Last August 23, I attended the media preview of Cebu Ocean Park to experience the marine themed park before its soft opening day on August 24. Cebu Ocean Park was developed by Cebu Sealife Park, Inc., the same developer who made Manila Ocean Park happen. One of the key features of the marine themed park is its oceanarium which is the largest in the Philippines.

Cebu Ocean Park features exciting educational displays that can be enjoyed by the whole family. These are Jungle Trek, Lorries, Creepy Critters, Seven Seas, Fish Spa and Oceanarium.

Jungle Trek

Creepy Critters

Seven Seas

Fish Spa

Oceanarium

For those who want to make their Cebu Ocean Park experience more memorable, you can try the Crocodile Cage, Sea Trek and Stingray Interaction activities. These activities requires additional payment on top of your entrance fee.

Some of my favorite displays at Cebu Ocean Park are the clown fish aquarium in Seven Seas, and Oceanarium’s 360 Viewing Tunnel and Deep Tank Lagoon, the deepest aquarium in the country with a depth of 7 meters.

Cebu Ocean Park also features an event hall for private functions and a food hall. They are currently on soft opening and some of the educational displays and attractions are not quite ready yet. Expect the marine themed park to be fully operational on their grand opening this coming October.

Cebu Ocean Park is located at the SM Seaside Complex in South Road Properties (SRP). They are open from 10am to 8pm daily. Entrance fees are Php600/person on weekdays and Php800/person on weekend for both adults and children. Children below 2ft are free of charge.

Follow Cebu Ocean Park on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website for more details.

One of the reasons why I love Cebu is, I could be working in the office in the morning, and then relaxing by the beach in the afternoon. This is exactly what I just did few days ago. I went straight from work to Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu for a quick beach escapade.

This summer, Mövenpick Cebu has prepared exciting packages and new offers to make summer even more fun and enjoyable. You can choose from the Day Tour or Cabana Rental packages.

Day Tour Package

• Access to white sand beach and swimming pool from 8am to 8pm
• Use of gym, Little Birds Club and Game Room
• Complimentary breakfast or lunch buffet at The Sails Restaurant or 15-course Balearic dinner at Ibiza Beach Club

Cabana Rental Package

• 4 hours of exclusive rental of one Cabana for 2 guests
• Access to white sand beach and swimming pool
• Includes a beach kit with cold towel, beach towel, toilet and bath amenities and a pack of sweet treats

All guests who availed these packages will also get access to the fun group activities scheduled at various times at the Beach Garden. These packages will surely make your beach escapade at Mövenpick Cebu more relaxing, hassle-free and enjoyable.

After a long day of swimming, head out to Ibiza Beach Club for some Happy Hour cocktails while enjoying the golden sunset in the Jacuzzi or on the net pods. From 4pm to 6pm, enjoy Buy-One-Get-One-Free on a glass of beer, juice or cocktail.

Ibiza Beach Club also recently introduced their Premium Gin and Tonic Collection featuring 6 drinks. All these are at Buy-One-Get-One-Free exclusively on Sundays during Happy Hour.

Come dinner time, don’t miss Ibiza Beach Club’s nightly themed shows featuring Cebu’s local talents. Enjoy the one-of-a-kind theatrical experience while savoring Ibiza’s Balearic-inspired signature 15-course dinner. Indulge with generous serving of meat and seafood – Filet Mignon, Angus Rib-Eye Steak, Ostrich Meat, Lamb Chops and Tiger Prawns, to name a few.

Don’t forget to pair your meal with Manny O. Wines, or if you want to be creative, order Ibiza’s “Cocktail in the Box” where you can craft your own drink. Each box comes with cocktail ingredients, a full bottle of spirits, and mixers.

If you’re are looking for a quick beach escapade near the city, Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu is waiting to welcome you.

For reservations and inquiries, contact +63 32 492 7777 or email hotel.cebu@movenpick.com. For updates events and promotions, visit www.movenpick.com/cebu or follow @movenpickcebu and @ibizacebu on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

As one the organizers of Influencity, we needed a hotel that was near the event venue to save us from driving though the city’s crazy traffic. Quest Hotel Cebu was generous enough to partner with us, and accommodate us during the duration of the event.

Quest Hotel & Conference Center Cebu is conveniently located at the heart of Cebu City. Its location is perfect for travelers who need easy access to their destinations. The hotel is located along Arch Bishop Reyes Avenue, just right outside Cebu Business Park, and across Ayala Center Cebu.

The Room

I stayed in one of Quest Hotel Cebu’s Deluxe Corner Rooms for three nights. The room features a floor to ceiling glass windows on each side and has an amazing view of Cebu City’s skyline and the mountains of Busay. The room boast a clean contemporary interiors featuring white and earth tone colors.

