As someone who loves to travel, the most exciting moments are when everything falls into place, and my partner and my sister’s partner are finally home from their jobs outside the country. That’s when we get to plan our long-awaited road trips. Living in the south of Cebu gives us a natural gateway to explore the rich landscapes and charming towns of Cebu Island. Recently, we decided to embark on a road trip around north of Cebu, and the journey turned out to be one of our most memorable yet.
We began our adventure in the small coastal town of Samboan, my hometown. From there, our goal was to follow a route leading through the towns of Barili and Aloguinsan. We’ve always loved road trips because there’s a different kind of joy in seeing the local countryside, feeling the wind as we cruise through rural roads, and stopping at small towns that radiate the heart of Cebuano life.
Our first official stop was Aloguinsan, where we had breakfast in front of the town’s church. Since we weren’t sure if there would be open restaurants or stores early in the morning, we had prepared our own food. Aloguinsan is a peaceful town, and having breakfast in the shadow of its church felt serene and grounding. After our meal, we kicked off our little tradition for this trip: a group picture in every town we stopped at.
Next on the list was Pinamungajan. We visited the church, took a quick toilet break, snapped our group picture, and went on our way. This road trip wasn’t about long stays, but rather experiencing each town’s unique charm.
Toledo City was next, where we stopped by the church, and then headed to Gaisano Balamban for a quick snack break. Refueled and ready, we continued to Balamban church, followed by Asturias church, where we paused for a moment to appreciate the quiet simplicity of the place.
After that, we were ready for a little more fun and headed to the Tuburan Molobolo Spring for a refreshing dip. The cold spring was a perfect escape from the tropical heat. We spent a couple of hours there, swimming, relaxing, and having lunch by the spring. It was a perfect mix of adventure and leisure.
Refreshed and full, we moved on to the Tuburan Church, then headed to Tabuelan Church, and finally, to San Remigio Church just as the day was nearing its end. We decided to stay overnight at J&C Resort in San Remigio. One of the reasons we chose this spot was the pool – and to our delight, we had it all to ourselves since it was a weekday, and no other guests checked in.
Dinner that evening was at Lapyahan, where we enjoyed a quiet meal, reflecting on the day’s adventures. As we discussed our plans for the next day, we all agreed that Bantayan Island was calling us. We decided to stay there for two days and continue our north of Cebu tour afterward.
The next part of our trip was already shaping us to be just as exciting, with Bantayan Island on the horizon. There’s nothing quite like exploring Cebu; with every road trip, we fall in love with the island all over again.
P.S: Day 2 on a separate post 🙂 xoxo!