Reliving the Beauty of Tabuelan's Coastal Jewel

Hello fellow beach bums!

In the age of social media and bucket-list travel destinations, there's something special about stumbling upon a secret spot before it becomes an Instagram sensation. I find myself reminiscing about a remote beach on the northwest coast of Cebu, a place known to only a few, primarily locals and a handful from the northwest part of Cebu. This was a time before it turned into a tourist hotspot, a period when it felt like my own private paradise.

One day, I had a longing for the sea's salty embrace, so I set out in search of a beach where I could camp overnight. Surprisingly, this beach wasn't as remote as one might imagine. In fact, it sat right beside the national road, with houses dotting its coastline. However, it remained a well-kept secret, known to few from the city.

The beach I'm referring to is Maravilla Public Beach, located in Tabuelan, just a two-hour journey from Cebu City. To get there, I boarded a bus at Cebu North Bus Terminal, opting for a regular Ceres Bus over the crowded minibuses that often allowed standing passengers, making for a tight and uncomfortable ride.

Tabuelan is approximately 90 kilometers from Cebu City, and there are various routes to reach it, depending on your starting point. You can take the Trans-Central Highway via JY Square Lahug and Balamban if you're coming from Cebu City or follow the road through Toledo City to Balamban and then Tabuelan if you're in the southwest part of Cebu.

The bus from the North Bus Terminal usually passes through the northeastern towns of Cebu, such as Danao, Carmen, Catmon, and Sogod, before turning left at the church of Conversion of St. Paul Parish in Borbon, Cebu City.

This part of Cebu boasts numerous beautiful beaches stretching for kilometers. Some of these hidden gems can be found in Tuburan, Tabuelan, San Remigio, all the way up to Daanbantayan.

Maravilla Public Beach is a serene stretch of coastline in Brgy. Maravilla, Tabuelan. While a few resorts are nestled along its shore, during my visit, I chose to set up camp right by the beach. The owner of the beachfront property graciously asked for a small fee for overnight use and access to water for washing.

I arrived at the beach a few hours before sunset, giving me ample time to wander along the shore. Although it was not high tide when I arrived, I held out hope for a different scene the next day.

That day, the beach was peacefully quiet. Despite being a weekend, only a couple of tents were pitched, ensuring a tranquil night ahead.

The sunset that evening was nothing short of breathtaking, rivaling some of the best I've seen, second only to Boracay's. It marked the perfect end to the day, a dramatic scene that left me in contemplation, particularly during those moments of solitude.

This curious doggo even accompanied me while watching the sunset.

Regrettably, the following day greeted me with low tide. The sea had receded, revealing a vast, flat, and muddy playground. It seemed high tide had visited during the night, only to retreat by morning. Perhaps I should have consulted the tide calendar beforehand. In my hometown, low tide is an opportunity to harvest seafood.

Fortunately, I had the foresight to stay beneath the shade of a large tree, sparing me from the scorching morning sun. Without any specific check-out time at this public beach, I lingered until my yearning for the sea was satisfied.

Although high tide typically returns in the afternoon, I wasted no time and ventured out onto the shallow waters, even though it only reached knee-deep levels. This shallow, calm period during low tide is ideal for children to frolic along the shore, a bonus for families visiting the beach.

This trip served as a powerful reminder of the importance of embarking on solo journeys from time to time. Traveling alone allows for introspection, a chance to ponder life's deeper matters. It also offers an opportunity to become better acquainted with oneself, as we navigate the challenges that invariably arise along the way.

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