APO ISLAND ADVENTURE FOR NON-DIVERS

APO ISLAND IS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

By Henry Libo-on

Touristang Pobre

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Many years ago, I have been dreaming of visiting Apo Island but the information that I received were all stories that made me think that it was difficult to go there. 

Travelers told me that getting a boat to the island is a big challenge because the boat fare is expensive. That I agreed on the later portion of this Blog.

But one day, I really tried to go there myself and see if all these stories of high prices, difficulty to get a boat ride and finding a place to stay were true. 

On the day of my travel, I found out that those stories depend on how one perceives an expensive boat fare and difficulty of finding a place to stay.

In short, those stories were all not perfectly correct. The solution depends on how much you have in your pocket to spend for all these things. 

My experience was good. Many people have to live, and I spent a few pesos so that others could live. I contributed to world peace, indeed...haha. 

Copyright Photos: Henry Libo-on 

Marine Sanctuary.  I went down to the beach and asked the guy who manned the Guard House if I can have a dip and the answer was in the affirmative.

* * * * * * * 

For a traveler who is on a budget, Apo Island could be your island for the day. For the whole trip, I spend approximately P1,700.00 which included boat fare, hotel, and food. 

If you go to Apo Island to enjoy the beach and the sea, swim with the turtles, and explore the island by foot, then, Apo Island is for you. 

But if you are a scuba diver, then Apo Island becomes a diver's paradise.  With many dive spots to explore, your island adventure becomes a very fulfilling experience. So, wherever you are on this scale, Apo is just for you.

This Holy Week, however, Apo Island is just a perfect place to spend a peaceful holy week moment. There is a chapel which is big enough to accommodate the islanders and visitors as well. The quiet and peace of the island will provide you with a perfect moment of reflection and insights. 

There are beach resorts along the coastal area which offer nice accommodation and serve good food. You can make arrangements online (most beach resorts have their own website) or request the help of the Tourist Information Center upon your arrival on the island.   

How about the boat rental or boat fare to Apo Island?

There must be a basis to compare the boat fare to Apo Island. This writer takes this example from his recent trip to Malapascua Island in Northern Cebu.

The boat ride from Daan Bantayan, Cebu to Malapascua Island is P100.00 only or P200.00 for the round-trip. At Apo Island, their Malatapay Terminal Information Center will charge you, for example, P2,500.00 for a round-trip boat ride to Apo Island.  So, if you are in a group of six (6) persons, each one of you will pay P416.00 (or round it off to P420.00) for a round-trip boat ride which is expensive when compared to Daan Bantayan, Cebu to Malapascua Island which is P200.00 for a round-trip boat ride.  

Travel time from Cebu to Malapascua Island and Malatapay to Apo Island is almost the same, around 25 minutes, more or less.

So, why is Apo Island's boat fare that expensive?

My experience at Malatapay Terminal's sky-rocket cost of boat fare did not sink in until I am done with my Apo Island adventure.  For me, the round-trip boat fare of P400.00 is too expensive.  I wish, the management of the Boat Services at Malatapay-Apo Island, will address this issue and do something to establish a more reasonable boat fare. 

Again, if you are not into scuba diving, you can finish your island adventure in one day if your purpose is to enjoy the beach, the sea, and snorkel with the turtles or climb the highest tip of the island, etcetera and so on and so forth.  Just one day is enough.  Your length of stay on the island may be longer if you are a scuba diver because there are many dive spots to discover. So, Apo Island in a day?  Why not?

Now, before I decided to go to Apo Island, I read from several travel writers that visiting the island requires more time, meaning a few days, and not just one day to be able to enjoy what the island has to offer.  And they were right.

But the moment I set foot on the island; I had memorized the itinerary that I planned to do.  Spending a few minutes on every point of interest, I concluded that I can finish exploring the island in less than 24 hours or in just in half a day. 

Apo is taken from the word "old man".   There is a big rock on the shore of the island that looks like the head of an old man.  I jokingly call it "Datu Bato".  Datu means a chief, a rich man, or a leader of the community.  "Bato" means a rock.  Apo Island is located on the southern tip of Negros Oriental, specifically in the town of Dauin.

Map of Negros Oriental showing Apo Island that is just a small pink dot on the southern tip of Negros Oriental. At the distance is the island of Siquijor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

I spent the afternoon on the beach fronting Datu Bato because I was waiting for the Sunset.  It took a long time for the sun to set that I decided to swim here.  It was fun. 

