Philippines beach vacation 1 line about mactan. Open the left menu Mactan. Tourist islands for divers and active travelers

Included in the group of Visayas. Located near the island of Cebu, opposite the city of the same name Cebu.

Administratively divided into the city of Lapu Lapu and the municipality of Cordoba.

How do the Philippines attract tourists?

According to statistics - for most people, a tourist vacation in 2019 is associated with a carefree nap, somewhere in a hammock on the ocean, with a glass of fresh juice in their hands. Watch the play of light on the waves, feel the warm, gentle air on your skin.

  This is the answer to the question - why are the Philippines so attractive to millions of people.

There are many warm, maritime countries with a welcoming climate in the world, but not all of these countries are welcoming to tourists. In this regard, the Philippines is “ahead of the rest.” The country literally specializes and lives on the tourism business and the service sector. It is obvious that they are taking all measures to ensure that the active leisure of visiting tourists is fabulous and unforgettable.

Read more about the climate of the Philippines. Is everything so fabulous?

The cost of the flight is very wide. Even if you are looking for a ticket only in economy class, price tags can vary from 10 to 80 thousand rubles. The most profitable travel strategies to the Philippines are three ways:

• To the Philippines via the Far East. Many tourists, in order to reduce the flight distance by plane, first prefer to get as close to Asia as possible by rail. We go by train to Vladivostok or Irkutsk, and from there we go by plane to the Philippines. In total, it is cheaper than flying straight from or.
• To Philippines direct flight on a stock. The tourism industry is like a huge hypermarket. A lot of offers, different beautiful packaging of goods, seasonal offers for holidays and promotions. When you go into the store - it makes no sense to grab the first one that comes to hand. It is possible that on the other side of the shelf is the same, but half the price. With tickets and tickets the same thing. If you are careful and patient, you can easily save up to 70% of the initial cost of the tour. Travel agencies regularly arrange discounts and promotions with attractive offers, you just need to choose the right moment to buy.
• To the Philippines from Asia. If you are planning a long and long trip, it’s not at all necessary to visit only one country. Asian countries, for example, are very diverse, although they are located in the neighborhood. Many tourists during their tour of the East visit several neighboring countries at once. N times more impressions for the same money!

We are located on the island of Mactan. Where to stay?

Even at the stage of preparation for the trip, we ask ourselves a question - where is it better to live? In this case, only you yourself can figure it out best. What do you like more: high-rise mansions with carpet paths and a golden Jacuzzi or a cozy and quiet separate cottage where you and your family and children will live? Or maybe you like a nature-breathing thatched-roof bungalow somewhere in the rainforest? Or choose a classic hotel with dinner in your room and pool? Mactan is rich in a choice of temporary housing.

4 best hotels according to tourist reviews and value for money:

• Abaca Boutique Resort (Abaka Boutique Resort) - Free Wi-Fi, free parking, air conditioning (this is very important for southern countries), a swimming pool, a restaurant, an airport shuttle. A romantic place, an ideal choice for a couple or honeymoon.
• Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa (Free Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa) - Free Wi-Fi, free parking, breakfast included, air conditioning, 5-star hotel overlooking the beach, pool. Family-friendly, comfortable hotel. Great choice for a family trip.

• Plantation Bay Resort And Spa - Free internet, free parking, buffet breakfast, air conditioning, 5-star hotel overlooking the beach, pool. It is famous for the most balanced price / quality ratio.
• Crimson Resort and Spa, Mactan (Crimson Resort & Spa, Mactan) - Free internet, free parking, buffet breakfast, air conditioning, 5-star hotel overlooking the beach, pool. It has access to a spacious, well-kept beach. A good choice for relaxing alone.

In the Philippines, there are even individual island hotels. In case you need a complete separation from civilization. For example, the island of Pandanon (Pandanon Island).

Noteworthy places and activities on Mactan Island. What's next?

Of course, the first thing you want to visit on Mactan after a long road and stress is to relax on the beach. There are many beaches on Mactan, but it is important to consider their peculiarity. The beaches here are paid and free. There are always a lot of tourists and locals on free beaches. At rush hour, the free beach resembles a market square. Therefore, for a relaxing holiday and meditation, you should give a choice to a paid, closed beach, or immediately choose a hotel with its own beach.

Maktan does not pay much attention to architecture, so there are not so many monuments and unique buildings there.

