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In this article, we’re going to tell you everything that you need to know to plan a visit to White Beach in Moalboal in 2025. Visiting White Beach with our kids was genuinely one of our highlights of our stay in Moalboal. As beautiful as this beach is, there are a few things that you need to know before you go.
So if you’re planning to spend some time in Moalboal, then we highly recommend a visit to White Beach. In this article, we are using our first hand experience and knowledge to inform this article. We really hope that our experience helps you plan your own trip to White Beach.
In this guide, we will share all of the key information and detail to help you plan your own trip to White Beach: when is the best time to visit, how do you get to White Beach, what can you see and do there, and is it worth visiting White Beach?
IN BRIEF:
- White Beach – Quiet, tranquil beach area to the North of Moalboal with a few shops & food places
- Panagsama Beach – The main busy hub of Moalboal with lots of shops, places to eat & accommodation – Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to Panagsama Beach
Why Should You Visit White Beach in Moalboal?
White Beach is a very beautiful, west-facing beach in the Moalboal District of Cebu. As a west-facing beach, this is a beautiful place to visit at sunset. You can see the sun setting over the mountains of Negros. The beach has a calm and peaceful ambiance, and it is impressively clean compared to other beaches in Southeast Asia.
The water at White Beach is calm and clear (although the water conditions do depend on the season and weather). White Beach also has some small beachfront cafes serving barbecue food and drinks. You can often find locals walking along the beach, selling an array of products, including edible sea urchins, ice cream, and drinks. So, if you are planning to visit Moalboal, we recommend including White Beach in your itinerary. If you are staying in the central beach area of Moalboal (the Panagsama area), White Beach is a short journey away.
White Beach Map
Helpful map of the white beach area – Click on the pins for more details…
What Is the Best Way to Get to White Beach?
Step 1 – you need to travel from Cebu City to Moalboal – You can do this by bus from the Cebu City South Bus Terminal. Once you are in Moalboal you can then travel to White Beach…
Step 2 – The best way to get to White Beach depends on your own needs, budget, and preferences. Many people use the local tricycles to travel around this area. There are plenty of tricycles around, and it is very easy to find a driver. You may need to barter to get a fair price. If you are traveling from the Panagsama area, 300 pesos is a fair price for a one-way trip (around £4 or $5). You can also rent motorbikes in Moalboal. Motorbike rental starts at around 300 pesos (around £4 or $5) per day for a small motorbike. This is a fun and affordable way to explore the area. All of the roads between Pangasama and White Beach are well-paved and suitable for a motorbike.
Don’t attempt to drive to the south side of White Beach – this is a private road and locals wont permit you to drive this way. We have included this information on the map of the White Beach area.
There is a car park situated at White Beach. You will need to pay a small entry fee (10 pesos per person, 5 years and older) and a parking fee. Alternatively, you can use a car rental to travel around the area. This is a great option for a family. We recommend renting your car in Cebu City, and if you’re planning to stay for a while, negotiate a better daily rate. Car rental starts at around 900 pesos per day (around £13 or $15), if you negotiate with a local rental dealer and you take a longer rental period.
Top Tip
There is an environmental fee check point on the way to White Beach. The environmental fee costs 100 pesos per person for snorkeling and swimming and 50 peso per person for visiting the beaches. If you’re staying for a few days we recommend requesting that they put the full date of your visit on the receipt.
When Is the Best Time to Visit White Beach?
We recommend visiting White Beach in the late afternoon as the temperature begins to cool down. Aim to arrive around 4 pm and stay until sunset or later. The sun generally sets around 6 pm in the Philippines. White Beach is one of the best places to enjoy the sunset in Moalboal. Don’t expect to have the beach to yourself at sunset; this is a popular spot, so you will see plenty of other people enjoying the sunset too. It is important to be aware that the Philippines is a relatively conservative Catholic country. Sunday is genuinely a quiet day. Shops, cafes, and restaurants are often closed on a Sunday. You may also find it more difficult to get a driver on a Sunday (you can still find places open and drivers around; it is just a lot quieter).
The best time of year to visit Cebu is from November until April, when the conditions are relatively calm and dry. The best conditions can be experienced in March and April. The monsoon season in Cebu extends approximately from May until October, although the peak of the monsoon season is between June and August. You are more likely to experience rainy days during the monsoon season; however, it can rain anytime of the year in Cebu. The monsoon conditions in Cebu are less severe than other areas of the Philippines because Cebu is relatively sheltered and protected by the peripheral islands.
Can You Buy Food and Drink at White Beach?
There are several small cafes situated along the beachfront. Some of the cafes are closed around 6-7 pm, and some stay open a little later. If you’re planning to get food, we recommend ordering a barbecue fish. You can get a large milk fish for around 350 pesos (roughly £5 or $6). Also don’t miss the super tasty barbecue pork belly (lechon liempo) for 280 pesos (£4 or $5). You can also buy beer and soft drinks. A bottle of beer generally costs around 100 pesos (around £1.40 or $1.60). The food and drink prices at White Beach are slightly higher than other areas of Cebu because this is a touristy spot. For example, expect to pay around 70 – 100 pesos for a coconut (50 pesos is a normal local price). This is around £1 – £1.40 or $1.20 – $1.60.
Top tip: If you want to order barbecue food on the beach, request your food around 30 minutes before you hope to eat. It generally takes at least 30 minutes for them to prepare your food.
Can You Swim at White Beach?
Yes, you can swim at White Beach. In fact, the water is very beautiful for swimming, and it is even suitable for younger kids to paddle in the shallows (always supervise kids carefully by the ocean). The water close to the beach is relatively shallow, clear, and pretty warm. Around 20m from the beach, there is a steep coral drop-off, and the water becomes very deep. Some people bring snorkeling gear so that they can explore the reef in the area. The water conditions vary depending on the season and weather. During spells of rainy weather, the water is generally less clear, and there is a higher chance of jellyfish encounters (the jellyfish in the area can give you a painful sting).
What Facilities Are Available at White Beach?
The facilities at White Beach are very simple and basic. There are several shops and cafes along the beachfront and there is also a car park situated at White Beach. The facilities are limited here – there are not any public toilets, lockers, showers, or changing rooms in this area. There is one ATM machine at White Beach (don’t rely on this for money because ATM machines in Cebu are often out of order!).
Top tip: If you’re planning to visit White Beach with kids, you could rent a small and simple budget room in the area (purely to use throughout the day) so that you have somewhere to change and use the toilet. You would only need a very budget room.
Can You Stay at White Beach?
There are several small, simple guest houses offering accommodation near White Beach. This would be a lovely area to stay, but it is important to recognize that the food and amenities in the area are pretty basic. If you do not have your own transport, this area could feel slightly isolated and cut off. For most travelers, we recommend finding a place to stay in the Panagsama Beach area and then traveling to White Beach one evening.
FIND OUR MORE – Where are the best places to stay near White Beach
