Avoiding Boracay’s crowd and Palawan’s price tags? Cebu’s answer: these five islands.
By Annette Osmeña
Cebu has a bit of a reputation problem. Too many tourists treat it as a transit hub or a quick layover between “real” island destinations like El Nido, Siargao, and Bohol. But they’ve got us all wrong.
Within an hour or two drive out of the city, tourism density drops. Most travelers follow Instagram-famous itineraries that are somewhat limited to Kawasan Falls and Oslob whale sharks. Boracay concentrates people; Palawan concentrates budgets. Cebu, however, disperses both.
The smaller islands surrounding mainland Cebu are structurally overlooked because they require just enough friction to deter casual planning. It takes a local eye to filter through the logistics and timing to find these uncut gems. In practice, uncrowded isn’t about exclusivity; it’s about which tips you’re willing to follow to remove other people from your frame. If you’re willing to navigate your own boat bookings and snack prep, you’ll find something better than a crowded tour: your own private getaway.
Here are five islands still part of Cebu that are neither crowded nor expensive, ranked by which delivers the most reward for the least friction.
#5: PESCADOR ISLAND
While Moalboal is famous for the Sardine Run, just off the shore or a short boat ride away is Pescador Island. It’s a real prize for those who want to feel like they’re in a National Geographic documentary. It’s a rugged limestone outcrop that looks like nothing from the surface, but beneath it lies a chaotic masterpiece of biodiversity.
The trick to having Pescador to yourself is timing. If you can coordinate with a local boatman to be in the water by 6 am, you’ll experience the reef walls and sea turtles in more peace before the fleet of tourist boats arrives.
Why it ranks #5
It’s easy to integrate into a south Cebu trip. Moalboal makes a great base to include the island as part of a larger trip, but because Pescador Island is a world-class dive site, you’re rarely truly alone unless you’re an early riser. It’s less of a “private island” and more of a “private window” into the ocean.
Getting there: Cebu City → Moalboal (2.5-3 hours by car, or 3+ hours by bus from the Cebu South Bus Terminal) → boat to Pescador (15-30 minutes).
Where to hire boats: Panagsama Beach dive shops and licensed banca operators.
#4: CAMOTES ISLANDS
The next island on the list is actually a group of islands, so instead of a single destination, you get a complete adventure. It’s where Cebuanos when they want to disappear for a weekend without the stress of planning too much. There are enough paved roads to rent a motorbike and explore, but enough quiet to feel like time has slowed down.
The key benefit here is variety: strolling on the white sands of Santiago Bay, cliff-jumping at Buho Rock, exploring underground caves, kayaking and ziplining at Lake Danao Park. Camotes is the kind of place where you can get lost on a motorbike and find a beach that doesn’t even have a name.
Why it ranks #4
It’s incredibly low-stress. It doesn’t require a “survivalist” mindset, but it still feels worlds away from the urban sprawl of Cebu City.
Getting there: Cebu City → Danao Port (-1.5-hour drive) → ferry to Camotes (about 2.5 hours).
Where to hire boats: Ferry operators from Danao or Consuelo ports; local boats for short island transfers.
#3: BADIAN ISLAND
Badian Island is home to exactly on property that’s open to the public: Badian Island Wellness Resort. Badian gives you the structural exclusivity of a luxury private island without the astronomical price tag. The price of a 65-square-meter suite starts at about P8,000 a night depending on the season, which is a fraction of what you can expect to pay for a “one island, one resort” setup in Palawan.
The resort provides its own five-minute boat transfer from its private parking area on mainland Badian. The resort offers kayaking, snorkeling in their private coral garden, an open-air Thalasso pool, a sauna, and spa services.
Why it ranks #3
It may be one of the pricier options on this list, but the payoff is massive. It delivers a high-end private island ecosystem for a fraction of what you’d pay anywhere else in the Philippines.
Getting there: Cebu City → Badian (2.5-3 hours by car or bus) Resort speedboat transfer (5 minutes).
Where to hire boats: Coordinated directly through the resort from their private dock on the mainland.
#2: NORTH SAND BAR
If you ask a local where to go for a Saturday day trip, this is the answer. To a local like me, it’s just called the North Sand Bar, but Google tells me it’s technically named Bicotot Shoal. It’s a shifting strip of white sand in the middle of the blue ocean, and it is arguably the best low-effort, high- reward experience of Cebu, especially if you have a big group.
The sandbar is vast, so even if a few other boats are there, you can always find your own patch of sand. But the absolute best way to do this (and I am letting you in on a local secret here) is to book through Fun N Sun Boating. They have the logistics down to a science, and more importantly, their BBQ is out of this world. There is nothing quite like sitting on a boat in the middle of the ocean, eating the best freshly grilled food in Cebu with your favorite people.
Why it ranks #2
It is the easiest “wow” experience. It’s affordable, social, and feels like a luxury private excursion without the luxury price tag. It’s the ultimate group hang.
#1: SUMILON ISLAND
At the top of the list is Sumilon. It proves that you don’t have to suffer to find a quiet escape. Located just off the coast of Oslob, Sumilon is famous for its shifting sandbar that changes shape with the tide, meaning the beach you sit on in the morning might be gone by the afternoon.
While the public sandbar can get crowded with boatloads of tourists coming from the whale shark tours, booking through Bluewater Sumilon is the real cheat code to access their private, quiet lagoons and regulated trails. Just keep in mind that the sandbar is strictly closed every Wednesday for environmental cleanup, so time your trip accordingly.
Why it ranks #1
Sumilon delivers the best balance of convenience, comfort, and natural beauty. It is remote enough to feel special, but organized enough so you can actually relax-minimal effort, maximum reward.
Getting there: Cebu City Oslob (3-4 hours by car or van) → boat transfer (10-20 minutes).
Where to hire boats: Oslob resorts and accredited operators (often bundled with day-use access); Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort.