After my vacation in El Nido last year: I’ve never been more passionate with the sea-life. The El Nido waters had me in amazement that there’s a need in me to travel more places with awesome beaches and coral reefs.
I live in Cebu and there’s no way that I was never going to try and visit Apo Island.
Apo Island is a volcanic island located south of Negros Oriental; 30 kilometers from Dumaguete City. It’s famous for its marine sanctuaries and sea turtles. And with that, the island is presently famous for diving and snorkeling; easy and difficult levels alike.
In this post, I will help you achieve a 2 day itinerary in a very detailed way. In our case, we traveled on Saturday morning and went home Sunday evening.
PART 1: INFORMATION
I. TRANSPORTATION
You can either book a direct flight to Dumaguete City or if you’re in Cebu, you can follow these:
DIRECT BUS ROUTE – P215.00 (bus) + P70.00 (ferry)
TIP: Direct route busses from Cebu-Dumaguete starts at 4:00AM and last trip at 5:00PM with a 2 hour gap.
TIP: Total travel time is 6 hours.
TIP: This is the least hassle for bus transports but a bit longer.
1.) Go to South Bus Terminal.
2.) Ride a DUMAGUETE VIA BATO-OSLOB Ceres Liner bus.
3.) You will arrive at Bato, Samboan port that has ferry going to Dumaguete.
4.) Go out of the bus and ride the ferry that is waiting.
5.) A person will come near passengers to ask for payment.
6.) Travel time is 45 minutes.
7.) When you arrive at Tampi Port, go back to the same bus that came with the ferry.
8.) And continue on with the trip going to Ceres Terminal that’s in the heart of Dumaguete City.
TIP: In going back, go to Ceres Bus Terminal, Dumaguete and ride a bus going to Cebu with the same time slots. Only after the 5:00PM trip, the last trip for bus & ferry to Cebu is 11:30PM.
TIP: If you take the 11:30PM LAST TRIP going back to Cebu, the registration at Ceres Terminal would be until 6:00PM.
CEBU – LILO-AN PORT – DUMAGUETE – P175.00 (air-con bus to Lilo-an port) + P62.00 (Fast craft ferry) ++
TIP: This is a cheaper method. You could save up to P30.00 than the Direct Bus Route method. But I’m not sure if this is the faster one considering the wait time of the ferry. But most people say this is faster.
1.) Go to South Bus Terminal
2.) Ride a BATO VIA LILO-AN bus.
3.) You will arrive at Lilo-an, Santander port that has a fast craft going to Dumaguete.
4.) Buy ticket in their port and wait for the next ferry.
5.) Travel time for fast craft is 20 minutes.
6.) When you arrive, go out of Sibulan port and wait outside for a jeepney or a bus going to Dumaguete City.
7.) Fare depends: Jeepney is P10.00 and bus is P20.00.
TIP: In going back, ride a jeepney/bus at Dumaguete Public Market going to Sibulan Port. Fare is still the same for jeepney and busses. Then buy a ferry ticket.
TIP: Last trip is 8:00PM.
TIP: But note this. This transport method is quite a hassle especially on peak seasons that have passengers racing towards the next bus ride at Lilo-an Port. I had my fair share of binalahura-ay ways (brutish ways) with other passengers so my friends and I can have a comfortable seat.
DIRECT FAST CRAFT
Cebu-Dumaguete
(Cockaliong Shipping) – P320.00 to P2,500.00
(Oceanjet Cebu-Tagbilaran-Dumaguete-Siquijor) – P800.00 to P1,000.00.
TIP: I’m really not sure with this method since it is not popular and you have to call the shipping lines for the correct information. For inquiries visit Cokaliong Shipping and Oceanjet’sFacebook page.
II. THE APO ISLAND TOUR
I learned that Apo Island is quite difficult to achieve if you’re not in a group of 4, 8 or more, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. It’s because of the cost you need to pay for the outrigger boat that will take you to and fro, and other fees at the island itself. Here are the fees you need to know in going to Apo Island.
Bus from Dumaguete City to Malatapay Market (port to Apo Island): P26.00 (non-aircon)/P50.00 (aircon)
Outrigger Boats (back & forth):
P2,000.00 – 4 people
P3,000.00 – 8 people READ PART 3 – DAY 2 ABOUT THIS FEE
TIP: You could book outrigger boats days ahead of your tour so that when you arrive at the port, all you need to tell the people in charge is that you’ve already booked and the name of your contact. Here are the contact numbers you can call: 09263658260 or 09066735795.
TIP: Overnight stay in the island cost twice or more for outrigger boats up to P9,000.00.
TIP: If you’re alone or there are only 2 of you, you could ask other tourists if they have slots so you won’t have to pay for the entire boat yourself.
III. ACCOMODATION
You can either have a whole day tour or do an overnight stay if you wish. But if you chose to have a whole day tour, you need to start 8:00AM up to 3 or 4:00PM.
I asked my friends if they wanted to go on an overnight tour at the island to which the cons are: water is scarce, electricity is timed up until to 8:00PM only, and resorts have steep prices (although there are now house owners that have rooms for rent, but not a lot); and they told me that it would be better if we just stay in Dumaguete City, to tour the city as well.
So I looked for places to stay and the most popular is Harolds Mansion. It is famous because it has the most economical rates yet satisfactory rooms of all.
I will just redirect you to their OWN website since they are the most sincere in hotel & lodging business of all affordable hotels: http://haroldsmansion.com/rooms/
The con in Harolds Mansion is that their Dorms (costing for about P250.00 ONLY!) are only for walk-in customers. It would’ve been nice if they allow advanced booking.
TIP: Book ahead! Harolds Mansion’s rooms are fully booked on peak seasons (summer).
Anyway, since Harolds Mansion was not available, I contacted other affordable hotels (note that I only called for the cheaper rates in these hotels, and most of them have no breakfast that I aimed since we really cannot have breakfast before 6:00AM with our itinerary):
1.) Gazebo Pensionne
Located at Cervantes St, Dumaguete, 6200 Negros Oriental
Contact No: (035) 225-0579 or 522-0267
P1,400.00 for 4pax
P850.00 for 2pax (P150.00 for extra person)
2.) Pamela Pensionne
Located at Hibbard Ave, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental
Contact No: (035) 421-0783
P650.00 for 2pax (P150.00 for extra person)
3.) OK Pensionne
Located at Santa Rosa Street, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
Contact No: (035) 225-5925 or 225-5702 or 225-5703
P1,320.00 for 4pax
4.) Vintage Inn
Located at Ligaspi St. / Surban St., Dumaguete
Contact No: (035) 225-1076 or 422-9106 or 422-8822
P750.00 for 2pax (P150.00 for extra person with bed)
Since most of these hotels aren’t responsive to my calls, texts or even Facebook chats (I don’t even know why they’re still in hotel business), we went with Vintage Inn who was the most responsive of all, and also the cheaper (because Pamela Pensionne did not have nice reviews, although I have to talk about Vintage Inn later on in Part 3 as well).
We were eight (8) when we stayed there, so we booked 3 rooms; 2 of which had additional persons in total of P2,550.00 divided by 8pax, so we paid P319.00/pax. Not bad.
Photo Credit: Kopilychee.com
All of the hotels mentioned are accessible via tricycle from Ceres Bus Terminal for P8.00.
But if you’re looking for one: they say go to Sagada. Well, that’s what the movie That Thing Called ‘Tadhana’ says and what embittered souls believe.
Besides that ridiculous hopeless romantic notion: Sagada is a town of Mt. Province in Luzon. It’s in the northern part to where crops and coffee beans are sourced by businesses, not just in Luzon but in the entire Philippines as well. Sagada Province is almost 500km from the metropolis Manila. Usually it’s a 9 hour drive from the city by a private car.
I got the chance to visit the wonders of Sagada and even the insanely popular belief that Sagada is a retreat only for the broken hearted: it could also be for family, friends and those who are in love.
PART 1: INFORMATION
I. AIRFARE TICKETS
In going to Sagada: you have to book a flight to Manila, Philippines whether it’s in NAIA or Clark, it all depends on what your itinerary is. You could either backpack or hire an agency to do all the work for you. (Tours usually pick you up in NAIA, MOA or Trinoma but seldom in Clark, Pampanga)
TIP: Sagada and Ilocos tours are usually from Fridays-Sundays for JOINERS*. So I suggest book your flights on a Thursday to Monday. (*JOINERS – tours that join groups if the number of pax is below 12/14 in 1 van)
TIP: If you have a complete 12 OR 14 pax (depending on the tour agency), you can request a private tour instead for a cheaper price.