When it comes to room amenities, Quest Hotel Cebu has it all, from toiletries, complimentary water, tea and coffee, bar amenities, flat screen tv, and comfy bed and pillows.

When I arrived in my room, I was welcomed by a cute elephant towel art. How cute!

The Pool

The pool area of Quest Hotel Cebu is located on the 7th Floor of the building. It features a leisure pool and a small pool for children. It also has a swim up bar just in case you want some drink while having a dip. The pool area also features a cabana where you can have a relaxing massage.

Puso Bistro and Bar

Hungry? Head to the Ground Floor of Quest Hotel Cebu and satisfy that hunger at Puso Bistro and Bar. It’s the only restaurant in the hotel and it offers ala carte menu, and breakfast and themed dinner buffets. It also has small function rooms that can accommodate small gatherings.

I ate breakfast at Puso Bistro and Bar for 3 days. It was truly one of the best breakfast buffets in Cebu City. It’s no wonder they bagged SunStar Best of Cebu’s Best Breakfast Buffet last 2017.

The Quest Hotel Cebu Hospitality

Quest Hotel Cebu has super helpful, warm and attentive staff, and they are willing to assist you to make the best of your stay.

If you you are looking for a hotel stay in the city that is close to almost everything, I definitely recommend Quest Hotel & Conference Center Cebu. Follow their social media accounts, Facebook and Instagram for updates. For inquiries or reservations, guests may call Quest Hotel & Conference Center Cebu at (63 32) 402 5999.

The 170 hectare Cebu Safari is located in the Municipality of Carmen. It was born out of the passion of the owner, Michel J. Lhuillier to become a farmer. Mr. Lhuillier or Senyorito started by purchasing land in Carmen and planting fruit-bearing trees around his property. The land was also used to house horses, a poultry farm and an ice plant, and also care for his 30-year old orchid collection.

His visit to the famed San Diego Zoo gave him the idea on what to do with his surplus land. Senyorito wanted to bring the same level of experience at San Diego Zoo to Cebuanos at a fraction of the cost. This led to the birth of Cebu Safari and Adventure Park in Carmen, Cebu.

Last February 20th, I was invited to experience Cebu Safari together with Cebu’s media community and tour operators. We arrived at the venue just before noon time, and we were welcomed by Cebu Safari’s mascots- Bayani (a Philippine Salt Water Crocodile), Andres (a Visayan Warty Pig), and Amihan (an African Crown Crane) at the Welcome Pavilion. We were then briefed of the do’s and don’ts, as well as what to expect inside the safari. Since Cebu Safari is huge, guests can ride trams to bring them to different parts of the park.

We started our adventure at the African Savanna, the first of its kind in the country. Inside the African Savanna, you will be able to see zebras, wildebeest,waterbucks, and helmeted guinea fowls roaming freely. It’s really nice to see animals in an open environment living freely with other animals.

Just near the African Savanna, you will also be able to see otters, crocodiles, cheetahs, and sulcata tortoises.

Our next stop was the Safari Outpost. Here, we were able to feed giraffes, and see meerkats, swans, pelicans and crowned cranes. We then walked through the Canopy Trail and I was able to see a huge crocodile resting underwater, and the amazing cassowaries. The Canopy Trail is also a perfect spot to shoot those OOTD photos.

It’s already lunch time and we’re getting hungry, good thing our next stop was at Michel’s Pavilion where lunch was served. The pavilion has an overlooking view of Michel’s Garden where various plants and flowers were planted. Michel’s Garden also features a flora walking trail that displays 1 million different variations of orchids. The orchids are part of Senyorito’s 30-year old orchid collection.

After lunch, we were treated to a bird show. It’s amazing how these birds were trained to do some tricks and entertain guests. Soon, guests will be able to watch this show at the Safari Stadium once it’s completed.

We spent the rest of the afternoon viewing and interacting with other animals. I really enjoyed feeding the Macaw’s at the Macaw Aviary, and seeing tigers play in water at the Tiger’s Turf. We were also able to see some monkey, capybara, llama, rheas and deer.

I’m not really a fan of zoos but Cebu Safari was an exemption since the animals can roam freely and you can really see that they are enjoying at their new home. There are currently more than a thousand animals at Cebu Safari. The management assured that all animals are well taken cared off by their 200 plus staff and vets.

More attractions and activities will soon be added to the park. The management is also building a hotel for guests who want to stay overnight.

Cebu Safari is currently on their soft opening and they’re only open on weekends. Please note that mobile network signal is currently limited to some areas around the park.

Tips When Visiting Cebu Safari and Adventure Park

• It’s a 170 hectare property, and touring around involves lots of walking so wear those comfy shoes and clothes
• Protect your skin by applying sunblock, bringing an umbrella or wearing a hat
• Selfie sticks are not allowed
• Cebu Safari opens at 8am and closes at 5pm. Be early so that you can maximize your day inside the park.
• Petting and feeding of animals is not allowed except for designated areas where you can do so.
• Picking of plants and flowers is not allowed.
• Bringing of outside food and drinks is not allowed.

