Travel would be more enjoyable if one knows the Dos and DON’Ts of the place. With the advent of the Internet, it is basically very easy to know about the place with just one click. So the follow general tips are compiled from those who already visited Mactan and these tips might be of help for those who are planning to visit Mactan one day:

• When attending special occasions in the local community, avoid wearing sandals. Wearing shoes is a sign that the event is important to you.
  Pssst is another popular way to get someone’s attention. However, it is proper and preferred to call the person by name. It is even better to use nicknames, because these are reserved for close friends.
• Do invite people at least three times. Local residents are taught that it is proper to refuse the first time or two. To them, insistence is a clear sign that the offer or invitations is genuine.
• Do give the local residents a way out of the situation so he can save face, thus avoiding embarrassment. Embarrassing him will cause “hiya” or loss of face.
• Don’t use the common sign of OK In the local community, it means money. You may use the new sign OK. This is the thumbs- up sign which has been commonly seen on television.
• Don’t use your forefinger upward to call a local resident-it is considered somewhat degrading. One way of calling is to beckon with the hand in gentle downward motion.

Yeah right, some of these tips are quite amusing in a way but yes, they are true. On a more serious note, these are some tips and expectations when you get to Mactan:

A sign of saying approved.

Transport. To visit Cebu city or points of interest you will need to make special arrangements. Taxis usually need to be booked in advance and can be expensive as the resort will often extract a booking fee. A few resorts have a shuttle bus service to Cebu city but only at certain times. This limits your ability to explore independently. Very rarely can the visitor simply hail a taxi outside the entrance to a particular resort.

Booking. Once booked into a resort, the visitor will usually eat “in-house”. Mactan has a few restaurants but eating out will mean arranging transport to/from the resort in advance coupled with a long drive if travelling to Cebu city. The majority of restaurants on Mactan are situated along the main road leading to the airport which is typically a 15-20 minute drive from the resorts. For this reason, many resorts tend to over-price the food, knowing that they have a captive market. Its not possible to stroll down the beach and choose from a range of local fish restaurants for example.

Staying on Mactan, the visitor is somewhat sheltered from the “real” Philippines. Prices for many goods and services are artificially high, particularly in the more luxurious resorts. The more adventurous and independent visitor is likely to find Mactan somewhat limited.

The Accomodation when staying in Mactan

Most of the activities available are offered by the resorts eg. island hopping tours, jet skis, parasailing etc. Again, these activities tend to be expensive as many visitors don`t know of alternative places which may offer the same activities at a lower cost.Travel Destinations Guides – Travel destinations, resorts, vacations, trips reviews and tips. Use the knowledge of other experienced travelers to pinpoint your own places of interest.

Generally, people in Mactan are Cebuanos and the custom and traditions can be rooted back to their Spanish and catholic descent. The Magellan’s Cross, which is the most famous historical religious land-mark in the Philippines, helped shaped and reflected the religiosity of the Cebuanos. Moreover, this wooden religious cross was planted by Ferdinand Magellan on April 14, 1521 and plays part in our history. When this was planted, it symbolized the beginning of the baptizing of the people here in the Philippines by the Spaniards and the start of the spread of Christianity. In addition, the original cross (or remnants of it) has been, preserved and the locals have created in a newly bigger wooden cross, and in 1834, they placed it on a concrete pedestal and inside the kiosk.

Birhen Sa Regla of Opon, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu

Moreover, the Sto. Niño is the Cebuanos patron saint and was introduced by the Spaniards when they arrived in Cebu City and it has been on their plan to spread Christianity. The original image of the Sto. Niño is still being kept in the parish convent while its replica, with the gold and precious stones adornment and is enshrined in a glass casing inside the Basilica Minor del Santo. As the former capital city of the country, Cebu continues to attract a number of tourists for its historical places and wonderful nature spots year after year. Further, Mactan Island is sure not left out when tourists wanted to explore Cebu Island. The Cebuanos are known to be heart-warming and would readily welcome visitors to their beautiful island and introduce tourists to some of its customs and traditions and from their culture to its delicacies. Truly, Cebu is one of the places here in the Philippines that you shouldn’t ever ever miss out on travelling.

