Moalboal sardine run is one of the most unbelievable experiences we ever had. Imagine snorkeling while being surrounded by millions of fish! It feels so unreal! This activity should certainly have a place in your Philippines itinerary.
We just couldn’t imagine visiting Cebu without seeing the Moalboal Sardine Run. It’s one of the best activities to do on the island. The best thing about this absolutely stunning experience is that you can do it completely for free (if you already have snorkeling gear).
In this guide, we would like to share how and where to find the sardine run! We created a complete travel guide, including tips such as where to rent snorkeling gear and find the best restaurants or hotels in the area.
What is the Moalboal Sardine Run?
Moalboal sardine run is a unique experience you certainly DON’T WANT TO MISS. Just imagine swimming with millions of sardines. Does it feel a little a bit scary? Don’t worry, after overcoming the first shock of seeing so many fish under your feet, it will be the most incredible thing you’ve ever seen!
There are over 1 million sardines in each school. You can swim through the schools and get surrounded by sardines. It will be epic!
The best thing about the Moalboal sardine run is that you can do it completely for free. Sardines are located just 20 meters from the shore of Panagsama Beach. But if you can’t swim, you can also join a guided tour. More on that below.
Tip: Want to see as much of Cebu as possible? Check out this incredible action-packed 3-day tour of Cebu island!
Where is Panagsama beach?
Panagsama Beach is located about 3 hours from Cebu City near Moalboal on the southwest coast of Cebu Island. The location of Panagsama Beach is amazing because it’s close to many restaurants, bars, accommodations, etc. This is also the most popular area to stay on Cebu Island.
The beach is great for snorkeling and diving. It’s also good for sunbathing but primarily during a low tide. When high tide comes, the beach area is all underwater. The picture below was taken during low tide.
How to get to Panagsama beach?
So you probably arrived in Cebu city which is the biggest city on the island. Getting to Moalboal is really easy since you have only 2 options on how to get there.
Public bus
The cheapest option will of course be a local bus. It will take around 3 hours to get to Moalboal from the South bus terminal in Cebu City or the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
When traveling from the airport, first, you have to take “My Bus” to the city, then a shared local minivan to the bus terminal. From the South bus terminal, there’s a direct bus to Moalboal. Since the bus doesn’t go directly to Panagsama Beach, you have to take a tricycle in Moalboal.
Taxi
You can also get to Panagsama Beach in a private car. This is also the most expensive way to travel from Cebu to Panagsama Beach. A private transfer is a great option if you have too much luggage or you’re traveling with small kids and don’t want to go through all those transfers.
It’s more affordable when shared with a group of other people. The biggest advantage is that it can take you directly from the airport to Panagsama Beach with no hassle at all.
Tip: If you decide to use a private driver we highly recommend this private transfer option on Klook.
Where to stay
The good news is that the best place to stay on Cebu Island is Panagsama Beach! It’s because you’ll find the most restaurants and bars in the area. Additionally, there’s often live music and discounts on cocktails in the evenings.
Another option is the Oslob area, which is also quite popular. However, Oslob is known for snorkeling with whale sharks. While this might sound interesting, the way it’s organized is not ethical at all. For sustainable travel, we beg you to avoid these experiences.
Best hotels on Cebu
If you use the links below, you pay the same and we earn a little commission. It helps us run this blog. You can also check more hotels in Moalboal on booking.com.
How much does it cost to see Moalboal sardine run?
Swimming with the sardine run on Panagsama Beach is completely FREE! Unless you don’t know how to swim and need to do this with a guide. Additionally, you have to pay for snorkeling or freediving gear rental. Unless you have your own.
Where to find Moalboal sardine run?
Now you probably think: Isn’t it hard to find sardines? The answer is NO. As I have said before, sardines are located only around 20 meters from the shore.
It certainly couldn’t be easier to find them. But there is one specific place where the sardines are most of the time.
Important: A guide IS NOT REQUIRED, but if you don’t know how to swim and don’t feel comfortable in deeper water you should go with a guide.
Pin Moalboal sardine run location to your Google Maps. This is the exact location where the sardines usually stay. Of course, they are always moving but we are talking about a few meters.
Simply swim out to the drop and search there. They are usually between Pizzeria Marina and Veranda Kitchen and Bar. Another great tip on how to find the sardines is simply by following the crowd. People are almost always snorkeling around the sardines.
Should I snorkel or dive with Moalboal sardines?
This depends only on you and your preferences. While it’s not necessary to go diving to witness the full magic of swimming with the sardines, it’s an incredible experience. But they are usually not too deep. So you can see them clearly even from the top.
Most divers go even deeper than the sardines. They spend most of the time around 12 meters deep exploring the reef wall.
However, if you want to get closer to sardines, at least some level of freediving ability is necessary. If you can dive at least 4-5 meters you’ll have an unforgettable experience. You might even take some of those breath-taking photos of you being surrounded by all the sardines!
Diving and PADI courses
If you’re looking for more underwater time, there are many diving possibilities on Panagsama Beach! For those who have never dived before, a fun dive is a great option. After a quick introduction course and practice, you can dive 12 meters deep.
You can even get your PADI certificate here! Depending on your course type, this usually takes a few days.
A great thing about diving in the area is that you can walk in from the beach and try going deeper gradually. There’s no need to jump in straight from a boat, which might be scary.
Activity: Interested in PADI or diving? Here’s a great boat dive. If you prefer to go snorkeling, check out this Oslob whale shark, sardine run, and sea turtle boat tour.
Where to rent snorkeling gear
Finding a snorkeling gear rental at Panagsama Beach is a piece of cake. Just walk down the road and you will find plenty of rentals directly on the street. The prices differ slightly, so ask at mulitple places to get the best deal.