We got our tickets from Cebu to Manila for only P900.00 rountrip in Cebu Pacific’s LAST Piso fare promo last 2015 (they don’t offer Piso Fare promos anymore because of the eliminated fuel surcharge). And that P900.00 is already a great deal since usually it ranges from P1,000.00 to P7,000.00 on non-sale days.
II. SAGADA TOURS
Sagada is difficult to backpack due to the remoteness of the place. It’s a 9-hour non-stop drive from Manila (via agency tours), to where roads are treacherous.
The usual transportation to Sagada is via Bus which can take up to 15 hours of travel from the city and a real pain in the ass… literally. But then, who am I to stop you if you’re up to the DIY challenge? Just a caution: most accidents happened with busses because drivers tend to be reckless and fast.
But you can always have your vacation in a safer way, which is to hire an agency that offers Sagada tours. Most of the tours include the tourist spots, accommodation and van transfers.
We got our Sagada Tour for 3D2N at ByaheNiJuan Travels for the lowest price of P2,580.00 compared to other travel agencies that range from P2,900.00 – P3,500.00++.
Every Fri-Sun (depart Thursday MOA – 7PM and Trinoma – 10PM) – For Joiner Tour
Any day – For Exclusive/Private Tour (Txt/Call office for rates)
PACKAGE RATES:
P2,580.00/Pax – 4-13 Persons (Quin/Quad Sharing)
P2,880.00/Pax – 3 Persons (Triple Sharing)
P2,980.00/Pax – 2 Persons (Twin Sharing)
P3,180.00/Pax – 1 Person (Single Room)
Rates not valid for:
A.) Additional 150/Person – Feb 01-Jun 15, 2016 Travel (Peak Season)
B.) Additional 200/Person – Regular Holidays and Special Non-working days /Long Weekend Travel (Peak Season)
C.) Additional 350/Person – Holy Week, Christmas, New Year Travel (Super Peak Season)
ACCOMMODATION(S):
1.) Villa de Familia
2.) Sagada Guesthouse
3.) Sagada Townhouse
4.) Mapiya-aw Lodge or similar class
TIP: Note that most tour packages that agencies offer in Sagada doesn’t include food, therefore you’ve got to have pocket money for about P2,000.00 and that’s if you’re really on a very, very tight budget. Because, food there ranges from P170.00++, mostly P200.00++ but it’s worth it ‘cause it’s delicious.
PART 2: ITINERARY
Here’s the itinerary provided by ByaheNiJuan tour:
DAY 0
07:00PM – MOA Open Parking
10:00PM – Trinoma Mall North Open Parking
11:00PM ETD Mnl-Sagada
DAY 01
06:30AM – Breakfast in Banaue (pax own)
Banaue Town
Banaue Rice Terraces View Point
08:30AM – Travel to Sagada
10:30AM – ETA in Sagada
11:00AM – Early Check in. Rest
12:00NN – Lunch (pax own)
01:00PM – Sumaguing Cave or Cave Connection – Burial Cave (Guide Fee Pax own acct. This is optional)
DAY 02
05:00AM – Kiltepan View Point Sunrise Viewing (Subj to weather condition)
06:00AM – Breakfast (pax own)
07:30AM – Bomod-Ok Falls Trek (Guide Fee on pax own. This is optional)
11:30AM – End of Trek
12:00NN – Lunch (pax own)
01:00PM – Sagada Town Tour
Orange Farm (Seasonal)
Sagada Weaving
St. Mary’s Church
Pottery House
Campo Santo (Cemetery)
Echo Valley & Hanging Coffins
05:00PM – End of Tour
06:00PM – Dinner (pax own)
07:00PM – Back to accomm
DAY 03
06:00AM Breakfast (pax own)
07:00AM Check out. Travel to Baguio
Highest Point (Philippine Highway System) Atok, Benguet
10:00AM ETA in Baguio. Start of Tour
La Trinidad Souvenir Shop
Strawberry Farm – Strawberry picking is at a cost (Per Kilo.Pax own acct. This is optional)
Burnham Park and Swan Lake (Baguio)
Kennon Road View Point
Lions Head
12:00NN Lunch (pax own acct)
01:00PM Continuation of Baguio tour
03:00PM ETD Baguio-Manila
09:00PM ETA in Manila
PART 3: EXPERIENCE
DAY 0
We arrived at NAIA terminal 3 by 5 in the afternoon and the people were in a rush and traffic was bumper to bumper. It was my first time in Manila and not to be discriminatory, but it freaked me out a lot. I mean, there are horror stories that happened to people when they got out of the airport. And I was one freakish person who doesn’t want to get the same bad experience. So I cautioned myself by being alert and attentive like a wolf.
Anyway, we headed to Mall of Asia to have dinner and went directly to the meet-up place which was at the open parking just beside the Mall of Asia Arena.
We waited there for about an hour because we needed to wait for the other group, as we were in a ‘joiners’ package.
Anyhow, we hit the road by ten and it was time for a 9 hour drive to Sagada. And that’s when everyone fell asleep. Although we had three major stop overs; each for about 15 to 30 minutes.
DAY 1
Banaue
We arrived in Banaue by 6:00 in the morning and I was still droopy from sleepiness. We stopped by the borderline to where a huge “Welcome to Banaue” marquee stood tall. And there, we got to take pictures like Japanese tourists.
photo courtesy: ByaheNiJuan Travels
And then we pressed on. But then I realized, it was already 8 hours passed and we were still in Banaue. But I got my hopes up when our driver told us that Sagada was already the next stop.
Anyway, we took our breakfast at Banaue Rice Terraces View Point where we could eat while we feast our eyes to the wonderful rice terraces view outside the window.
After, we got to pose once more for pictures of the Rice Terraces as a backdrop.
Sagada
Then it was another 2 and a half drive to Sagada. Oh my Gosh, we were on the road for about 12 hours (stop overs included). And to be honest, it was excruciating.
TIP: Never forget your neck pillow, headphones, phones, tablets, laptops, favorite chairs, tables TV, speakers, wardrobe, your entire house, because it was that exhausting. Just kidding to some of those though.
In Sagada, we checked in first at Villa D’ Familia. And upon entering: we can smell the scent of coffee enveloping the entire premise, making it feel like I’m in Starbucks, only it’s a house… and I’m not exaggerating. The scent of fresh coffee was euphoric; it even gave me an idea to do the same with my future house… and I don’t drink coffee. We found the source of the scent which was a coffee dispenser beside the door. And the best thing was that IT-WAS-FREE! My partner’s inner child giggled as if it was an award from getting a perfect score in an exam.
photo courtesy: Eden Pancho
Anyway, the house was cozy and clean. And what I liked about it was the hot and cold shower which was the silver lining to the cold weather.
photo courtesy: Eden Pancho
Sumaguing Cave
Then our adventure started at Sumaguing Cave. It is the famous cave in Sagada where you could choose between two adventures: first, the connection or second, the short route. In the connection, you have to walk, crawl and swim for about five hours from the mouth of the cave where you could also discover some damaged caskets of dead Igorot ancestors, to the final exit cave. In the short route: its entre is on the exit part of the connection to where you only need thirty or shorter minutes to climb down the bottom of the slippery cave. Well, it depends on who you’re with. In our case, people are too selfie freaks that they take about 10 minutes to get ‘the shot’. And it’s difficult to get ‘the shot’ because of total darkness.
I had, for a fact, found difficulty in climbing down due to the damp walkway with inclusions of bat-shit we call ‘guano’. The locals suggest climbing down barefoot because slippers and shoes are slippery. Well, you could always use expensive caving shoes, if you can afford.
And that’s what I did. I climbed down barefoot, and it was ew to say the least. But it was worth it. The cave was huge and gorgeous. The water flowing on every level was freezing, it made my feet numb. And the difficulty in going down was a bit rough, especially for chubby people like me. But I tell you, it’s all worth it.
Like with other famous caves in the Philippines: this one has lots of formations in it ranging from religious to indecorous.
TIP: Bring underwater cameras and dress lightly and properly since you’d be wet from this experience.
DAY 2
Bomod-ok Falls (trail)
photo courtesy: ByaheNiJuan Travels
The next day, we prepped ourselves for a long walk to Bomod-ok Falls which is a famous spot in Sagada. We went to a certain place that has a narrow one-way road and did a short orientation on what to do. Then they gave us sticks because sometimes snakes glide across the cemented walkway… like a casual jaywalker. But thankfully it didn’t happen.
