Camiguin white island

Camiguin is a small island province of the Philippines off the northern coast of Mindanao. It belongs to the Northern Mindanao region.  It’s capital is Mambajao and is considered the second smallest province both in population and land area.  Camiguin is famous for its pristine beaches, volcanoes and delicious lanzones.

Getting there

Camiguin is accessible by Air and Sea from Manila and Cebu.  You can take direct flights from Manila domestic airport or Cebu International airport.  The other option is to take boats from Manila to Cagayan de Oro then take ferries to Camiguin.

Things to see

Camiguin was still an untapped tourist destination until a movie in the 90’s was shot in this island featuring the mysterious beauty of this place.  Camiguin offers a lot to tourists from old century churches, beautiful forest and magnificent beaches. Sto Rosario church in Sagay built in 1882  and the church ruins of San Roque are a must to see.  The famous Sandbar of White Island and the sunken cemetery who submerged after a volcanic eruption.  There is also the week long festival of the Lanzones Festival  which are a must to see in this island.

Iloilo and Guimaras are probably two of the provinces you have never visited yet. Or even worse not even heard of. Well this two twin provinces are definitely one of the jewels of the Visayas region.  These two provinces are equally rich in cultural heritage to begin with and splendid beaches to enjoy with.

Miag-ao Church of Iloilo

Iloilo is a province in the Western Visayas region in the Southeast portion of Panay Island. And just off Iloilo’s Southeast portion is the Guimaras island that used to be part of Iloilo.  One cannot just enjoy Iloilo without passing to Guimaras.  And across Guimaras Strait and Panay Gulf is Negros Occidental.  Hiligaynon or Ilonggo is the language spoken in this area.

Things to see and do

Iloilo is rich in Spanish architecture evident in the old buildings of downtown Iloilo.

As a leading province during the Spanish Colonial Era, the province of Iloilo is widely known for its beautiful old world architecture similar to that of Latin American Countries. Spanish colonial Churches are amongst the well knowned tourist sites in the province.

Miagao Church. is a World Heritage Site. This is an  Aztec-Baroque inspired church with Filipino botanicals used to carved on the facade. It is known for its intricate facade and pyramidal bell towers. The church was used as a fortress during the olden days. It is a massive structure built of yellowish Limestones.

Molo Church. The Gothic Renaissance Church of Molo was used as a watch tower to warn the people if there are any attackers on the shore of Iloilo City. It is a fine coral stone church with Classical and Gothic details. It is also known as the feminist church because of the beautiful female saints lining inside the church.

Cabatuan Church. This Neoclassic Church, known to be the most massive Hispanic structure in Iloilo is built of red bricks. It is believed to be the largest red brick structure in the Visayas and it was given the title “Model of Temples” by the ‘El Eco de Panay’. The Cabatuan Church is known to be the only extant Spanish colonial church with three facades.

San Jose Church. The beautiful church in front of plaza Libertad is considered the most historic amongst the churches in Iloilo City. It is a Byzantine-Neoclassic Church planned to look like the Spanish Church of Valencia del Cid. The Church is known for its collection of priceless Catholic treasures.

The Historic province of Iloilo is also known for ‘Calle Real’; a street of old buildings with their classical designs. During January, the city heats up for Dinagyang, the festival dubbed as “The best tourism event in the Philippines” It is a collection of tribe warriors dancing in honor of the Child Jesus.

Guimaras on the other hand is known for its agricultural crops.  Be sure not to miss the Manggahan festival (Mango Festival), where the city boasts of its world renowned delicious mangoes.  The celebration normally last for a few days and various activities are organized.  Date changes yearly decided by the Fiesta committee.  To enjoy the beaches in Guimaras you can check out the following resorts; Isla Naburot, Costa Aguada resort.  You can also visit the Mambukal resort and Trapist Monastery.

