Creating precious memories with your child is always a priceless experience. One of the best ways to do this is by taking them out on travels and exploring new places. Recently, my son and I visited Cebu Ocean Park and it was our first ocean park experience. I must say, it was an amazing and unforgettable adventure. We explored different sea creatures, watched fascinating shows, and enjoyed a lot of fun activities. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves aquatic life and wants to have a great time.
The Cebu Ocean Park and Events Center is the first marine-themed Park in Cebu City, Philippines. Cebu Ocean Park is located in Sm Seaside Complex, F. Vestil St., Cebu City, Philippines. It is my first time to visit Cebu Ocean Park and I am delighted I get to experience this with my son. He is turning nine soon on the 29th of November and this is one of my birthday gifts for my son, Jacob.
We took the mybus from SM in Cebu City to get to the SM Seaside for the regular fare of 30 pesos. If you're a student, you can get a discount of 24 pesos by presenting your student identification card. There were four of us. Me, my beau, my brother and my son. We paid two regular fares and two student-discounted fares. The bus ride took around 20 to 30 minutes, but how long your ride will be depending on the traffic situation. We enjoyed the ride because the bus was very convenient and spacious, like the ones you see in international movies. This was my first time visiting the SM seaside, so I'm really excited. The Cebu Ocean Park is located just across SM Seaside.
SM Seaside Cebu City, Philippines
Cebu City has two SM malls, one in Mabolo, Cebu and the other in South Road Properties, Cebu. SM malls are known for their gigantic size and wide store offerings. Across the SM Seaside mall is the Cebu Ocean Park. We walked with excitement and anticipation, looking forward to our first Cebu Ocean Park experience. From SM Seaside, it is just a five-minute walk heading to Cebu Ocean Park.
Cebu Ocean Park
The Cebu Ocean Park’s exterior is impressive in size, with a clear and easy-to-spot sign out front. It's a popular destination for both local and international tourists. While it's quite a distance from Cebu City proper, it's easily accessible if you have a vehicle. If you're commuting, a bus ride from SM Cebu Mabolo to SM Seaside is a more economical option than taking a taxi.
As you enter, the Cebu Ocean Park rules and regulations will welcome you at entrance. Do take note of the prohibited items inside the park. We purchased our tickets worth 600 pesos each for the four of us, totaling to 2400 pesos. Tickets were sold at 600 pesos each because we went here on a weekday. I am unsure what the prices are during weekends so just visit their page. I was disappointed that they did not offer any discounts for students or children, but the 600-peso entrance fee was worth it. If you're looking for a fun activity with family or friends, this is the perfect place to go. You'll be amazed by the beautiful creature inside Cebu Ocean Park, making you appreciate the underwater world's beauty.
We got four tickets for 2,400 pesos.
We went here on a Thursday.
If you want to witness some highlights of the Cebu Ocean Park, here is the schedule:
If you want to experience Underwater Dining, the Cebu Ocean Park never fails to provide the best underwater dining experience and these are the prices.
Check out the Cebu Ocean Park map. There are plenty of activities to enjoy here, making it an ideal destination for families with children. My son is turning nine soon and is always curious about the world around him. I'm excited to bring him here to see all the amazing animals and underwater creatures up close for the first time. It's sure to be an unforgettable experience.
My son and my brother struck a pose at the Cebu Ocean Park as they are excited to explore the place.
At the main entrance, a sign welcomes visitors to start their journey through Cebu Ocean Park. My experience there was truly amazing and not just because of the hype on social media. The park is a great place for taking photos and striking poses, but it's also an educational and informative journey. I saw things I never imagined seeing except on the Discovery Channel.
The first thing you will ever see is the yearling crocodile. When my son first saw it, he could not believe his eyes. He could only imagine what crocodiles could do in movies. He was scared and amazed all at the same time. I could not blame him if he would be scared. Imagine what would happen if a crocodile were furious, but during this time, the crocodile was just perhaps sleeping because it was not moving. My son was amazed on the 1st stop we have seen. There will surely be a lot more as we walk into the park.
I really appreciate how Cebu Ocean Park displays their animals and reptiles. They not only showcase them but also provide useful information such as the species, height, weight, and a brief description of the animal. This is particularly helpful for visitors who may not be familiar with the animals they are viewing.
As you wander around Cebu Ocean Park, you'll be greeted by a stunning view of trees and plants, creating a jungle-like atmosphere. One of the most exciting things about exploring the park is the unexpected highlights you'll come across at every turn. You never know what to expect, but one thing is certain: the beauty of the park is always impressive and never fails to make you feel at home. Cebu Ocean Park is among the top-rated tourist attractions in Cebu City, the Philippines.
My son and my brother struck a pose in front of this aquarium filled with blood-red parrot chichlid. My son was amazed to see all the fishes.
