Canyoneering through the Gatorade blue waters, all the way down the canyons into Kawasan Falls, is one of the most popular tourist activities on the island. Thousands of tourists participate in the adventure every day. It’s definitely worth the $20-30 and the crowds, but it definitely isn’t the biggest adventure you can do on Cebu.

It may feel like it, but trekking to Dao Falls or Kabutongan Falls even feels more adventurous, because you will be the only ones there. However, having said that, I do encourage you to also try the canyoneering at Kawasan Falls.

The canyoneering starts in the jungle and a helmet and life vest are compulsory. Accompanied by a guide you will jump into the water and begin floating down the canyon. The entire course can take up to 2 hours, as you float, jump, slide and climb your way down to Kawasan Falls.

The island is only a 15-20 minute boat ride from Oslob, and I managed to get on board for free after I made friends with the captain at lunch. When I arrived at Sumilon Island there was a 50 Pesos or $1 USD entrance fee. A group of holiday-makers played in the water and their kids were having the time of the life. The sand was some of the whitest I had seen anywhere in the Philippines, and contrasted beautifully against the clear water and surrounding reefs. This is a great spot to hang out for the afternoon with a bunch of friends. You feel like you are in the middle of the ocean, totally isolated and separated from all the hustle and bustle of Cebu.

Swimming with Whale Sharks is the number one attraction on Cebu. In Oslob, you can get in the water and witness these graceful giants swim by. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this tourist attraction as many people believe that humans shouldn’t interfere with the animals feeding patterns. At Oslob, the Whale Sharks are fed plankton, which is how they can guarantee you will see the Whale Sharks.

Other Whale Shark experiences, like the one in Donsol, don’t feed the Whale Sharks but they tend to chase them in the boats. Neither of the operations are perfect, but the Whale Shark in Oslob continue to improve as scientists and environmental workers constantly monitor and improve the tourist interaction, and consider what would best benefit the Whale Sharks.

Inambakan Falls is known for having a beautiful 100-ft waterfall that plunges into a wide pool of blue water. Surrounded by lush jungle greenery it is an amazing scene. However, what makes Inambakan Falls such a memorable adventure is the multi-level trek to different pools and waterfalls.

It is a solid four-hour journey from Cebu City, although if you are holidaying in one of the coastal resorts around Moalboal then the drive will take less than an hour on a moped.

The main waterfall is a 100ft flow of water, which crashes down into the blue pool. I really love the limestone cliffs behind the waterfall. The orange tinge contrasts so vividly against the strong blue of the pool below.

From Alegria, we organized a motorbike to take both myself, a friend and of course the driver to Osmena Peak. It was only $10 per person return, for the 1.5-hour journey each way. It was a bit uncomfortable, but the budget option. You could take a taxi, of course, at an additional cost. We had to leave before 4 am in order to make it to the summit before sunrise.

The Peak is known for having amazing panoramic views across jagged cliff lines and the ocean. We were told it is the best place for the sunrise, and true to the promises we were left speechless by the scene from the summit, after the short 20-minute trek.

There is an entrance fee of a few dollars, but the hike comes with a guide who you can choose to tip. Even with the cost of the motorbike, it is quite a cheap adventure and an amazing sunrise experience.

A 15-minute bus ride away from D’Allegre (costing less than $1) are Mainit Hot Springs. A short walk through the jungle and you will arrive at these amazing hot springs, surrounded by lush greenery, and yet another waterfall.

The Hot Springs were steaming. So hot we could hardly sit in some of them, which ranged from 38-42 degrees Celsius. Set in a rainforest just beyond a local village we could feel this was just the beginning of an amazing trip. And once you are in, you really don’t want to get out!

On the drive to Kabutongan are some of the coolest roads on all of Cebu. If you are looking for a scenic road to take some epic photos and enjoy the jungle atmosphere, keep your eyes open as you drive up to Kabutongan Falls. There are palms all over Cebu, of course, and you will get some great shots with palms on the way to Inambakan Falls, Dao Falls, and Montpellier Falls too.

The Kabutongan Falls trek is one of the most magical adventures on the island of Cebu. The trail follows the blue waters of a narrow stream up the canyon until you reach the Kabutongan Waterfall. Here you will find a hidden cave behind the waterfall and several different cliff-jumps!

The trail is only a short 30-minutes trek, but there are a few sections that require ropes to assist you (they are safely installed). It is possible without a guide, but the guide is vital to help protect natural areas like this – and they will help keep you safe.

The trail criss-crosses the river and includes bouldering, and some intermediate difficulty sections. The hardest part is climbing along the edge of the narrow trail, but ropes guide you in all of the parts that are slippery or steep. Most people of average physicality will find this trail within their comfort zone.

Dao Waterfall offers not only an epic waterfall finale, but offers a trek that is truly astounding. For thirty minutes you wade through those trademark Cebu blue waters, while ferns and palms cover the canyon walls on either side. The trek to Dao Falls itself particularly hard, but does require you to walk through the water and navigate your way around boulders and rocks. It is a moderate adventure with incredible scenery, which is far away from the crowds at Kawasan Falls.

The vibrant green ferns, palms and jungle plants come at you from all angles, and contrast against the blues. The final piece of this incredible natural puzzle is the high canyon walls that slowly close in on you as you make your way up the cascades, until you are walking through a narrow trail.

In the final parts of the trek, the locals have built a staircase, which is necessary as the waterfall gets fierce and steep. This is a very scenic part of the trail and you can actually get a glimpse of Dao Waterfall from the base of the stairs with the smaller waterfalls below it. This was probably my favourite spot on the trail.

Cambais Falls is an amazing waterhole in the hills of Alegria, Cebu. It’s less than an hours drive from Moalboal, and there are several other great waterfalls nearby to make an epic waterfall adventure day, as well as different cliff jumping levels at Cambais and great spots for swimming.

Cambais Falls has two distinct levels. On the first level, a huge, milky blue pool is surrounded by ferns, boulders, and trees. The waterfall at this level cascades over the limestone cliff wall without extreme force, more of a serene pour! It seems to drip off the limestone in lines, which creates a beautiful scene from below. There is a lot to explore on this level, like the caves, and plenty of rocks to jump off.

On this first level, there is a solid cliff jump. From about 7 meters and then 10 meters you can jump directly from the waterfall. The spot to land it is quite small as it isn’t too deep and you need to hit the right landing area. Make sure you check the depth before jumping!