We recommend renting freediving fins as well. They allow you to go deeper faster with less effort.
If you plan to snorkel a lot during your, we recommend bringing your snorkeling gear. While it’s almost always possible to rent snorkeling gear somewhere when traveling, they’re not always the best quality.
The glasses might be fogging up too much or not fitting that well. It’s also used by many people every day.
How much does it cost
Price: Goggles + snorkel are around 50 – 100 PHP per day
The goggles and snorkel are usually around 50 to 100 PHP. You pay for the whole day. If you decide to rent the fins as well, normal ones are around 100 PHP and freediving fins cost 200 PHP per day.
Don’t miss turtles!
There will be another amazing opportunity waiting for you at Panagsama Beach. These waters are just perfect for turtles. They can feed on seaweed, and they are mostly coming during high tide since there is enough water for them to swim.
So while snorkeling in Moalboal don’t forget to look for turtles. While there are not so many of them, there is a high possibility of spotting at least one. But you have to be patient.
Check other groups of people too. If you see many people in one place there is a chance that they found a turtle.
What’s great about the turtles is that they’re not staying in deep waters. You can often find them in waist-deep water. That’s great news for non-swimmers or not-very-good swimmers.
Travel Insurance
One of the worst things you could do is travel without insurance. We never go on a trip without travel insurance. Anything can happen during your adventures.
Our go-to company is SafetyWing. They will save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
If you purchase the insurance through our link, you still pay the same, and we will earn a small commission. This helps us run our blog. Thank you ❤️
Best time to see Moalboal Sardine run
Cebu dry season : December – April
Cebu wet season : May – November
Sardines in Moalboal can be seen throughout the whole year.
The best time to see the Moalboal sardine run is during the dry season. You’ll have the best weather conditions. The sea is calm with great visibility most of the time. Occasional storms might occur, though. Prices might also be slightly higher.
It’s also possible to visit the area during the wet season. It brings a few benefits, such as fewer people and lower prices. However, the downside is that some hotels and restaurants might be closed. Panagsama is not too crowded, though. So it’s not necessary to try to avoid crowds.
The wet season also 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.
Best time to snorkel with Moalboal sardines day-wise
We visited Panagsama Beach a few times during our stay in Moalboal. According to our experience, the best time for snorkeling was in the afternoon.
In the morning, there are multiple tours with a lot of tourists looking for a sardine run. Many are non-swimmers floating around with life jackets kicking their legs in every direction. It’s hard to avoid getting a few kicks.
To fully enjoy your time with millions of sardines we recommend coming around 3 – 4 pm. If it’s possible avoid coming during weekends and holidays.
Read next: Is Siargao Island your next destination? Read about how to get from Cebu to Siargao in our travel guide.
Best restaurants at Panagsama Beach
Panagsama Beach offers many great places to eat. You can find everything in the area – local Filipino food as well as western kitchens, such as pizza or burgers. Many bars have happy hours in the evenings and offer discounts on drinks.
- Shaka – tasty refreshing smoothie bowls
- Hungry Monkeys – incredible Filipino meals
- Smooth cafe – the best place to spend a lovely evening listening to live music with a cocktail
- Betsy’s grill – they are known for their amazing burgers and ribs, but it’s often full
Other places to visit on Cebu Island
Kawasan Canyoneering
One of the most exciting activities on Cebu Island is, without a doubt, Kawasan Canyoneering. If you’re unfamiliar with this term, it’s going down a canyon following the river stream. Canyoneering is full of natural water slides, cliff jumping, and swimming.
Kawasan Canyoneering cannot be done without a guide. You can either book this experience near Panagsama Beach or online using Klook.
Waterfalls day-trip
Cebu Island is home to many stunning waterfalls. Some of them are more popular than others. But in general, we only met a few people when visiting each waterfall. It’s hard to only choose a few you must visit. Here’s a list of our favorite waterfalls on Cebu Island:
- Montpellier Falls – A remote waterfall where you’re likely to be alone. It only takes 15 minutes of walking to get here. There’s a lovely pool below, where you can swim.
- Kabutongan Falls – A semi-canyoneering where you need a guide. You walk upstream and end up in a canyon with a staggering waterfall with a cave behind. You can also cliff-jump here!
- Inambakan Falls – A series of smaller and taller waterfalls with many levels. You can hike around and discover different hidden pools and lagoons.
- Dau Falls – A short hike through a mesmerizing canyon ending with a tall waterfall. The natural pool has an incredible turquoise color!
- Binalayan Falls – Also called “Adidas Falls”, thanks to three water flows. With the help of a guide, you can cliff-jump from various spots and heights.
- Aguinid Falls – Five levels of different cascading waterfalls.
Osmeña peak sunset hike
After a long day of exploring the best Cebu Island attractions, watch the sunset at Osmeña Peak. Enjoy the golden colors as the sun sets behind the never-ending ocean. What makes this place special is the shape of the surrounding hills. It resembles the Chocolate Hills on Bohol.
Best guided tours on Cebu
- 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.
- Sumilon Island tour – Visit Sumilon Island, explore its idyllic beaches and go snorkeling with whale sharks, the largest fish in the world.
- Mactan Island hopping day trip – great if you’re staying in Cebu City or Mactan Island. This tour takes you around different islands and you can also combine it with scuba diving.
Conclusion – Moalboal Sardine run
In conclusion, the Moalboal Sardine Run is a mesmerizing underwater experience in Cebu, Philippines. Millions of sardines swirl in unison, creating breathtaking moments for divers and snorkelers alike. It’s undeniably a MUST-SEE natural wonder for anyone visiting Cebu Island.