Cebu & Bohol Practical Travel Guide: Mactan Resorts, OceanJet Ferry & Island Gear

Ask any Filipino where the country’s best Lechon comes from and they’ll point straight to Cebu: whole pigs stuffed with lemongrass, scallions, garlic, and star anise slow-roasted over charcoal until the skin shatters like glass—so flavorful it doesn’t even need liver sauce (try House of Lechon or Rico’s spicy lechon with garlic rice and tangy green mango salad to cut the richness!). Pair dinner with meaty Alimango mud crabs simmered in sweet chili or garlic-butter sauce and ice-cold San Miguel Pale Pilsen or apple-flavored San Mig Light.

If you are in Cebu City between Thursday and Sunday evening, head to Sugbo Mercado inside IT Park—a clean, breezy outdoor food bazaar where dozens of vetted stalls grill pork belly skewers, cheesy baked scallops, sizzling sisig, and fresh Carabao mango shakes topped with mango ice cream. Just remember to skip unsealed street-side ice bins and brush teeth with bottled water back at your room.

Crossing from Cebu Pier 1 to Bohol Tagbilaran on the 2-hour OceanJet fast ferry runs like a mini airport once you know the three counter stops: ① Show your printed/mobile QR voucher at the Check-In window inside the terminal to get your seat number stamped; ② Pay the 25 PHP Terminal Fee in cash right beside it; ③ Pass X-ray security and drop any suitcase larger than cabin carry-on at the official OceanJet baggage counter before boarding (~50–100 PHP cash per bag—keep the claim sticker stub!). Bring a zip-up hoodie onboard because Tourist Class cabin A/C blasts at 18°C!

Once you dock at Tagbilaran Port on Bohol, ignore chaotic dockside touts shouting 1,000 PHP—pre-booking a 600–700 PHP private sedan/van straight to your Alona Beach hotel via WhatsApp or tour apps is effortless. Around Panglao Island (where Grab doesn’t exist), short tricycle hops along Alona–Danao–McDonald’s streets normally run 100–150 PHP per trike (200–250 PHP out to Doljo or Dumaluan Beach)—always keep 50 and 100 PHP notes ready!