls, or swimming with sardines and sea turtles. You’ll only find a few tropical paradise beaches on Cebu, and Lambug Beach is definitely one of the best.
The beach offers white sandy shores, a clear turquoise ocean, and relaxed vibes. It’s popular among tourists and locals as well. During our visit, which was at the end of the high season, the beach was almost empty. And we really liked it. Of course, no one likes crowded beaches, right?
If you can’t find complete information about Lambug Beach, look no further. I will cover all important topics like location, how to get there, entrance and parking fees, and much more.
Where is Lambug Beach?
Lambug Beach is located in Badian, a municipality on the South coast of Cebu Island in the Philippines. It’s only 20 minutes on a motorbike from Moalboal, the main tourist hub on Cebu. You can also save the location of Lambug Beach to your Google Maps app.
Where to stay
Moalboal is the best place to stay while exploring Cebu and we recommend staying there. From there, you can easily organize a day trip and explore multiple tourist spots on the same day.
Moalboal offers the biggest selection of hotels and restaurants in the area. You can find many good bars with live music and discounts on cocktails every evening. After all, who would refuse Amaretto Sour for €1.50?
Optionally, some people stay in Oslob. This area is known for the possibility of snorkeling with whale sharks. However, the way it’s done is not ethical at all. Therefore, we beg you not to support this despite how beautiful it sounds.
Best hotels on Cebu
Check availability
How to get to Lambug Beach
Parking fee: 45 PHP for motorbike
In case you are already accommodated in Moalboal, you have a few options how to get to Lambug Beach. Each type of transportation has pros and cons and I will describe everything in detail.
Public bus
The cheapest option will of course be a local bus. It will take around 3 to 4 hours to get to Lambug Beach from the South bus terminal in Cebu City. When traveling from Moalboal, you have to catch the bus that stops on the main road opposite to 7-Eleven.
The bus ride takes around 25 minutes from Moalboal. Unfortunately, the bus doesn’t go to the beach directly. It will stop only on the main road after asking the driver.
From there, you have to walk 2.5 km which isn’t the best idea during a hot day. The public bus is the cheapest option but also the least comfortable and it takes the longest.
Taxi
You can also get to Lambug Beach in a private car. This is also the most expensive way to travel to the beach.
It’s more affordable when shared with a group of other people. The biggest advantage is that it can take you directly from your hotel to the beach with no hassle at all.
Motorbike
The easiest option which also gives you the most freedom is getting to Lambug Beach on a motorbike. Renting a motorbike costs around 350-400 PHP for one day. You can park directly at the beach parking which costs 45 PHP.
Renting a motorbike is really easy. If you are staying in Moalboal, there are plenty of motorbike rentals on the street, or you can also ask at your accommodation.
Tip: Don’t forget to always take photos of the motorbike before renting. It’s very important because you never know if someone will try to force you to pay for scratches you didn’t make.
Tricycle
So we finally come to the last option which is hiring a tricycle. These vehicles are very common in the Philippines. It’s a perfect choice for 2 or more people as you can split the bill for a ride.
Since Lambug Beach is around 16 km from Moalboal it will not be as cheap as traveling on the motorbike. But you can always try to negotiate the price. Of course, locals will try to charge more because you are a tourist.
Tip: Always ask locals at your hotel how much the ride costs. When you have an idea about the prices, you won’t end up paying for the tricycle too much.
Lambug Beach entrance fee
Entrance fee: 50 PHP per person
Before arriving you need to pay an entrance fee of 50 PHP per person. By paying the entrance fee you get access to the beach and facilities.
The entrance ticket is valid only for one day. If you’re staying nearby or plan to visit the beach more often, you have to pay again.
Lambug Beach opening hours
Opening hours: opened 24/7
The beach has no opening hours. Therefore, you can come at any time during the day, 24/7.
However, the ticket booth is only open from 8 am to 5 pm. So if you only come to watch the sunset, it should theoretically be free.
About Lambug Beach
Lambug Beach is great for sunbathing, grill parties with friends, swimming, and watching a sunset. We were amazed by the color of the ocean. It’s crystal clear and has an amazing turquoise color.
Upon arrival at the beach, we were greeted by white sand that is pleasant to walk on, but not during the day when it’s really hot. This is not a beach where you will find many sunbeds to rent. Therefore, you should bring your towel. You can put your head down anywhere on the beach.
The beach is surrounded by palms and a few other types of trees. If you have enough of the sun, you can lie down in the shade under the trees.
Right on the shore of Lambug Beach, there is green seaweed. I know that many people may not like it, but this is hard to avoid. Even though this beach is regularly cleaned, the sea washes this seaweed back onto the beach.
You can definitely find several places where there isn’t any seaweed, and enter the water without touching it.
Lambug Beach facilities
You will find basically everything you need on the beach. There are a few karaoke bars where you can compete with the locals. In case you didn’t know, Filipinos are kind of addicted to karaoke and they just love it. Almost every household has at least one karaoke station.
