---
type: "Article"
title: "Philippines Tour Part 5: Cebu und Mactan Island"
description: "Cebu has become an established tourist destination, because it not only has a mild climate but also features a real city plus white sand beaches with luxury resorts, diving, snorkeling and golf courses."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/philippines/cebu-mactan-island"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
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tags: ["Beach", "Landscape", "Nature", "Resort", "Philippines"]
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    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
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timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:56:28+00:00
---

# Philippines Tour Part 5: Cebu und Mactan Island

> Cebu and nearby Mactan Island offer a compelling mix of urban culture, industrial heritage, historic sites, and luxury beach resorts, making them a fitting finale to a Philippine island-hopping journey.

## Destination
Cebu Island and Mactan Island, Visayas, central Philippines

## Getting there
Oceanjet ferry from Bohol/Panglao to Cebu; Mactan Island is connected to Cebu by suspension bridge and has its own international airport.

## When to go
The article notes a mild climate but gives no specific seasonal advice.

## Why visit
Cebu combines a real city experience with white sand beaches, luxury resorts, diving, snorkeling, golf, and historic sites, while Mactan adds upscale resort stays and the site of Magellan's death in 1521.

## What to see
- **Profood Dried Mango Factory** — World-famous facility in Cebu city offering guided tours by golf cart through mango production, ending with a cinema presentation and a shop selling dried fruit at low prices.
- **Marcelo Fernan Suspension Bridge** — Landmark bridge visible from Cebu city connecting Cebu to Mactan Island.
- **Magellan's Last Stand Site, Mactan Island** — Historic location where Portuguese navigator Magellan was killed in a skirmish with natives in 1521.
- **Alegre Guitar Factory, Mactan Island** — World-famous guitar manufacturing workshop on Mactan Island.

## What to do
- **Stay at Mövenpick Resort, Mactan Island** — Hip design hotel with Ibiza Beach Club, top DJs, live band, and excellent food; book a room with direct ocean view to avoid the shadow side.
- **Dine at Cowrie Cove Restaurant, Shangri-La Mactan** — Open terrace beach restaurant with standout dishes like pan-seared parrot fish with wasabi mashed potatoes, led by Hamburg chef Patrick Buttgereit.
- **Stay at Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa** — Large classic luxury resort recommended for those who prefer traditional elegance and full hotel infrastructure.

## Good to know
At the Mövenpick, avoid lower-category rooms that face a residential neighborhood where garbage is burned — the smell can reach up to the 15th floor. Upgrade to a direct ocean-view room. Dried mangoes from the Profood factory store are a recommended and affordable buy.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/aereal-view-Cebu-Philippines.jpg"
    caption: "View of Cebu from the Marco Polo Hotel"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/getrocknete-Mango-Profood.jpg"
    caption: "Dried mangoes by Profood"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/aereal-view-Cebu-Moevenpick-hotel-Mactan-Island.jpg"
    caption: "View from Marco Polo Hotel of Cebu and the Marcelo Fernan suspension bridge"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/stairs-Ibiza-club-Moevenpick-hotel-Cebu-Philippines.jpg"
    caption: "Mövenpick Beach and Ibiza Beach Club"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Valentina-Charo-manager-Moevenpick-hotel-Cebu.jpg"
    caption: "Mövenpick managers Valentina and Charo"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Moevenpick-sign-truly-dedicated-passionately-Swiss.jpg"
    caption: "Truly dedicated – passionately Swiss"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Standard-Zimmer.png"
    caption: "Standard guest room"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/cream-seafood-coconut-soup-lemongrass.jpg"
    caption: "Seafood soup served in a coconut"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/pan-seared-parrot-fish-fillet-wasabi.jpg"
    caption: "Pan-seared parrot fish with wasabi mashed potatoes"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/moon-stars-thunderstorm-Shangri-La-Cebu.jpg"
    caption: "Full moon and gathering storm with lightning and thunder"
```