The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands, two of which are Cebu and its linked neighbour, tiny Mactan. A short flight from the capital Manila, or from select international airports, delivers travellers into the heart of beachy Filipino country, where the Cebuanos will greet them with buckets and spades of warmth and compassion.
While there are plenty of cultural sites, with ancient Spanish churches, mid-jungle waterfalls and small towns and villages to explore, most make a beeline to Cebu for the tranquility, with numerous resorts and hotels offering beachside relaxation, off-site diving, numerous restaurants and bars, and of course, every shape and colour of spa.
Cebu Island Spas And Resorts
- Badian Island Resort & Spa is actually set just off Cebu on its own private island of beaches, palm trees and luxury rooms. Arrive after a couple of hours driving through this fascinating island, or flying over it for 30 minutes by chopper. The Badian Natural Spa with Thalasso mixes seawater hydrotherapy with petal-strewn baths, facials with edible ingredients and indigenous massages all performed by delightful therapists.
- Alegre Beach Resort & Spa is just an hour from the international airport by car, touring up the west side of the island. The first natural beach resort, shaded by a huge umbrella tree, guests kick back in beachside cabanas or at The Alegre Spa. Treatments are highly professional – try the Hilot massage, an eclectic mix of massages, or the Sea Creation facial with seashell massage.
- Pulchra Resort, to the south east of the airport, is a lush jungle resort set on the beach with luxury Jacuzzi villas the ones to go for. The resort’s Udina Spa is made up of spa cottages, while Lutaw is a water-based spa. Massages include Hilot, Ayurvedic and Thai selections, facials focus on anti-ageing treatments and there are pools, steam and sauna to relax city-weary muscles first.
Mactan Island’s Leading Spas and Resorts
- Abaca Boutique Resort, hip and contemporary, is a boutique resort of only nine rooms and the island’s leading fine dining restaurant. The spa is bijou, decorated indigenously with dark wood, antiques and somber lighting, for facials, signature massages, body treatments and foot rubs. Ingredients like eucalyptus and rosemary are deeply healing and incredibly tempting.
- Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa has long been the leading international resort on the island with multiple pools and a man-made beach. CHI The Spa is a cluster of spa villas and suites, yoga pavilion and central pool, with signature Himalayan treatments as well as indigenous Hilot therapies. Top and tail with Sumpay for a facial and reflexology duo.
- Plantation Bay’s unique A to Z of buildings surrounding a huge, swimmable lagoon, spans halfway around the Mogambo Springs Spa, designed after an 18th century Japanese village. Treatment rooms are Zen stone and bamboo decorated, for treatments like the Skinful Pleasures package, various Asian massages, and Algotherm facials. Stay the night in their Spa Indulgence rooms.
More of Mactan Island’s Spas and Resorts
- Hilton Cebu’s twin pink towers stand out against the blue of the sky, but don’t be put off as the Spa is a delightfully airy space with French windows and white curtains fluttering in the sea breeze. Fire, Air, Earth and Water themed treatments join Decleor facials and are given with genuine warmth by their beautifully trained therapists.
- Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort is less polished than some of its neighbours, but its Amuma Spa is absolutely top of the range, stunningly beautiful, and exuding calm. A Hilot Sa Amuma massage begins with a traditional clearing of the air by burning indigenous medicinal herbs, and chanting – very authentic. They also are one of the few spas to offer watsu (water shiatsu).
- Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa is a giant resort and water park. Caracalla Spa has been designed for its mostly Chinese and Korean guests with separate wet facilities pre-treatment and massages like Japanese shiatsu, aromatherapy and indigenous Hilot. Choose a spa package that brings massage, scrub and facial together in one of their nine spa suites.
- Ananda Marga Wellness Centre is a retreat, not far from the international airport, based on the teachings of Indian yogi Shri PR Sarkar, and therefore focusing on yoga and meditation, which takes place under a dome. The kitchen teaches vegetarian cooking, and there is a limited menu of spa treatments available.
Perfect for a long weekend for those living in nearby Manila, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, Cebu is one of The Philippines' most popular holiday retreats, especially for families.
Catharine Nicol - Catharine Nicol travelled to Hong Kong to stay for four weeks in 1997. She's still there, loving every minute of living, travelling, ...
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