Anyway, the trail was 45 minutes to an hour long, but it was not difficult to manage walking downwards because as I’ve said, the walkway was cemented (mostly). While on the trail, you’ve got to gaze upon the gorgeous Sagada mountains to which all you can do is sigh… then appreciate.
When we arrived at the falls, we got to see boulders of rocks surrounding the place and there are only a few spots where you can actually take a dip. The current of the waterfalls was also strong at that time.
After taking antidepressant selfies, we got to dip in the FREEZING water. And Oh my God. I only dipped for 5 seconds because it was dead freezing: my balls had to squeeze just to compensate for the cold. Oops.
The rainbow totally heightened my gayness.
We didn’t take much time there: although it was beautiful, there’s really nothing much to do there. So we hike back up to which we found harder than climbing down. My partner, I and most of my fellow mountain hiking rookie friends almost died in the process.
TIP: For inexperienced hikers: Pack lightly. Just bring money, clothes for changing and water. There is a stop in the middle of the trail to where you could rest and buy some snacks. There’s also a snack-bar at the falls’ location.
Anyway, there was one thing that caught my attention when we were doing the hike. We heard explosions followed by rumblings on the ground for two to three times. And when we asked our tour guide on what it was: she explained that there’s gold mining underneath the mountain we were walking. That explains weird carts that are strangely set up in one place, and some sacks of soil everywhere, only to find out they weren’t just normal soils: they had silver with it.
Orange Farm (Seasonal), Sagada Weaving, St. Mary’s Church, Pottery House
After, we went back but unfortunately the Orange Farm was not in its full bloom so we had to ditch that one. Also, we didn’t experience the Pottery House. I didn’t know why, but I think it was because these experiences are seasonal.
photo courtesy: ByaheNiJuan Travels
Like with Sagada Weaving, to where you could see women weave local fabrics and even sew them into useful items like wallets, bags and etc. Thankfully, Sagada Weaving was available at that time, so we got to see the weaving process and the items in their store.
At St. Mary’s Chruch, we got to wander around the beautiful yard that has a lot of pine trees and green grass.
photo courtesy: ByaheNiJuan Travels
Campo Santo Cemetery (Devil’s Mountain)
It’s freaky to say the least, but after St. Mary’s Church we head up to the Hell Mountain, Campo Santo Cemetery. It’s called such because on all souls day, people gather at the top of the hill to start a fire on the tombstones of their loved ones, to which formally is called ‘Festival of Lights’.
Although, we didn’t experience the festival itself: you could Google it and see the cemetery turn into creepy hell-like scene from the movies. It’s already creepy with only the tombstones, how much more if there are flames… all over the hill.
Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins
After the cemetery, we headed straight to the Echo Valley where you can scream your lungs out and hear your voice echoing; like screaming, “WALANG FOREVER!” which is a trend.
trail to Echo Valley & Hanging Coffins
Right after that, we get to do another hike down to another creepy spot: Hanging Coffins. And mind you, we’ve been to several hiking activities and my legs were already sore!
TIP: Switching hot and cold water could ease up the muscle soreness.
Anyway, the Hanging Coffins experience became creepier when the tour guide explained that the reasons of their Igorot ancestors in doing such are pure negativity. Like when one dies due to inauspicious or unlucky circumstance or when one dies in the middle of farming or hunting that they considered jinxed, and many other discomforting reasons.
The tour guide also explained that there are a lot of hanging coffins on mountain cliffs at another spot further than the ones in Echo Valley.
Day 3
Kiltepan Viewpoint… or not
It was our final day in Sagada and it has to start at Kiltepan Viewpoint… or not. Well, our driver suggested us not to do the hike up the viewpoint because, he says, it’s far, cold, the view is not that good as it’s blocked by trees, and the place is crowded.
This was actually proven by friends who have gone to Kiltepan viewpoint. They agreed to what our driver told us that the hype, because of the film, is bogus. That’s beside the fact that the exploited viewpoint is too crowded. My friends’ photo even resembles MRT rush hour in Manila, or religious processions. They were also dissatisfied with their Kiltepan experience… but not us.
Since our only purpose on why we were there is to see the sun rise behind the mountain while the sea of clouds astonish us: our driver suggested another spot that’s more appealing than in Kiltepan Viewpoint.
And, he was right. This was our 180 degrees stunning view:
Although, the spot to where we were is less safe since it’s just beside the road and the cliff respectively, but the consolation was the view. And we were careful so we won’t fall off the cliff though.
Anyway, I get to see the sea of clouds and the sun slowly rise while at the same time, checking the experience off from my bucket list. It was so beautiful and placid; my soul could agree that for the short time I was gazing on the killer view: I felt inner peace.
TIP: IF your sunrise-sea of clouds viewing is on the 3rd day, I suggest for you to buy something to eat the night before since you will not really stop to some restaurants since they’re basically closed in the early mornings and you’d head straight to Baguio.
Halsema Highway, Atok, Benguet
After the rejuvenating experience, we then headed to Baguio. And I dare you not to close your eyes when you’re on your way, especially when in Benguet because the view of the mountains is absolutely breathtaking. It’s one of the best experiences I had of the tour.
apologies ’cause technically this is in Banaue, but when you reach Benguet part, there are a lot of mountains with Rice Terraces as well to which I think has a more gorgeous view in than in Banaue.
Then we reached to the most dangerous highway in the Philippines, the Halsema Highway. It is the highest highway in the country that’s infamous for road accidents… or shall I say, cars falling off the cliff accidents, because the street is not just narrow, but blind curves and reckless drivers are everywhere. Not to mention the slippery roads during wet seasons.
Anyway, when we got to the highest point of the highway, we got to see the amazing view of the mountains of Benguet.
And right after that, we went to La Trinidad (to where we buy some strawberry jams and souvenirs), Baguio and back to Manila.
PART 4: TAKEAWAY
Going to Sagada is NOT easy as a pie especially when you do it DIY. You’d have to take into account the restlessness of the time you’ll be spending inside the van or bus from Manila to Sagada and vice versa, and working your way through the spots in Sagada which some are far. I am not halting you to do DIY, but I’m advising you not to. Instead, hire an agency that could take care of the itinerary.
Sagada was just a photo on our house calendar, and with visiting the spot was a dream come true. I realized how clever nature and culture unified is. Also, I get to try delicious food and pure coffee delight in Sagada which you can read on my other blogpost WHERE TO EAT IN SAGADA. By the end of the trip, my takeaway was that Sagada, while it’s a hassle ride: it’s still worth the try.
PART 5: COSTING
NOTE: This breakdown is for 1 person only & doesn’t include souvenirs.
Palawan is one of the sought after island getaways of adventure seekers and travel geeks around the world. With Palawan helmed as the Best Island in the World in 2014 and 2015, and Palawan Underground River being crowned as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World: you could never go wrong in visiting this one true paradise that’s probably one of those spots in the Philippines that can give you a sudden gasp because of its unexplainable beauty that only the heart can describe.
I will be explaining the how-to’s, do’s and don’ts, what to bring, the experience and the tips so you’ll be guided. I’ll try my very best to give a specific itinerary so the first time travelers visiting this awesome place wouldn’t have a hard time planning yours as well. And believe me, El Nido, Palawan is the EASIEST destination I’ve ever been.
PART 1: INFORMATION
I. AIRFARE TICKETS
We booked our tickets ahead of time. And from there, we started planning. For me and my partner, we chose to backpack instead of hiring an agency since our plan is quite complicated due to the number of days that we’ll be staying, and also I want a personalized tour where we could have our own pace… plus I like the challenge of putting everything in place for this adventure.
Airfare tix are very low on Philippine National Holidays when airline companies offer promos like Piso Fare or All-In fares, especially Cebu Pacific and AirAsia. We booked our tix December of 2014 and our flight was on July 2015. It was a Piso Fare promo of CebuPac for about P4,000.00 roundtrip, for two… and that’s a great deal. Although I have fears on having a July flight due to the rainy season, but as my partner told me, ‘If you rely on other people or the weather, you won’t achieve anything.’
