Cebu Island Hopping & Sunset Cruise 2026: 3 Tour Options

We offer three convenient Mactan Cebu island hopping tours to choose from:

1. Joiner Island Hopping Tour – a morning to early-afternoon shared tour aboard a deluxe outrigger boat visiting Nalusuan Island and Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary
2. Private Island Hopping Tour – a private island-hopping tour visiting Caohagan Island, Nalusuan and Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary
3. Sunset Cruise Joiner Tour – an afternoon to early-evening shared cruise aboard a deluxe outrigger boat

Quick Comparison: 3 Mactan Cebu Tour Options

Schedules and rates are approximate and may change depending on weather, sea conditions, tides and operational requirements.

1. Mactan Cebu Island Hopping – Joiner Tour

The Mactan Cebu Island Hopping Joiner Tour is a good choice for travelers who want a classic morning island-hopping experience aboard a larger, more comfortable boat.

Approximate schedule: 8:30 AM–1:30 PM

The tour includes:

• • • Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary – snorkeling among tropical fish and reef life
    • Nalusuan Island – swimming, snorkeling and lunch by the sea
    • A simple local handline fishing experience near Gilutongan

The tour uses a deluxe outrigger boat with spacious padded seating. Since this is a joiner tour, the boat is shared with other guests and may have 20 or more passengers.

Rate: ₱4,000/pax for the Meet-Up option. Complimentary multicab transfers are available for selected Mactan resorts, while air-conditioned Cebu City transfer options are also available.

Best for: Travelers who want a comfortable shared boat, snorkeling and a visit to Nalusuan Island.

2. Mactan Cebu Island Hopping – Private Tour

The Private Island Hopping Tour is ideal for families and groups who prefer having the boat exclusively for themselves and want to include Caohagan Island.

Approximate schedule: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

The tour includes:

• • • Caohagan Island – white-sand beach, with a wider sandbar visible during low tide
    • Nalusuan Island – swimming and snorkeling
    • Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary – snorkeling and marine-life viewing

The private tour uses a regular, no-frills local outrigger boat reserved exclusively for your group. Its main advantage is privacy, while the two shared tours use larger and more comfortable deluxe outrigger boats.

Rate: ₱2,990–₱6,350/pax, depending on group size. Rates include round-trip private van transfers from hotels within Cebu City and Mactan, private boat rental, entrance and snorkeling fees, set lunch onboard, one round of drinks and a local guide.

Best for: Families and groups who value privacy and want to visit Caohagan Island.

3. Mactan Cebu Sunset Cruise – Joiner Tour

The Mactan Cebu Sunset Cruise is the afternoon option for travelers who want to keep their morning free or prefer a shorter boat trip.

Approximate schedule: 2:40 PM–6:00 PM

The tour includes:

• • • Snorkeling at San Vicente / Talima Marine Sanctuary
    • Local handline fishing at Sta. Rosa
    • Cruising through the Olango and Mactan Channel
    • Fruits, light snacks, soft drinks and beer onboard

Like the morning joiner tour, it uses a deluxe outrigger boat with spacious padded seating and is shared with other guests.

Rate: ₱3,500/pax for the Meet-Up option. Complimentary multicab transfers are available for selected Mactan resorts, while Cebu City transfer options are also available.

Best for: Travelers who prefer an afternoon departure and a shorter snorkeling and cruising experience.

Joiner vs Private Cebu Island Hopping

The main differences are boat type, privacy and destinations.

The Joiner Island Hopping Tour uses a larger deluxe outrigger boat with padded seating but is shared with other guests. It visits Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary and Nalusuan Island.

The Private Island Hopping Tour gives your group exclusive use of a simpler regular outrigger boat and adds Caohagan Island to the itinerary.

If boat comfort is more important, the joiner tour may suit you better. If privacy and a beach stop at Caohagan are your priorities, choose the private tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book a Mactan Cebu island hopping tour?

• • • For the Joiner Island Hopping Tour and Sunset Cruise Joiner Tour, go to the corresponding tour page and complete the Booking Request Form. Triphappy will check availability and contact you to confirm the booking request.
    • For the Private Island Hopping Tour, you can proceed directly with the online booking for automatic confirmation, subject to availability.

Do I need to know how to swim?

• • • No. Swimming is not required to join the tour. Guests who wish to snorkel should be comfortable in the water and follow the guide and boat crew’s safety instructions. If you prefer not to swim, you may simply relax onboard or enjoy the island stops.

What should I bring?

• • • We recommend bringing swimwear, sun protection, a change of clothes, and a dry bag or waterproof protection for your phone and valuables. It is also more convenient to change into your swimwear before leaving your hotel.

What happens if the weather is bad?

• • • For safety reasons, the itinerary may be adjusted, postponed or cancelled if weather or sea conditions are unsuitable. Any changes will depend on the operator’s assessment and local conditions.

Where does the tour start, and are hotel transfers available?

• • • The two shared tours — the Joiner Island Hopping Tour and Sunset Cruise Joiner Tour — depart from Hilton Port in Mactan.
    • The Private Island Hopping Tour departs from Cordova Port.
    • Round-trip transfers are available for all three tours. For the shared tours, you may choose either:
      • a Meet-Up Only option, where you make your own way to and from Hilton Port; or
      • an option with round-trip Cebu City transfers.
    • For the private tour, round-trip private transfers from hotels within Cebu City and Mactan are included.

Explore the 3 Tours

Mactan Cebu Island Hopping – Joiner Tour

• • • 8:30 AM–1:30 PM • Deluxe shared outrigger • Gilutongan + Nalusuan • From ₱4,000/pax

Mactan Cebu Island Hopping – Private Tour

• • • 8:00 AM–4:00 PM • Private regular outrigger • Caohagan + Nalusuan + Gilutongan • From ₱2,990/pax depending on group size

Mactan Cebu Sunset Cruise – Joiner Tour

• • • 2:40 PM–6:00 PM • Deluxe shared outrigger • Snorkeling + fishing + late-afternoon cruise • From ₱3,500/pax