The park offers a jungle experience with black scenery and animals like monkeys. Cebu Ocean Park adds life to the jungle experience, which is especially enjoyable for kids. It is a great place to visit for those who want to explore and discover. The park is truly amazing and filled with awe-inspiring sights.
This aquarium is home to a variety of fish, called the Archer fish. While they are often caught for food, they can also make great pets if you're interested. However, if you're not interested in keeping them, it's best to release them back into the sea.
Here is another aquarium filled with Albino Iridescent Shark, Snake Head or Dalag, Giant Albino Gouram and the Ocellate River Stingray. The boys were so thrilled being able to witness the different varieties of fishes.
My brother struck a pose at an aquarium filled with the Mekong Giant Catfish, the Giant Arapaima, the Alligator Gar, the Redtail Catfish and the Highfin Catfish. My brother mentioned he will indeed post these photos on his social media account. Why not?
Here is another aquarium filled with the fahaka puffer.
Here is another aquarium filled with Colored Tetra and Emperor Blue. It is my first time to see these breeds of fishes and I am really amazed.
We have seen this iguana up close and personal. The man told us the dos and don'ts of handling the iguana. We can touch it, but we cannot carry it, and most of all, we cannot take photos of it with flashes on. My son was amazed to see this iguana, but he did not touch it because he was afraid. Meanwhile, my brother enjoyed the moment, feeling the skin of this iguana.
The design inside Cebu Ocean Park left me in awe. It greatly resembles my favorite video game, Zuma Deluxe. I remember playing this arcade game where colored balls are released and you have to match them to score points. Only kids from the 90s could relate to this game. It became popular in the 2000s, and seeing this structure brought back nostalgic memories of those good old days.
The Pacman Frog
American Bullfrog
At Cebu Ocean Park, you can spot a variety of frog species. What's great about this place is that it doesn't limit the focus to aquatic creatures only, but also showcases other animals and reptiles. My son was thrilled to see the diverse range of frogs that he had only watched on Discovery Channel.
Here is an aquarium with the leopard gecko who hid himself when we came to see him.
The boys watched a variety of arachnids and my son was at so much awe that he never thought there is diffenitely a lot of them.
Wait there's more…
These are some of the animals you will see during this stop.
Welcome to the SNAKES corner where you will definitely see a lot of varieties of snakes. My son was at awe to see all the snakes inside the aquariums. I could not help it but felt scared. I have an ophidiophobia and I just can’t manage to be in the place for so long we just took places and continued walking to discover more of what Cebu Ocean Park could offer.
Heading up the Cebu Ocean Park will be less hassle because they have an escalator available.
We then went to the BIRDS area. Here are some of the birds we encountered.
We found more and more rooms filled with aquariums, and each room has a lot of surprise elements because you will never know what you will see, but one thing is for sure: it will always give you the surprise and thrill you're looking for. Every aquarium is filled with so much fish here! My son and my brother is striking a pose in the aquarium where there are fishes, like those in the movie Finding Nemo.
There is also a fish spa available at Cebu Ocean Park.
We then headed to the OCEANARIUM.
I've noticed many photos on social media showcasing the oceanarium here in Cebu Ocean Park and it's piqued my interest. Seeing the experiences others have had through their photos and videos has made me excited to visit this place myself, as it seems like one of the best destinations around. And finally, here we are.
On the third photo, I am holding the hard copy of the photos we had earlier here at the Cebu Ocean Park, At each station, you can find photographers who can take your photo, but it's optional. They charge 300 pesos for the small size and 500 pesos for the large size, and you'll get a hard copy. You can also get a QR code to download the soft copies later. It's a bit expensive, but it's a nice souvenir. If you prefer to take your own photos, use your phone instead of a camera with a flash. Keep in mind that some wildlife cannot be photographed with flash, so always be respectful and mindful of that.
The view from this restaurant inside Cebu Ocean Park, Cebu City, Philippines is truly breathtaking. You can find the prices of their food on the first part of this blog, along with the prices for their fine dining per head and ala carte meals. It's worth checking out the prices so you can budget accordingly if you plan to dine here. The best part of the view was seeing the fish being fed, which provided a unique experience while enjoying your meal. I can't wait to come back and dine here again.
This is their souvenir shop and there are definitely a lot of gifts to buy here.
I had an amazing experience at Cebu Ocean Park - Cebu City, Philippines and would rate it a perfect 10 out of 10. I'm already looking forward to my next visit and plan to dine at their restaurant. Whether you have kids or just want to explore the underwater world, this is the best place to go. It's an unforgettable experience that's definitely worth it. As a mother, creating good memories and fun experiences for my child is important to me. I want him to remember the beauty of the world we live in.
Can’t wait to go on more adventures. Ciao!☺︎♡
