Sugar Beach, Bantayan Island, Cebu

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We left Cebu City at 5 in the morning and rode a bus going to Hagnaya Port and by around 8am, we were already at the port securing our ferry tickets.

The travel from Cebu City to the island of Bantayan is smooth and we didn't encounter any problems. Commuting is easy and safe. When we got there, we still have not decided on where to stay. According to most travel blogs I read prior to this trip, Kota Beach Resort has the best view of the shoreline as it has a sand bar but when we got there, the resort is under renovation and they are still cleaning the shoreline filled with seaweeds(?) due to the past typhoon.

So we decided to go to Anika Beach Resort. They say that Anika is a little pricey compared to other resorts and is the favorite place of some celebrities to stay in when in Bantayan. When we got there, we understood why.

Creatively, they used container vans for the construction of the rooms. There are lots of rooms to choose from depending on the price and how near it is to the beach. We settled for the Sunset View rooms priced at 2,000php a night for two persons. 


The resort also has posh-looking beachfront pods that are just perfect for sunbathing. 







For lunch, we decided to take a stroll in the vicinity and most of us were craving for seafood and of course, it's an island so we didn't spent too much time looking for a place that serves seafood. 

The price were too cheap! Each meal only costs a 120 pesos and the serving size is satisfying!

The tricycle drivers "offered" us island hopping packages and since we didn't have anything planned to do on the island, we said yes. The boat picked us up at 3pm after we had our late lunch and we're all aboard! 

Shameless bikini picture on the boat. SORRY!



Although the trip was fun, it was cut short because all of us were mildly to severely stung by some jellyfish. So we headed back to Bantayan to attend to our stung skin.



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The Virgin Calaguas!

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The amazing Calaguas! 
I won't beat around the bush anymore. Calaguas is one of the best beaches I've been to. In fact, I am torn between choosing this over Koh Khai Nai and Maya Bay which are my two favorite beaches in Thailand. Its white sand is so creamy and soft that you'll feel like you're sinking. It feels like literally stepping on polvoron.

Calaguas Video


Calaguas is a small group of remote and not-yet-developed islands northeast of Camarines Norte. There's no electricity, no cell site, no hotels, just tents, and the water supply is only ran by a generator. This is the total isolated island experience. I think people should really start considering coming to Calaguas soon, before they build structures and transform it into a commercialized summer getaway. The beauty of the virgin islands of Calaguas is not something you can see on many beaches.

I wouldn't lie to you though. The trip was a little hellish, especially the two-hour boat ride from Daet to Calaguas because the waves were too strong, but when this virgin island showed itself from the not-so-far horizon, my crankiness has disappeared and said to myself, "Paradise, we have arrived."


Raf, Adelbert, Kaye and I went here to celebrate my 23rd birthday and we planned this sometime in December because my birthday is right in the middle of the summer heat. 

The sand is perfectly white and the waters are as cool as they can be. 

 Definitely one of the best birthdays ever! It was my first time to go beach camping because I am not really fond of living in tents.

 So happy birthday to me! :)

PS: To be honest, during the summer, the heat can actually take its toll on you. It's a little bit dizzying and dehydrating so make sure to bring your sunblock, lots and lots of water, a fan or that portable battery-operated electric fans they sell at the mall, and of course lip balm (for the girls). We didn't stay inside the tents during daytime because of the scorching heat. And it the evening, it drizzled a little but it was only for a short while.

 Sorry. We really are an annoyingly cheesy couple. :) Hihi.



We joined the tour of Calaguas Local so that we'd only have to pay for the trip and they'd take care of everything else from there. For more information about Calaguas Local, visit their website at www.calaguaslocal.com. The rates are in there and there are several packages to choose from which depends on the inclusives. Here's the itinerary. 

The tour guides of Calaguas Local were very friendly especially Rocky who is a very jolly and accommodating guide. They made the trip easier for us. The food was right on time and the tents were already built by the time we got there.



 Some panoramic shots of the shore line.
















We stayed there overnight and had a short drinking session even though the four of us don't really drink. But since it's my birthday, what the heck. The next morning, we still had enough time to swim and I remember vividly that the water was so cool I don't wanna leave.

But then we have to...

I said my goodbyes to this amazingly breathtaking island and we boarded the boat back to Daet.


For a short side trip, we stopped over at Bagasbas Beach while waiting for the bus back to Manila in the afternoon. We had the option to surf but we were just too tired from the boat ride so we just had lunch and enjoyed the cool sea breeze instead.


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