Fluvial Procession in Honor of the Virgin of the Rule

Cebuanos embody the religiosity of Filipinos. In Mactan Island, the people greatly acknowledged Lapu-Lapu a one of the Philippines heroes and a yearly celebration is dedicated to the Battle of Mactan. Religious as they are, Cebuanos are generally good and hospitable people. They take pride in their historical roots and are considered gracious individuals. Furthermore, Sto. Niño as the patron saint is believed to help the Island from destructive calamities and spared the people from harmful entities. At this present generation, the image of Sto. Niño is still a very much significant part of every household. Mactan Island is surrounded by good people and different culture and tradition are still very much visible all these years.

Manny Pacquiao as Lapu-lapu

Lastly, a both local and foreign tourists can easily get help from people surrounding Mactan Island—from asking them specific locations or asking them to carry your heavy baggage you (although some would generally ask for some tip). With these kinds of people, Mactan is a safe haven one can truly enjoy without the fear of being surrounded by bad people. Furthermore, one can generally roam around the island alone or in group and exploring the place would be a sure adventure. The goodness displayed by Cebuanos is in itself an attraction.

Mactan Island has a lot of attractions and many of things to do and see. It boosts with around seventy-five dive centres and dive resorts wherein day excursions and diving safaris can be arranged, thus making Mactan Island a top tourist destination. While others would prefer to soak in the sun getting those infamous tan lines, there are also others who like to spend the day reading their favourite books or sipping their cold juices under the shade. Still, other would really love that beach scent to calm their nerves. Meanwhile, these are some of the top-notch recreation in Mactan Island:

If your in Cebu, snorkeling and diving should be on your list.

Diving- there are a number of diving destinations within the island and also diving packages. The diving instructors are licensed and experienced dive masters and instructors are available to make your scuba diving experience in Cebu and Cebu-based dive spots truly enjoyable, whether you are a beginner or a licensed diver. Moreover, the different diving equipment are provided by diving resorts. This form of recreation has gained popularity over the years.

Fishing- this recreation has also been popular both to local and foreign tourists. Some resorts offer trolling and bottom fishing. This activity is truly enjoyable to newbie as well as the seasoned ones. Moreover, during lucky days, some can catch up to several kilograms of fish.

Marginal Fishing

Snorkelling- it is the best alternative for diving since one don’t have to take all those long lessons and put that heavy tank on your back. One may think about snorkelling beneath the surface of the water with a long hose with air provided. The area that one is free to swim in has the radius of seventeen meters and you can descend to 7 to 8 meters in depth for approximately thirty minutes.There are still other types of recreation that could be found in Mactan Island, depending on what the clients like. Meanwhile, there are some important considerations before taking the plunge under water. As for scuba diving for instance, one might need to do a little shopping to make sure that all the necessary scuba diving paraphernalia are in. Although most scuba diving specialty shops have their own scuba diving equipment for use, many also prefer to buy their own equipment. With this, there are several factors to consider when shopping for scuba adventure like the budget, types of equipment needed, etc. Meanwhile, these recreational activities in Mactan Island ensure the safety of the clients by following the standard and what has been approved by the authority.

Let the swimming begin…

Furthermore, to ensure these safety precautions, the clients are given careful instructions and they are guided accordingly by professional. The equipment or necessary paraphernalia for these recreational activities are carefully checked and maintained to avoid hazards or untoward accidents. Nonetheless, these professionals are trained with first aid and basic life support in case of unexpected emergencies. With these facts, it is easy to relax, sit back, and enjoy the offers of Mactan Island. And for fun-filled adventure, Mactan Island is the place.