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Banana Island, Coron, Palawan, Philippines

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Banana Island is a fish and coral sanctuary in the southern part of Coron, Palawan, Philippines.  Preserved and privately-owned by Gallego Family, they allow visitors to swim and see the clams, corals and lots of fishes just few meters from the shoreline of the island.

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To visit the Island from Metro Manila, I made a sample 2-nights travel itinerary for you to begin with:


MONDAY (Day 0)

  • 05:00am ~ 06:00am : Breakfast
  • 06:00am ~ 07:00am : travel to Manila Airport
  • 07:00am ~ 08:00am : Check-in
  • 08:00am ~ 09:00am : Boarding
  • 09:00am ~ 10:00am : Manila > Coron Airport (SkyjetAir 9am flight)
  • 10:00am ~ 11:00am : Coron Airport -> Coron Town
  • 11:00am ~ 01:00pm : Lunch and restock in Coron Town
  • 01:00pm ~ 02:00pm : Shopping in Pantalan
  • 02:00pm ~ 04:00pm : Coron Town to Banana Island Passenger Boat
  • 04:00pm ~ 05:00pm : HAYAHAY
  • 07:00pm ~ 08:00pm : Dinner

TUESDAY (Day 1)

  • HAYAHAY, snorkeling one to sawa, sunburn
  • Eat, Sleep, Repeat

WEDNESDAY (Day 2)

  • 06:00am ~ 07:00am : Breakfast
  • 07:00am ~ 08:00am : Pack-up
  • 08:00am ~ 09:00am : Catch-up Bulalacao -> Coron Town Passenger Boat
  • 09:00am ~ 10:00am : Van Transfer Coron Town to Coron Airport
  • 10:00am ~ 11:00am : Check-in
  • 11:00am ~ 12:00nn : Boarding
  • 12:00nn ~ 01:00pm : Coron to Manila Airport (CebuPac 12nn flight)
  • 01:00pm ~ 02:00pm : Home Sweet Home, Lunch
  • 02:00pm ~ 03:00pm : UPLOAD! UPLOAD!

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Things to bring:

  • Camera
  • Waterproof Travel Bags
  • Snorkeling Gears
  • Aqua Shoes
  • Coral Reef Friendly Sunblock
  • Battery Pack for your Gadgets, solar or crank usb chargers
  • Garbage Bag
  • Food and Water
  • Bread for fish feeding
  • Cooking Stove, Cook Set and Fuel (optional)
  • Eating Utensils (optional)
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Me (left) with Mr Gallego (right)

 

Things to Remember:

  • Beach camping on the island is no longer allowed
  • Day-tour entrance fee is PhP 200
  • Overnight fee is PhP 850 ~ PhP 1000 per night
  • Most of the cottages have lights and electric fans run through electric generator
  • Some
  • They can cook for you, but bring your own food to cook
  • No fishing, but you can ask them to fish for you
  • They have a small store that sell few items like softdrinks, beer, alcohol drinks, cigarets, and chips
  • Waterproof your bags, phones and gadgets
  • DO NOT use non-coral-friendly sunblock
  • Garbage In, Garbage Out. No garbage should stay on the island
  • The Coron-Bulalacao Passenger Boat operates Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays only.   Bulalacao-to-Coron-Town: leaves at 8am~9am, while Coron-town-to-Bulalacao between 2pm-4pm in Pantalan.
  • Contact their Facebook page for guidance : https://www.facebook.com/banana-island-coron-palawan-120622397968261/

 

How about you? How’s your Banana Island experience?

 

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Photo of the Day: Isla de Capon Grande, San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines

Isla de Capon Grande, San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines
Isla de Capon Grande, San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines

Capones Island, also known as Grand Capon or Capon Grande Island (Spanish: Isla de Capon Grande) is a small island approximately 1.9 kilometers (1.2 mi) long by 0.4 kilometers (0.25 mi) wide, at its widest point, lying some 3.8 kilometers (2.4 mi) off the coast of the province of Zambales on western Luzon island in the Philippines. It is the largest of the Capones Islands (Islotes de los Capones), a group of three small islands which also includes nearby Camara Island and another islet connected to it by a sand bar.[1] The island is administratively part of barangay Pundaquit of the Zambales municipality of San Antonio. (wikipedia)

The island is characterized by huge rock formations and steep cliffs surrounded by white sand and coral beaches. The Capones Island Lighthouse is located on the hillside near the western end of the island. (wikipedia)

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Jomalig Island, Quezon, Philippines

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Itinerary going to Jomalig Island
1200am – Raymond Terminal Bus in Legarda
1230am – Bus Departure to Real Port
0500am – Arrival in Real Port
0930pm – Boat ride to Jomalig Island
0200pm – Arrive in Jomalig Island

Itinerary going back to Manila
1200pm – Break Camp
0100pm – Boat ride to Real Port
0600pm – Arrive in Real Port
0900pm – Van to Manila
1200am – Arrive Metro Manila

  • Note: Contact and secure a boat going to Jomalig Island before arrival

More Photos Here

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I underestimated the beauty of Potipot Island.