The most striking cultural attraction is the “Monuments to Magellan and Lapu-Lapu”. These monuments have a very interesting story. Fernand Magellan was a navigator, discoverer and Christian missionary. Magellan visited the island of Cebu with a mission to popularize Christianity and Spanish expansion. The population of the island was delighted with the Christian religion and European customs. However, Lapu-Lapu, the leader of the neighboring island of Mactan, was against this “excursion” of the Spanish invaders. In 1521, Lapu-Lapu with his army was destroyed by a detachment of Spaniards along with Fernand Magellan.

Monuments to them are in the park Mactan Shrine (Mactan Shrine). The monument to Magellan is an altar with the grave of Fernand himself. And the Lapu-Lapu monument looks like a huge sculpture of Lapu-Lapu himself on a pedestal.

From purely visual entertainment, you can still visit the Mactan Island Aquarium. It provides an opportunity to get acquainted with the fauna of the Philippine Islands and look at the strange sea creatures. A great place where you can take children for an extra hour.

Most likely, on the island itself, in its central part, it is best to live in a hotel and attend inexpensive restaurants, cafes and parties. Nothing excites taste buds more than Asian cuisine. Spicy seasonings, exotic and sometimes absolutely incredible dishes. If you want to try something completely strange - you can visit the evening markets. Local culinary delights can be called delights by right. The Asian proverb says: "if something moves, then it is food."

There are many nightclubs on Mactan and tourists respond very positively about them. Friendly, happy people just relax and dance, without any fights and brawls inherent in our clubs.

Active recreation and entertainment is the place to do in the vicinity of the island and on individual tourist islands. The Philippines is an ideal place for an active holiday. Surfing, diving, water parks, races on jet skis, boats, yachts, diving from a height and much more.

Where on Maktan and Cebu to do outdoor activities?

Do you want to “plunge” deeper into the Philippines in all senses of the word? Looking for the best diving? The Hilutangan Strait separating Mactan Island and the neighboring Olango Island from each other is an ideal destination for snorkeling enthusiasts. Spilling depths of up to 300 meters and with visibility of up to 18 meters guarantees an unforgettable underwater experience.

If you have never been diving before, you should definitely know that for diving with a spacesuit you need certificates of training. Certificates come in different skill levels and you can get them not only in coastal countries.

• First level. Open Water Diver (OWD) .You are taught to stay on the water, lower, rise, tell you how to move correctly under water. After several theoretical tests and a couple of practical tests, the future diver receives an OWD Certificate, which gives the right to dive with a partner to a depth of 18 meters without an instructor.
• Advanced level. Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD): Having passed sophisticated tests and trials, the diver receives an AOWD certificate and can dive with a partner to a depth of 42 meters without an instructor.

Courses everywhere cost differently, but the average price of full training is about 15,000 rubles.

You can even go diving without leaving your hotel. For example, the home reef of the Shangri-La hotel. This is a sandy depression up to 20 m deep. Various mollusks, skates, corals, fish and other animals are found in the reef. To dive here, you need an Open Water certificate. This certificate is useful in general anywhere for diving.

Fame among divers is the underwater cave Marigondon. The entrance to it is at a depth of 35 meters, and the cave itself goes deep into 40 meters. In the cave, absolute darkness and divers use lanterns. However, when they are in the far part of the cave, they turn off the flashlights to look at the small eye-fish that glow in the dark.

For the most passionate lovers of sea adventures, there are separate islands dedicated to outdoor activities at sea.

Tourist islands for divers and active travelers.

Many islands in the Philippines are specially equipped for tourists and divers. There are all conditions for an energetic and memorable vacation. Let's take a closer look at the most popular.

• Olango Island An island located between the Hilutangan Strait and the Olango Channel. It occupies a large territory and has its own Olango reef of the same name. For divers on the island there is a diving center Tamila beach Villas, in the northern part you can find Mabini Point, Baring on the north-western side, and Santa Rosa in the west. For tourists here is the Wildlife Sanctuary Olango. Due to the peculiarities of the geographical position of the island and the dense, swampy forest, many different birds live here. Do not forget to bring a camera!

• Tablas Island. It is famous for the fact that this is the only place in the Philippines where you can dive into the so-called "blue hole" (Blue Hole). This is a deep underwater cave with vertical and horizontal tunnels. Blue she is called for the unusual play of light inside the cave. It literally fills with blue light.

