Sumilon Island Getaway

It has been awhile that I and my friends went on an adventure barely to relax and get away from the bustle of city life. Our choices were moalboal and sumilon and for obvious reasons the vote was unanimous and we chose Sumilon island.

We opted to go there on a weekend and agreed to meet early in the morning. We took the 630am trip and arrived around 930am. The trip from Bancogon to Sumilon Island was quite a rough ride because I believe there was a tropical storm coming on that particular week.

Before we went to Sumilon Island we haggled if it’s ok to pay P1500/person excluding snacks instead of paying the P2000/person. And luckily our request was granted.

• Weekdays: Php 1,500 nett per person

• Weekends (Saturday / Sunday) & Holidays: Php 2,000 nett per person

Inclusions

• Roundtrip boat transfers from Bancogon (Oslob) to Sumilon Island
• Plated lunch per person at the Pavilion Bar

• Island activities (snorkeling, paddle boating, kayaking) and use of picnic huts and swimming pool

Trip Schedule from Bancogon to Sumilon

*Make sure you arrive at Boncogon 20-30 minutes 

before the scheduled trip. Schedule may change 

without prior notice. 

Monday to Sunday

• 1st trip - 7:30 am
• 2nd trip - 9:30 am
• 3rd trip - 11:00 am
• 4th trip - 12:30 pm

Last trip - 4:30 pm 

Trip Schedule from Sumilon to Bancogon

Monday to Sunday

• 1st trip - 9 am
• 2nd trip - 10:30 am
• 3rd trip - 12 noon
• 4th trip - 1:30 pm
• 5th trip - 3:30 pm

Last trip - 5:30 pm (5pm for Saturdays)



The plated lunch was actually a gastronomic display of delicious food. We were served with soups and our own choice of main course (grilled squid, pork humba and chicken bbq) plus mouth-watering desserts (macaroni fruit salad and choco pudding).

 Pavilion Bar (octagon nipa hut)

                                                                 soup with garlic bread

grilled squid 

                                                                 pork humba with egg

chicken bbq garnished with cauliflower, string beans, broccoli and carrots

Delectable Desserts

                                                                  macaroni fruit salad

                                                                      choco pudding

 When in Sumilon, you have a lot of physical activities to enjoy such as kayaking, snorkeling and swimming. You can also do trekking and go to Baluarte (historical watchtower)

 

 kayaking

 jacuzzi

How to get there:

You can either ride a bus or v-hire at the south bus terminal. Ceres buses can take you to Bancogon (Oslob) approximately 3 hours of travel from Cebu City and 15-minute travel from Oslob to Sumilon Island via a banca (motorboat) which is owned and operated by Sumilon Bluewater island Resort. 

Bus Fare: 

·         PhP 155.00 for air conditioned buses

·         PhP 145.00 for non-air conditioned bus

V-Hire:

·         approximately 100-150 price range

TIP: Contact ahead Sumilon Blue Water Island Resort through (032) 481 0801 / 516 7236 for ease in travel. They will also assist you and tell you about the schedule of your trip and where to take a ride.

Bantayan Island Trip

Since it is very difficult to get a VL slot, I decided to go to Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island during my 2 successive RD’s (rest days) last April 2 and 3. I was told by Vivien (a colleague) that the first trip going to Hagnaya is 6am (she had a recent summer getaway with her family just last week at Bantayan Island too)

Kota Beach Resort, Bantayan Island Cebu

So, off I go with my cousin and little sister to visit the place and enjoy what the time out has to offer.

Once we arrived at the port, we were fetched by Noy Dodong of Kota Beach, Resort. He was actually instructed by Mirriam, the resort’s receptionist to get us from the pier because we already have a reservation for overnight stay (though I wished I could have stayed longer, tsk tsk tsk).

 

The place is so serene and so relaxing. It’s like you become one with nature. The milieu is so tidy and spells of cleanliness.

Cottage rates ranges from P1300 (standard) to P2000 (beachfront) and their contact no. 4389042 (sta. fe office) look for Mirriam. Our cottage was P1560 (deluxe aircon).

Ogtong Cave, Santa Fe Beach Club

Santa Fe Beach Club, Bantayan Island Cebu

How to get there:

It was actually a 3 hour ride from the North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya with a 15-minute stopover at Carmen, Cebu. Bus fare is P80 from Cebu City to Hagnaya but it’s only P70 if you’re from Hagnaya going to Cebu City.

We arrived at Hagnaya approximately 9:05 am and bought tickets on board Island Shipping vessel bound for Sta. Fe to leave at 9:30 am. Ticket prices were actually lower than the usual because once you arrived there, vessel barkers are competing against each other to get more passengers.

Original ticket price is P120 but we only paid half of the price. Not that I was complaining, but competitor’s ticket was priced at P10/person. We didn’t choose the much lower ticket price simply because it was to leave the port at 10:30 am which is already 1 hour delay compared to the P60/person.

Going to Sta. Fe Port from Hagnaya is a 1 hour and approximately 15 mins. joyride.