II. READ BLOGS, GATHER INFORMATION
I read blogs to help me create our own 8 day itinerary for El Nido and Puerto Princesa. You might ask, “WHY 8 DAYS?” or “ARE YOU NUTS?” or “THERE ARE 3 DAYS, 2 NIGHTS PACKAGES YOU CAN AVAIL AND IT’S AFFORDABLE,” and a lot more. Well, if you come to think of it: we’re already there, so why not do everything we can? In the end, it’s the question of how passionate you are when it comes to traveling the place.
So we saved for about P30,000.00 and that’s for both El Nido and Puerto Princesa Tour (Breakdown of expenses in El Nido by the end of the post).
In El Nido, in order to enjoy the island hopping experience, you must choose from different tour packages: Tours A, B, C, and D which are government regulated in terms of prices that includes lunch, snorkel, life vest and fun tour guide/s.
TIP: You need not worry on where to book these tours because all of the resorts there will accommodate to whatever plans you have for the island hopping, just as long as the prices are as follows:
TOUR A: P1,200.00
-Big Lagoon
-Small Lagoon
-Simizu Island,
-Secret Lagoon
-7 Commandos Beach
TOUR B: P1,300.00
-Entalula Island
-Pinagbuyutan Island
-Snake Island
-Cudugnon Cave
-Cathedral Cave
TOUR C: P1,400.00
-Hidden Beach
-Helicopter Island
-Secret Beach
-Matinloc Shrine
-Star Beach
TOUR D: P1,200.00
-Bukal Island,
-Ipil Beach
-Nat-Nat Beach
-Daiao Lagoon
-Paradise Beach
Then, my partner and I decided the spots we want to go which are
1.) El Nido island hopping tours A and B;
2.) Underground River and Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa.
TIP: Tours A and C are the two most booked tours among the four.
Land trips to Nacpan Beach (one of the best spots in El Nido, which you can achieve via hiring a tricycle for P1,000.00+) and Las Cabanas for P70.00 each person, one way.
III. ACCOMODATION
The best thing about El Nido is that everything is easy: what you need is right there in front of you and all you have to do is choose. Especially in finding a place to stay.
The thing I feared when travelling is the accessibility from the terminal to the hotel, and I thought it was difficult, but it was just a piece of cake since all of the resorts and hotels are located in one place which are near the bus terminal on one end and boat terminal on the other end.
TIP: Don’t worry; everything is just accessible via tricycle.
Anyway, I scanned online for a place to stay just to make sure we have a bed to sleep, although it’s really not imperative especially on non-peak months because there are a lot of rooms/hotels ranging from luxury to very affordable available at any time.
I’ve scanned some affordable stays but they weren’t responsive enough.
Until I found El Nido Cliffside Cottages online and it’s one of the most affordable among the bunch, for about P700.00 per night good for 2 people for the cheapest room they have. I called the number and spoke to the owner and she was very, very polite and accommodating, and I liked that. And the best thing was that the owner gave me a P100.00 discount, so I immediately told her when we were coming and paid P500.00 advanced booking fee at MLhullier.
CLIFFSIDE COTTAGES
Rizal St., Brgy. Maligaya, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Check-in: 2:00PM
WIFI: No
ROOM RATEs
Small Fan Room (2 pax/Double Bed or Twin Bed) – P700.00/night
Big Fan Room (2-4 pax/1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed) – P800.00/night for 2 pax
Thankfully, Cliffside Cottages is a good place to stay with their huge nipa-hut style rooms including bathrooms plus a nice view of the rocky cliff in the backyard. The sea port terminal where the boats park was of walking distance and we got to go back and forth whenever we wanted to.
TIP: Bring your own internet because most of the affordable accommodations in El Nido has no WIFI available.
photo by: EL NIDO Cliffside Cottages via Facebook
TIP: It’s IMPERATIVE to bring mosquito repellent because of a lot of huge mosquitos everywhere. Bring mosquito net if you can!
They also offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you can rent tricycle for inland tours (e.g. Nacpan Beach and Las Cabanas Beach Resort).
TIP: Note that, there are a lot of rooms with common comfort rooms/bath rooms that’s perfect for a backpacking/tight budget plan in El Nido that are much affordable than the one we booked, such as Tay Miloy’s Inn.
IV. TRANSPORTATION
El Nido is miles away from Puerto Princesa to where you’d be starting your trip, and with that, you need to ride a bus or van.
When I planned this trip, I read all the pros and cons of riding such. In busses, the pros are air-conditioned busses that have comfortable seats plus the fare is only from P400.00 to P450.00, but the con is that it takes 7-8 hours before you arrive in El Nido. And with riding a van, the pro is that it travels only for 5 hours but the con was that most vans run with fast speed and it scared me, plus the fare is P500.00.
So, I decided to go with safety in the bus, which I would regret later on in the trip.
Anyway, Cherry Bus Liner had an online booking that I found accessible and sophisticated. They promised a comfortable air-conditioned bus on PINOYTRAVEL.com, and I was amused since my partner’s tale when he first went to El Nido via a non-air conditioned bus years ago was horrible due to the rocky and polluted roads which thankfully are now fixed.
So I booked their P450.00 bus for one person, and we were two so we have to pay P900.00, and that’s still shorter than the P500.00 van per person. But there was a service fee for P80.00, so in total, we paid P1,060.00. That’s not all. You even have to pay at MLhullier about P15.00 per payment per person. So it went beyond a thousand. Still, I was thinking about safety. So we still paid for it.
TIP: Don’t book ahead for transportation since there are a lot of busses and vans waiting for passengers at the terminal. You’ll end up paying more than what you should have. Like us.
Upon arriving at Puerto Princesa airport, you’d go directly outside to find a tricycle for P50.00 to take you to the terminal where you’d start your journey. But, when we arrived: there were lots of vans parked outside the airport, and I don’t know if it’s legal or not, but they offered us a ride to El Nido for the price of P500.00 which was the same price as with the terminal vans.
I wasn’t planning to ride on those and I don’t advise too, because all of the blogs say that they really went to the terminal right after they landed.
For group, I read one blog saying that there are multicabs for hire waiting just outside the airport to take you to the bus/van Terminal.
Anyway, there in the terminal, we realized that I made a wrong decision in choosing bus over van. It waited for passengers for three freaking hours, and that’s beside the confusing system they had there. We ended up finishing two movies in the bus while waiting for passengers. And instead of arriving by 7:00 or 8:00 in the evening, we arrived in El Nido by 12:30AM. The pace of the bus was safe… but it was extremely slow… it was painful in the front row.
Because of the horrible experience, after El Nido, we just ditched the bus back to Puerto Princesa and rode an uncomfortable and warm van, even when we’ve already paid for the bus.
TIP: Take the van instead if you’re in a hurry and you don’t want long and painful time on the road.
V. OTHER EXPENSES
Of course, you have to think of other expenses that you needed to pay when you go on trips. So, those 3D2N offering from travel agencies are mostly for your tours, transportation and hotel… some include airfares. For El Nido, I usually see P4,000-P5,000.00 offers that are good deals, which include the van transport from Puerto Princesa to El NIdo, hotel accommodation, ONE tour without airfare.
But what makes the expenses steep is always on the food. You have to eat three times a day, and in El Nido, it’s a must. Although the lunch is covered by the island hopping tour, but the rest of the time you’re there, you have to pay for your own meals. And meals in El Nido are quite steeper than the usual food price in the city.
TIP: There are affordable barbecue stands at nighttime near the port, along the road.
Foods in the restaurants (especially along the shore) have high prices starting P200.00++, and it’s only good for one person… usually no drinks included.
PART 2: ITINERARY
So, airline booking, hotel scouting and blog hopping are done: now our ideal itinerary for our El Nido trip. Here’s the sample itinerary I’ve made, so you can have a glimpse of how perfect your plan can be and with just a bad weather, it can ruin it all (LOL):
DAY 1
11:15AM – Arrival at Puerto Princesa
– Ride tricycle to San Jose Terminal
1:00PM – Scheduled Departure to El Nido (Cherry Bus)
8:00PM – ETA: El Nido
– Check In at Cliffside Cottages
DAY 2
7:00AM – Wake up call
– Book Tour with Cliffside Cottages owner
– Breakfast
9:00AM-4:00PM – TOUR A
5/6:00PM – Arrive back to hotel
7:00PM – Dinner
DAY 3
7:00AM – Wake up Call
– Breakfast
9:00AM-4:00PM- TOUR B
5/6:00PM – Arrive back to hotel
7:00PM – Dinner
– Pack up
DAY 4
7:00AM – Wake up
– Breakfast
8:00AM – Go to terminal
9:00AM – Scheduled Departure back to Puerto Princesa (Cherry Bus)
…
..
