Cebu Holidays

One of the Philippines’ most popular islands, Cebu is home to white sand beaches, exceptional diving, historical landmarks and rich history – it is, after all, where the Philippines of today was born. While it is the country’s most densely populated island, it also manages to retain the air of a tropical paradise, dotted with centuries-old Spanish churches, buzzy cities and jungle-covered peaks.

Cebu City, nicknamed the ‘Queen City of the South’, is chaotic but characterful. It is here that you’ll find colonial history, as this is the place that Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521, on an expedition that was the first known European contact with the islands. The Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino gives a fascinating glimpse of local faith, the courtyard often full of pilgrims and worshippers who light candles and chant prayers before entering the church to view an image of the infant Jesus, dating from Magellan’s era, that is believed to be miraculous. Close by is the Cross of Magellan, a large wooden cross said to contain the remnants of the cross Magellan planted on his arrival – this relic, for many, represents the arrival of Christianity on Filipino shores.