This 72-hectare island is 7 kilometers away from the mainland Negros Oriental. It is considered as an island formed out of volcanic eruption "eons" of years ago.

The marine habitat around the island is declared as a marine reserve under the NIPA Law or the National Integrated Protected Act and is under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board or PAMB.  (Wikipedia)

As of 1994, the island is listed to have an area of 691 hectares, distributed as follows:

Terrestrial Area  - - -   72  hectares

Marine Areas - - - - -  619 hectares
Total               - - - - -  691 hectares

The island has a population of 918 (Wikipedia+2010 Census). The electricity on the island is available from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Wifi is also limited.  I forgot to bring my Smart Bro so I cannot tell you if it worked on the island.  It is also nice to bring your own food and chips. There is mineral water sold in convenience stores or "sari-sari" stores. As a rule, visitors are not allowed to take out of the island those seashells, stones, and other prohibited items.  There are souvenir shops, however, where you can buy t-shirts, caps, scarves, and other items. 

Apo Island has been famous for scuba diving, snorkeling and nature tripping.

Copyright Photo: Henry Libo-on 

Upon arrival on Apo Island, you have to register at the Tourist Information Center.  The entrance fee is P100.00 per person.  You can also ask their help to find you a hotel or a lodging house. Just ask for more information from them and they can even assign one of their personnel to take you to your chosen lodging house or they can give you the direction where to locate that lodging house. 

There are resort hotels on the island and several lodging houses, dormitories, homestays, and inns.  Dormitories are affordable and clean. You can find this dormitories-type along the main road from the Tourist Reception Center up to the Marine Sanctuary Viewing Area. 

Place To Stay?

Mario Scuba Diving and Homestay, H-H Homestay, Ronor's Homestay, Apo Island Beach Resort, Liberty Lodge and Dive Resort, and a few dormitory type accommodation.

There are also Dive Centers where scuba divers can arrange their diving activities.

Places to see around the island are Marine Sanctuary, Lighthouse, the Rock, rocky but beautiful coastal areas in some parts of the island, a green lake, and a butterfly garden which I think is no longer operational. 

There are several dive spots on the island.  Since I am not into scuba diving, I will just share with you the diving areas that are popular around Apo Island. Actually, I joined a one day orientation on scuba diving at Camp Marina, Cebu. They have a wide swimming pool but that tutorial was not enough to let me go on an "open water dive"...😂 For me, it was not even for Beginner because it was just an orientation. "Para aware ka lang." So, it was up to us if we go on the next "serious" level. Odb?

According to sea-explorers.com, the following dive spots are popular on Apo Island:

• Apo Island Marine Sanctuary and Protected Seascape (Currently under rehabilitation, diving and snorkeling are prohibited at the moment). Located at the southwest part of the island, the protected Marine Sanctuary is one dive site you should not miss. It is home to a lot of clownfish, along with turtles and giant clams. It is home to many fish species, including manta rays, black and white snappers, angelfish, and flounder.
• Coconut Point. The coconut point is located in the northwest part of the island that features different varieties of soft corals. It is famous for its schools of jacks, as well as barracudas, white tip reef sharks, and Vlaming Unicornfish. Because of the strong current in this area, only advanced divers can dive at Coconut Point.
• Chapel’s Point. At the western side of the island is Chapel’s point. Here you will find interesting marine life sightings of various species of corals, sponges, and gorgonian sea fans. Fish species found here include tuna, black and white snappers, and barracuda.
• Rock Point. Rock point is at the southern tip of Apo Island. Water can be rough here, but marine life is also rich and spectacular with rock formations and corals in the area. You can find black and white tip sharks here in Rock Point, as well as moray eels, Picasso triggerfish, and black and white snappers.
• Mamsa Point. Mamsa Point is found at the eastern side of Apo Island. You will find varieties of jacks in the area, where the diving site got its name from. Mamsa is the local term for jacks. Aside from jacks, you will also see different types of groupers, lionfish, scorpionfish, as well as black and white tip reef sharks. (source: sea-explorers.com)

Exploring the island is also a rewarding experience. I trek the path to the Marine Sanctuary Overlook which is located on the southern part of the island.  I failed, however, to reach the Lighthouse, which is located on the northern part of the island. Maybe, I will do it next time. 

Source of Map:  Negros Oriental Tourism, negrostourism.com  (Sorry for this not so clear photo of a map of Apo Island.)

