Mactan Philippines on the map. Open left menu Mactan
Diving on Mactan Island (Cebu)
popular resort and good walls
small island Mactan, located at east coast Cebu Island opposite Cebu City. Through the strait separating Cebu and Mactan, two bridges are thrown. Exactly on Mactan located international Airport Cebu, the second most important city in the Philippines.
Mactan is popular as a resort, it is possible here beach holiday, visiting local attractions and entertainment centers, Mactan Aquarium ( Mactan Island Aquarium) etc. In addition to the relatively developed infrastructure for popularity Mactan influences proximity large city Cebu, the oldest in the country.
2. Mar y Cielo (Sea and Sky)
Locals also know this site as “Vista Mar”. The wall is up to 35-40 m. The most interesting thing is at depths of 15-25 m, below 30 there is nothing remarkable. You can see triggerfish, eagle rays, and two-colored angelfish. Required level of training: Open Water and above. The site is too deep for snorkeling.
3. Climaco
Slope, wall up to 40 m. The most interesting thing is at 20-25 m. The current is weak. You can meet anglerfish, dragon fish (dragon pegasus). The site is too deep for snorkeling.
4.Tambuli
Sandy slope. The most interesting thing is at depths of 10-20 m. At 22 m there is a small plane. You can see pomacentra fish, sergeant fish, angler fish, crocodile fish, blue nosed moray eels, small barracudas, etc. If you are lucky, you can see a whale shark. 
5. Costa Bella
The slope is up to 30 m. You can find various nudibranchs, orange clownfish (amphiprions), and triggerfish. Required level of training: Open Water and above. Snorkeling is possible, but the conditions are not very comfortable.
6. Whale Rock
Locals may know this site as "Dakit-Dakit". The slope is up to 40 m. The most interesting thing is at a depth of 10-22 m; you can’t go below 25. The dive begins opposite the rocks in shallow water. The northeast dive site is a little better: more fish and the coral is healthier. During high season, be aware of heavy traffic, including jet skis. You can see small hard corals, sponges, nudibranchs (in shallow waters), a variety of reef fish, yellowtail barracuda, striped anglerfish, etc. Snorkeling is possible.
7. Marine Station
Wall up to 35 m. Magnificent hard corals, nudibranchs, striped anglerfish, lionfish, seahorses, etc. Low current. Visibility is good (up to 30 m). Required level of training: Open Water and above. Snorkeling is possible.
8. Kon-Tiki (Kon-Tiki)
The site is named after the dive center of the same name, named after the famous Heyerdahl raft, named after the Inca deity. Located near the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort. The wall is from 15 to 40 m. At 7 m there is a large excavator bucket. Entry and exit from the shore is possible. A good site for beginner divers. Night diving is interesting. Snorkeling is possible. You can meet various coral fish, anglers, scorpion fish, napoleons, and, if you're lucky, sharks. During night dives, watch the Spanish dancers. 
9. Ludo
The wall is from 7 to 35 m. The most interesting thing is at a depth of 10-20 m, deeper than 30 there is nothing interesting. You can see titanium triggerfish, sergeant fish, painted unicorn, blue-sided wrasse, tuna, etc. The site is good for night dives. Snorkeling is possible.
10. Hadsan
The site is named after the Hadsan Hotel Beach Resort, opposite which it is located. Slope from 7 to 25-35 m. The most interesting thing is at a depth of 10-15 below, nothing interesting. You can see parrot fish. With great luck, whale sharks are encountered. Night diving is interesting. Snorkeling is possible.
The small island of Mactan (Mactan) off the eastern coast of the island of Cebu, directly opposite the capital of the same name, Cebu, is the happy owner of excellent beaches and many hotels, as well as the second most important airport in the Philippines. Cultural attractions in Mactan include an aquarium and a couple of monuments: Magellan and his killer, Chief Lapu-Lapu. For the most part, the beauty of the island is natural and underwater: diving there is highly developed.