Getting There

The fastest and the easiest way is getting to Iloilo is via an airplane from Manila.  Flight takes about an hour.  There are various affordable domestic plane servicing this route so finding a seat is always easy.  The other option is through “roro”, buses that crosses Luzon and ends up at ferry boat to reach Visayas.  This normally takes long about a day, but if you love beautiful scenery and does not mind being seated for a long time in a bus this is for you. From Iloilo you can go to Guimaras via ferry boat that brings you there, travel last for about an hour.

Things to taste and buy

Iloilo is famous for its Lapaz Batchoy.  This is a noodle soup specialty of Lapaz Iloilo.  Go to the market in the morning to enjoy this province specialty.  In guimaras do not fail to taste their mangoes and different products out of mangoes; dried mangos, fruit juice and candies.

Mambukal resort

Pasalubong

Sagada is one of the municipalities of Mountain Province.  It is adjacent to Bontoc, another interesting place to visit in Mountain Province.  You can’t go to Sagada without dropping by at Bontoc.  Sagada is located 275 Km north of Manila and 140 Km from Baguio.  Sagada is popular for its hanging coffins, an old tradition that is no longer practice nowadays.  Traditionally not anyone has the privillege to be buried this way, one has to be married, have children among others.

Things to do

Popular activities in Sagada includes trekking, exploring both caves and waterfalls, spelunking, bonfires, picnics, rappelling, visiting historical sites, nature hikes, and participating in tribal celebrations.  Upon arrival at Sagada, head on at the Tourism Office for registration at the Sagada Municipal Hall.  They have a complete listing of the things that you can do.  You can also hire a tourist guide, fee varies according to the activitiy you wish to do.  You can also arrange for transportation with the tourism office. Do not miss to check out these places:

Hanging Coffins

You can see near the entrance going to the famous Sumaging cave.  You can either see them from a far or walk closer and take some pictures.

Echo Valley

Kiltepan tower

Rice Terraces

Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves

Bomod-ok and Bokong Falls

Do not miss dropping by at Bontoc Museum, they have a magnificent collection of Bontoc’s traditional houses, clothes and utensils.  The mini-community displayed on the exterior of the Museum is also very impressive.

Getting there

You can go to Sagada by land from Baguio.  From Manila you can take air-conditioned buses plying to Baguio daily.  Once in Baguio, you can take regular buses going to Bontoc- Sagada.  Another option is to take a domestic flight from Manila to Baguio and arrange for a private vans going to Sagada.

Do not miss

Sagada Coffee

Sagada Blueberryjam

Sagada native bags

Getting there

The trip going to Capones Island takes about 4 to five hours drive from Manila passing through city of Olongapo and heading towards north to San Antonio following directions to Barangay Pundaquit.

Things to do

Upon arrival at the village you will notice the magnificent scenery of beach behind a mountain, perfect to watch the sun set. The island is accessible for day picnics, swimming and even over-night swimming just be sure to pre-arrange with your boatmen for them to pick you up. Snorkelling and kayaking are also possible on the beach so be sure to bring all your necessary equipments.

Surfing Capones Island

Capones Island is popular for its easy and manageable surfing waves. During the best season the beach offers well formed breaks for advanced surfers. During the season beginners can enjoy 3-9 feet waves perfect practicing. It is advisable to come from July to December to enjoy such adventure but the best one is just right after a storm when water is still agitated.

“El Nido”, a spanish term for nest explains the islands famous marble and limestone cliffs housing a great number of the nestling ground for balinsasayaw or swiflets. The swiflets nests are actually very much used in cooking specially in Chinese cuisine. In El Nido you have a good chance of seeing hawksbill turtles, which abound in the El Nido
archipelago. It is also  home to dugong, whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins and a rich
diversity of fish. Sting Rays can also be seen from time to time.

El Nido is located in the islands of Palawan, bordered by Linapacan Strait , Sulu Sea and South China Sea. It is composed of 45 islands and islets each worth visiting for its formation and rich marine life.

