Olango Island Bird Sanctuary

Olango is a low island of mangrove and tidal flat east of Mactan, and the sanctuary covers roughly a thousand hectares of it — mudflats that flood and expose on the tide cycle, which is exactly what draws the birds. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1992 and became the Philippines’ first Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance in 1994, a designation that recognizes the site’s role as a stopover on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway rather than just a scenic wetland.

• Peak migration runs from September through April, when species like the Chinese egret and Asiatic dowitcher pass through in numbers worth planning a visit around.
• An elevated boardwalk crosses the mudflat for close viewing without disturbing the birds feeding below.
• Entrance fees go toward the sanctuary’s upkeep, one of the few protected mangrove systems left in this part of Cebu.

Olango’s own economy runs on small-scale fishing and dried-fish production — the danggit and other cured fish sold across Cebu’s markets often trace back to this island — so the sanctuary sits inside a working coastline rather than a set-aside preserve.

Explore More in Olango Island

• Abac\xE1 Restaurant
• Balicasag Island
• Most Sacred Heart of Jesus D Jakosalem St Cebu City