Is Moalboal safe?
Safe and small. Boat safety, dive accidents and scooter crashes are bigger risks than crime; basic medical care only.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-07.
- Homicide rate in Philippines: 4.3 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Philippines: 12.0 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: All emergencies 911.
Safety in Moalboal at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Occasional theft of phones and cash from beach bags and rooms; violent crime is rare. |
| At night | Quiet after about 10 pm with a few bars on Panagsama. The coastal road is unlit; walk in groups or take a tricycle. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Watch drinks at bars and avoid isolated stretches of coast alone at night. |
| Other risks | Sea urchins and reef cuts on the shore; Flash floods at Kawasan Falls after rain; Scooter crashes on the coastal highway |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Canyoneering touts quoting inflated prices for Kawasan Falls tours
- Tricycle drivers charging tourist rates for short hops
- Dive operators without proper certification or equipment checks
Take care
- Drive on the highway at night: trucks, buses and no lighting
- Rocky Panagsama shoreline: sea urchins and slippery entries
- Canyoneering after heavy rain: flash flood risk
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Smoking and vaping in public places are banned in many cities, with fines
- Drug laws are harsh; even small amounts can mean long detention
How Moalboal compares in Philippines
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Boracay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palawan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| El Nido | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Siargao | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Coron | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bohol | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Panglao | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Makati | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Moalboal | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Baguio | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| La Union | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Davao | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dumaguete | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Siquijor | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puerto Galera | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Malapascua | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Port Barton | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tagaytay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sagada | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Banaue | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Vigan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Iloilo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| BGC | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bantayan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manila | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cebu | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Angeles City | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Moalboal safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Watch drinks at bars and avoid isolated stretches of coast alone at night.
Is Moalboal safe at night?
Quiet after about 10 pm with a few bars on Panagsama. The coastal road is unlit; walk in groups or take a tricycle.
What is the crime rate in Moalboal?
Occasional theft of phones and cash from beach bags and rooms; violent crime is rare. Nationally, Philippines records 4.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Moalboal?
All emergencies 911.
More about Moalboal
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Cebu Provincial Government tourism
- Department of Tourism
- Ceres Liner
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.