Island Hopping in the Philippines: A Cycling Adventure

Welcome to Cebu, the “Queen City of the South”! Your guides will pick you up from Mactan International Airport and transfer you to your tour hotel in the city. In the evening we’ll gather for a trip meeting and welcome dinner. If you arrive early, make sure to do some exploring! Cebu is where the Spanish first made landfall in the 16th century, leaving behind Catholic churches and a fort still standing in the city today. Cebu is the Philippines’ second biggest city and the main hub of the Visayas region. It’s filled with vibrant neighborhoods, bustling markets, and some great local food!

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Quest Hotel

In the early morning, we head to the pier to catch a ferry to Bohol Island. After a two-hour trip, we arrive in the city of Tagbilaran where we meet our trusty support vehicle, a classic Filipino ‘jeepney,’ and transfer a short distance for lunch and bike fitting. Then, it’s time to hit the road! Our first taste of the charming Visayas countryside will be a gentle 30 km / 18.6 mi ride. We’ll stop for a break after 12 km / 7.5 mi at a Tarsier Sanctuary. Tarsiers, the world’s smallest primates, are native to Bohol. With the help of a local guide we’ll venture into the forest for a chance to encounter these adorable nocturnal creatures taking their daytime siestas. While sightings are highly likely, these are wild animals, so nothing is guaranteed. We then continue cycling through rural Bohol, tackling some hills before concluding with a winding downhill to the picturesque Loboc River. At our lovely riverside resort, you can go kayaking, enjoy a massage, or simply chill by the pool!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 30 km / 18.6 mi
Elevation change: +296 m / +971 ft, -341 m / -1,119 ft
Accommodation: Loboc River Resort

Today’s ride takes us deep into Bohol’s interior. We’ll face a fair bit of gradual climbing in beautiful scenery. We’ll stop at a viewpoint overlooking a gorge of the Loboc River. Here, some of us might zip or cable across the gorge, but please note we’ll need to pay extra for this. Back on our bikes, we’ll continue our ascent to the top of the Carmen Plateau. Along the way, we’ll pass through the Bilar Man-Made Forest, a towering mahogany forest. The second half of our ride will be gentler on our legs and bring us to the world-famous Chocolate Hills, a landscape of 1,200 conical brown hills. Local legend has it that the hills were formed by quarreling giants hurling boulders at each other. There’s also a geological explanation, but that’s a little more technical! After saddling off for the day, we’ll ascend by car to one of the hills’ peaks for lunch and panoramic views. We’ll spend the night at a quaint guesthouse near the town of Carmen.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 40 km / 24.9 mi
Elevation change: +589 m / +1,932 ft, -349 m / -1,145 ft
Accommodation: Villa del Carmen

Today presents a rewarding challenge as we traverse the Sierra Bullones highlands en route to the coastal haven of Anda. Our day starts with a leisurely ride on flat roads surrounded by picturesque farmland. With our legs warmed up, we’ll be ready to tackle a long uphill into the rolling hills of Sierra Bullones. The route passes through jungle and rice terraces, giving us a good look at rural Philippines. We’ll see farmers and water buffaloes as we push to the summit at 790 m / 2,592 ft ASL. Then comes a 20 km / 12.4 mi descent, passing villages with views of misty mountains and terraced fields. We stop for lunch in Jagna, then ride our last stretch to Anda. The final part of today’s route follows the coast, so we’ll get lots of glimpses of scenic bays. Our day ends at a cozy resort on a rocky headland overlooking the Pacific.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 83 km / 51.6 mi
Elevation change: +1049 m / +3,442 ft, -1278 m / -4,193 ft
Accommodation: Blue Star Dive & Resort

Today’s a rest day so you set the agenda: stay at the resort or venture out to explore Bohol’s coast. Anda beach is just a few kilometers away for those of us wanting to swim or lounge on the white sand. Some of us might opt for snorkeling or scuba to check out the coral reefs. The explorers among us might visit Lamanoc Island to see its prehistoric cave paintings and mangrove forests. Whatever you choose, it’s on your own dime. The day’s yours to recover, relax, or explore as you see fit.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Blue Star Dive & Resort

We’re back on the bikes today to explore lesser-known parts of Bohol. After a jeepney transfer, we start cycling through typical scenes of daily life in Visayas. There are a few climbs, but nothing too tough. At the 40 km / 25 mi mark, we stop for a picnic by Malinao Reservoir, a large, scenic lake. A bit more riding, then we hop in the jeepney for a 30-minute transfer to Bilar. Our afternoon ride mixes paved and broken roads through the countryside, with some fun downhills to the coast. We’ll stop at a small waterfall in the jungle—a good spot for a refreshing dip—then continue towards our lodging on Dimiao’s rocky shore.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 62 km / 38.5 mi
Elevation change: +631 m / +2,070 ft, -757 m / -2,484 ft
Accommodation: Kayla’a Beach Resort