Things to do In El Nido

Aside from appreciating the beauty of the scenery here two of the most important activity in El Nido are diving, island hopping and snorkelling. But of course not to forget swimming and sunbathing. The town of El Nido is not that big you can also explore this small fishing town by walking and probably buy your souvenirs in the market. You can also enjoy eating out in El Nido for there are quite some great restaurants to try. You can also hire a van or tricycle to bring you to some places nearby El Nido; cave tours or mangrove tours.

Island Hopping, Snorkelling and Diving Tours in El Nido

The two major activities tourist do in El Nido are snorkelling and diving. Although, there more beautiful diving spots in Port Barton or Coron Palawan, the spectacular beauty of El Nido Palawan is beyond compare. There are normally tour operators specialising in organizing tours to El Nido but some hotels do it for you. You can also negotiate with some boatmen for a much cheaper organized trip to El Nido’s islands. You can book them in advance before coming or make your reservation upon arrival.  The organized tours normally includes a picnic lunch in the island, the use of boat and a guide.  Prices vary.  Some are cheaper than the other.  Be sure to ask well and confirm the inclusion of your tour before buying.  The tours proposed to tourists are normally organized into three major tours: Tour A, Tour B and Tour C.

Tour A

Includes Big and Small Lagoon, Shimizu Island and Commando Beach.  This is the closest tour packages.  You can even do this trip for a half day tour. This is normally the cheapest tour among the three.

Tour B

The tour includes the famous Snake Island, Lagen Island, Inabuyatan Island and Cathedral Cave.  This is ideally done on the second day.  This could roughly cost about 800 pesos per person.

Tour C

The last tour is considered the farthest and the best among the three.  It includes Matinloc Island, Tapiutan Island and the famous Secret Beach.  Sea turtle abound the area, ask your boatmen when is the best time to see them.

When to Go

There are two seasons in El Nido: wet and dry.  It is generally dry, from December to May, and wet, from June to November. April and May are typically the driest months, while the heaviest rainfall occurs around August.  It is recommended to visit El Nido during the dry months of April and May.  December is considered a peak season in El Nido.

Getting there

There are possible ways of going to El Nido.  The first one is by taking the direct flight Manila to El Nido of ITI Airways (formerly Soriano Aviation) a private nineteen seater plane.  This is a private plane used to bring in and out of El Nido the clients of Lagen Island Resort, an exclusive luxury resort in El Nido.  The cost is quite high compared to normal domestic airlines servicing in Philippines.  Be sure to book in advance because the guests of the hotel are their priority. From flights departing from El Nido you can pick up your tickets directly at El Nido Artcafe, their authorized ticketing office in El Nido. Another way  lesser expensive thand the first one is by taking a plane from Manila to Puerto Princesa.  There are various domestic airlines servicing this route: Philippines Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines.  The flight takes about 45 to 60 minutes.  From Puerto Princesa you can either hire a van specially if you are travelling in a small group or

Whale shark watching Season

Butanding season starts around November and goes on through month of May. The best month to see them is February through April. It is advisable to go in the morning, as the waters are clearer and it easier to spot the Whale Sharks. According to the locals, the Whale Sharks are also more abundant before noon. On peak season, it is very common for each visitor to see more than a dozen different Butanding.

Getting there

If you are coming from Manila there are two options in getting there. First is by airplane, about 45-50 minutes a short ride from Manila to Legaspi (your entry point in Bicol region). There are various airlines servicing this route with varied prices too. You can check on Philippines Airlines, Cebu Pacific or Zest Air. Upon arrival at Legaspi airport, there are Van drivers waiting for passengers there. The hotel you will be staying can book the transportation for you in advance. Or if not you can just find one there for sure. The trip is about an hour from Legaspi to Donsol, prices also varies. From Legaspi, you can make a short stop-over to marvel at the majestic Mayon Volcano either on your arrival or on you way back to Manila. Often in the Legaspi airport But if you are not press with time, would love to see the beautiful scenery of Luzon vegetation and is willing to take that long bus ride (about 15-18 hours depends on bus company), there are buses plying from Manila (EDSA, Pasay, Cubao) directly to Donsol,Sorsogon.

