Cebu and Mactan are lush with historical significance. From around 800 AD Cebu harbor was already a vital trading port for Chinese, Islamic, and Malayan goods. In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines and eventually found his way to Mactan. Due to a dispute of uncertain nature, the Spaniards incurred the ire of local chieftain Lapu-lapu, who killed Magellan in The Battle of Mactan - arguably the first case of an Asian fighting European invaders. Thus, although the Magellan Expedition is credited with the first circumnavigation of the globe, Magellan the man died and remained in Mactan.

During the early part of the Spanish era, Cebu was the effective capital of the country, which was also made a province of Mexico. (The capital was later moved to Manila, which was can be easily defend against sea attack.) It continued to prosper as a trading port. And up to present, Cebu is the most ethnically unique area in the country, with large Chinese, Spanish, and Malayan populations (not to mention more recent German and American arrivals).

Cebu at present was regarded as the most dynamic metro area in the Philippines, with growth rates generally twice as high as the national average. It is habitat to a surprising range of industries, including semiconductors, shipping, education, watchmaking, food-processing, high-end furniture, and of course tourism. (A bit of trivia: Almost all the Timex watches sold anywhere in the world are made in Cebu.)

Things to do in Cebu

Boat cruises and picnics to neighboring reefs and sandbars (half to full-day)

Shopping for handicrafts and native foods in old Cebu.

Visits to early Christian churches and the well-preserved colonial town of Carcar (full day).

Excursion to Moalboal, a world-famous diving destination (full day).

Day-trips by modern jet-craft to Negros, Bohol or Leyte, larger nearby islands with scenic sights and charming architecture.

Modern shopping malls - Cebu has two.

Guided tour of Cebu City, including: Fort San Pedro (a fine example an early Spanish fortress), the Magellan Cross (shrine of the first Christian cross in Asia), the Basilica de Santo Niño (built to commemorate the miraculous rediscovery of a Christ-child statue in early Spanish days), Tops (a mountaintop lookout point), the Taoist Temple for a glimpse of Cebu's Chinese cultural legacy, Gorordo House (a restored turn-of-the-century archbishop's villa), CAP Center (with mementos of WWII era President Osmeña), and Carbon public market.

 

 

 

 

Cebu is nestled in the heart of the Philippines, totally surrounded by much bigger islands. This means that most typhoons never reach Cebu, and the rare storms that do are already much-weakened. The danger from tsunamis is effectively zero; there is no known seismic fault in this area, and any long-range tsunami would be blocked by other islands.

The Pacific monsoon drops most of its moisture on other islands before reaching Cebu. Thus, there is no pronounced rainy season and the weather here is fair year-round. Although it can rain at any time of year, most rains are short and quickly followed by brilliant sunshine. (Before being tempted by the "low season" rates offered elsewhere, better ask why there's a low season. Cebu doesn't have one.)

 

The whole island of Cebu is an ancient coral outcropping (not of volcanic origin like Hawaii, nor near a continental shelf like Bali or Phuket). There are no volcanoes, and the area does not experience any appreciable earthquake activity.

Plantation Bay fronts Hilutungan Channel, which is 300 meters deep and has a steady current. This not only makes the waters here clean and clear (and the scuba-diving awesome), but also free of dangerous sharks and barracuda, which like to scavenge in still, shallow waters.

Mactan being a classic desert island, there are no swamps or wetlands here which could harbor crocodiles or venomous snakes. The island is virtually flat and not very large, so floods and mudslides are geologically no gonna happen.

 

Although Plantation Bay feels like has world of its own, it is only 30 minutes from a major metropolitan area. So, not like most resorts in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka, Cebu has no considerable incidence of tropical diseases such as malaria or typhoid. For a personal medical emergency, there is a community hospital 10 minutes away from Plantation Bay, and several fully-equipped general hospitals 30 minutes away in Cebu City. In case of a burst appendix or abcessed tooth, you wouldn't have to wait for a helicopter airlift.