Weekend in Mactan: Three Things to Do in Lapu Lapu City

“The most dangerous risk of all—the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” –Randy Komisar

Considering that Cebu City is known to be the Queen City of the South, it is highly likely that Mactan (or more popularly known as Lapu Lapu is overlooked). Apart from being the first city one sees upon landing at the Mactan International Airport, Mactan has a lot to offer in terms of adventure and activities. Known to be the lush island of beaches and seafood, Mactan is often greeted by a deluge of foreign tourists during the summer season. Much like most summer capitals in the country, it offers a fair share of watersport activities from jet skiing, diving, snorkeling parasailing to island hopping.

If ever you have the chance to visit this vibrant island, never neglect to experience for yourself a brief taste of what the island life in Mactan truly is and immerse yourself in the beauty of its picturesque beaches. Considered to be a paradise with a contemporary living style, Mactan Island has a lot to offer its tourists—in terms of history, culture, and activities. Moreover, it plays host to two important historical sites in the country mainly Lapu Lapu's Shrine (often referred to as the Liberty Shrine) as well as the Magellan’s Marker. In any case, should you plan to visit Cebu anytime soon, take the time to visit this island, book a Mactan hotel and fill your itinerary with the activities below for a grand island excursion:

1.)    Go island hopping 

This one should be a no-brainer whenever you are in Mactan. In fact, most tourists would go to Mactan precisely for this reason. Much like bar hopping, island hopping is where you travel from one island to another and get to explore what each has to offer for a brief period of time. Depending on the package you have availed of, you would usually make a pit stop at three islands. You can even dock at the island’s seashore for a minimal fee if you wish to take photos and discover more to the island. For locals, island hopping is an excellent avenue to see other beaches other than the ones they are offered 365 days a year. To many, it is a change of scenery as well.

2.)    Visit Guitar Factories 

Whether you have a proclivity for music and a certain flair for playing the guitar or not, you are sure to have a grand time visiting the guitar factories of Mactan. Not only would you be able to buy any guitar you want (customized as you wish), they are also sold to you at a much lower price—which is quite a steal compared to how much they sell them for in retail. For individuals with a penchant for music, this place can be quite like heaven as there are different guitars in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Moreover, they come in a wide variety of the electrics to the basses and even ukuleles. Of course, this is not to say you have to buy one (even if the prices might even tempt you), you can just go and have a look. You might even want to consider buying one as a souvenir for someone back home.

3.)    Explore the Cebu Happy World Museum 

Sure, you have been to a museum before, so you already have an idea what goes on inside. However, this museum is quite different and unlike any other that you have visited before. It allows visitors and patrons to get as close as they wish and take as many photos as they want. This is because the museum is basically a huge place of illusions that are sure to have you thinking twice and excite you regardless of how young or old you are. So, if you have been looking for a different way to spend your afternoon, spend it in this unique museum instead.

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