Registration at Donsol Tourism Office

Upon arrival at Donsol you must register that day (if you wish to do whale shark watching the next day) at the Donsol Tourism Office. You can take a tricycle going there or walk by the beach or along the road depending where your hotel is located. At the Tourism Office, you will be required to register and attend a brief orientation session prior to heading out to see the Whale Sharks. You will also be required to pay the fee for: Boat Rental and Crew, Registration, and snorkeling equipment rental (if needed). The maximum number of registrants per boat is 7 people. If you are travelling alone it is recommended that you find other visitors that can come with you on the boat to help you lessen the bill. There are always backpackers travelling alone so it won’t be such a hard task to do.

Butanding Interaction

Whale shark watching trips are often organized in the morning. They will advise you that the best time to leave is between 6-7 am. You can arrange to have a small breakfast by the beach in the hotel you are staying as you wait for your boat to arrive. It is normally your BIO (Butanding Information Officer) that will welcome you on board the 12m (40 ft) boat. He will further explain you the rules and regulations and how the interaction normally occurs. There will be a spotter, the guy who is usually on the highest point of the boat to spot where the whale sharks are, and the rest of the crew. For a guaranteed safe and enjoyable trip it is advise to listen carefully your BIO. When a spotter sees one, he tells the BIO where it is, the BIO gives the signal position, and tells you to jump. The BIO will swim and guide you to this once in a life time experience of whale shark watching. Generally, you do not need to be out in deep waters in order to interact with the Whale Sharks. Your BIO will point them out and educate you on how to spot them, as well as provide additional information you need to know during the experience. The BIO’s are quite knowledgeable and friendly, and are willing to answer your questions. When the BIO feels that the situation is ideal, he will instruct the crew on the boat’s approach to the whale shark, and take the lead in getting you ready for the experience. Seeing the Butanding for the first time is an extremely exciting experience. It is very important to keep the safety procedures in mind, and always follow the lead and instructions of your BIO.

Places to stay

There are a lot of interesting places to stay in Donsol. There is Amor Farm Beach Resort, a great place with a beautiful garden and a great restaurant. There is also Vitton Beach, Woodland Resort and Casa Bianca. You can also do some homestaying in Donsol.

Contact Numbers

Woodland Resort
Contact Marichu (09219699544) / Mel (09182315420)
Rates: Big Cottages AC (10 pax) P2,700.00
AC Rooms (2 pax) P1,500.00
Non AC Cottages P 800.00

Amor Farm Beach Resort
Contact Agnes (0917-6941687)/ 0917-9682733/ 0910-4586140/ 0910-4762176/ rasyl_r_amor@yahoo.com
Rates: Fan Room w/Bathroom (2 single size bed, 2 fan) P1,000
Fan Room w/Bathroom (1 double size bed) P 700
Fan Room (2 double size bed, common bathroom) P 600

Vitton Beach Resort
Contact Nora (0927-9126313)
Rates: AC Rooms (2-4 pax) P1,500.00 Extra Person: P200 per head
AC Rooms w/ Hot & Cold (2-4 pax) P1,700.00

Casa Bianca
Contact Hazel (0921-3687066)/Jun Balmonte (0906-3099372)/ Jun (fireflies) (0906-9320457)
Rates: Fan Room P800
AC Room P1,500

Q & A

How many whale sharks we can see in a trip?

If you are lucky you can see as much as 12 Butanding in a day. But there is really no guarantee on how many you can see.

How long the trip last?

The trip normally lasts three hours.

Do I need to be a good swimmer to do this activity?

No. If you are a good swimmer it’s great but if you are not so comfortable in the water you can take some life jacket and your BIO will even assist you.

What other activities we can do in Donsol?

Aside from Butanding interaction you can also organize a “Firefly watching” with the tourism office. It is a night activity.

