MAY/JUNE 2016:
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OVERVIEW:
But the Central Spine offers more of an authentic Philippines experience at a cheaper price without the crowds … with beaches and experiences that are just as good.
In this post, I suggest a 1-2 month itinerary for those who want to follow a ‘Road Less Travelled’. All on a GRANDPAcking Budget of US$54 / day for 2 people.
This itinerary is for people who like nature; it is not for party goers.
THE SUGGESTED ROUTE:
- You start in Cebu City
- Then Bantayan Island
- Then Maripipi Island
- Then San Antonio Island
- Then Ticao Island
- Then Masbate Island
- Then Marinduque
- Then Romblon Island
- Then Tablas Island
- And finish in Carabao Island
If you start in Boracay Island, you can do this trip in reverse. Spend up to 1 week in each location. It’s worth spending a whole week in Bantayan, Maripipi, San Antonio, Marinduque, Romblon, and Tablas.
These ‘Central Spine” islands have some of the lowest crime rates in the whole of The Philippines.
They may be ‘off the beaten track’ but they are safe and friendly.
BANTAYAN ISLAND:
Cross References: Cebu City to Bantayan, Where To Stay on Bantayan, Bantayan Information, Bantayan GRANDPAcking Costs, and my BANTAYAN Retirement Review.
Door-to-door travel time is about 6 hours. The cost for 2 GRANDPAckers is about PHP810.
Rent a scooter for PHP250 / day (the rate for 1 week or more) to get you around the island and to save costs.
Bantayan Island accommodation prices are comparable with El Nido, Boracay and Panglao prices. On the internet, you will find it hard to find anywhere on a beachfront for less than PHP2,000 per night.
As I say in my rules of thumb, it is best to turn up with folding cash, make them an offer, and pay up-front – this will get you the best price.
If you want to be within walking distance of a good selection of restaurants and bars, you need to target the Kota Town area. From here you have easy access to White Beach and plenty of entertainment in the evenings ranging from live music to sports bars to karaoke.
Bantayan is neither too busy nor too quiet. It still has a nice ‘balance’ of Filipino tourists, Western tourists, and locals with enough (but not too many) restaurants and bars to choose from.
BANTAYAN ISLAND TO MARIPIPI ISLAND:
Cross references: Bantayan to Malapascua (but don’t go via Malapascua), Malapascua to Ormoc (but don’t go via Ormoc), Ormoc to Naval (but go direct from Palompon instead), Naval to Maripipi Island, and Maripipi A Secret Escape.
From Bantayan, I went to Malapascua. Malapascua is an expensive tourist trap for SCUBA divers. I suggest that you skip Malapascua and head directly for Maripipi Island.
Try the QUTCERR BED & BATH. They have reasonable, clean rooms for about PHP1,200 / night. You can find them on AsiaTravel.com.
The door-to-door time is about 11 hours. GRANDPAckers should budget transport costs of PHP1,300 for 2 people.
There is only 1 proper Resort on Maripipi – the Napa Beach Resort. Make sure that you have contacted them directly, in advance, and negotiated a room and price. For a 1 week stay, target a discount of at least 30% off of their daily Rack Rate. You should be able to get a Large Aircon Double Room for PHP1,000 or a Family Room for PHP1,500. I recommend the latter.
The door-to-door trip time is about 4 hours. 2 GRANDPAckers should budget transport costs of PHP340 (more if you don’t want to use the Motos).
The Napa Beach Resort is a bit isolated. To get around, you have to catch Motos. There are no Trikes and no Jeepneys.
Expect to be ‘resort bound’ and to relax at the resort.
MARIPIPI ISLAND TO SAN ANTONIO ISLAND:
Cross references: Maripipi to San Antonio.
You start at 1:30am and catch a small Bangka from the Napa Beach Resort to Almagro Island.
From there, you catch a 3:30am(ish) Bangka to Calbayog City (3 hours). Catch a Trike to the Minivan Terminal. Catch a Minivan to Victoria (1.5 hours). Walk 500m to the Bangka Port. Catch a Bangka to San Antonio (30 mins). Walk to your hotel.
I suggest that you stay at the Haven Of Fun Resort. You can get a Fan Double for PHP1,000. They have the best beach and their restaurant prices are reasonable.
You won’t find any noisy bars here.
San Antonio is a nice ‘hideaway’ island if you are looking for a quiet place in the real Philippines – away from the busy and popular tourist spots.
Outside of the Resorts, I could only find one ‘Eatery’. This Eatery was in the village just north of the Haven Of Fun.
SAN ANTONIO ISLAND TO TICAO ISLAND:
Cross references: San Antonio to Ticao.
There are very few Hotels listed in Ticao Island on the internet. The most well known is the Ticao Beach Resort. The Ticao Beach Resort is the only SCUBA Dive Resort on the island. Room prices start at PHP2,500 / night – too expensive for GRANDPAckers.
I suggest that you stay at the Ticao Lodge. It’s cheap but cheerful. An Aircon Double costs PHP800 / night.
There are plenty of cheap Eateries around town plus, for a change, a couple of nicer restaurants near the Bangka Port.
You will not have a Beach Resort holiday on Ticao Island. You will be staying in town and taking sight-seeing day trips. You will be doing this by Moto.
TICAO ISLAND TO MASBATE ISLAND:
Cross references: Ticao to Masbate.
The door-to-door trip takes about 3 hours. 2 GRANDPAckers should budget transport costs of PHP270.
