We were lucky enough to visit two of the most beautiful locations in the Philippines, Boracay and Cebu. When planning a tropical escape to the Philippines, two destinations consistently top the list: Boracay vs Cebu. Both offer world-famous beaches, friendly locals, incredible food, and unforgettable family adventures. But which one is right for your next vacation?
I have some of my own thoughts, but here’s a full comparison to help you decide.
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Table of Contents
Overview: Boracay vs Cebu at a Glance
Boracay:
A small but stunning island known for its powder-white sand, iconic sunsets, and beachside energy. This tranquil paradise is calm and relaxed, a perfect place for a slower paced vacation.
Cebu:
A larger, more diverse region offering beaches, waterfalls, city experiences, whale-shark encounters, and historic sites. An adventure lovers dream come true, this island offers beautiful beaches and all the ocean activities a family could want.
Best Beaches: Boracay Wins for Beauty but Cebu offers More Ocean Experiences
If your family wants classic postcard-perfect beaches, Boracay takes the lead. With its soft landing ankle deep waves, the Shangri-La Boracay, offers a 2 beach options, the Banyugan Beach and the famous Punta Bunga Beach Punta and the public. Having a private beach is nice due the many vendors that can be on the beaches else where.
Boracay Beaches:
- White Beach is considered one of the best beaches globally.
- Calm, shallow water ideal for kids.
- Softest sand in the country.
- Shells galore for seashell lovers!
Cebu’s beaches:
- More Spread Out
- Teaming with fish for snorkling/diving
- Wildlife viewing – Whale Sharks, Sardines, etc…
The Cebu beaches are beautiful as well, but more spread out, and some require longer travel between sites. This is significant because you must commit to long car/shuttle rides in between attractions. From our hotel to the Oslob Whale Watching experience was a 4 hour drive. We left our hotel at 3:30am in order to reach the area for the first come first serve line. It was well worth the experience but must be taken into consideration when purchasing.
Best Activities: Cebu Wins for Variety
While both islands offer plenty to do, Cebu has a wider range of adventures, especially for wildlife lovers, ocean explorers and thrill seeking families. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Snorkeling with Sardines in Moalboal – Book Tickets Here!
- Kawasan Falls Canyoneering – Book Tickets Here!
- Whale Shark watching in Oslob – Book Tickets Here!
- Island Trip to Bohol – Book Tickets Here!
Cebu offers a wider variety of unique experiences, with numerous exciting activities that are especially well suited for adventurous families. Many of these excursions are recommended for older children, as they often involve traveling between multiple locations and require stronger swimming abilities or more advanced water skills to safely participate.
Boracay is activity-rich as well, here are a few of the fan favorites:
- Parasailing – Book Tickets Here!
- Boracay ATV Adventure – Book Tickets Here!
- Island hopping – Book Tickets Here!
- Sailing on a Paraw at Sunset – Book Tickets Here!
Our hotel offered many fun water activities as well that didn’t require the purchase of an outside, paddle boards, kayaks and snorkel masks. Most of which can keep you happily enjoying the ocean for many hours.
Accessibility: Cebu is Easier for International Travel
Cebu is fairly easy to reach internationally, but travel between attractions (Moalboal, Oslob, Bohol) requires hours on the road or a boat trip. Getting from Cebu Airport to the Hotel is surprisingly simple:
- Fly into Mactan-Cebu International Airport → 15-minute shuttle ride → on the beach by Sunset.
It is perfect for shorter vacations.
Borcay (Caticlan Airport) usually requires a connection via Manilla, which was a fairly chaotic airport (passenger lists being handwritten). We were shuttled around from the International to domestic terminals only to repeat all the necessary security requirements for a third time, it didn’t make for the easiest travel day.
Once we arrived in Boracay, our resort staff picked us up from the airport, took us to a boat dock and we had a 15 minute speed boat ride in to the hotel, it was quite a grand entrance to the stunning property. This was such a beautiful way to start our vacation.
Food & Restaurants: It’s a Tie
Both destinations offer excellent Filipino dishes and fresh seafood, I can’t recommend trying all the Pandan flavored foods you can get your hands on. Outside of trying new dishes, there wasn’t a large enough difference to recommend one over the other.
- Boracay: beachfront dining, cafés, smoothie bars, all things Pandan!
- Cebu: famous for lechon, halo-halo, local bakeries, and traditional cuisine
Families will find plenty of choices in both places.
Hotels: Depends on Your Ideal Experience
We were fortunate enough to stay at the Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu and Shangri-La Boracay Both locations delivered exceptional service, pristine beaches, world-class spas, and a wide range of family-friendly amenities, making each an outstanding choice for travelers. While both properties feature truly luxurious grounds and thoughtfully designed spaces, they also offer unique experiences that set them apart.
Boracay, in particular, feels more exclusive, with its lush landscaping, beautifully maintained grounds, and a stronger sense of privacy and tranquility. The natural beauty and intimate atmosphere create a more high-end resort experience compared to the other location. While Cebu offered more playful, child focused activities, making it wonderful for families with smaller children to enjoy as well.
- Private beaches with no vendors
- Exclusivity and privacy, feel like you have the whole island to yourself
- Lush resort grounds, work class spa & fun family game room
- Great Snorkeling on property
- Large resort complex with kids pools & game room
- More convenient location for airport transfers
After directly comparing our Boracay vs Cebu hotel experiences, our family collectively agreed that we enjoyed Shangri-La Boracay slightly more. The resort stood out for its breathtaking, meticulously landscaped grounds, secluded private beaches, and overall sense of tranquility. The peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty created a more relaxing and exclusive experience, making it especially memorable for our family.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Boracay if your family wants:
✔ the best beaches
✔ easy resort experience, with little transportation needs for activities
✔ a relaxed but vibrant island vibe
Choose Cebu if your family wants:
✔ nature + adventure, perhaps suitable for older children
✔ waterfalls and wildlife
✔ cultural and historic sites
Honestly? If the question is Cebu vs Boracay for family travel, you can’t go wrong with either — but Cebu slightly edges out Boracay for first-time visitors and families seeking that perfect island paradise. With more variety of activities, excellent food, ocean thrills and ease of arrival, Cebu is the perfect first time Philippine paradise for families.
exploring:
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