• Dakit Dakit Islands. They are part of the island of Malapascua. They have a wide selection of entertainment for divers and extreme sports. The most famous and frightening is diving in the cage to sharks. An attraction for true thrill lovers.

To summarize.

The Philippine Islands is a small paradise with its own character and features. Torrential weekly rains here are replaced by calm and hot sea air. Rest here also happens, both very calm and measured, and peppy, energetic.

You can not leave your Resort & Spa, go for a massage, sunbathe on the beach, read a book to the sound of the waves in your bungalow. You can ride a surf for days, swim in caves at a depth of 100 meters, go to Thai boxing, and then spend the night in a club, under the light of spotlights.

It is up to you to decide what your trip to Mactan will be like.

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Mactan   located in the immediate vicinity of the well-known The Philippines   the island of Cebu and is washed by the waters of the Sulu Sea. The island resorts are interconnected by two bridges, which allow tourists to freely move around the region without undue loss of time in local ports. The most important event that took place on Mactan a little less than 500 years ago predetermined the popularity of the island. In 1521, during an armed clash between a Spanish expedition led by the famous traveler Fernand Magellan and a tribe of the local leader Lapu-Lapu, the great navigator was killed by an Aboriginal leader. In the history of the Philippines, the latter was commemorated as a rebel hero, daring to confront the formidable Spaniards, dressed in robust steel armor.

However, on the tourist map of the world, Mactan is better known as a magnificent resort with excellent sandy beaches and a number of excellent dive sites. Diving is generally the hallmark of the island. Thousands of scuba divers from different countries come here every year to enjoy the beauty of the underwater world off the coast. Meanwhile, the bright green tropical forests on the surface of the island are not much inferior to the underwater landscapes of the Sulu Sea and its tributaries. Many interesting natural and architectural attractions are also located on the neighboring island of Cebu, which most tourists consider to be an integral part of the entire resort region.

Mactan's main attraction is the majestic bronze the statue   the leader Lapu lapu, towering in the central square of the city of the same name. The whole composition is an impressive monument, the base of which is made of white stone and has a height of human height. The figure of a leader cast in bronze stands out on the podium. The hero of the Philippines stands in a long loincloth, and holds a short sword and a long shield in his hands, reminiscent of a surfboard in some ways, which, in general, is very symbolic. The monument is surrounded by dense palm trees and bright green vegetation, which against the background of a clear blue sky looks amazing. It is interesting that in the immediate vicinity of the Lapu-Lapu statue is a monument to Magellan, who was killed by him. Thus, the wise islanders decided to pay tribute to the man who brought to their lands a new religion and culture. The city of Lapu-Lapu is also known as an industrial center and seaport, which daily receives ships from different continents. Music lovers have the opportunity to visit the factory for the production of guitars and other musical instruments, by the way considered almost the best in the world. The choice of hotels pleases with its wide representation, and the list of boat trips allows guests of the island to maximize their stay program with vivid impressions on the water.

Mactan’s underwater world is extremely rich and diverse. One of the most popular places for diving in coastal waters is the island’s sea channel. Hilutangan. It is known for its coral walls descending to a depth of 300 meters. These places are distinguished by good visibility over long distances and strong currents. Hotel's sandy slope Shangri-la   reaches a depth of 20 meters, and at a coral reef with the original name “elephant’s ear”, fish species such as nudibranchs, seahorses and brackets are found. Dive site Tambuli   First of all, it is famous for the fragments of a crashed plane lying here on the seabed. In addition, pomacenter fish, blue nosed moray eels, sergeant fish, crocodile fish and barracudas live here. When diving in this area, special care should be taken. Since the dive site is not far from the coast, scooters and yachts with boats sail with frightening regularity. To carry the head of a diver who has lost vigilance is not a problem for them, so when you emerge, you should definitely look around.