Unless you want to be in the center of town on a noisy street (in somewhere like the Victoria Du), the place to be is on the Circumferential / Nursery Road in the ‘north east corner’ of the Masbate City peninsular.
You can stay in Masbate City but there isn’t much endearing about it. It is just another ‘grubby’ Philippines city with lots of Trikes.
There are no beaches in the City.
You, probably, want to get out of Masbate City immediately on arrival to some other target spot that you have picked on the island. As you arrive so early in the day, you will have plenty of time to travel to your chosen destination.
MASBATE ISLAND TO MARINDUQUE OR SIBUYAN:
Cross references: Masbate to Donsol (but don’t go via Donsol – get to Pilar and head for Legazpi City), Naga City to Lucena City, Lucena City to Marinduque, and Marinduque A Perfect Escape.
You now need to decide whether or not you want to include Marinduque Island. If not, catch a ferry from Masbate City to Sibuyan Island to start your tour of the Romblons (see, below).
Otherwise, you are heading for Marinduque. You want to start this trip early. You have a long way to go. It will be a long 2 days.
Day 1: Catch the 8:00am fast ferry from Masbate City to Pilar (3 hours). Catch a Minivan from Pilar to Legazpi City (1 hour). Catch an Aircon Bus or Minivan from Legazpi City to Naga City (2-3 hours).
The door-to-door trip takes about 8 hours. 2 GRANDPAckers should budget transport costs of PHP1,250.
Online, Naga City has several hotels but not many in the GRANDPAcker price range.
Obviously, there are plenty of budget places to stay that are not online … but they (usually) tend to be below GRANDPAcker Standard.
PHP1,200 should get you a reasonable room.
I suggest the Nagaland Hotel which you can find on AGODA.COM.
Again, you need to start this 2nd part of your journey early. It is going to be another long day.
Catch a 7:30am-8:00am Aircon Bus to Lucena (6 hours). Catch a Trike to Dalahican Port. Catch a Ferry to Mogpog Port on Marinduque (3 hours). Catch a Jeepney to the A&B Coral Resort (45 minutes).
Stay in a ‘Double Suite with Wifi’ at the A&B Coral Beach Resort.
The A&B doesn’t have the best beach in the world but it is a small resort that focuses on a picturesque central garden. The garden has fruit trees and seating areas.
If you contact the A&B directly in advance, you can get an Aircon Double Suite for just PHP1000 / night at their ‘standard’ rate.
I am sure that Bruno & Amelia (the owners) will consider giving you a good discount if you book for more than 1 week.
MARINDUQUE ISLAND TO ROMBLON ISLAND:
Cross references: none.
I did not do this leg of my journey myself but there are Bangkas from Marinduque direct to Romblon.
Bruno and Amelia at the A&B will tell you how to do it.
I have also not stayed on Romblon but hear very good things about it.
ROMBLON ISLAND TO TABLAS ISLAND:
Cross references: Coron to Tablas (but you will be coming via Romblon Island), Around Tablas By Scooter, Where To Stay in Tablas, Tablas Information, and Tablas GRANDPAcking Costs.
Tablas Island is the biggest of the 3 islands that make up the Romblon island group.
There are very few Resorts on the island within GRANDPAcking price range. You need to know Where To Stay. The best place for GRANDPAckers to stay on Tablas Island is the AGLICAY BEACH RESORT – hands down.
You can find the Aglicay online. AGODA.COM has it listed.
I have not done the first part of this journey (I came to Tablas from Mindoro). But I have done the part from Odiongan to the Aglicay.
You are best to book a room in advance online.
The Aglicay never seems to be full and always seems to be offering online discounts. You will often see a Deluxe Aircon Beachview room with hot water ensuite going for about PHP1000 / night. Sometimes this includes breakfast for just a few pesos more. If you can, get breakfast included as (otherwise) it will cost you PHP150 each.
BUT, they have a fantastic setting and a very nice beach in a private cove.
Everywhere you go around the island people are genuinely friendly.
Tourism is not a major income for Tablas Island. Tablas Island is a farming and fishing community.
TABLAS ISLAND TO CARABAO ISLAND:
Cross references: Tablas Island to Carabao Island, Carabao Information, and Carabao GRANDAcking Costs.
I assume that you start your journey in the Aglicay Beach Resort. Catch a Trike (book it with the Aglicay) to the Guinhaya-an turnoff (30 mins). Catch a Jeepney to Santa Fe (45 mins). Catch the 3:00pm Bangka to Said Port Carabao Island. Walk to your Hotel.
The door-to-door trip takes about 3 hours. 2 GRANDPAckers should budget transport costs of PHP500.
You want to be on the east coast of the island on Said / San Jose / Hambil beach – it seems to have many different names. This is the best beach. The western beach(es) are not as good.
If you walk along the Said Beach path (which is only about 500m long), you will find several accommodation options.
But given the quiet, uneventful days, you find yourself looking forward to a nice Dinner at night… this is your only ‘treat’ for the day.
For that reason, a ‘local’ cafe doesn’t ‘cut the mustard’ and you find that you end up somewhere like the Republic and paying a premium for your meal. As a consequence, budget PHP200-300 each for Dinner.
CONCLUSION:
This route is for people who want to see some of the real Philippines and some beautiful locations.
It is quiet, relaxing, real and unspoilt.
Enjoy.
TTFN
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