.
(And the rest of the itinerary is for Puerto Princesa.)
Little did we know our itinerary would not be fulfilled.
PART 3: EXPERIENCE
DAY 1
My excitement was beyond anything I’ve ever had because I was already in the best island in the world… I mean what could go wrong??? Except for a typhoon that’s strictly from southwest of the country, going north. Well… I was a bit doubtful that our itinerary would be followed step-by-step, but I know I will still have fun.
When we arrived in Puerto Princesa, we chartered a tricycle to San Jose terminal and had confusion on what bus to take because the Cherry Bus Liner attendant was also confused as Bruce Jenner in the 90s… oops, Caitlyn Jenner. Anyway, we then rode the bus and then waited for about three hours before the driver decided to just hit the road even when we were only 5 in the fifty-seater bus (I guess).
But what I was so amused about (in a bad sense) was that the bus runs like 10km/h and it was so slow, it was painful in the front row seats.
Anyway, I had lots of fun re-watching The Amazing Spider-Man 2 which I hate, but what choice do I have but pretend that I was having fun. Or I’ll lose my mind.
And I swear there were two times dogs got hit by our bus that pained me especially hearing their last cry and bodies banging under. Surprisingly, it seemed like a normal thing for the driver and the conductor. It broke my heart.
But we pressed on. I don’t really like sleeping during road-trips because I have a fear of not being able to fight for my life in cases of you know… the worst, so I kept my eyes open for as long as I can… slept for about thirty minutes then tries to wake up… and the cycle goes on, until we arrived in El Nido at 12:30AM where everything was already dark and dead silent.
TIP: NEVER EVER FORGET TO BRING YOUR SUNGLASSES AND HEADPHONES!
It was a 9-hour drive instead of a promised 7-8 hours.
We chartered another tricycle where we had to wake drivers up to take us to Cliffside Cottages. And so we arrived five minutes later, and checked in their nipa-hut style cottage. It was a fan room, but what bothered me while sleeping in the middle of the night is the fact that electricity goes off, and mosquitos start to come together, feeding on your blood. Thankfully we brought mosquito repellent, since my partner already had a bad experience with mosquitos in El Nido when he visited years ago.
DAY 2
The electricity went back by 6:00 in the morning, and it was cool… no it was cold. I went outside and looked to the sky and it was cloudy, not with a chance of meatballs but with a chance of a thunderstorm.
My heart broke when we discussed our tour for that day with the possibility that it might get cancelled, and when the owner of the hotel confirmed that all tours are cancelled due to bad weather: my heart broke even further than the fact that Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour won’t get a stop in the Philippines. I asked my partner what to do; he told me that we can just tour the small town of El Nido.
And so we did. We walked around town especially at noon when we needed to eat our lunch and found a carenderia near the port where you could buy the expensive but original Bird’s Nest soup (Knorr’s preservatives-ful Nido Soup is much tastier though).
After, my partner took me to the entre to paradise (sea port) which I found bittersweet. I mean, I could almost taste paradise but the weather didn’t allow. *enter curse words
I couldn’t cry, so I just went shopping for souvenirs.
And the rest of the day was boring.
DAY 3
We woke up and then guess what? Still no tours.
The owner of the hotel even told us that there are guests that have been staying for seven days and they’re about to leave because they’ve extended for two days already in El Nido, still with no luck.
I was disheartened by the news because it was our last day in El Nido for our itinerary needs us to be at Puerto Princesa by the next day. Then I thought about changing the itinerary that if tours are allowed the next day, first thing in the morning: we would extend our stay there in El Nido. My partner agreed… until rain starts to pour.
My heart pleaded for the Lord above even when I know I abandoned the Catholic Church a long time ago. I then told the air, “I’ve had a fair share of bad luck recently, ibigay mo na to sa’kin.”
The Sun God showed up by 10 and it was a sign… that we should do land-trips instead. My partner told me we should visit Las Cabanas beach and so we did. We rented the hotel owner’s tricycle and the driver (of course) for P70.00 pesos each, and that’s just one way.
When we reached there, the water was brown, maybe due to the strong currents from the ocean and I need not explain this science sh*t further… but the consolation was the breathtaking view.
The towering islands looked like sleeping giants and were just within reach, especially Helicopter Island from afar. My partner told me that those islands I was seeing were the islands of the tours.
I dryly said, “Ahh” and my heart broke once more.
So we walked the shoreline towards the Las Cabanas resort, still taking glimpses of the view and noticing the dark clouds hover the beautiful place and slowly pacing its way to us.
I took some pictures and still found romanticism in the midst of an impending typhoon tail.
Then I noticed a wire from the high part of that beach connected to the adjacent island for zip-line purposes. Unfortunately the winds were too strong that it wasn’t available at that time. Damn.
Then the winds started to blow hard, and the seas rushed wildly on the shore and it was time for us to go. I grabbed my GoPro, twitched my face, let my long hair lose to catch the wind and filmed like there was something that’s chasing us (in slow motion).
By dawn, the winds started to howl and I’ve never heard winds howl like that before. I was scared for my life while my partner sleeps soundly under the sheets. Then I realized, this guy was from the province and I was Carrie Bradshaw.
DAY 4: HALLELUJIA!
I woke up with a heavy heart and an itchy skin from the bites of huge mosquitoes (I’m not exaggerating, they were huge)… BUT the owner of the hotel gave us the good news: further discounts in our stay!!!!!!! Just kidding, TOURS WERE AVAILABLE!
And so, we unpacked our things, wore my neon colored rash-guard, readied my gadgets and like One Direction: we were good to go.
TIP: Buy GoPro, it’s worth it.
TIP: Buy aqua shoes, especially when you’re a travel junkie. Aqua shoe rentals in El Nido tour agencies are P150.00 per person.
And because of the unpredictable ocean current, TOUR A was modified to this:
7 COMMANDOS BEACH
The waves were rough, and it drizzled, but the sun came out right after.
7 Commandos Beach was our first stop where you can see the prominently lined coconut trees, swim in the blue waters, relax in their cottages, cook (if it’s lunch time), or just swing like a chandelier in their modified hammock (See in the video below).
It would’ve been fun there if it wasn’t for the strong waves when we visited that time.
MINILOC
Actually, the original destination was at Secret Lagoon, but due to strong waves, all the boats in TOUR A were routed beside the Miniloc Island Resort where we did our first snorkeling. That Ayala owned resort feels so luxurious, that parking outside its vicinity feels like living outside a village. But that didn’t matter.
What was amazing upon getting in that spot was the dark, sharp and rocky cliffs that were a true wonder that my eyes can only gaze for about a time but I’ll remember for a lifetime.
And here, we had our sumptuous Filipino lunch. The typical food line-up when Filipino families go to the beach: grilled pork, grilled squid, and just grilled everything! Plus with fruits as deserts that are compliment to the fatty foods we intake. But the thing is that you have to be swift in getting food from the table to your plate because if you’re traveling with Filipinos, you know everyone’s hungry for it.
BIG LAGOON
Then after, we went to one of the most Instagrammed spot in El Nido, the Big Lagoon.
By that time, it was low-tide so our huge boat cannot enter and explore what’s inside the spot. So what the tour guides suggested was to just swim towards the center and discover of the looming cliffs that’s feels so cinematic: I can imagine Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings filming there.
Upon swimming, there’s a coral reserve in the entre part, and boy, it’s beautiful. I can remember an excited foreign girl rising from the waters told her parents, “I SAW NEMO! It’s like straight out from the movie!” and I just laughed… because commenting would be awkward.
I really appreciated the beauty of the undersea, it was so awesome.
Then, just a minor accident happened: I cut my left palm because I didn’t notice how high the corals were, and I was mostly swimming dog-style (no, not the one you’re thinking), when I’m not snorkeling.
TIP: Bring non-drowse antihistamine if you’re cut by a coral because they can cause allergic reaction to SOME people with sensitive bodies, and can cause itchiness, asphyxia, or even death.
Anyway, the place was so really stunning, it enchanted me and had me in awe. So beautiful.
SMALL LAGOON
For our last stop: Small Lagoon, and by far my favorite.
It was not far from Big Lagoon, and although my body was tired from the constant swimming and walking and from the heat of the burning sun: my heart still wanted more. And Small Lagoon did not fail me.
