Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
Central Visayas

CEBU [Simala Church]

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Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
I’ve never been fan of churches, unless they exude an old vibe like the ones that have witnessed history or those with sophisticated and magnificent architecture and design like this amazing church in Southern Cebu.

🇵🇭SIMALA CHURCH ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭

✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Simala Church, Cebu:
⏺ Take a plane from Metro Manila to Mactan-Cebu Airport (e.g. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia).
⏺ Hail a taxi to get to South Bus Terminal.
⏺ Ride a bus with the signboard Bato via Oslob and alight at Simala Crossing, Sibonga (travel time: 2 – 2.5 hours).
⏺ Hire a motorcycle that will take you to Simala Church.
Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
The first time I set foot here was in 2015 during my first Cebu trip. Construction of its other half was still underway at that time.

⏰⏳ SAMPLE ITINERARY (Southern Cebu):

DAY 1
5:00 PM ETA Mactan-Cebu Airport
7:00 PM ETA accommodation
 
DAY 2
4:00 AM Check-out / ETD for South Bus Terminal
5:00 AM ETD for Sibonga
7:00 AM ETA Simala Church
9:00 AM ETD for Dalaguete
10:30 AM ETA Dalaguete / check-in
11:30 PM Osmeña Peak
1:00 PM Lugsangan Peak
3:00 PM Kandungaw Peak
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 3
5:00 AM ETD for Oslob
7:00 AM ETA Tumalog Falls
9:00 AM ETD for Bato Terminal, Santander
10:30 AM ETD for Samboan
12:00 PM ETA Samboan / check-in
1:00 PM Explore Samboan’s waterfalls
6:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 4
5:00 AM Wake-up call
6:00 AM Explore Ginatilan’s waterfalls
8:00 AM Check-out / ETD for Alegria
9:30 AM ETA Alegria / check-in
11:00 AM Explore Alegria’s waterfalls
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 5
5:00 AM Wake-up call / check-out / ETD for Badian
7:00 AM Kawasan Falls
8:00 AM Kabukalan Spring
10:00 AM ETD for Moalboal
11:30 AM ETA Panagsama Beach / check-in
1:00 PM Pescador Island
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 6
5:00 AM Wake-up call
6:00 AM ETD for Basdaku Beach
7:00 AM ETA Basdaku Beach
11:00 AM Check-out / ETD for Barili
1:00 PM ETA Mantayupan Falls
3:00 PM ETD for Cebu City
5:00 PM ETD for Mactan-Cebu Airport
 
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler exploring Southern Cebu): Php 10,000 – Php 12,000 (exclusive of airfare)
***Expenses may vary depending on the type of accommodation you will avail and personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the guide fees, tricycle/motorcycle transfer and tour rates and boat rental fees.
 
Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
My apologies for the extra bad quality of these photos taken using my action camera. I never saved the photos in its original file size and just compressed the images into smaller bytes because back then, it never crossed my mind that I would become a blogger and I would need sharper versions of my shots.
Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
For someone who is not really into man-made structures, I was mesmerized by this castle church. I had to admit, I actually appreciated its intricate design.
Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
It was our last day in Cebu so after visiting Mantayupan Falls in Barili, we rode a multicab that took us to Carcar City where we rented a tricycle that would bring us all the way to Simala. We could have just taken the bus but we were pressed for time since we had to be back in Cebu City in the afternoon for our flight back to Manila in the evening.
📜✏️ Tips/Reminders:
📌Dress appropriately when you visit the church (no shorts, sleeveless clothes and short skirts).
📌Please keep in mind that buses with “Bato via Oslob” signboard will pass by Sibonga, Dalaguete and Oslob while buses with “Bato via Barili” signboard will pass by Barili, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Ginatilan and Samboan. Both routes meet at Bato Terminal in Santander.
📌You can hire a van if you are traveling with a group to save on time.
📌Expect rain during monsoon season (June-February).
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
 
☎️ Contact:
📌Van for hire: Kuya Tata (09776350200)
Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
Fast forward to September 2017 on my second Cebu adventure with my family and relatives, we were picked up by our van service at Mactan-Cebu Airport then we traveled to Sibonga because Simala Church was our first destination in our itinerary.
Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
I was quite awed the moment I saw what it looks like now compared to when I last laid eyes on it in 2015. Construction of the other side of the church compound was already done.
Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
Even though it was a weekday, there were loads of visitors during our visit. The church holds its feast celebration every September so the place was decorated with small colorful flags.
Simala Church, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines
I would have wanted to capture the whole church in my frames but there were just too many people. So we decided to go back to Cebu City for our city tour but we stopped by Carcar first to have a taste of their famous lechon (spit-roasted pig).

***For other destinations in Cebu and Central Visayas, you may visit this link.

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