ISLAND TOURS

 ISLAND TOURS

Introduction

Today, we will feature a few islands that are near where you are in this part of the Philippines, the Central Visayas. 

With the introduction of cheap airfares and "Promo" by several means of transportations such as airplanes, and ships, travelers and tourists had choices on how to go to popular tourist spots all over the country. There are tour packages too that serve the travel needs of the travelers.

Now, let's feature a few of the islands that are frequently traveled by local and international tourists. Islands that are within Visayas in central Philippines.

Let's begin with the most popular travel destinations in the Philippines where this travel writer had visited in the past. 

1. BORACAY ISLAND is 0.8 kilometers off the northwest point of Panay Island, in the Province of Aklan. 

All photos by Henry of Touristang Pobre. 

The most common scenes on the island of Boracay. 

Photos are subject to copyright. 

TP and friends had dinner at Red Coconut Beach Hotel. The ambience is so relaxing, and the food is great. 

All photos by Henry of Touristang Pobre.

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While on Boracay Island, TP stayed in one of the popular hotels on the island, the Red Coconut Beach Hotel. It is located a few meters from the beachfront known as the white beach. Red Coconut has modern hotel rooms, a bar and restaurant, a swimming pool and friendly hotel staff. 

You can book your hotel, transportation needs, and other requests direct to Red Coconut Beach Hotel through this link - Red Coconut Beach Hotel

From the port, you can take the Tricycle to the hotel. Fare starts from P25 per person (2023) and P150 for the e-tricycle (good for 4-6 pax). If there are changes in the transportation fare, so to speak, it will be minimal. 

Boracay Island is accessible by boat and Fast craft from the Caticlan Jetty. There are regular flights from Manila, Cebu, and other airport in the Philippines. Your entry point is the Caticlan International Airport also known as Godofredo P. Ramos Airport or Boracay Airport.

For more information about traveling to Boracay Island, please visit this link - 2024 BORACAY TRAVEL GUIDE with Requirements, Sample Itinerary & Budget | The Poor Traveler Itinerary Blog

Once again, thank you Red Coconut.  

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2.  Malapascua Island, Cebu.

Malapascua is a small island off the northernmost part of Cebu Province. It is 2.5 by 1 km. big (Wikipedia). It is part of Daanbantayan Township. 

The island is known for its exotic dive sites where you can have a face-to-face encounter with the Thresher sharks. Hmm, your dive instructor will brief you on how to handle your encounter with the Thresher sharks. 

How to go there? Let's agree that you are from Cebu City, so the best way to reach Malapascua is by renting a Van, taxi, or take the bus from Cebu Northbound Bus Terminal. This mode of land transport will take you to Daanbantayan Port also known as Maya Port. There, the Outrigger Boats will take you the island. Travel time is around half an hour. When I traveled there, the boat fare was P100.00 one way. There are boats that leaves Malapascua Island for Daanbantayan Port, Cebu. Just check the schedule upon arrival at the port.

There are many resort hotels on the island as well as bars and restaurants. Nightlife on Malapasuca is also exciting. The island has become an international community with many foreigners both tourists and hotel resort operators living on the island. There are Dive Centers to help you with your scuba diving needs. One is shown here - the Thresher Shark Divers. All scuba - dive centers are PADI members. 

An example is Sea Explorers Malapascua. If you are interested to have a Diving Lesson, please go to this link - Sea Explorers Malapascua | Malapascua | PADI Dive Center

Scuba diving is really a very interesting hobby. A bit expensive, yes. I attended a one-day private tutorial/lesson many moons ago. The venue? Swimming Pool at Camp Marina Hills, Cebu. Hmmm, for Boy Scouts of the Philippines. At least, I'm aware, period...haha...

There are also Boats for rent if you want to go island hopping in nearby Kalanggaman Island off Leyte Island. The boat will provide you with meals and time to scuba dive there. The boat has toilet. Just in case, lol.

This is a temporary ticketing area on Daanbantayan or Maya Port.

When I left Cebu, a new Maya Port has been constructed nearby. 

The Drivers can help you regarding the new location. 

Now, TP is onboard the Outrigger Boat on the way to Malapascua.

You can see from the distance the Bounty Beach, your entry point to the island. You can also see the cell site or cellphone tower. 

Photos by Henry of Touristang Pobre.

This is the Bounty Beach.

This is the Mabuhay Bar & Restaurant where I had lunch. 

I had a funny experience here. I ran out of pesoses, so I paid in U.S. dollars. 

Pwede rin, odb? 

This road leads you to where more hotels, beach resorts are located.

Located on Bounty Beach, Blue Corals Beach Resort offers 2-star hotel accommodations.

Tourists rated it as 8.0 Very Good, and 9.5 according to booking dot com.

You can also communicate with the Blue Corals Beach Hotel through this link -Blue Corals - Blue Corals Beach Resort (malapascuaisland.com.ph) 

Photos by Henry of Touristang Pobre. 

You don't have enough time to visit the island while in Cebu? Well, you can do a one-day tour of the Malapascua Island by visiting the places around Bounty Beach only. That means you have to start early. I suggest, be at the Maya Port early in the morning, catch the Outrigger Boat to the island and immediately start your island tour. 

After this, you can go back to the Bounty Beach port area and catch the afternoon boat ride to Maya Port, Daanbantayan, Cebu. In my experience, I asked the locals regarding the boat schedule for Maya Port. They told me that there was a boat that will sail by 2pm. I took that and from Maya Port, I traveled to Cebu City, arriving there at around 6pm. 