Get ready for a great day of coastal riding. From Dimiao, we head west along the shore, passing fishing villages until we reach Baclayon. We’ll stop at its old coral stone Catholic church, a remnant of Spanish colonial times. After some exploring, we’ll cross the bridge to Panglao Island. The rest of our route circles Panglao, mixing rural and semi-urban areas on rolling terrain. At 50 km / 31 mi, we break for a delicious lunch overlooking the Bohol Sea. We continue to Alona Beach, known for its white sand and lively atmosphere. Today’s ride ends at Hinagdanan Cave, where we can see stalactites, stalagmites, and a clear pool illuminated by natural light. From the cave, it’s a 30-minute jeepney ride to the bustling city of Tagbilaran. We’ll stay here tonight, ready to catch a boat to our next island tomorrow morning.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 76 km / 47.2 mi
Elevation change: +380 m / +1,247 ft, -375 m / -1,230 ft
Accommodation: Bohol Tropics Resort

It’s time to switch islands again! A quick bike ride takes us from our hotel to the pier to board a boat for a two-hour ride to Siquijor. On arrival, our support jeepney takes us to a hilltop restaurant for lunch with a view. Siquijor’s known for its natural beauty, with palm-fringed beaches, jungles, and a rich cultural heritage. Some say there’s sorcery here, but we’ll likely just find friendly locals and nice beach resorts. After lunch, we descend to the coast and ride an easy, mostly flat 25 km / 15.5 mi to our beachfront resort. It’s a short day of cycling, but we cover a lot of ground between the boat ride and transfer. We’ll stay at this resort for the next three nights, giving us time to explore Siquijor.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 27 km / 16.8 mi
Elevation change: +153 m / +502 ft, -286 m / -938 ft
Accommodation: Coco Grove Beach Resort

Today we circle Siquijor on its 86 km / 53.4 mi coastal road. It’s a mix of climbs, descents, and flat sections as we ride from bay to bay. After a mostly ascending 10 km / 6.2 mi ride, our first stop is the Enchanted Balete Tree. The roots of this 400-year-old fig tree form a natural pool with small fish that can treat your feet to a natural spa! Next, we’ll bike to Lazi to explore the old coral stone Catholic Convent, a well-preserved piece of Spanish colonial architecture. Our route takes us to Salagdoong Beach for a break near the crystal clear waters. The bold ones among us can jump right in from a rocky outcrop. After a local lunch, we complete our loop back to the resort. We’ll have plenty of ocean views and pass fisherfolk displaying their catches of the day along the road.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 86 km / 53.4 mi
Elevation change: +823 m / +2,700 ft, -823 m / -2,700 ft
Accommodation: Coco Grove Beach Resort

We’re still on Siquijor Island, but today we turn our attention to its highlands. Our day starts with a 45-minute jeepney ride to the top of Mount Bandilaan National Park, skipping a tough climb.
From the viewpoint, we enjoy a descent down the park’s southern slopes. We hit the brakes at Cambugahay Waterfalls for a quick dip in its calm pools. After lunch at a local place, opt to cycle back to the resort, retracing part of yesterday’s route, or hop in the jeepney and head back to the resort for beach time. We may even be able to arrange a session with a traditional healer and get a glimpse of Siquijor’s mystical side, but this depends on their availability.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 31 km / 19.3 mi
Elevation change: +286 m / +938 ft, -859 m / -2,818 ft
Accommodation: Coco Grove Beach Resort

We’re up at 5:00 AM for a day of island-hopping and riding. First, we ferry from Siquijor to Negros, landing in the lively port city of Dumaguete for breakfast. Then, we shuttle across town to catch another ferry to the southern tip of Cebu Island. Both boat rides take about an hour each. Once on Cebu, we start our 70 km / 43.5 ft ride north along the coast. The route follows a series of headlands, giving us a rhythm of climbs, descents, and flat stretches. We’ll pass fishing villages and historic towns, all the while enjoying a view of the ocean. Our objective for the day is Moalboal, a seaside town and home for the next night.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 70 km / 43.5 mi
Elevation change: +624 m / +2,047 ft, -628 m / -2,060 ft
Accommodation: Secret Paradise Moalboal

We start early with an optional (but recommended) snorkeling trip to see the Moalboal Sardine Run. You can rent gear and swim above massive schools of sardines, plus maybe spot turtles and other marine life. Then we tackle our final ride, crossing Cebu from west to east. We’ll face some tough climbs up the Cebu Central Cordillera, the island’s rocky spine, but the views over the farmland-covered hills make the effort worthwhile. We finish with a fast downhill to the east coast. After the ride, we jump into our support van for a 2-3 hour transfer to Cebu City, stopping for lunch on the way. Once we’re checked into our hotel, we’ll meet up for a farewell dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Cycling distance: 44 km / 27.3 mi
Elevation change: +758 m / +2,487 ft, -753 m / -2,471 ft
Accommodation: Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

Our adventure comes to an end. You can fly out, extend your stay in Cebu, or continue exploring other Philippine islands. If you’re flying out, we’ll get you to the airport. Our trip’s over, but there’s always more to see in the Philippines if you’re keen. Safe travels, wherever you’re headed next!

Meals: Breakfast