Search for flights to Manila (the nearest airport to Mactan)
Diving in Mactan
The best diving is in the channel off Hilutangan Island, which separates Mactan from the neighboring island of Olango. The walls there reach 300 meters in depth and are popular among technical diving enthusiasts. Average visibility is about 18 m, strong currents are possible.
The Shangri-La Hotel's house reef is a sandy slope with a depth of 5 to 20 m. There you can see elephant ear coral, nudibranchs, seahorses, and eagle rays. Any tourist with an Open Water certificate will be able to dive here and indulge in underwater macro photography.
Mar y Cielo (“Sea and Sky”) also refers to hotel sites - in in this case Hotel Vista Mar. There, near the wall at a depth of 35-40 m, you can find triggerfish, eagle rays and two-colored angels.
Climaco - a wall up to 40 m deep with a weak current, angler fish and dragon fish.
Another "hotel" dive site is Tambuli, which is famous for the fact that at a depth of 22 m there lies a small aircraft. Also in Tambuli you can find pomacentra fish, sergeant fish, angler fish, crocodile fish, blue-nosed moray eels (sounds scary!) and small barracudas. Warning: Since the site is located near the shore of a fairly popular hotel, divers there should not let their guard down and beware of all kinds of jet skis and tourist boats that cut through the waves nearby.
Costa Bella (up to 30 m) offers divers an assortment of nudibranchs, orange clownfish and triggerfish.
The Whale Rock site (aka “Dakit-Dakit”) is most interesting at a depth of 10-22 m. In this “layer” you can find hard corals, sponges, nudibranchs, reef fish, barracudas and even striped anglerfish. And since the dive starts shallow on the sand, snorkeling is also common at this dive site.
Cultural attractions in Mactan include an aquarium and a couple of monuments: Magellan and his killer, Chief Lapu-Lapu. For the most part, the beauty of the island is natural and underwater: diving there is highly developed.
The Marine Station wall (up to 35 m) is famous for its picturesque hard corals, nudibranchs, anglerfish and seahorses. Thanks to good visibility (up to 30 m) and weak currents, snorkelers are also splashing around here in abundance.
The Kon-Tiki site opposite the Maribago Bluewater Hotel is the proud owner of its own “wreck”, namely an excavator bucket lying at a depth of 7 m. It is good for beginner divers as it allows you to dive directly from the shore.
At the wall Ludo better views open at a depth of 10-20 m: these include titanium triggerfish, sergeant fish, and wrasse.
The Hadsan Hotel has a dive site of the same name, where you can see parrot fish, rarely whale sharks, and also dive at night or just lazily surf water surface with mask and snorkel.
Marigondon Cave is rightfully considered one of the best sites in Mactan. Located opposite the Plantation Hotel Bay Resort at a depth of 30-38 m, it goes 40-45 m deep, so you can’t do it without lanterns. And once inside the cave, divers are asked to turn off their flashlights in order to watch the amazing lantern-eyed fish that can “semaphore” bright light sources under their eyes.
Olango Island also has a couple of dive sites: Bas Coral (Cathedral) a 15-minute swim from the Shangri-La Hotel (they say encounters with dolphins are common during this sea trip), Santa Rosa with soft corals, seahorses, sand eels and fox sharks, as well as Tauma and Tingo Point, where three-meter fox sharks are found in the mornings.
Popular hotels in Mactan
- Where to stay: There are surprisingly many hotels in Mactan for such a small island. Which is very convenient for divers, who are the main local visiting public. If diving is not the main thing, then we are looking for a hotel in Cebu, there is a more classic vacation - with excursions, shopping and trips to the beaches. Boracay hotels (like the entire island) experienced a total purge. Rest here is now fresher, but cleaner. On the next
Mactan is one of the thousands of islands in the Philippines. It is located near the large island of Cebu and is connected to it by two bridges. The island is part of the province of Cebu and belongs to the Visayas. Mactan-Cebu International Airport is located here.
The island is famous for the death of Magellan, the famous Portuguese navigator.
