500 - Peso Backpacking Challenge: APO ISLAND

           
 A week ago, I have posted my 500-Pesos Backpacking Challenge for my Dumaguete trip. I have mentioned there that the main purpose of our Negros day-trip is the Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental. Apo Island is a twelve-hectare volcanic island thirty kilometers south from Dumaguete. It is now one of the most visited attractions in the province.

   It is known for its great landscapes with stunning rock formations and artsy wind carvings on its hill facing the open sea. These wind carvings are effects of wind erosion which is comparable to the rock formations of some parts of the Sahara Desert and ancient cities of Egypt. The rock formations though we’re caused by an ancient volcanic eruptions.

                Apo Island is very ideal to those who are into snorkeling since the depth of its beach is unpredictable due to abrupt changes in its sea floor. You can already see coral reefs even if you are still few meters away from the shoreline itself. This is also why most backpackers go to this place since they no longer need to scuba dive just to see those colorful reefs and sea creatures.

                The island is also famous for its friendly sea turtles which you can take photos while snorkeling and swimming with them. There is a specific area in the island where the turtles stay. When we went there we have seen three cute turtles. What amazed us is that we haven’t swum yet, we are still walking through knee-level seawater then we have already found one.

Occasionally you can see clown fish within the area where the turtles are protected. Be careful not to step on anything especially any coral since it would take years for them to grow and it is where clown fish and other species mate. It is also astounding that the turtles and other sea creatures within the area are totally different with those who are into the wild. Whenever you try to get nearer to them, they will just continue what they’re doing as if no one is threatening them – THEY LOVE HUMANS!

JUDGING WITH THE PICTURES, HAVE WE FAILED THE 500-PESO BACKPACKING CHALLENGE THIS TIME?

                We may start the trip from the heart of Central Visayas – CEBU. You may ask your travel mates to have your assembly in the Cebu South Bus Terminal. From there, you have to take one with “via Lilo-an” which will bring you to Santander Port. It is where the bus is heading so you need not to worry getting lost. Travel would take 3 to 4 hours depends on the traffic.

                From the Santander Port, you may take a public pump boat which is cheaper than the fast craft but for convenience purposes, we took the fast craft since the difference is not too expensive. Both boats will bring you to Sibulan  Port where you may start your Negros Oriental trip. Travel time would take 25-30 minutes. We want to go to Dumaguete first for some refreshments so we took a cab going to the iconic Boulevard.

                We took a short walk from the boulevard area and not surprisingly we have found the well-known Sans Rival and the Spanish Heritage Building. The area is also known for its old Belfry, and glad we found it while walking. Their tricycles are shaped differently from the tricycles of Cebu. It is much bigger and comfortable than the one we got here.

                From boulevard, you have to take a tricycle going to the Ceres terminal and from there you may take the one with “Dauin-Malatapay”. Just tell the conductor that you are heading to Apo Island and he will drop you off in the Malatapay Fleece Market which only functions on Wednesdays. Travel time will only take 15-20 minutes.

                From the national highway, you have to walk few meters to the docking area of the pump boats going to the island. It is ideal to go there in groups so you may just divide the total price of the boat rental. It’s a Sunday so there is always a scarcity of the boating supply and for us to be entertained first, from a regular price of 4,000 for the big boat, we offered 4,500 for the tip. You need not to worry being fooled by opportunists since they really have tariff for their rentals. Luckily we have found a group of five so we decided to share the boat with them since the capacity of the big boat is 12 people.

                When you reach to the island, you have to go directly to their office to pay for the entrance fee. At first, we thought that there will be no entrance fee since nobody approached us as we dock. We are used to other places in which upon docking there will be a person who will approach for the payment. We just found out like hours after we have already enjoyed some parts of the island. We inquired the turtle sanctuary and how much should we pay for the entrance, then the attendant found out that we haven’t paid the entrance yet since the entry of the turtle sanctuary is part of the payment.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN:

Our budget will start at the Boulevard, Dumaguete since we already have our budget for Dumaguete.

Tricycle to Ceres Bus Terminal – P 20.00 (Back and Forth)

Ceres Bus to Malatapay   - P 50.00 (Back and Forth)

Boat Rental to Apo Island – P 400.00 (divided by 10 ; Back and Forth)

Entrance Fee – P 100.00 (Tourist Price ; includes the Turtle Sanctuary Entrance)

Turtle Santuary Guid – P 60.00 (divided by 5)

                TOTAL : P 630.00

                DIFFERENCE : P – 130.00

ADDITIONAL:

Cebu - Dumaguete Vice Versa - P 482.00

              
              TOTAL:  P 1,112.00

              DIFFERENCE: P 888.00 (from the P 2,000 original budget)

                Sadly, we have failed the 500-Peso Backpacking Challenge. If we only knew that we can just skip from paying the entrance fee, we could only have negative 30 from our budget. But you cannot escape since they will be monitoring with the docking boats. You also have to hire a guide since it is mandatory. But I have to be honest hiring one is useless since they wont be helping you taking pictures and there will be no lessons about the island and the turtles. All they do is just watch you for not touching the turtles and help you look for turtles(which practically can be done by yourself). It is also disappointing since you cannot see good view under the waters of the sanctuary which defeated its title for being a sanctuary.

                But that negative 130 is still worth it given the beauty of the island’s landscape, the time we have spent with the gentle turtles, and the beautiful view under the sea which can be witnessed outside the turtle sanctuary. The spending and the tan lines can be sold in auctions since visiting the island is like a visit to paradise.

                           Warning!

Do bring a waterproof bag or even just a cellophane to protect your gadgets from getting wet since it would be a very wet ride going to the island that you would literally get soaked.

Photos by:

Sexie Chan

Francis Niño Opog