Cebu is the capital of the province of Cebu in Central Visayas in
Philippines. It is a modern and beautiful city located on the mid-eastern
side of Cebu Island. The city was the first Spanish settlement, the first
capital of the Philippines, and is also the oldest city in the Philippines.
Cebu also holds the designation of being the main domestic shipping port of
the country. In the tourists’ sphere, Cebu is renowned for its beautiful
landscape, lovely white sand beaches, scuba dive sites, luxury sites, and
various historical sites. The waters in the city offer excellent
opportunities to enjoy snorkeling and swimming as well.
Things to do in Cebu
Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro is military defense structure in Cebu built by the Spanish
under the command of the first governor of the Captaincy General of the
Philippines. The fort is triangular and has two sides facing the sea while
the third side faces the land. Front part of the fort was defended with a
strong palisade made of wood while the other two sea-facing portions were
defended with the artillery.
Basilica del Santo Nino
Basilica del Santo Nino, popularly known as the Santo Nino Basilica, is a
minor basilica in Cebu. It is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Cebu and
is built on the place where the image of Santo Nino de Cebu was found
during the journey of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The site also features a
museum putting on exhibition the antique church furniture, old church
documents, and antique vestments.
Magellan's Cross
Magellan's Cross is housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore del
Santo Nino on Magallanes Street. It is a Christian cross placed by Spanish
and Portuguese explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon his arrival
in the country. The beliefs say that the original cross has been destroyed
or disappeared after Magellan's death and the cross available today is a
replica planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully
Christianized the country.
Best Time to Fly to Cebu
Cebu features tropical climate with heavy monsoons and hot humid summers.
The best time to book flights from San Francisco to Cebu is during the
winter season i.e. January and February. In winters, the city experiences
sunny days with less humidity and cooler nights than rest of the year. The
monsoon season in Cebu falls from June to August and usually sees heavy
rains and typhoons. Many of the destinations in Cebu become inaccessible
and hence one should avoid booking Cebu flights during rainy season.