Talisay City is known for its local beaches, good food, with inasal or lechon, as a celebratory mainstay, and tourist spots not every Cebuano knows. If you have not been to Talisay City, let us take you on a day trip to this laidback city of the south!

5:30 AM – 7:00 AM

From Cebu City, take a public jeepney for P25 to Talisay City or a taxi cab (around P250) and be dropped off at the Santa Teresa de Avila Shrine in Barangay Poblacion. It’s a landmark that locals know well. It’s a short walk to Larawan Beach, where it’s possible to meet the fishermen hauling their catch of the day. If it’s a Sunday, the place can get a little crowded with families and groups of friends who spend their birthdays or just a get-together by the beach, with the knowledge that there will be lots of food stalls to source their meals. The black sand beach has been popular for a long time as a place to go swimming, sit by the beach, rent a table with chairs for P150 for the entire day, and enjoy the sea breeze. Some boats can be rented nearby by Lagundi Reef for licensed Scuba divers. The boat ride is just 10 minutes long, perfect for a short morning snorkel.

7:00 AM

A food break should be next after a refreshing swim. Right next to Larawan Beach is the Talisay Litson Food Park, where lechon food stalls are lined up. Here you can feast on inasal or lechon, still steaming hot, ginabot, dugo-dugo, kinilaw, barbecue, grilled seafood (fish, squid), lato, lukot, sea cucumber, and a lot more. You can enjoy all of it while at the food park’s dining area by the sea.

8:30 AM

A much-needed stroll around Liberation Park should be next. Renovated in 2022, the park has Vito Selma-designed sculpture with stainless steel edifice contrasting with the waves from the sea and old Talisay trees in the vicinity.

In the daytime, the place blasts with colors and laughter from the children at the playground. While taking in all these, a small cup of local ice cream will not hurt at P10 per cup. Try the local salvaro (deep-fried cassava discs sprayed in chocolate) and the locally-made kunsilba (dried banana chips coated in caramelized sugar) on your next stop. 

9:00 AM

The next stop is just across the Santa Teresa de Avila Shrine. The bright church, made of thick coral stones, has withstood wars, earthquakes, typhoons, pandemics, fires, and other tragedies.

Its well-preserved interiors are worth visiting for that compulsory FB/IG post.

10:00 AM

Right before the church is the city’s main highway. Here you can get a habal-habal ride to Crocolandia in Barangay Biasong. It takes two rides for P15 each, or ask the driver to get you there straight for P60. Biasong is about 10 to 15 minutes away from Poblacion.

Crocolandia is famous for its big and small crocodiles and other animals. It has become a favorite stop for children on educational trips for many years. The entrance fee for adults is P200.

11:30 AM

From Crocolandia, take another tricycle ride to Talisay City Hall. It’s just in the next barangay for a minimal fare of P15. The Talisay City Hall was built and finished by Mayor Eduardo Gullas in 2004, shortly after it was declared a city. He moved the old municipal hall in Barangay Poblacion to its current site. The Talisay City Hall is a three-story landmark that houses the city departments and offices and the satellite offices of national agencies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Commission on Elections, and others. At the front of the building is the Talisay Plaza, designed by Norma Gullas, the wife of Eduardo Gullas. The plaza sometimes hosts food parks, concerts, and other events. 

NOON

It’s lunchtime, and the best place to spend it is in Dumlog Foodpark. You can take another tricycle ride at the back gate of Talisay City Hall and tell the driver to take you to Dumlog Foodpark. The place has king crabs, siomai, milk tea, fried chicken, and grilled seafood, all reasonably priced. Talisay is a coastal city, and many of its residents still fish for a livelihood, and their bounties are sold in the small markets of Tangke and San Roque.

1:00 PM

After lunch, it’s time for an adventurous trek. Hire a habal-habal ride to Barangay Jaclupan and ask to be taken to Jaclupan Barangay Hall. The fare for the habal-habal varies, but you can start at P100. At the Barangay Hall, ask for a local to guide you to Igutan Falls. You may also need another habal-habal to get to the next point. There are two waterfalls in Igutan, one outside the cave and the small one right at its mouth. The entrance to the cave is narrow; if you are going there alone, you need to get a local guide to assist you. 

2:30 PM

Your next stop is the Mini Switzerland of Cebu in Campinsa, Barangay Manipis. Just like the previous destination, Campinsa is also off-the- beaten-track, and it’s best to negotiate a fare with your driver for a round-trip package. Enjoying the view of its rolling verdant hills while sipping some fresh buko juice is an idyllic thing on a hot afternoon. The entrance fee here is P20.

3:30 PM

From Campinsa, visit the Sleeping Dinosaur, also in Barangay Manipis, along the upland highway. This area has a viewing deck where you can enjoy the mountain view that resembles a sleeping dinosaur, hence the name.

Some stalls sell bananacues, barbecue, and drinks if you’re already hungry.

5:00 PM

The round-trip fare you negotiated earlier should return you to the city center. Tell the driver to take you to Southscape, a shopping mall in Barangay Lawaan, for an early dinner and some shopping. Southscape has restaurants, coffee and milk tea shops, and small boutiques. Climb the nearby skywalk across Starmall’s Coffee Project for another dining alternative. This quaint restaurant serves cakes, pizza, and burgers besides coffee.

7:00 PM

You can buy some pasalubong in Paseo Ricardo Commercial Center just along the highway of Barangay Nonoc. Then get a massage at a spa in SouthTown Center in Barangay Tabunok before calling it a day. Talisay has inns and hotels in Barangay Tabunok (GV Hotel just across from SouthTown Center), RedDoorz in San Isidro, and others along the road.