The entre was two times stunning than in Big Lagoon because of the towering crescent shaped rock formation that felt like huge arms welcoming us with warmth, and contrast to it was the cyan waters that gave a cool sensation, and was truly inviting: you just got to dive in.
But the fun didn’t end there.
You’ve got to either swim your way in the Small Lagoon, or rent a kayak for P400.00 for 2-3 people. Some people swam, but I don’t want to miss the chance to experience my first kayak, and it had to be in El Nido. So we rented one, and because of the fear we’ll get outbalanced: we asked one of the four tour guides to do the kayak instead, and he obliged.
And then we went straight to the small opening that revealed the magnificent cliffs inside the lagoon. It was so gorgeous.
Emotions run wild inside of me while writing this post, as my inner Julie Andrews in the opening scene of the movie Sound of Music reemerged from within as I look back totally amazed.
The place was very dramatic and cinematic as well.
My partner told me that when he went there the first time during summer, the lagoon was filled with unpleasant box jellyfish and not one tourist entered the vicinity because of it.
PART 4: TAKEAWAY
So if your lazy-nerve didn’t miss reading my long post above, you can say, ‘Oh, El Nido is very difficult to achieve…’ but NO. I tell you that El Nido, without the misfortunes: it’s the easiest destination I’ve ever been if only I have a one-stop-blog to refer to that has tips and specific details on the what, how, when, and where’s of the trip. But I can’t blame them since writing a blog is not an easy job, and most especially when people are too lazy to read, and will just ask in the comment sections about the things that have already been written in the article. Hmmm.
I enjoyed my stay in El Nido, even when there were tough lucks, but the island hopping experience paid it all off. I mean, the beaches were so blue, the sights were magnificent, the food was delicious, and the tour guides were hell funny and informative… actually, the tour was really worth it and a part of it were the tour guides. They were ecstatic: their energy was viral.
One thing that my partner told me that I have to agree on is when he told me that being in El Nido makes all of other beaches in the country uninteresting.
Anyway, my takeaway is that I don’t wonder why Palawan is named as the most beautiful island in the world. With El Nido and Coron (which we plan to visit in the future), they can never be wrong about the decision. Being in El Nido makes me realize how stunning can our world be. You can really appreciate nature, and ask why China would rip off the reefs in the West Philippine Sea.
El Nido is crazy beautiful, and I’ve only taken one tour, how much more if I did all?
PART 5: MUSIC VIDEO
PART 6: COSTING
NOTES:
1.) When you compare our costs from the fares of El Nido Tours 3 days 2 nights, it would be different, since we’re backpacking, and misfortunes happened within for 4 days 4 nights.
2.) This costing is for one person.
3.) Costs are rounded to the nearest tens/hundreds – price exaggeration.
4.) Food and Miscellaneous costs are labelled in ‘Others’ with rough estimation.
5.) You’ve got to read the things that happened above so you’ll understand some purchases.
Airfare – P2,000.00
Tricycle
in Puerto Princesa – P50.00
in El Nido – P50.00
Bus (Back and Forth) – P650.00 x 2 = P1,290.00
Van (excess) – P500.00
Hotel – P600/night x 4 = P2,400/2 pax= P1,200.00
Tricycle (Back and Forth)
To Las Cabanas – P140.00
Tour A – P1,200.00
Others
(Food, Souvenirs and Misc) – P3,000.00
TOTAL……………………………………………………………………………….. P9,430.00 or roughly P10,000.00
Malapascua is an island located at the northern tip of Cebu, and a barangay of Daan Bantayan with its local name ‘Logon’. The island of Malapascua is known for the crystal clear water beaches and white, powdery and warm shoreline. Also, it’s been a diving spot for people who loves witnessing coral reefs and under the sea wonders. Malapascua is also known for the Thresher Sharks that are abundant in the surrounding waters of the island.
I still can’t forget the first time I went there ten years ago: we struggled going there but when we arrived at the beachfront; it awed me to my soul. The clear blue waters were at the most splendid and captivating. The memory stuck in my mind up to this date.
Not until I went there ten years later.
THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT MALAPASCUA
Let’s start from how we traveled.
First, we rode a Ceres Bus bound for Maya that has a sea port where numerous boats await. The ride was a painful 4 hour drive (not unless you have your own car or service). We started our trip from the North Bus Terminal by 7:00AM and arrived at Maya port by 11:30. It was long and torturous. But I let it pass and just enjoyed the annoying smoke and dirt that are visible in my face.
The boat you will ride on from Maya port to Malapascua Island
Next, when we arrived at Maya port, there were several boats parked in their port. So my partner told me that we should go to the ticketing office to pay the port fee. But then, one local told us that they were not present anymore because of typhoon Yolanda. The ruins left by the typhoon are still visible in the port, actually. There were people (usually locals) barking at everyone who reaches the port and it feels like everyone new to the place has no idea where to go. So, we asked one local on what to do and where to go. He just pointed at one boat that will transport us to the island.
We waited there for an hour or so because they have to fill 30 people in that boat. The fee for the boat is P80.00 per person. (If the tide is low, there will be an inconvenient small boat or banka that will transport you from the port to the boat waiting afar that will cost you another P20.00)
After Yolanda, there was no organized direction on what to do and where to ride there at the port. We were frustrated about that plus it was scorching hot.
Then we arrived at Malapascua after 20 minutes. Before we docked; we could see the beauty of the crystal clear water (you can see in the video below) as the boat rushes to the beachfront, and it is magnificent.
Then we docked, and unfortunately I was not impressed. What welcomed us shocked me, which you can see in the pictures below.
It is fitting that Yolanda struck the island so badly that it destroys most of the trees and nearby buildings/cottages but it’s unfathomable for the government not to take actions in any of these unfortunate circumstances when it’s already six months passed. And there were no governing rules upon littering.
The part where we stopped 10 years ago in the island was now a place of garbage.
We hadn’t had our lunch so we ate at Mabuhay Restaurant. We ordered many foods (ala cart kuno) because the waitress said it was good for 1 person only when in fact it’s good for 2, DUH. We waited for almost an hour and a half before our meal arrived. It annoyed me to say the least. Although their food is OKAY. But still, it was beyond frustrating.
At that time I felt like it was a wrong decision going there.
THE PARADISE FIND IN MALAPASCUA (THANK GOD)
We were there because a friend of my brother invited us to come over the island for their fiesta, and so it’s good to know that there’s someone who could navigate us to the place.
I was not hoping to find a good beach, but then when we went to his family’s house in Guimbitayan, located at the other side of the island: the beauty of the beach there was magnificent. I was in awe seeing the shore and the clear blue waters.
When I dipped, it was just perfect. I was then transported back 10 years ago, and reminisced the feeling of awe. It was almost deserted, and I can only see us playing around the very long sea shore.
The sunrise is just perfect for the Instagram/Facebook fun-shoot we did. The camera lense quickly captured the island’s vibrancy to life.
My father and our friend’s grandmother built a tent for us to relax and feast our eyes to the beauty of the beach. It was so blue ,it was really pleasing.
At night, the moon serves as your spotlight to go and take a dip.
We just brought tents with us to stay for the night.
The people built a campfire on the nearby shore, but I don’t know if it was legal, but at that time I heard that the son of a politician spearheaded that campfire… so I kept my mouth shut.
THE ISLAND VIEW AND THE YOLANDA RUINS
Our friend told us to go to Bantigue cove which is just a walk away from where we were staying. And so, we realized how little we have seen from the island. Until we reached the part where the sand is softer and the view is nicer.
To reach Bantigue cove, we have to climb up the hill which shocked me upon seeing the back part of the island where there’s a tall lighthouse.
It was stunning as you can see in the pictures.
But then when we reached the cove itself where ruins were everywhere.
Our friend told us there was a resort there was destroyed by Yolanda.
The beach in Bantigue cove was not at all nice now, so we climbed back.
CONCLUSION
I realized that I should never just be mediocre, just because the beach front frustrates me doesn’t mean there’s no other part of a place that will ‘wow’ me. It’s very essential to everyone who loves to travel. Never Stop.
The island is full of garbage now, there are so many issues I’ve found when I was there from Maya port to the island itself; and the government needs to take action and the people also needs to make initiative.
Malapascua is such a beauty! Reliving its potential means potential for a booming tourism. People just have to create ground rules and not just write it but to apply, organize and follow it, and with just that; the island will be perfect again.