Cebu Safari and Adventure Park Tickets

Cebu Safari’s current rate is Php800 per head and it already includes a lunch buffet. They are currently operating on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. You may visit their Facebook page for the announcement of preview schedules. Please note that they can only accommodate a limited number of guests per day.

Update (04-07-2018): Cebu Safari and Adventure Park is now on full swing since April 4, 2018. They are now open from 8am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Ticket price is Php800 for adults, Php400 for children (2-3 ft tall), and children below 2 ft tall gets in for FREE. The ticket price doesn’t include buffet lunch anymore.

For inquiries and reservation, Cebu Safari’s contact number is +63995 835 3460.

How to Get to Cebu Safari and Adventure Park

Cebu Safari and Adventure Park is about two hour’s drive from Cebu City. If you are coming from Cebu City, drive up-north to Carmen and make a left turn before Carmen National High School. Cebu Safari is located approximately 8 kilometers from the highway. It is advisable to ride a private vehicle going to Cebu Safari since there are shuttle service available to/from the highway yet. Signs and markers were installed along the road to help you find your way to the safari.

If you are to commute, you may ride a north-bound bus at the Cebu North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City. Ask the driver to drop you off at Carmen Public Market. From there, you may ride a habal-habal to Cebu Safari.

Watch out for the grand opening announcement of Cebu Safari and Adventure Park on their social media accounts. You may contact them at +63995 835 3460 or email them at sales@cebusafari.ph for inquiries.

Solea Mactan Resort is about an hour drive from Cebu City. It is located on the east coast of Mactan Island in Cordova which is beaming with lush greenery and a spectacular view of the Hilutungan Channel. The resort’s location is perfect for couples, family, and friends who want to experience the sun, sea, sand, and some fun!

We arrived at the resort and we were greeted by a lobby furnished with some fresh contemporary interiors. The resort lobby features locally made furniture that are unique in design. Warm smiles also welcomed us as we check-in for our room.

The Rooms

Solea Mactan Resort features 225 rooms, and suites – this include 12 Superior Garden Rooms, 200 Deluxe Rooms, 14 Suites, and Presidential Suite. Each room is equipped with a private balcony, and amenities that will surely give guests a comfortable and pleasant stay.

During our staycation, we stayed at the Presidential Suite of the resort. The room features a huge living and dining room area, and 2 bedrooms which can accommodate up to 6 guests. The room boasts modern contemporary interiors featuring neutral shades, and every corner of the rooms is very picture worthy. The Presidential Suite also provides guests with a panoramic view of the resort and the sea. The private balconies are perfect spot to watch the scenic sunrise or sunset of Cebu.

The Resort Amenities and Facilities

Besides the cozy room, another thing that I look forward to when I visit a resort are the amenities, and Solea Mactan Resort has a plenty for everyone. The resort features 3 swimming pools that the whole family can enjoy. They have an infinity pool by the lobby, a huge recreational pool with slide and fountain, a kiddie pool, and an access to Best Western Sandbar Resort’s swimming pool. Guests can also enjoy kayaking and stand up paddle board activities at the lagoon.

Solea Mactan Resort also has conference rooms, a health club, and various recreational activities.

Earth Restaurant

Solea Mactan Resort’s Earth Restaurant is an all-day-dinning outlet serving both in-house and walk-in guests. The restaurant serves buffet style dishes which is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also have ala carte selection for guests who want to skip the buffet.

I really had a pleasant stay at Solea Mactan Resort. Visit them at Victor Wahing Street, Alegria Cordova, Cebu. For inquiries and reservations you may call +63 (032) 517-8889 or email info@soleamactan.com.

The 10,000 Roses Cafe & More opened last February 8 in Day-as, Cordova, just in time for the upcoming Valentines Day. It’s a very romantic spot specially during sunset and night time when the LED Roses are all lit up. The cafe can seat up to 50-60 customers and still has ample of spaces where they can add more tables and chairs. Their menu currently offers coffee, juices, salads, sandwiches, snacks, pizza and pasta. I was not able to try their food and drinks though because there are a lot of people when I went. I will definitely try it next time I’ll go there. The drink prices range from Php60 to Php145 and Php220 to Php400 for the food.

It was just four days ago when 10,000 Roses Cafe & More opened, but because of the power of social media, people already started coming to see the 10,000 LED Roses installed in the cafe’s garden. I wish these LED Roses will last long though because I saw a bunch of people who entered inside the garden for photos. You can seriously get electrocuted, so let’s not do that.

