In the afternoon came the main event: snorkelling the famous Moalboal sardine run. The sardines are there all year round, only 20 to 30 metres off Panagsama Beach, close enough to the shore that no boat is needed.
Millions of sardines swirled in huge shoals right beneath us, flashing silver every time they turned. We spotted sea turtles too, gliding through the water and not bothered in the slightest by all the activity.
Good to know
- The sardine run: the sardines are there all year, only 20 to 30m off Panagsama Beach, so you can swim out from the shore without a boat. There’s a small local fee. Why Cebu
- Turtles: keep your distance and don’t touch them.
We checked these details in October 2026. Times, prices and rules do change, so it’s worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.