This is considered as the main road that links the Tourist Information Center to the Marine Sanctuary Viewing - Lookout Area up to the beach near the Marine Sanctuary and the dormitories, and homestays.  

An affordable price of a meal can be ordered here. 

Copyright Photos: Henry Libo-on

Since no one can tell me, including the other tourists who went to see this beach, about the exact name of this small lake, I will call it the Green Lake.  It is located near the Marine Sanctuary. According to lakescientist.com the green color of this body of water (in this picture) is influenced by algal growth and the high concentrations of chlorophyll-containing algae.  This green coloring can also mean that this lake is eutrophic - meaning, there is a presence of rich minerals and nutrients that cause algal blooms that cause depletion in oxygen level. So, this explains why the color of this little lake is green.  (Source: lakescientist.com)

This type of rock formation attracts my attention.  It looked like lava that flowed during a volcanic eruption and was cooled and hardened through eons of time ago. 

 Watching the turtles or locally known as "pawikan" begins at 6:00 a.m. up to about 3:00 p.m.  When I head back to the viewing area for turtles which is located just a few meters from the Tourist Information Center, the turtles were gone.  Did they head back to the sea before the sun sets?  Perhaps.  Where else will they go, anyway? 

This is the boat named Pluto that brought the tourists to the island.  The same boat will take them to Malatapay Boat Terminal at Dauin, Negros Oriental.  Just coordinate with Mila at the Malatapay Tourist Registration Center for your round-trip boat service. 

These rock formations amaze me.  I can imagine that these are molten lava produced by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. 

As I head home, a view of Kanla-on Volcano at a distance is a welcoming sight as our boat reaches the shores of Malatapay. 

Our boat is about to dock at Malatapay Terminal.

A closer look at this time. 

And I am back at the Malatapay Terminal Information Center.  

Tourists arriving from Apo Island.  I took this picture to show you how the Malatapay Terminal looks like. 

How To Get To Apo Island

Your trip to Apo Island begins at Dumaguete City.  Take a Ceres Bus at their Terminal in Dumaguete City and ride the bus going to Bayawan.  Tell the conductor that you will be going down the Malatapay Market.  From there, just take a walk to the Malatapay Boat Terminal for Apo Island.   

At the Malatapay Terminal Information Center, sign the registration form for tourists going to Apo Island.  The in-charge, Ms. Mila will arrange for a boat that will take you to Apo.  

There is no ATM or Cebuana Lhuillier on Apo.  So bring enough "datung" for your expenses.  

I also advise you to bring extra bottled water although there are stores that sell mineral water.  

Do not forget to bring your own maintenance medicine, a small first aid kit, sunblock, shade, extra battery for your camera, charger, and power pack, among others if you want to stay longer. 

WHAT TO DO ON APO ISLAND?

• Scuba Diving.
• Snorkeling.
• Swimming.
• Sea Turtle Watching.
• Trek to the Lighthouse.
• Trek to the Viewing Area at Marine Sanctuary.
• Island Tour.
• Yoga and Meditation.
• Photography.
• Family Bonding.
• Buy souvenir items like caps, shirts, and scarf, among others. (Tourists are not allowed to take out of the island items like seashells, stones, rocks, and others).
• Nature tripping - observing those existing flora and fauna on the island.
• Buy fish from the locals and experience cooking your own food at your lodging house's kitchen.
• Visit local schools.
• Pray inside the church
• Roam around to check on the island's water supply.
• Have coffee in one of the stores along the beach and interact with the locals.
• Interact with the boatmen and check their Boat Schedule from Apo Island to Malatapay Boat Terminal. Most boatmen congregate in the vicinity of the Tourist Information Center. 
• Other activities your imagination desires. 

                                                      * * * *  * * * * * * * * * *

This ends my blog on Apo Island. Did you find this informative?  If you do, please LIKE our Facebook Page and SHARE this story too.  Thank you. 

You can also visit my blog about SIQUIJOR here on this link - SIQUIJOR ISLAND PART 1 - PEACE & QUIET BEYOND COMPARE - Touristang Pobre

You can also find stories of my island adventures at the following islands:  Nogas Island in Antique; Camotes Islands in Cebu, Malapascua Island, Cebu; Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte; Sipaway Island in San Carlos City, Suyac Island in Sagay City, all in the Province of Negros Occidental, Samal Island in Davao del Norte.


All photos by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre.

Updated on June 5, 2018.
Updated on April 4, 2019.

Reviewed on July 14, 2021.
Reviewed on April 30, 2023.