Place Dakit Dakit, abundant in hard corals and sponges, is a success not only among scuba divers, but also among fans of snorkeling. Near the hotel Hadson   There is a dive site where you can see whale sharks and appreciate the vibrant coloring of parrot fish. Marigondon Cave has a reputation as one of the best diving sites. It is opposite the Plantation Bay Resort and reaches a depth of 45 meters. Divers descend there with lanterns, as in the tunnel there is total darkness. The main inhabitants of the cave are light-eyed rabki, who shine so brightly in the dark with their own eyes that it creates the feeling of being on the highway in the evening, along which cars signaling about something go. Naturally, having reached a certain depth, the flashlight should be turned off in order, firstly, to see the natural radiance of the bright eyes of the eye of small-eyed fish, and secondly, to appreciate the unusual and mysterious atmosphere. Noteworthy dive sites Marine station, Climaco   and Mar y cielo. Tourists who have no idea about deep sea diving, but are not indifferent to the beauties of the underwater world, can admire it through the transparent glass of a giant aquarium, also located on Mactan Island.

The region has a humid tropical climate. The average annual temperature here is +26 degrees, although on particularly hot days the thermometer thermometer can rise to +38 - +40. From May to October, a southwestern monsoon called “habakat” blows, followed by rains, and from November to April, dry winds “Amihan”. In the same period, as a rule, clear sunny weather is established. Mactan is used to a greater extent by divers, as there are large resorts with a much richer excursion program for a classic beach holiday in the Philippines. Nevertheless, hotel rooms on the island are not empty for a long time, and Mactan will never lose his fans.

Mactan is one of the thousands of islands in the Philippines. It is located near the large island of Cebu and is connected to it by two bridges. The island is part of the province of Cebu and belongs to the Visayas. Mactan Cebu International Airport is located here.
  The island is known for the death of Magellan, the famous Portuguese navigator.

During the battle of people from the expedition of Fernand Magellan with the natives, he was killed by the Mactan leader Lapu-Lapu. It happened on April 27, 1521.

An interesting fact is that Filipinos equally revere both Magellan and his killer. On the island there is a monument to the leader Lapu-Lapu. And on the neighboring island of Cebu, the Cross of Magellan and its burial place, which are also a tourist attraction.
  Magellan is revered as the first person to bring Christianity to the islands. And Lapu-Lapu as a fighter against the colonialists.

Mactan Island has many beautiful beaches. Many tourists from Cebu Island come to them.

But free beaches are not enough and they are mainly occupied by local residents. But near the hotels you will find excellent sandy beach areas.

May holiday experience

It is very hot, for 2 minutes on the street you can squeeze clothes. It’s dry, there’s almost no rain, except for a brief night. There are a couple of hours in the morning from 4 to 6 when it is not hot. It was then that I ran.

Youth rest

There are bars, clubs, beaches. Cognitive trip, acquaintance with a new culture and people.

Rest alone

You will never be alone; you can always meet someone.

What to take with you on vacation?

a hat, sunscreen, and light clothing, cash, because ATMs block cards very often

Where is better to stay?

It is better to settle on the island of Panglao, or even on some island, but certainly not in Lapu Lapu. There is a complete farm, there is not a single normal beach and taxi driver.

What to do with yourself at the resort?

Visit the church, enjoy the crystal clear water of the sea, go fishing and sing karaoke with the locals.

The beaches are rocky, not prepared for swimming, and there are no sunbeds, only in hotels

What can i buy?

Do not buy shoes and cheap bags, everything falls apart literally every other day. You can buy Boracay rum, which costs about 35 rubles. per bottle, various accessories and books in English.

About product prices

The cheapest: rum, beer, ice cream, fast food doshiraki, exotic fruits, mangoes, pineapples are mere pennies.

Expensive: milk, meat, vegetables, apples and other fruits common to us, food in restaurants.

Where can I eat?

Be sure to visit local restaurants, eateries, they may not look beautiful and cause distrust, but you can be sure that everything is done there very high quality, literally everything is sanitized. One type of eatery is: butchers: you come and put on a wicker plate wrapped in a plastic bag, various forks of raw meat or fish on skewers. It can be chicken, pork, beef, squid, fish, whole chicken leg. All this you give to the employee of the cafe and he cooks your food on the grill. You also order from him rice (which by the way is eaten by hand and give out special plastic gloves for this.) Or pasta (of course, something like a doshirak) and drinks. Once everything is ready, they bring it to the table. Frankly, I haven’t eaten anywhere so delicious. This is better than barbecue in Georgia.

The second type of eateries is an institution with a bunch of pots and local soups, dumplings, goulash and much more. It’s also very tasty.

