Booked a banca - a dugout canoe often provided with outriggers and a roof made of bamboo - from Islands Banca Cruises for a whole day. Included in the package are towels, beanbags and an auxiliary cord so you can play your own music. You may also choose to pay extra to have a masseuse, rent snorkelling gear or have a packed lunch. However, we chose to bring our own food - shrimps, crabs, and the bestseller: lechon! - and pay the corkage fee.
The dock is right beside Mövenpick Hotel in Mactan Island. It wasn't such a clear day and the current was so strong, but that didn't stop us! We got to the first destination, Pandanon Island, in an hour. The island lies in between Cebu and Bohol. Its main asset is the stretch of white sand. Since we didn't really have much to do there, we went back to the middle of the ocean, chose a spot where it wasn't too wavy, and docked there. This was actually the highlight of our boating experience. Most of us immediately jumped into the water and, of course, took lots of photos!
After a couple of hours in the ocean, it was time to go back. It was roughly a 6 hour activity; we got back to the dock at around 3 PM. Island hopping is definitely one of the top things to do when you're in Cebu - for both tourists and locals!