To avoid the crowd, it’s probably best to visit 10000 Roses Cafe & More on weekdays before it opens or before it closes. The location is also quite far from Cebu City, it took us about 1.5 hours to get there by car.

10,000 Roses Cafe & More is located in Barangay Day-As, Cordova, beside Lantaw Floating Restaurant. They are open from 11am to 11pm. The LED Roses lights up at 6PM or as soon as it gets dark.

Thank you CJ of Four-Eyed Laagan for providing me details about the cafe. You can watch his video blog below.

Update 02-14-2017: The city government of Cordova will be collecting Php20 environmental fee per head. The fee will be used to manage the traffic and security in the area. Source: https://www.facebook.com/superbalitacebu/posts/1191102790988478

Osmeña Peak is located in the mountain barangay of Mantalongon, Dalaguete. It is approximately 90km away from Cebu City and can be accessed by bus and habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) if you are commuting. We arrived at Cebu South Bus Terminal at 3:30am for us to catch the 4am bus. I suggest taking an air-conditioned bus for a more relaxing journey. Since it was a Monday when we went, there were only few passengers and there’s no heavy traffic. We arrived in Dalaguete after a 2 hour journey.

Upon arrival in Dalaguete, you will immediately find the habal-habal beside the road that can take you to Osmeña Peak. There’s also a convenience store at the drop-off point just in case you need to buy food and drinks before traveling to the peak.

The journey took about 30 minutes from the bus drop-off point going to the foot of Osmeña Peak. Surprisingly, most of the road is paved going up except for a very short rough road. I really enjoyed the cool morning breeze and the view of the sunrise as we went up. Barangay Mantalongon is also known as the “Vegetable Basket of Cebu” so expect a lot of picturesque vegetable plantation along the way.

You need to register before you can get to Osmeña Peak and the fee is Php30 per person. You also have the option to get a guide for a fee but we decided not to since there’s already a trail that you can follow to get to your destination. I kinda felt guilty on not getting a guide because I know most them, guiding tourist to the peak is their only source of income. :(

The trek took about 15 minutes, I would say the the trek is very easy but it will still require you to rest once in a while because of the uphill climb. You also need to be careful to avoid slipping.

Osmeña Peak is standing tall at 1,013 meters above seal level. Though it’s only half of the height of the highest mountain in Visayas, Mt. Kanlaon, the view from the top is still breathtaking. We were blessed with a clear blue sky and a beautiful sunrise when we got to the peak, giving us a clear view of Badian, Tañon Strait and the province of Negros Oriental. I’ll just let the photos below do the talking.

We stayed at the peak for an hour to appreciate its beauty and take hundreds of photos. Visitors are also allowed to camp and stay overnight if they choose to.

We were supposed to go to Dalaguete Beach Park after but I learned from one of the guides that we can go straight to Kawasan Falls from Osmeña Peak by riding a habal-habal or by foot. We chose the habal-habal option though it’s quite expensive to save time, and I don’t think I am physically fit to do the 6 hour trek. The view from the mountain road is really amazing, and it took about 1.5 hours for us to get to Kawasan Falls.

I’ve been to Kawasan Falls several times but it still amazes me whenever I visit. The turquoise water is really mesmerizing, and the ice-cold water is very relaxing and washes the tiredness away. We decided not to rent a cottage which cost Php300, we just decided to leave our stuff on the side while we swim. You can also rent a raft for Php300 to get under the waterfall.

Good news to adventure seekers, canyoneering or canyoning is now back in operation since September 1. It was temporarily suspended for few months due to lack of regulations that will ensure public safety.

After visiting Kawasan Falls, we also did a side trip to the public beach of Badian but we opted not to swim.

We then found ourselves heading back to the city by lunch time. The travel from Badian to Cebu City took about 3 hours.

How to get to Osmeña Peak from Cebu City

From Cebu South Bus Terminal, take a Liloan or Bato bound bus and tell the conductor to drop you in Dalaguete. Tell the conductor that you are going to Osmeña Peak. Fare is Php106 in an air-conditioned bus and the journey will take about 2 hours, depending on the traffic. Upon arrival in Dalaguete, take a habal-habal from the high-way to the foot of Osmeña Peak. Fare is Php200/person round-trip. A habal-habal can fit 2-3 passengers.

Since we opted to go to Kawasan Falls from Osmeña Peak, we paid Php1000 for the whole trip.

Expenses (per person)

Bus fare (Cebu City to Dalaguete) – Php106
Water/Snacks – Php60
Osmeña Peak registration – Php30
Habal-habal fare (Dalaguete-Osmeña Peak-Kawasan Falls) – Php500
Kawasan Falls registration – Php30
Lunch – Php60
Bus fare (Badian to Cebu City) – Php147
Total – Php933

If you have questions regarding this trip, please comment below. :)