COSTS AND FEES
Bus (back and forth) – P163.00 + P163.00
Boat (back and forth) – P80.00 + P80.00
Small Boat (if lowtide both to and from) – P20.00 + P20.00
Stay (At Moonlight Resort – for me not advisable) – P1,600.00 AC Room
Note: I cannot post all the costs, room availability and the food here because our friend’s family plus my parents paid for many things there.
Are you feeling weary and tired of the same old same design or themed Korean coffee houses that have wooden platforms, scattered post-it notes and warm yellow lights that honestly looks like the prison cell in the Korean movie Miracle in Cell No. 7?
Well, here’s another Korean owned but with difference from all of those coffee houses that you know.
Recently opened, and still in their soft opening; Café Tiala: Princess Room is the one I can see people will destroy the intimacy right after they did with La Vie Parisienne and Café Noriter. It is located at Unit 2-D 2F, The Forum Bldg., Archbishop Reyes Ave., (Bario Luz), Cebu City. To be specific, it is the building beside the new Grand Con.
They differ in theme and design because they offer the very cute theme of a Princess room. It’s a dollhouse matched with a touch of elegance (because of the chandelier, nakaka-sosyal). It has cute figurines and stuffed toys all around the vicinity. The lights are not that yellowish, far from the other Korean coffee houses (which you might want to look back at your photos without Instagram filters that you look like you’re having Jaundice).
Anyhow, the place is so cozy and welcoming, added to their cutely dressed staff that were smiling and very friendly. They’re so cute they remind me of the girls in Kafra Corporation in the online game Ragnarok.
I love how they presented their Menu stacked in a cylindrical cute, cute, cute box. I love something fancy, and this one is really fancy.
They have plenty of offers which did not differ from other Korean coffee houses; yet still very satisfying. They also have food if your stomach craves for one. The prices are all not that steep and reasonable at times.
What we did while we were there was that we had a small tea party celebration of our own… which was really cute. I already felt like I was inside a gigantic castle and I was with the one I love having tea. I just love the fact that the place makes you feel relaxed and at ease.
They also have this cute gimmick called ‘Candlelight Time’ where the staff comes inside the room and lights a candle while they flicker out the lights.
And by this, it doesn’t also goes with cuteness; it also gives a romantic feel even when the place looks like childish and girly bombarded with pink; but no. It’s cute and romantic; perfect for lovers.
DISCOUT EVERYONE! I don’t know when this promo will last but if you report to the staff that you uploaded and tagged or checked in at Café Tiala’s Facebook Page, you will get a discount! And in ours (it was May 9, 2014) we got 15%.
The dreading city life requires you to escape from it in order to maintain balance in your life. Ahh, the relaxation you acquire gives you pleasure. Whenever you look online for a place to stay or to escape; there’s always something that holds you back. But this time; try to pursue it, and you’ll be pleased.
And one resort that’ll give you that exact relaxation away from the city is in Huna-Huna Cliff Resort. It is located at Buyo, boundary Carmen/Catmon, Cebu.
Huna-Huna is a Visayan word for thinking, pondering or contemplating. True to its name; Huna-Huna Cliff Resort offers you a peace and serenity for a calm experience.
With its European Villa inspired theme; you could never go wrong to its relaxing feel facing the vast Camotes Sea. This European situation requires your full attention to its nonchalant ambiance convalescing from your city life.
The white walls and marble tiles of the villa are idyllic, hinting Santorinni, Greece.
The overhead pass is nostalgia of somewhere in France; and the Family house for number of guests makes me remember of an Italian Villa.
The beaut of the place gives time for yourself to escape and contemplate your life while sitting on the bench looking afar on the effervescent Camotes Sea.
Guest House in Huna Huna
GOING THERE
Going to the resort is easy.
All you need to do is to ride a bus bound north at North Bus Terminal, near SM City Cebu. There you will find huge busses; and all you need to find is Ceres Liner. It’s fast, hourly and safe (sometimes, depends on the driver).
When telling the co-operator of the bus (kondoktor) where you’re heading; you can directly say in Huna-Huna, because most of them already know where it is. If not, then tell him at Buy, boundary Carmen/Catmon. The cost will only be P55.00 per person; so it’s not that really expensive.
From the city, you’ll be travelling 1 hour and a half if there’s no traffic. The resort can be found on the right side of the path; and there’s a marquee on the side of the road, if you have a car of your own or the co-operator forgets about you and where you’re heading.
TIP: Whenever you reach Carmen, Cebu; call the co-operator’s attention and make him remember where you’re heading. Or better yet, open Google Maps if you’re on 3G, but I doubt it will operate well on the countryside.
THE PLACE
Booking ahead is always the best thing to do whenever you want to go to a certain place so that you’ll have a guaranteed stay. And when calling the resort (numbers at the end of the post), they will ask you to pay full at their Banilad, Cebu office.
For me, trying to book a room for the next day was lucky because I was only giving a promise to them that my partner and I will not cancel our reservation. But that was really our plan, so cancellation would be inevitable (hehe), but really, try to book really ahead of time.
The air conditioned rooms are available for P2000.00, good for 2 pax with breakfast, and the check in time is 1:00PM, check out on the next day, same time. (Room rates below)
They also have a 2 storey guest house, good for family or group of people.
The resort also offer some relaxing spa treatment for the price range of P900.00-P1,500.00.
THE ROOM
We stayed in Room 11 of the resort, and that is on the bottom-most part on the cliff near the beach where you could take a dip.
The room is just fabulous. Its clean and our stay there was marvellous. If relax is what you’re looking for, then this is perfect for you.
The room is small BUT very, very relaxing. You’ll have your own veranda with table and seats; and for us at Room 11, the sea is just beneath us. It really looks luxurious even thinking about it right now makes me want to go back there.
Staying in their room makes me want to stay there forever.
I love their lights which have the control switch on how bright you want it to be; the very functional hot and cold water which for other resorts are not present; and the bed is soft, so as the pillows and the comforter.
The bed is facing the glass door with the sea as our breath taking view. The window on our left side is a perfect instrument for the sunrise to take a peek before we realize it.
Sometimes you’ll forget to close the glass door and hear the rushing sound of waters outside while you are lying like a king or queen in your very comfortable bed.
And our veranda is perfect for dinnertime, with the warm, romantic lights plus the stars above us.
It was just pure lux. C’est la vie.
TIP: And you should try to ask if Room 11 is available. *wink
THE FOOD
The food is variety there, and mostly it offers Filipino style of cooking. But their breakfast is mixed from Filipino to American to whatever it is in their menu that you’d like to have.
You’ll only have to order ahead of time because they still have to prepare your food from scratch, so it takes a bit of time to finish and serve it to you.
The price ranges from P130.00 – P250.00 depending on what MEAL you order. There are also offers that reach P300.00-P500.00; these are specialties.
THE BEACH
The beach is just part of the resort with no shoreline that is a little bit rocky on most parts. I did not get the chance to swim because I really did not want to. I just wanted to relax in our room, and in our sophisticated veranda.
THE USHER-DOG
When we checked in, we were greeted by a huge black dog (I have no idea what breed it was) which I was much afraid of at first due to its size; when we walked down to our room; he was ahead of us following the attendant, and whenever we stopped, the dog looks at us trying to signal something; then we realized he wants to take us to our room. The dog named ‘she-she’ (I think) was really, really sweet. She had our hearts just for a short stay there because of her kindness to visitors.
HUNA-HUNA CLIFF RESORT
I’m still pondering how relaxed my partner and I were on that resort, and wishing we could just lie there forever… with money magically appear on our table. HAHA
But then, Huna-Huna Cliff Resort is a resort away from hassle.
Prices are regardless of single or double occupancy
Extra Bed without breakfast Php 500
Fan Rooms
Php 1,000 to Php 1,500
Exclusive of breakfast
Prices are regardless of single or double occupancy
Extra Bed without breakfast Php 500
*Day use (maximum of 3 hours)
Air Conditioned Rooms
Php 800 (Php 100 each extra hour)
Fan Rooms
Php 500 (Php 100 each extra hour)
Entrance fee is Php 75 with free use of our cottages. Huna Huna Cliff Resort reserves the right to refuse or discontinue at any time any accommodation to any persons it deems unacceptable under its standard.
One evening, when my partner and I went to a restaurant that serves “authentic” Spanish cuisine (mixed with Filipino), and I was undeniably disappointed. First and foremost, two of the specific cuisines they offer are supposed to be amped up with flavors because Spanish people once hailed towards far Asia to search for spices, and this should be elementary. But it results to a bland taste, which for me is unrighteous. And second, the price does not compensate the offers.