The next day, I took a Cebu Pacific plane to Siargao Island. 

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3. SIARGAO ISLAND

The island is located 196 kilometers Southeast of Tacloban City, Leyte and 1.5-to-2-hour boat ride from the Surigao City in Mindanao. Siargao is a tear shaped island in the Philippine Sea. Meaning, the island is facing the vast Pacific Ocean. 

The island is famous as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. It is also the location of the International Surfing Competition that is held by the end of September up to the first week of October. 

Siargao is also famous for its island hopping where the best of nature is available for the tourists and adventurers to explore. Islands like - Dacu Island, Guyam Island - Gamay Island (Gamay - Diuts, lol.), and Naked Island. 

Siargao Island is also famous because of Sohoton Lagoon, Tayangban Cave and Hagukan Cave. The island is also, interestingly, popular because of the presence of Cenotes like the Kantoloi Cenotes. Wikipedia defines cenotes as "surface connections to subterranean bodies of water". 

My comment: 

"Ang cenotes are mostly round body of water nga pwerte ka dalum, let us say, 100 meters deep" I visited a Cenote in Mexico, it is called Selva Maya Cenote. It located in the middle of a "hacienda". I will check if I have a photo of this Cenote. Thanks.

Here's an example of a Cenote. 

This one is located in Selva Maya, Yucatan Peninsula,

Mexico.

Photos by Henry, Touristang Pobre. 

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Now, back to Siargao Island. The question is - how to get there? 

Let's agree that you came from Cebu. There are regular flights to Siargao's Sayak Domestic Airport. It is located in Barangay Sayak, Municipality of Del Carmen, Siargao Island. Shown here.

Hereunder, are photos of spots mostly visited by tourists.

TP is shown here on the beach of Siargao Island. 

 

One of the luxury hotels on Siargao Island. 

There are so many hotel resorts on Siargao Island that can fit your budget. 

TP is taking a break after the island tour.

This iconic Cloud 9 Viewing Deck was damaged by the typhoon Odette that caused so much havoc all over Siargao. The Provincial Government and the Local Government constructed a new viewing deck a few years ago. The sea that you see, hmmm, "daw naga rhyme", is where Surfing lessons are held daily. A lesson will cost you around P500.00 at the time of my visit. 

TP appreciates this part of Siargao. White beach looks nice.

TP interviewed two surfers from Portugal and Spain. 

The view is so relaxing. TP's hotel is located nearby, along the Tourism Road, Siargao's main road. 

There are many hotels and resorts on Siargao Island. Most hotel accommodations, bar and restaurants are owned by expats thus making the Siargao Island an international community. 

Other than its famous Cloud 9 surfing area on the town of GL or General Luna. The island is also popular among the Netizens because of its Afam Bridge or Catangnan Bridge where foreigners and local tourists gather to watch the Sunset, and I think to watch the Boys and the Girls go by, odb? Balibad pa sila, lol. 

Of course, look for Afam or "A Foreigner Assigned to Manila". Afam also means - A Foreigner Assigned in the Philippines. "Mangita ta Afam", as the girls would say. 

Afam Bridge originally named Catangnan Bridge by the DPWH is in Siargao Island. 

Source: GMA Public Affairs and Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho YouTube Channel.

Disclaimer: We do not own this video. It belongs to the rightful owners - GMA Public Affairs by KMJS. Thanks. 

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4. SAMAL ISLAND - CALICLIC RESORT

It was the Kadayawan Festival in Davao at that time of this travel. I took this opportunity to visit Samal Island, specifically the less published area such as this Caliclic Resort. It is less published, but it is frequented by the residents of Davao City because it is very accessible to the city, and it is affordable. 

From Davao City, my team from Davao Blackhawk Motorbike Association composed of Jehan and Johnny, took the RoRo from Sasa Wharf or Port in Davao City to Babak Wharf in Samal Island. 

While on Samal Island, we had a short road trip of the national highway of Samal Island after which we visited the Caliclic Beach Resort to rest for a while. 

This beach is clean, and it is good to swim in the sea.

 I had a Tattoo from this expert tattoo artist who just arrived from Siargao Island. 

While in Davao City, I moved around to experience the Kadayawan Festival. The photo above shows the Kadayawan Dancers in their beautiful costumes. 

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 I also bought some souvenir bracelets from this T'Boli woman in her colorful tribal attire. 

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Finally, these four islands are what I considered as a "must visit" should you have the time in the future. But there are other islands which are accessible for you to visit once you are in Cebu City. 

Thank you. 

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Wait, wait, you can visit these links for more of our island tours. Grazie, Xie Xie, Spasiba, Arigato, Thank you, Salamat, Gracias, Shukran, Merci', and all. 

1. CAMOTES ISLAND - Touristang Pobre

2. SIPAWAY ISLAND - Touristang Pobre

3. APO ISLAND ADVENTURE FOR NON-DIVERS - Touristang Pobre

4. TRAVEL GUIDE: SUYAC ISLAND PHILIPPINES - Touristang Pobre

5. SIQUIJOR ISLAND GUIDE - MEETING THE REAL "MANANAMBAL" - Touristang Pobre

6. MY ISLAND FOR A DAY - NOGAS ANTIQUE PHILIPPINES - Touristang Pobre

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August 17, 2024

By Henry, Touristang Pobre.