Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

This post aims to be a guide for those planning to go to Bantayan Island in Cebu and wants to know how much is the fare to get there, from the Mactan Airport to the island itself.

Going to Bantayan Island:

We were at the Mactan Airport around 2am. So for safety and comfort reasons, we just took the airport taxi to the north bus terminal, total fare was P200 since there was no traffic yet.


Yellow Ceres aircon bus to Hagnaya Port - P200 (our bus left the terminal around 3am, we arrived at Hagnaya Port a little past 6am)
Hagnaya Port terminal fee - P10 (once the bus reaches the port, a collector will go around inside the bus for the terminal fee)
Ferry to Bantayan Island - P170 (again, a collector will go around the bus for the ferry fare)
Total Fare going to the island - P380


The ferry left a little late, around 8am. We have no idea what the cause of delay was since we just waited inside the bus the whole time.

Once reaching the island, passengers can go back inside the bus. I think the drop off point would be either in Sta. Fe or Bantayan town proper. For us, we alighted at the port gates because our resort is at the other side of the island (Beach Placid in Alice Beach). We took a pedicab to the resort which cost us P15 per head.

Going back to Cebu City:

We took the resort's free shuttle service going to the port. Ferry fare and terminal fee is the same (P170 and P10) but the bus ride was cheaper (only P160). Unfortunately, the traffic in Cebu City was as if you were in EDSA. From the port to the bus terminal took us more than 5 hours, 2 hours of that just sitting in traffic.
Total fare going back to Cebu - P340

Total fare to and from Bantayan Island: P720

Others:

> If you have an early morning flight like we had, take the airport taxi.
> Take the aircon bus. You will pass by some rough roads and road constructions, and the ride is like getting an instant face powder. There was one point when we can't even see the vehicle in front of the bus because of the thick dust.
> If you're planning to buy dried seafood as pasalubong (danggit, pusit, etc.), buy them at the Bantayan Market. They say its cheaper to buy there than to buy them in Cebu City markets.
> Try their inihaw na longganisang cebu.
> If you are planning to tour the island itself, there are packages being offered at P1,200. The tour can last the whole day and the traveler can decide on the whole itinerary.

Mind∙ful∙ness (NOUN): "bringing one's complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis" - Wikipedia

Better start writing them all down!

When doing the Vietnam-Cambodia tour, one may go directly to Siem Reap from HCMC. The trip would cost $17-$20 USD and will take 15 hours travel time. For our group, we decided to stay for at least a night in Phnom Penh before going to SR. It was a very brief tour and meant one less day of stay in SR, but I would say it was worth the detour.

We took one of the earliest bus trips from Vietnam thru Mekong Express. We were supposed to be in PP around noon but ended up arriving to PP at 3PM. We just dropped our bags in our hotel room and immediately went to the Royal Palace. According to the tuktuk driver we hired, the gates of the palace closes at 4pm.





The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is a complex of buildings which serves as the royal residence of the king of Cambodia. The King’s living area, however, is closed to the public.

Arriving on the island.

Part 1 of a series.

Exactly a week and 2 years ago, Calaguas and I met for the first time. It was love at first sight. This year, I'm with a different set of folks, and instead of doing a DIY backpacking trip, we bought ByaheAdventours Lakwatserong Kusinero's (LK) travel package.

The package cost us Php 3,500 each. inclusive of stuff-i'll-write-about-in-another-entry. Basically, it's the type of backpacking package where you only need to bring clothes and personal hygiene items. You can call it a backpacking fail in a good way--or not, depending on how adventurous you are.

From the Philtranco Cubao bus station, our bus left at 9pm for Daet, Camarines Norte. The trip took around 9-hours. I slept for most of the entire ride.

Tip: Try to sleep during the earlier part of the bus ride because towards the end, when you're nearer Daet, you'll pass by a 2-hour long crazy zigzag road that can make it impossible for anyone to sleep.

At around 6am, the bus dropped us off at a breakfast place whose name I can't remember. Even in the pictures I have, the diner didn't have a visible signboard except for a LK ByaheAdventours poster.

Breakfast Place: Kubo at the back of the jeepney.

I guess it's one of ByaheAdventTours' headquarters. They served eat-all-you can breakfast that cost each of us 100 php. There were fried rice, hotdog, daing na pusit, dilis, egg omelet, fried maling meat loaf, pan de sal, bananas, and instant coffee.

The star of the meal was dilis. They served the tastiest dilis I've ever tasted in my life. It's boneless and is sliced in the middle. If I it were up to me, I'd name it: Freshly Cooked Dilis Chips.  I can see myself snacking on those dilis all day. Too bad I wasn't able to take a photo.

After breakfast, we headed to Vinzons Port to ride a boat that will take us to Mahabang Buhangin Beach (in one of Calaguas group of islands). But for purposes of this series, let's just call it Calaguas.

The stream was too shallow (low tide), Mr. Boat Man had to push our way through with a stick.

The boat ride takes about 2 hours. You'll ride an open boat with a makeshift shade. You'll likely be riding in the morning. Sit on the left side of the boat so you don't get that much sun exposure.


Before the boat reached the ocean, we were welcomed by an estimated 15-minute long stream lined by a marsh. It's so majestic-looking.

It may not look it in the photo, but the view is majestic. Look at how tall the palm trees are and part of them is submerged in water.

The stream takes around 15 minutes to traverse, after that is already the wide ocean :D

We were lucky that the waves weren't big. When I went there 2 years ago, water splashed on me several times during the ride.

On the way to Calaguas.

Tip: You won't be able to access your stuff while on the ride. All bags will be placed in a compartment inside the boat where the motor is. Bring a boat version of a carry-on bag while on the ride (a small pouch would do) Put water-resistant sunblock and your meds in there, along with cash and gadgets in a ziplock bag.

Don't be excited yet when you see this. Mahabang Buhangin is behind it.

I remember the first time I saw the island from afar. I was already feeling the tired-ness from the land trip and the boat ride. At this point, all my expectations and excitement are out the window. All I wanted to do was to get to the shore, lie down, and rest. I already set myself that I will enjoy the beach no matter what it looks like.


And I'm only too glad it's as beautiful as this:


All the exhaustion--gone. Just like that. The effort and travel time was worth it.

It's the most beautiful beach I have ever seen.

It's as beautiful in person as it is in the photo. All I was able to mutter was: Ang sarap mabuhay.*


To be continued to Part 2: Calaguas Island: Setting Up Camp and Beach Bumming

__
Notes:

1. All photos, except for the last one were taken by Eric Joseph Avena.
2. The last photo was actually taken 2 years ago by Paolo, when we were literally, only 13 on the island. This year, there's more than a hundred people. It can get difficult to take a photo like this.
3. *Ang sarap mabuhay, can be translated to "It's good to be alive", but there's something more passionate about the phrase when you say it in Tagalog.