And then we have Ipar’s: Authentic Spanish Cuisine restaurant at Ramos St., Cebu City, (along the Velez University road) which is also offers “authentic” Spanish cuisine. I have a Hispanic bloodline, so I shall judge… (hehe)
Ipar’s has long been famous for obvious articles that are boastfully posted on their walls with the owner/chef’s in it. Ipar’s has been praised due to the dishes that is closely or a true replica of a certain dish from Spain, since the chef himself has thoroughly studied on why do Spanish cuisine ticks to millions of people around the globe.
I applaud the place.
It’s a real Hispanic interior. Impressive from its huge Spanish-restaurant rodeo cloth hanging above the high ceiling to their cooking pans that hung on the walls which gives the exact feel of a Spanish kitchen.
They have an array of canvass posted together with the pans, and some Hispanic photographs and artifacts that makes you feel you’re in the right place.
I love how Ipar’s makes you feel like you’re not in the Philippines but in Spain. It’s a true plus point.
Now to their Food. They have a Spanish menu (which will be awkward if it’s not), that are separated according to their kind, whether it’s Carnes (Pork, Beef, Lambs), Ensaladas (Salads), Aves (Fowl/Chicken) or Pescado Y Mariscos (Fish and Shellfish) … (wow, so proud of me mentioning these Spanish words).
Try their Pechuga en Salsa (Chicken breast in cream sauce topped with sliced mushroom)… should I explain further? Anyway, it’s very tasteful. I love the overpowering saltiness that gives it a wow factor. This will cost you P180.00
Also their Chuletas de Cerdo al Ajillo which are porkchops sautéed in garlic sauce that costs P200.00. This is very delicious. The garlic sauce is a perfect component in this dish that gives enough flavor for you to savor.
For some, salads are eaten before the main course, but I really don’t. It could be I eat it after or during. I’m weird.
Anyway, I love for you to try their Ensalada Mixta Completa (Mixed green salad) that has this vinegar-ish flavor that culminates the salad experience. I’ve never tasted like that anywhere (if you do, let me know). This salad cost P120.00
They have this superstar offer that is ranted all over Foursquare. It costs P70.00 and it’s their Leche Flan. Some say it’s the BEST leche flan in town, and we certainly agree with all of them. It’s very flavorful, and you just can’t stop taking a scoop of it until you get none.
The food in Ipar’s are good and how it stays true to the tagline “Authentic Spanish Cuisine”. My only concern is that because of its too much flavor, you may end up not finishing your food because it can always be too much for the taste, resulting to a feel of disgust it your gut. (BIDLI in Bisaya). Although the price range of the offers is from the lowest, P180.00 which are mostly salads, P200.00-P500.00 which are mostly the main dish, which is quite steep for budget diners out there.
But I’m happy because the other week it was closed due to a reserved party, so you plan ahead and call them before you go there.
Overall, it was a nice dining experience. Check out Ipar’s and tell us what you think.
The Parisian themed restaurant, La Maison Rose (The Pink House) has grown to a much better spot in the Queen City which I now claim The French Park. First, it expanded to a Parisian wine junction; La Vie Parisienne, and now a pizza place has sprouted in the same spot, and it’s called WORLD PIZZA: Around the world in 80 Pizzas.
The World Pizza has quite some worldly taste, instead of just pure French. They offer 80 different kinds of pizzas from the Philippines to the world.
The spot has just a bar for the waiters and waitresses to stay and get the orders, together with the European style stove where the pizzas are cooked; and just some chairs and tables around. The best thing is that they have a huge hammock that looks like the ones I’ve seen on 9gag, which seems relaxing, and when I was there, kids were enjoying the swinging treat.
The best thing was that the waitress told us that we could go and sit anywhere, from La Maison Rose, La Vie Parisienne to World Pizza, just as long as it’s in The French Park.
Try their American pizza that costs P250.00 and also their Laos pizza that costs P210.00. Both are equally delicious and sumptuous, and my partner was indeed super impressed by the way it was flavoured.
You can also blend two pizzas at a time for the highest price of the two you’ve chosen. What I mean was that; just like us, we bought American for P250 and Laos for P210, we paid P250 pesos because it’s the highest price of both.
TIP: If you’re planning to mix two flavours at the same time; choose those treats/pizzas that have the same price or at the same price range. If you choose the P250.00 pizza, better make sure the half of it also costs P250 or at that range.
The Pizza Challege
Now, my partner and I were really impressed by it, so we made a deal to experience another pizza treat that comes from another country to experience of what it taste like in other places just like the way I imagined it to be.
It’s always a delight when you have plans on your own for that very day and that’s what you exactly wanted to do. But unfortunately, for my partner and I; it was a very stressful Saturday. We were planning to do a review for Ipar’s Restaurant, but unfortunately, the place was unavailable because it was used for a function… I wonder why they don’t have their own function rooms.
Well, the misfortune took us somewhere else deserving.
Café Georg is one of the spots where I always pass by and see at G/F MLD Bldg., Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad, Cebu City, and wanted to visit one day. And the plan that night was re-arranged by the stars to destine us to that very, very nice restaurant.
Having the wonderful theme of American style: which you can notice while you walk in, and has a cabinet of Chinas on the entrance part which looked lovely. Café Goerg is a restaurant extravagant that you can find and experience in the Queen City.
The place looks really expensive due to the Western style design. The plates and bottles that are hung on the walls captivate the sense plus the chandelier gives the warm and welcoming appeal. But what astonishes me the most is how the place made me feel like I’m on a boat or on a cruise, perhaps. It really gave me and my partner those feels which was really incredible.
Their Menu has the price range of P200.00++ – P300.00++ in the main course category, like fish, beef, pork, and pasta. Salads do vary from P150.00 – P200.00++. The reason why the price looks steep on their Menu because it already is revamped by VAT.
Try their PorkChop with Garlic Herb Butter which is P220.00 that culminates a pork experience. The butter and the vegetable sidings were the perfect combination. The flavours compliment together with the bland taste of the pork. It’s just too perfect for us, it’s too American, and it’s the taste I’ve been looking for a long time.
Also, try their Beef and Vegetable Casserole which costs P210.00 that is perfect for people who does want it bland-ish. I loved it because I think beef should be cooked that way. Also, the vegetable sidings are perfect apogee for it.
Their Bolognese is a marvelous delight for me because I am a pasta person, and I know when the pasta is good or not. Bolognese on other restaurants is too intense in sweetness; I have a hard time finishing it. But well, it maybe is cooked that way, but I beg to differ. Café Georg offers a Bolognese that is just right on its sweetness. I was wonderstrucked by the flavour which kept me saying ‘God! This is good!’ repeatedly. Café Georg’s Bolognese costs P195.00.
For the drinks, try their Red Grape Shake which is P115.00 that will conclude your dining experience. Café Georg also offers cakes and cupcakes and some delectable assortments for snacks and chilltime.
The service in Café Georg is superbly impressive. The waitresses put smiles on their faces whenever you glance at them, and that’s a plus point, of course. Then the service was very fast, we did not wait for 15 minutes for our order to arrive. What impresses us the most is that, although this might sound a bit absurd, but the fast response when we ordered extra rice. Well, in other restaurants, it will take time for the waiters to return with the extra rice, because we always order one.
Café Georg couldn’t place any more impressive feels in my system. When we deliberated, I quickly said, ‘This is a five’, and it will be a five.
Milk tea nowadays are so IN here at the Queen City, and there’s one located at J. Block Apitong St., and one in Talamban just across University of San Carlos which named Sprockets.
They offer from coffee to milk tea to cakes and very cute cupcakes and also snacks like chicken wings to pizza.
The place in Talamban, which my partner and I visited was really cute and comfortable; but I doubt that it will be on weekdays since it will be jam packed with San Carlos students, but still, it’s nice and pleasing to be in.
Try their Wintermelon Milk Tea, which you can see in their menu having the number ‘1’ beside it, meaning that it’s the best-seller of all. Also, try their Toasted Hazelnut Milk Tea which is the 4th best-seller of all. And their Blueberry Cheese Cake which was also a winner.
I love the fact that they have sinkers that you can choose from, which I prefer the burst, and you’ll just have to add P20.00 from the original price of the beverage.
The beverage price ranges from P90.00 – P100.00 which is really affordable.
Visit Sprockets and love the cuteness of the place.
One Setting Travels 