About the quality of food and service

mostly fast food, or local eateries. Restaurants are usually in resorts, I don’t know the prices there, because I am an economical tourist

How much does it cost to eat? About food prices.

a full lunch with meat and soup less than 100 pesos, but this is a local eatery. in fast food about 150-200

The small island of Mactan (Mactan) off the east coast of Cebu Island, directly opposite the capital city of Cebu of the same name, is the lucky owner of excellent beaches and many hotels, as well as the second most important airport in the Philippines. Cultural sights on Maktan include an aquarium and a couple of monuments: Magellan and his killer - the leader Lapu-Lapu. For the most part, the beauty of the island is natural and underwater: diving there is developed "five".

Search for flights to Manila (the closest airport to Mactan)

Mactan Diving

The best diving is in the canal off the island of Hilutangan, which separates Mactan and the neighboring island of Olango. The walls there reach 300 meters in depth and are popular with fans of technical diving. Average visibility is about 18 m, strong currents are possible.

Shangri-La Hotel’s home reef is a sandy slope from 5 to 20 m deep. You can see the elephant’s ear, nudibranch mollusks, seahorses, and stingrays there. Any tourist who has an Open Water certificate will be able to dive here and take the opportunity to work underwater macro shots.

Mar y Cielo (“Sea and Sky”) also refers to hotel sites - in this case, Vista Mar. There, at the wall of 35-40 m depth, one can see triggerfish, stingrays and two-tone angels.

Climaco - a wall up to 40 m deep with a weak current, angler fish and dragon fish.

Another “targeted” dive site is Tambuli, which is known for having a small plane there at a depth of 22 m. Even in Tambuli you can find pomacenter fish, sergeant fish, anglerfish, crocodile fish, blue-nosed moray eels (sounds scary!) And small barracudas. Warning: since the site is located near the coast near a fairly popular hotel, divers should not lose their vigilance and take care of all kinds of water bikes and boats with tourists who cut the waves nearby.

Costa Bella (up to 30 m) offers divers nudibranchs, orange clowns and triggerfish divers.

The Whale Rock site (aka Dakit-Dakit) is most interesting at a depth of 10-22 m. In this "layer" there are hard corals, sponges, nudibranchs, reef fish, barracudas and even striped anglers. And since the dive begins with a small depth in the sand, snorkeling is also common on this dive site.

Cultural sights on Maktan include an aquarium and a couple of monuments: Magellan and his killer - the leader Lapu-Lapu. For the most part, the beauty of the island is natural and underwater: diving there is developed "five".

The wall of Marine Station (up to 35 m) is famous for its picturesque hard corals, nudibranchs, anglers and seahorses. Thanks to its good visibility (up to 30 m) and its low current, snorkelling enthusiasts also abound here.

The Kon-Tiki site opposite the Maribago Bluewater hotel is the proud owner of its own “wreck,” namely, an excavator bucket lying at a depth of 7 m. It is good for beginner divers, as it allows you to dive directly from the shore.

Near the Ludo wall, better views open at a depth of 10-20 m: this is a titanium triggerfish, and a sergeant fish, and a guban.

Hadsan Hotel has a diving site of the same name where you can see parrot fish, rarely whale sharks, as well as dive at night or simply lazily surf the water surface with a mask and snorkel.

Marigondon Cave is considered to be one of the best sites on Mactan. Located opposite the Plantation Bay Resort Hotel at a depth of 30-38 m, it goes inland at 40-45 m, so you can’t do without lights there. And already inside the cave, divers are asked to turn off the flashlights in order to watch amazing light-eyed fish that can “semaphore” with bright light sources under their eyes.

The island of Olango also has a couple of dive sites: it’s Bas Coral (Cathedral) 15 minutes from the Shangri-La hotel (they say dolphins are often encountered during this sea trip), Santa Rosa with soft corals, seahorses, sand eels and fox sharks, as well as Tauma and Tingo Point, where three-meter fox sharks are found in the mornings.

Popular hotels in Mactan

• Where to stay:   There are surprisingly many hotels on Mactan - for such a small island. Which is very convenient for divers, who are the main local visiting public. If diving is not the main thing, then we are looking for a hotel in Cebu, here is a more classic holiday - with an excursion, shopping and trips to the beaches. Boracay hotels (like the whole island) survived a total cleaning. Rest here is fresher, but cleaner. On the neighboring