During the battle between people from Ferdinand Magellan's expedition and the aborigines, he was killed by the Mactanese leader Lapu-Lapu. This happened on April 27, 1521.
An interesting fact is that the Filipinos equally revere both Magellan and his killer. There is a monument to Chief Lapu-Lapu on the island. And on the neighboring island of Cebu, Magellan's Cross and his burial place, which are also a tourist attraction.
Magellan is revered as the first person to bring Christianity to the islands. And Lapu-Lapu as a fighter against the colonialists.
Mactan Island has many beautiful beaches. Many tourists come to them from the island of Cebu.
But there are few free beaches here and they are occupied mainly by local residents. But near the hotels you will find excellent sandy beach areas.
Mactan is famous for its numerous hotels with equipped beaches and water parks. You can go to boat trip around the islands on a bank boat. And take a walk around local park and you can buy souvenirs in the town of Mactan Shrine, where in the 16th century the local leader Ferdinand Magellan was killed.
The largest selection of beaches in the Cebu archipelago is on Mactan Island, which is visited by all tourists from Cebu, since this is where the airport is located. There are no good free beaches here, but there are well-equipped beach areas near hotels. Demon paid beaches there are places in Mactan, but as a rule, local residents vacation there, so there are no vacancies and have a relaxing holiday It's not worth looking here.
Best paid Mactan beaches the following.
Blue Water Maribago is accessible from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends (entrance from 1,500 to 2,100 pesos). Moreover, the cost of visiting includes the price for lunch or dinner at a local restaurant, use of swimming pools and beach towels.
The Imperial Palace Resort and Spa beach is suitable for families with children, as there is an aqua park and a swimming pool. You can purchase a full-day pass (about 3,500 pesos), which includes lunch at a local restaurant.
Plantation Bay Resort and Spa beach covers an area of over 100 hectares. There are lagoons with different depths. Entrance to the beach will cost about 2,000 pesos, and for this price you will get lunch with drinks, the opportunity to use bicycle rental services, table tennis, boats, visit the climbing wall or play football and billiards.
And if you are looking for silence, untouched nature and crystal clear waters, head to Naked Island Beach, an hour's drive from Mactan. The beach is a sand spit that appears only at low tide. Moreover, the water here is an absolutely incredible azure color.
Near Mactan there is an islet called Pandanon, which can be reached by boat in less than an hour. Tourists are attracted here by the snow-white sand, pure water and exotic bamboo cottages. This island is especially good for photo sessions. And in the beach restaurant you will be offered deliciously cooked shells.
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Part of the Visayas group. Located near the island of Cebu, opposite the city of the same name, Cebu.
It is administratively divided into the city of Lapu-Lapu and the municipality of Cordoba.
Why does the Philippines attract tourists?
Statistically, most people tourist holiday in 2019 it is associated with a carefree nap, somewhere in a hammock on the ocean shore, with a glass of fresh juice in hand. Watch the play of light on the waves, feel the warm, gentle air on your skin.
This is the answer to the question – why is the Philippines so attractive to millions of people?
There are many warm, maritime countries with a friendly climate, but not all of these countries are welcoming to tourists. In this regard, the Philippines is “ahead of the rest.” The country literally specializes and lives in the tourism business and service sector. It is obvious that all measures are being taken here to ensure that the active holiday of visiting tourists is fabulous and unforgettable.
Read more about the climate of the Philippines. Is everything so fabulous?
The cost of the flight varies greatly. Even if you are looking for a ticket only in economy class, price tags can vary from 10 to 80 thousand rubles. The most profitable travel strategies to the Philippines are three ways:
- To the Philippines via Far East. Many tourists, in order to reduce the flight distance by plane, prefer to first get as close as possible to Asia by rail. We go by train to Vladivostok or Irkutsk, and from there we go by plane to the Philippines. In total it comes out cheaper than flying straight from or.
