Aloguinsan sits on the south-western coast of Cebu, roughly two hours from Cebu City, and is one of the few Philippine communities officially recognised as a Best Tourism Village by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The Hermit's Cove and Bojo River Eco Tour combines two of the municipality's landmark stops into a single day: Hermit's Cove for swimming and snorkelling in clear coastal water, and Bojo River for a community-run mangrove cruise that has earned Aloguinsan a place on the Top 100 Sustainable Destinations list among other tourism awards.
The tour is operated through the Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (BAETAS), the community-based cooperative that runs the river cruise and manages the ecosystem around the mangrove-lined waterway. The format keeps the experience grounded in the local community rather than positioned as a standard boat outing, with the set-menu lunch served on the cruise using regional Cebuano ingredients.
Highlights
- Hermit's Cove Swimming and Snorkelling: The morning opens at Hermit's Cove, one of the more secluded coastal stops in Southern Cebu, with clear water for swimming and snorkelling in a quiet setting away from the more crowded resort strips. Open time at the cove gives guests unhurried access to the water before the second segment begins.
- Bojo River Community-Based Cruise: Bojo River is a mangrove-lined waterway managed by the local community through BAETAS. The cruise moves through the mangrove ecosystem with local paddlers and guides, and the format has earned Aloguinsan international recognition as a model for community-based ecotourism in the Philippines.
- UNWTO Best Tourism Village Status: Aloguinsan is one of a small number of Philippine destinations recognised as a Best Tourism Village by the UN World Tourism Organization, alongside its Top 100 Sustainable Destinations listing. The recognition anchors the tour in a verifiable sustainability credential that speaks directly to responsible-travel clients.
- River Cruise Set-Menu Lunch: Lunch is served on the river cruise as a set menu, using regional Cebuano ingredients and prepared by the community-run cooperative. The meal is the day's midpoint anchor and gives the cultural exchange a domestic dimension beyond the guided sightseeing.