Apart from karaoke bars, you can also rent a small shack where you can sit, eat, put your belongings, and hide in the shade. These shacks are not cheap but if you’re a group of 4 or more people it sounds like a good option. When we visited we had to pay 500 PHP.
Unfortunately, there isn’t any proper restaurant but you can buy some snacks, drinks, or very basic Filipino food in one of the beach bars.
But if you want to enjoy delicious food, you should wait for return to Moalboal. Especially Panagsama Road where you can find so many amazing restaurants and cheap cocktails during happy hours.
Snorkeling at Lambug Beach
While snorkeling at Lambug Beach isn’t the best you can still enjoy watching some fish and corals. Don’t forget to bring your own snorkeling gear because you can’t rent any on the beach.
But if you want to have an amazing snorkeling experience, we recommend visiting Moalboal, specifically Panagsama Beach. There you can swim with millions of sardines and also with sea turtles. You can find sardines and turtles just a few meters from the shore.
Tip: If you don’t feel confident to swim with sardines alone, or you don’t know how to swim, you can also join a private sardine run snorkeling tour.
When to visit Lambug Beach
The best time to visit Lambug Beach is in the morning or the afternoon. Try to avoid coming at lunch. The sun is too hot as well as sand. You can barely step on it without shoes.
It doesn’t matter if you come during low or high tide. The entrance to the water is gradual and pleasant.
Come between Monday and Friday because Lambug Beach can get crowded at the weekends. Many locals have days off and they want to enjoy some quality beach time too.
But if you like to hang out, talk to, and sing karaoke with locals, definitely come during weekends. Most of them are friendly and talkative.
Best time to visit Cebu
Dry season: December – April
Rainy season: May – November
The best time to visit Cebu island in general is definitely during the dry season. Days are sunny and there’s almost no rain. March till May are becoming too hot and humid so it might be slightly unpleasant to travel around the island.
The wet season brings many dangerous storms and typhoons. Bad weather conditions may cause the sea surface to be rough with many waves. And that’s certainly not great for snorkeling. Visibility gets worse as well.
When coming after the monsoon season, there’s a chance the water flow in waterfalls will be too strong and they might be closed.
Other places to visit on Cebu
Dao Falls
Dao Falls is a MUST-visit place while exploring Cebu. It’s one of our favorite waterfalls. To reach the waterfall you have to hike through the canyon that is surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and lush green jungle.
Along the canyon runs a picturesque turquoise river. The hike is not demanding at all. Prepare to get wet. We recommend going there already in swimsuit and sandals, or flip-flops. You can take a bath in some of the river pools.
After 20-30 minutes of hiking, you’ll finally reach Dao Falls. It’s made of multiple water cascades. At the end, you can dip in a beautiful blue lagoon and swim right under the waterfall. At this waterfall, the guide is mandatory.
Osmena Peak
Osmena Peak is the highest point on Cebu Island with an elevation of 1,013 meters. It provides incredible 360 panoramic views over the island and ocean. Osmena Peak is located probably 1 hour drive from Moalboal.
This place is a perfect spot for watching a sunset. The hike is only 15-20 minutes long and it’s not demanding, maybe the last ascent, but the rest is fine. Unfortunately, you can’t hike alone and you need a guide. You can’t avoid it because it’s mandatory. At least you support the local economy.
We highly recommend visiting Osmena Peak during sunset. Wait for the sun to set after the horizon. Many people leave before the best colors show up, usually 10 to 15 minutes after the sun sets.
If you want to explore Cebu island carefree and visit its best attractions, join Kawasan Waterfalls and Osmeña Peak Day Tour.
Montpellier Falls
Montpellier Falls is a hidden gem you should definitely add to your itinerary. It’s much less visited than any other waterfall on Cebu. The main reason is probably that it’s difficult to find. There isn’t any trail marked on Google Maps or Maps.me.
But don’t worry, we have a complete guide how to visit Montpellier Falls. The trek is short and easy. You’ll be rewarded by the stunning view of the waterfall and a small blue lagoon. The water is refreshing, but it’s exactly what you need after hiking on a hot tropical day.
You don’t have to pay any entrance and parking fees as well as a guide. It’s the best choice for budget travelers.
Best guided tours on Cebu
- Kawasan Canyoneering – A MUST DO activity on Cebu Island. This was definitely the highlight of our Philippine trip and we recommend this to everyone who loves adrenaline and cliff-jumping!
- Bohol Day Tour – If you want to see Bohol Island withut all the hassle, this tour is the perfect option. Bohol is not a big island so one day is plenty to see its highlights.
- 3-Day Cebu Highlights tour – Great if you’re looking for a hassle-free trip around the best Cebu attractions. Visit Cebu City, different waterfalls, go snorkelling with whale sharks and sardine run.
Lambug Beach – conclusion
In conclusion, Lambug Beach is a perfect place if you want to unwind and relax after waterfall adventures. Be prepared to pay for entrance and parking fees a little bit more than at any other beach. But in my opinion, it’s worth every cent.
As I mentioned before, the beach gets crowded during weekends. Some of you might like it since you can connect with locals and enjoy karaoke together. Hope this guide was helpful and thank you for reading.
