Mactan is an island located a few kilometres from Cebu Island in the Philippines. The island is part of Cebu Province and it is divided into Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova. The island is connected to Cebu by the 2 bridges one of which is the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the country’s second busiest airport is situated on Mactan island.
The island was a Muslim resolution before it was colonized by Spain in the 16th century. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan came on the island in 1521 and became involved in tribal warfare among the tribal groups, only to be defeated in battle by the warriors of Datu Lapu-Lapu, one of the chieftains in the island. By 1730, Augustinian friars established the town of Opon, that was later renamed as the city of Lapu-Lapu by means of the Republic Act 3134, signed by Pres. Carlos P. Garcia on June 17, 1961.
Being one of the major tourist Islands of Cebu, Mactan Island boasts of a diverse collection of tourist spots and attractions. Being a coral island, Mactan offers some of the best diving, snorkeling, island hopping, jet ski, sailing and cultural activities of any island in the Philippines.
Map of Mactan
The Mactan Island Aquarium in the Visayas is also located on the island. Mactan Island Aquarium visitor attraction is the first of its kind in the Visayas and the only public aquarium outside of Luzon on all of the 7107 islands of the Philippines. The aquarium museum has been open since October 2008 and has over 30 exhibits showcasing Cebu’s aquatic life from snakes to sharks.
The aquarium has lately completed a transfer from Barangay Basak to Barangay Maribago, still on Mactan Island. The new larger site is between White Sands Resort and EGI City by the Sea Condos.
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