Although not as popular among tourists as El Nido or Coron, Moalboal is absolutely worth visiting. Read our complete guide to travelling Moalboal to find out why.
Skip to here to see our top recommendations for food in Moalboal, and skip to here to find out where to stay in Moalboal! Can’t figure out how to get to Moalboal? See our other blog post here.
Top things to do in moalboal
The activities you can do in Moalboal are what set it apart from any other destination in The Philippines. Here are the top activities that make Moalboal worth a visit.
Swimming with Sardines
‘Well, what’s the big deal?’ Is what went through my head when I read about the famous ‘Sardine Run’ in Moalboal. The Philippines has some of the most exotic aquatic life in the world, why would I want to swim with a few silver fish that I can buy in a tin from Lidl? Well, it was in fact, a big deal. The Sardine Run is essentially a colossal school of sardines that form to avoid being eaten. What occurs is something that looks like both a tornado and an artistic masterpiece. Its something you can’t encapsulate with words. Trust us, it’s mesmerising! Moalboal is worth visiting just to see this.
How to swim with Sardines in Moalboal
On our first day, we swam for about an hour with no luck. But, trust us, the sardines are there. Head to panagsama beach, specifically in front of Chili bar, or around that area. Swim out to the reef (where the big drop occurs, and swim up and down the length of the reef. They can be hard to spot from afar, but once you spot them they generally stay around the same area for quite a while.
How much does it cost to swim with Sardines in Moalboal?
No. It does not have to cost money to swim with sardines in Moalboal. Bring your own snorkels (I recommend you buy a good pair to use throughout your travels in The Philippines. However, this is absolutely not essential. Many locals will rent snorkels for a very affordable price from near the shore. Generally, they will cost between 1-3 euros, which is an absolute steal for the experience you get in return.
There is absolutely no need to pay an extortionate price for someone to take you out on a boat if your only goal is to see Sardines. We met quite a few people who paid a company to do this. Supporting the local economy is a fantastic thing to do, but if you are on a budget, you don’t have to worry about missing out.
As well as sardines, turtles are often swimming closer to the shore. They can also be hard to spot as they blend in with the sand. We saw turtles without even looking for them about 3 times during our stay in Moalboal.
A note: As travellers, it is important to ensure that you are being responsible when being up-close with wildlife in Moalboal. Please, do not touch the turtles or get up in their faces for the sake of a photo. Don’t walk on or touch the coral- it will likely die, and ensure not to litter.
Climb Osmeña Peak
Osmeña Peak is a unique half-day trip from Moalboal that absolutely makes Moalboal worth visiting. Osmena Peak is about an hour drive outside of Moalboal Town and is over 1000 metres above sea level.
How to get to Osmeña Peak
We were recommended by a fellow traveller to ride a motorbike out there ourselves, and then climb it. We decided against that as we weren’t too confident on the mopeds or motorbikes at that stage. We managed to get easyriders from a stand in the town, and we were very, very glad of it. The terrain was very rough and there were huge climbs and turns to get to the starting point of the walk up. Do not ride a motorbike yourself there unless you are very experienced!
Being on an easy rider meant we could, well, not sit back and relax- it is quite the rigorous trip up, but really enjoy and take in the scenery on the drive up and down. It is nearly worth the trip just to see the incredible scenic rural towns and hills and way of life. You will likely be supplied with free entertainment the entire way to Osmeña Peak with the amount of karaoke coming from people’s houses! The cost was about 20 euros each for the trip there and back.
The climb up Osmena Peak itself is quite quick and only about 20-30 minutes each way. Just bring a pair of runners and you are ready to go. You pay a small fee to go up (only a few euros) which includes a guide. The scenery is really similar to the chocolate hills in Bohol! This Moalboal activity is absolutely worth the trip.
Go Canyoneering
If you are a thrill-seeker, you cannot miss this activity in Moalboal. Canyoneering involves swimming, climbing and jumping through a fast flowing mountain stream.
We organised our canyoneering through Chief Mau Hostel. Stroll up to the desk, and they will put your name down. Generally, unless its extra busy, you can book it the day before. They will supply you with everything you need, including water shoes, a short wetsuit, a life jacket, a helmet, and a waterproof phone case. They will provide you with transport to the canyon which includes a van trip and then another on the back of a moped up the huge hill to the entrance.
Ours included a huge lunch at the end as well, which is well-needed as you will be exhausted!
We would recommend you to be a pretty confident swimmer, although there are always loads of people to help you if you get into trouble. The water can be rough at times. If you’re not a fan of jumping from a big height, there are always different levels from you to choose from.
Where to stay in moalboal
Most of the action is situated near Panagsama beach, and we would recommend for you to stay near here. We would highly recommend Chief Mau hostel– the room was spotless and very comfortable (we stayed in a one bed ensuite, but there are also a few dorms). The staff were very friendly and helpful. Also, most of the activities that you can do around Moalboal can be organised and booked through this hostel, so it is ideal for booking everything once you get there. The hostel has a big chill area upstairs and does food and drinks. We couldn’t fault our stay at all and would completely recommend staying there.
Where to eat in moalboal
Moalboal had some of the best food options we encountered on our trip to the philippines. Here are our top restaurants and cafés from our visit:
Smooth Café
You will spot this cafe on the main little road down to the beach. The food quality is very good and affordable. They have lovely coffee as well. We would recommend the veggie burgers (it was so nice to have chunky chips), the happy hour cocktails, and the carrot cake. They do great live music at night as well! It is definitely one of the restaurants worth visiting at least once in Moalboal.
Shaka Café
If you are travelling around The Philippines, you will likely became familiar with this institution. Their smoothie bowls are some of the best we’ve ever had, and they have really good coffee (and oat milk free of charge!). They do a breakfast deal with a coffee and smoothie bowl for something like 5.50 euros. This will probably change over the next few years with inflation but regardless, it’s a great deal.
Le Café Francais
Yes, so authentically Filippino. But sometimes you just need a fresh croissant. They do french-style coffee which isn’t everyone’s favourite but we really enjoyed it.
Hungry Monkeys
We ate here 3 times during our visit, which is always a good sign. The food here is really tasty and so affordable- 2-3 euros for a big plate of curry, adobo, or spring rolls. They do vegetarian versions of Filippino classics which is great, and rare. You may have to wait a while at times but it’s worth it for really tasty food at an affordable price.
Andi’s Talisay
This is further down the beach and definitely worth the short walk down. It’s a very casual bar and food set up on the beach but it is the most incredible place to watch the sunset.
Well, have we convinced you?! Moalboal is without a doubt worth a visit– a perfect harmony of peace and adventure. The main thing that puts people off going to Moalboal is getting there. We get it- it can be a bit of a slog, with the nearest airport being Cebu, a good few hours’ drive from Moalboal. However, we can assure you it is definitely still worth it. Read our detailed guide here to find out the best ways to get to Moalboal.
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