Stops on this circuit
3 stops
- 1. Santa Rosa De Lima Parish
- 2. Suba Beach
- 3. Kandaya
Also home to the annual Kandaya Festival.
Explore the sun-drenched northernmost tip of mainland Cebu with the Daanbantayan Coastal Circuit. This route seamlessly blends idyllic, uncrowded white-sand coastlines with deep-rooted historical landmarks. Primarily known as the jumping-off point to Malapascua Island, the municipality of Daanbantayan itself offers a rich coastal experience that rewards travelers who take the time to look closer.
The circuit anchors on beach stops like Suba Beach and Kandaya, alongside the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish, a fortress-like stone church dating to the Spanish colonial era, built thick-walled and low the way most 18th- and 19th-century Cebu coastal churches were, to double as a refuge during raids. Beyond the beaches and heritage sites, visitors can catch the annual Kandaya Festival or drive the coastal road overlooking the Visayan Sea. It suits heritage enthusiasts, slow-travel advocates, and coastal photographers looking for a quieter alternative to the more built-up tourist hubs down south.
Daanbantayan sits at the very northern tip of mainland Cebu, roughly 130 kilometers — about a three-hour drive — from Cebu City along the same coastal highway used to reach Bantayan and Malapascua. Most visitors treat it as a stopover on the way to or from Malapascua’s Maya Port rather than a separate destination, which keeps its beaches noticeably less crowded than the island itself.