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Marigondon Beach, also known as Banban Beach, is one of the few public beaches on Mactan Island. We were there and share our honest opinion of the beach, which many residents and expats from the city use to relax on weekends.
In this guide
Location & how to get there: Marigondon Beach Mactan Island
Marigondon Beach lies on the southeast coast of Mactan Island and is very easy to reach by road. On site there is plenty of parking for scooters and cars.
- Address: Marigondon Port Rd, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Cebu, Philippines
Note: Marigondon Beach is also referred to as Banban Beach or Marbeach.
Admission & parking at Marigondon Beach
Marigondon Beach is one of the very few beaches that charges no admission. Parking on site costs 30 PHP per motorcycle, and there are also parking spaces for cars.
At Marigondon Beach there are beach huts for rent, used mainly by locals for eating, drinking, and getting together. Regular prices for a day should be between 250 and 500 PHP; it may well be a little more expensive on weekends.
Marigondon Beach Cebu – our experience
Although Marigondon Beach is very well visited, it is not, in our view, a beautiful place. In the parking lot and on the beach there are many stray dogs, some of which are also very pushy or aggressive.
There is a lot of trash all over the area, and wastewater from the restaurants and shops on site is simply discharged into the environment. Even in the parking lot there is a foul smell, which is also clearly noticeable on the beach.
The water at Marigondon Beach is extremely murky and did not invite us to swim. Although many locals and children were bathing there, neither the beach nor the water quality made us want to swim at Marigondon Beach.
Sunbathing at Marigondon Beach is also only possible to a limited extent. The stretch of sand (very coarse, gravelly sand) is very narrow and sits directly in front of the beach huts / cabanas.
Overall we found Marigondon Beach to be a dirty and uninviting beach and would rather advise against a visit.
Tip: The beach is right next to Marigondon Port, where the local fishing and excursion boats dock. For an island-hopping tour around Mactan Island, Marigondon Beach is a very good starting point.
The best time to visit Marigondon Beach
Marigondon Beach on Mactan Island is above all a popular weekend destination. We therefore recommend going to the beach on a weekday, when it is much quieter. On weekends it is densely crowded both in the water and on the beach itself. Beach huts, however, are also available on weekends without any problem, as there are more than enough of them.
Do you have anything to add or any questions about Marigondon Beach in Cebu? Feel free to leave a comment!