- Direct flight to the Philippines with promotion. The tourism industry is like a huge hypermarket. Lots of offers, different beautiful packaging of goods, seasonal offers for holidays and promotions. When you walk into a store, there is no point in grabbing the first thing that comes to hand. It is quite possible that on the other side of the shelf lies the same thing, but at half the price. The same goes for vouchers and tickets. If you are careful and patient, you can easily save up to 70% of the original tour cost. Travel agencies regularly offer discounts and promotions with attractive offers; you just need to choose the right moment to make a purchase.
- To the Philippines from Asian countries. If you are planning a big and long trip, it is not at all necessary to visit only one country. The countries of Asia, for example, are very diverse, even though they are located next door. Many tourists visit several neighboring countries during their tour of the East. N times more impressions for the same money!
We are located on the island of Mactan. Where to stay?
Even at the stage of preparing for the trip, we ask ourselves the question - where is it better to live? Only you yourself can understand this matter better than anyone else. What do you prefer: multi-storey mansions with carpeted paths and golden Jacuzzis or a cozy and quiet separate cottage where only you and your family and children will live? Or maybe you would like a nature-breathing bungalow with a thatched roof, somewhere in tropical forest? Or will we opt for a classic hotel, with dinner in the room and a swimming pool? Mactan has a wide range of temporary housing options.
4 best hotels according to tourist reviews and price/quality ratio:
- Abaca Boutique Resort - Free Wi-Fi, free parking, air conditioner (for southern countries this is very important), swimming pool, restaurant, airport transfer. Romantic place, ideal choice for a couple's holiday or honeymoon.
- Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa (Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa) - Free Wi-Fi, free parking, breakfast included, air conditioning, 5-star hotel overlooking the beach, pool. Family, comfortable hotel. An excellent choice for family travel.
Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa
- Plantation Bay Resort And Spa - Free Internet, free parking, buffet breakfast, air conditioning, 5-star hotel overlooking the beach, swimming pool. Famous for the most balanced price/quality ratio.
- Crimson Resort and Spa, Mactan (Crimson Resort & Spa, Mactan) - Free internet, free parking, buffet breakfast, air conditioning, 5-star beachfront hotel, pool. Has access to a spacious, well-maintained beach. A good choice for relaxing alone.
Crimson Resort & Spa
There are even separate island hotels in the Philippines. In case you need complete distance from civilization. For example, Pandanon Island.
Notable places and entertainment on Mactan Island. What's nearby?
Of course, the first thing you want to do in Mactan after a long journey and stress is to relax on the beach. There are many beaches in Mactan, but it is important to take into account their peculiarities. There are paid and free beaches here. There are always a lot of tourists on free beaches and local residents. During rush hour, the free beach resembles a market square. Therefore, for relaxation and meditation, you should choose a paid one, closed beach, or immediately choose a hotel with its own beach.
Peace and quiet on the paid beach
Mactan doesn't pay much attention to architecture, so there aren't that many monuments and unique buildings there.
The most striking cultural attraction is the “Monuments to Magellan and Lapu-Lapu”. These monuments have very interesting story. Ferdinand Magellan was a navigator, explorer and Christian missionary. Magellan visited the island of Cebu on a mission to promote Christianity and Spanish expansion. The population of the island was delighted with the Christian religion and European morals. However, Lapu-Lapu, the leader of the neighboring island of Mactan, was against this “excursion” of the Spanish invaders. In 1521, Lapu-Lapu and his army destroyed a detachment of Spaniards along with Ferdinand Magellan.
Monuments to them are located in Mactan Shrine Park. The Magellan Monument is an altar with the tomb of Fernand himself. And the Lapu-Lapu monument looks like a huge sculpture of Lapu-Lapu himself on a pedestal.
Monument to Magellan
Lapu-Lapu Monument
For purely visual entertainment, you can also visit the Mactan Island Aquarium. It provides an opportunity to get to know the fauna of the Philippine Islands better and look at strange sea creatures. A great place to take the kids for an extra hour.
