Mactan Island is one beautiful and bountiful island of Cebu. Aside from its historic sentimentality, Mactan is known for its beautiful white sand beaches and offers as well superb vacation experiences and diving extravaganzas.
Mactan Island is a thriving metropolis, offering world-class resorts, 5-star hotels and the huge industrial area, the Mactan Export Processing Zone. Also, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the second busiest international airport in the country can be found here. Tourism and production of furniture and musical instruments like guitars and ukuleles are progressive. No wonder why it is dubbed as the “Pearl of the South”.
It houses two municipalities, the Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova. Lapu-Lapu City is one of the most highly-urbanized cities in the entire province. Rated as 1st class, it dominates almost entire Mactan Island.
Though Mactan has been separated few kilometers from the mainland Cebu, two bridges linked it together: The Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. Not just that they have traffic relieving purposes but they are also one of the Cebu’s must-sees because of its very dazzling view of lights during the night.
Mactan-Mandaue Bridge or most commonly called Mactan Bridge is the first of the two bridges connecting Mactan Island and Mandaue of mainland Cebu. The bridge stretches up to 846 meters and 9 meters in width. Construction began on 1970 during the reign of Ferdinand Marcos and was opened to public two years after. It was designed by all-Filipino engineers.
Another famed Cebu landmark is the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, the second bridge (opened on 1999) connecting Mactan Island to Metro Cebu. Named after the Senator Marcelo Fernan, it is intentionally built to slacken the traffic of the much older Mactan Bridge. It has an extradosed cable-style which the total length of 1237 meters and 185 meters wide. It is one of the widest and longest bridges in the country.
Another transportation option is by boat. Lots of ferry boats are waiting to convey passengers from Cebu City to Mactan or vice versa.
Because of its ideal geographical location, one of the most successful economic zones of the country, the Mactan Export Processing Zone was located which helped increase the status of the place.
Mactan Island has its share of historic significance. Its story will be cherished from generation to generations. This is where the renowned Battle of Mactan took place. Before the Europeans settled in the island, different tribes have been using the place and one of the chieftains was Datu Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino hero who fought with the Spaniards in the attempt of propagating Christianity in the island.
Even though there is no sufficient evidence upon the demise of Ferdinand Magellan, it is believed the Lapu-Lapu was the one held responsible on his death. It was April 27, 1521 in the morning when Magellan sailed Mactan after being persuaded by Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula to subdue their rival, Datu Lapu-Lapu. Well-prepared are Lapu-Lapu’s men and easily defeated the Spaniards who went back to their country without the corpse of their guide, Ferdinand Magellan.
Magellan Shine and the monument of Lapu-Lapu were erected in their honor for their heroic and inspiring deeds. When visiting Mactan Island, its stop-over is commendable not just because of any historical respects but also of the undisputable Mactan’s specialty, the sinugba-tinola-kinilaw at the same time.
Aside from its industrial and historical worth, Mactan is a center of tourist attraction and fun-filled activities. It is known for beautiful white powdery-sand beaches and exciting underwater domain. Not only foreigners indulge in the place but also the local people find it interesting to take a break in this peaceful and danger-free island. There are plans of converting half of Mactan Island as a “genuine tourism zone”.
Geographically situated in the center of the archipelago, many islands surround Mactan, making it very safe from natural distractions such as typhoons and tsunamis. It is also far from earthquake belts and no active volcanoes. With its desert-like grounds, venomous snakes and crocodiles are less likely found in the place.
Beaches, resorts and diving sites are found throughout the island. Because of its underwater ridges and strong currents, it houses various kinds of seawater creatures. Rare kinds of fishes and unique corals either soft or hard are plentiful. May you be a beginner or an experienced diver; you will surely enjoy underwater beauty of the only “Diving Mecca of the South”.
Some resorts offer world-class conveniences in an affordable prices like Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Maribago Blue Water Beach Resort, Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort and Spa and Cebu Hilton Resort and Towers. Smaller beaches and dive sites can be found in the shorelines of the island.
Another attraction of Mactan Island is the new Aquarium, the best place to discover Cebu’s wonderful marine lives. It is the only public aquarium in Visayas and Mindanao.
Cebu’s international airport is situated in Mactan, making it an easy access from other countries like Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia and from other provinces throughout the country.