I underestimate the beauty of Potipot Island.

Ilang beses ko nang naririnig na maganda daw sa Potipot… but It never pushed me to go there because of budget constraints.  And sa maraming reason… isa na dun kasi hindi ako beach bum na mahilig mag beach.  I prefer landscape and historical sites… with action-packed activities than swimming sa beach. Idagdag mo pa na medyo paranoid ako kapag nasa beach… ang dami kong kinatatakutan… 1) Open seas; baka hilahin ako sa gitna ng china sea.   2) Sea Creatures; baka may shark, baka may jelly fish, baka may sea urchin… 3) Darker Skin; Baka masunog ako…. mahirap mag paputi hehe.

After several invites from a friend, and lacking of new ideas for the coming romantic Valentines date… I texted my friend who have a Tours and Travel business called Leisure 28 to book me for two for their Feb 12-13 Potipot trip. Two days, 1 night… transportation and accommodation included… And the journey begins…

We meet-up at Shell gas station, corner Ayala-Mckinley, Makati. Sobrang aga namin ng girlfriend ko sa call time so we wait for a bit… then tsaka nagdatingan na yung mga kasabay naming trippers and yung van.  From Makati to Candelaria, Zambales… we are suppose to get there around 12nn… but mga 1030am kami dumating sa Sun Bloom resort… nababagalan pako sa driver namin at first kasi parang gusto kong agawin yung manebela… pero sabi ko nalang.. maingat lang sya mag drive.

Nagpahinga kami for a while, nag photo-ops sa over-looking see side (Balcony ng resort).. and after that… we ate lunch at own expense… and we ordered Beef Sirloin with Rice for about 100+ each meal… na surprise kami na bagong bukas lang pala yung restaurant na yun that day… and they gave us complimentary “peach halves”… Open-mouthed smile After eating lunch we prepared for a boat ride going to Potipot Island na…

A paranoid person like me, I always make sure na I have enough tools to survive in case of “sana hindi mangyaring” events. So I packed our wallets and cellphones using Ziploc and syempre yung camera to capture moments.  And thanks to Leisure28, so thoughtful to lend us their tent to use sa island… kaya kasama din sa check list… Smile

After a quick boat ride from resort to Potipot island… I found out that Potipot is way way far beyond my expectations… Sobrang linis and sobrang ma aliwalas… and kahit saan pwede kang mag tayo ng tent mo at maligo… pili ka lang kung anong side gusto mo… Smile Philippines is truly pearl of the orient…

Halos lahat ng side ng island pwedeng liguan… may beach front facing china sea… may side din na facing Zambales… I prefer yung Zambales side hehehe…  may safety net din para sa mga maliligo… for me… napaka fine nung sand and malinis kahit sa water na… wala kang makikitang palutang lutang…  Maraming din puno sa island, and makikita mong may mga bagong tanim for vegetation… May enough deep well para sa mga mag re rinse off and mag si CR na hindi nga lang fully maintained… and hindi sya crowded like Boracay and Puerto Galera…

Setting-up our tent and walking half around the island is not exhausting… But medyo nag crave ako to eat and drink something… unfortunately… walang tindahan with-in the island sabi nung mamang nakausap ko na taga dun.  So kapag pupunta ka na pala dun sa island, dapat dala mo na yung mga chibog at drinks mo… Pwede naman daw mag pabili sa mga tumatawid na nag ba-bangka… pero mas ok kung may dala ka na para hindi ka na mag hintay. Sa isang banda… yun siguro yung reason kung bakit malinis yung island… kasi walang source ng kalat… Winking smile

By the way, Naitanong ko rin sa manong… kung sino na ang may ari ng isla… ang sagot nya… dating DPWH secretary during Glora Macapagal-Arroyo administration.  tionkz! ang yaman nya ha… naka bili sya ng island?

We swam for about 2hours lang siguro… then mga bandang 530pm bumalik na kami sa resort.  Nakaka bitin pero pwede narin… baka kasi magpakapagod kami sa kaka swim eh wala kaming dalang water and food hehehe…

Sun Bloom and Leisure28 deserves commendation… Yung driver nga nilibre pa kami ng extra rice… and may libreng unplanned stop-over pa sa Jollibee, duty free ng subic at public market sa Zambales… Thumbs up din ako ang mga staff ng Sun Bloom resort… nag set-up pa sila ng bon-fire for us to make our Valentines date more romantic.. ayiyiii!!!  and napaka approachable nila and pwede kang mag pa assist anytime. All-in-all, satisfied ako sa Potipot Island Valentines date namin Smile… I’m planning to go back and bring my family dun kapag nagkaroon ng chance.

Potipot Island is one of the 7,107 islands of the Philippines na siguradong maipagmamalaki natin.  Marami pang iba na not expensive and madaling puntahan tulad ng Potipot Island. Lets patronize our local tourism and lets help each other to preserve it.