Most likely, on the island itself, in its central part, it is best to live in a hotel and visit inexpensive restaurants, cafes and parties. Nothing excites the taste buds like Asian cuisine. Spicy seasonings, exotic and sometimes completely incredible dishes. If you want to try something completely strange, you can visit the evening markets. Local culinary delights can rightfully be called delights. An Asian proverb says: “if something moves, it means it is food.”
There are many nightclubs in Mactan and tourists speak very positively about them. Friendly, happy people just relax and dance, without any fights and brawls inherent in our clubs.
The best place to engage in active recreation and entertainment is in the vicinity of the island and on individual tourist islands. The Philippines is an ideal place for an active holiday. Surfing, diving, water parks, racing on jet skis, boats, yachts, diving from heights and much more.
Where to do active recreation in Mactan and Cebu?
Want to take a deeper dive into the Philippines in every sense of the word? Looking for the best diving? The Hilutangan Strait, which separates Mactan Island and the neighboring Olango Island from each other, is an ideal place for scuba diving enthusiasts. The strait is up to 300 meters deep and with visibility up to 18 meters guarantees an unforgettable underwater experience.
If you have never been diving before, you should definitely know that to dive with a spacesuit, you definitely need certificates of your training. Certificates come in different skill levels and can be obtained not only in coastal countries.
- First level. Open Water Diver (OWD). You will be taught how to float, descend, ascend, and will be told how to move correctly under water. After several theoretical tests and a couple of practical tests, the future diver receives an OWD Certificate, which gives the right to dive with a partner to a depth of 18 meters without an instructor.
- Advanced level. Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD). After passing complex checks and tests, the diver receives an AOWD certificate and can dive with a buddy to a depth of 42 meters without an instructor.
Courses cost differently everywhere, but the average price for full training is about 15,000 rubles.
You can even go diving without leaving your hotel. For example, the house reef of the Shangri-La Hotel. This is a sandy depression up to 20 m deep. The reef is home to various mollusks, skates, corals, fish and other living creatures. To dive here you need an Open Water certificate. This certificate will be useful in any diving location.
The Marigondon underwater cave is famous among divers. The entrance to it is at a depth of 35 meters, and the cave itself goes 40 meters deep. The cave is completely dark and divers use flashlights. However, once in the far part of the cave, they turn off their flashlights to look at the lantern-eyed fish glowing in the dark.
For the most passionate lovers of sea adventures, there are separate islands dedicated to active recreation on the sea.
Tourist islands for divers and active travelers.
Many islands in the Philippines are specially equipped for tourists and divers. There are all the conditions for an energetic and memorable holiday. Let's take a closer look at the most popular ones.
- Olango Island. An island located between the Hilutangan Strait and the Olango Channel. It occupies a large area and has its own reef of the same name, Olango. For divers, the Tamila beach Villas diving center is located on the island; on the northern part you can find Mabini Point, Baring on the northwest side, and Santa Rosa in the west. For tourists, there is a Nature Reserve Wildlife Olango. Thanks to the features geographical location islands and dense, swampy forest - many different birds live here. Don't forget to take your camera with you!
Bridge to Olang Island
- Tablas Island. It is famous for the fact that this is the only place in the Philippines where you can dive into the so-called “ blue hole"(Blue Hole). This is a deep underwater cave with vertical and horizontal tunnels. It is called blue for the unusual play of light inside the cave. She is literally flooded with blue light.
Blue Hole
- Dakit-Dakit islets. They are part of the island of Malapascua. Are different wide choice entertainment for divers and extreme sports enthusiasts. The most famous and frightening is shark cage diving. An attraction for real thrill-seekers.
Let's summarize.
Philippine Islands – small paradise with its own character and characteristics. Heavy weekly rains here are replaced by calm and hot sea air. Rest here can also be very calm and measured, or cheerful and energetic.
You don’t have to leave your Resort & Spa, go for a massage, sunbathe on the beach, read a book to the sound of the waves in your bungalow. You can surf for days, swim in caves at a depth of 100 meters, go to Thai boxing, and then spend the night in a club, under the spotlights.
It’s up to you to decide what your trip to Mactan will be like.