]]> http://www.in-the-philippines.com/travel-guide-donsol-whaleshark-watching/feed 5 http://www.in-the-philippines.com/other-things-to-do-in-pagudpud http://www.in-the-philippines.com/other-things-to-do-in-pagudpud#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 17:23:31 +0000 admin http://www.in-the-philippines.com/?p=239 Although to many going to Pagudpud means only enjoying and frolicking the beach, well you are mistaken. For there are a lot of exciting things we can do when visiting Pagudpud.

1. Start with the Pagudpud Viaduct

2. Stop by at Paraiso ni Anton (Anton’s Paradise)

Beside the grotto there is a clean stream nearby to explore.

3. Go to Blue Lagoon and swim

Enjoy this still untapped “tourist destination” a place where water is soothing and relaxing.

4. and last but not the least Trek the Kaibigan Falls

A winning itinerary for nature lovers out there!

There are so many exciting things to do and visit in Ilocos Sur. You can start with Vigan followed by the Crisologo Museum, Vigan Park how about a little bit of strolling in the City to enjoy the famous empanada, okoy and other delectable Ilocos goodies.

1. Vigan City

Found in the province is the historic town of Vigan, which was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in November 1999. Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines and from China with those from Europe to create a unique culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. Its Kamestizoan District is replete with ancestral houses with ancient tiled roofs, massive hardwood floorings, ballustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish-Mexican-Chinese architectural styles.

2. Sta Maria Church

Centuries-old Sta. Maria Church, declared a National Landmark, was used as a fortress during the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Tirad Pass, declared a National Shrine, had been the last stand of the Filipino Revolutionary Forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo during the same period. Bessang Pass served as the backdoor to General Yamashita’s last ditch defense during the last stage of World War II.

3. Burnay (Jar) makers

Burnay, are the big jars where the delicious bagoong(shrimp paste) are usually kept in Ilocos. You can drop by and watch them make them and help preserve this legacy.

4. Crisologo Museum

A family museum of the famous Crisologo family of Ilocos. Marvel at their car collections and other historical related artifacts.

5. Vigan’s Baluarte

One of Vigan’s newer attractions is the Baluarte Zoo which is owned by then Ilocos Sur Governor, Chavit Singson. The zoo houses a wide array of animals like pythons, tigers, snakes, birds, ponies and a whole lot more. Kids and kids at heart will surely love this place!

Ilocos Sur

The province of Ilocos Sur is often dubbed as a living museum of a spirited past because of the strong presencen of Spanish legacy where myriad of cultures and histories converge. In here you will find a national shrine, a national landmark, a national museum, heritage museums, ancestral houses, period houses, cobble-stoned streets – they all share space in the timeless land of Ilocos Sur.

Places to see:

Vigan, Burnay Jars, Vigan Park, Crisologo Museum, Vigan’s Baluarte

Touring  Vigan by yourself

Things to eat

Ilocano Empanada and Okoy.

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte is a province in the Philippines in the Ilocos Region in the island of Luzon. The capital of this province is Paoay. This province is not only popular because of its historical monuments, museum, beautiful beaches but more importantly because the prominent politician Marcos clan hails from this region.

Things to see:

Paoay Church in Laoag,  St. William’s Cathedral in Laoag, Sta. Monica in Sarrat,  Bacarra Church, Malacanang of the North and Pagudpud Beach

Butandings, although called as Whales are not mammals like other whales but they are actually fish and belong to group of sharks. However, this type of shark is not a predator like other varieties of sharks and just feeds on the plankton and small fish. Thus, in a sense a giant vegetarian fish. The seawater of Donsol have just the right temperature and are rich in plankton that attracts them. Butanding actually means “Gentle Giant” in the local dialect and this represents their true nature. This is the largest fish in the world and grows up to the length of 60 feet and weight up to 15 metric tons. We have never heard of them hurting humans intentionally although sometimes collisions with fishing boats are common. After declaring it a protected species and after knowing its behavior, the Filipino government was quick to spot the opportunity for “Eco-tourism” in Donsol. Butandings are found in this region from February to June when they migrate looking for the right water temperature and food.

Visiting Donsol: how to go, where to stay, what to do.