Cebu Overview

Cebu Province is situated in the heart of the Philippines archipelago, in the centre of the Visayan Islands, some 560 km south of Manila. It is made up of 167 islands including Cebu Island, Mactan, Bantayan, Daanbantayan and the Camotes Group. Lying between Negros in the west and Bohol in the east. the island is 300 km long about 40 km at its widest point. From Santander in the south to Medellin in the north a mountain range divides east and west.

The province is composed of five cities; Cebu City, Mandaue, Lapu-lapu, Toledo and Danao and there are 48 municipalities. Cebu City, the provincial capital, is located on the island's east coast.

It is the oldest and third-largest city of the Philippines and basks in its enviable status as the most popular tourist and business destination in the Philippines. The island offers fine beaches and scuba diving and it is the Philippines' shipping crossroad located at the centre of the archipelago.

Exploring Cebu City, one encounters a rich historic past. Cebuanos are extremely proud of their cultural and historical heritage, a legacy which has endured through the centuries since the great explorer Ferdinand Magellan first planted the cross on Cebu's shore.

Time has been kind to Cebu. From Zubu, the fishing village and busy trading port in 1521 it has evolved into a highly urbanized metropolitan centre which now serves as focal point of growth and development in Southern Philippines.

In contrast to the bustling metropolis, the rest of Cebu's 167 islets and islands are  lined with idyllic white sandy beaches and pristine clear waters. Cebu has gained wide popularity for it's fantastic diving grounds evidenced by the proliferation of resorts which offer luxurious accommodation and excellent dive facilities.

Cebu's strategic location makes it ideal for those who wish to travel to the other islands and provinces. By plane, boat or bus, nowhere is too far from Cebu.

Climate

Cebu's climate is tempered by a sea breeze from the Pacific Ocean.  Daily temperatures range between 26 and 38 degrees centigrade.  At night, the temperature can drop to as low as 18 degrees in the "winter".  The winter, or cool period, is from October to February. The "summer", or hot period, is from February to May. The hottest months are March and April.