How to Get There
From Dumaguete City's Ceres Bus Terminal (near Robinson's Mall), take
the bus going to Bayawan City. Fare is relatively cheap, which is at
PHP50.00
for the air-con bus. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the
Malatapay Market in Zamboangita, which is 30 to 45 minutes away from
Dumaguete City. From the highway, it takes a 10 to 15 minute walk to
reach the Malatapay Information Center where you can rent either a small
or a big boat to take you to the island.
Tip: The market you'll pass by comes alive during Wednesdays where
stalls and stores along the road sell food. If your trip falls on that
day, you can buy food there and bring it with you to the island.
Boat Rental and Other Expenses
Boats can be rented to take you to and from Apo Island. The big boat costs around
PHP3,000.00, which can accommodate up to 8 people, and the smaller boat is for
PHP2,000.00, which can accommodate up to 4 people.
For smaller groups, I still advise you to take the big boat for safety
and comfort reasons. For groups with more than 8 people, you can take
more than one boat as long as you don't exceed the maximum capacity per
boat.
After payment, the LGU-in-charge will look for locals who will bring you
to the island. You can request them to put some shade in the boat
(shown in the picture) to avoid the heat.
Once you reach the island after the 45-minute boat ride, you need to pay the general admission fee of
PHP100.00 at the island's registration center. If you're a resident of Negros Oriental, you will only pay
PHP25.00 for the admission fee
. You can ask the locals to direct you where Registration Center is in case you'll get lost.
Expenses on the different recreational activities vary depending on the
activity. For those who want to snorkel, snorkeling gears can be rented —
masks at
PHP100.00 and life vests for another
PHP100.00.
For diving expenses, you can check this
site for more details.
What to Bring Before the Trip
In case you have your own snorkeling and diving gear, bring it along
with you to save money. You also need to bring sunblock (forgot this
during my trip) and your camera, of course.
Note that sailing across the sea will get a little rough and there's a
big chance you will get wet. Be sure you bring a zip-lock cellophane to
wrap your gadgets with (cellphone, digital camera, etc.).
Clean water can sometimes be difficult to find in the island so better
bring a bottle of water — two liters is probably enough to get you
throughout the day.
Although optional, you can also bring something to read and an MP3 player/iPod you can listen to while you bask in the sun.
Activities in the Island
Apo Island boasts of different recreational activities for solo and group travelers:
1. Snorkeling/Diving. This is why Apo Island is in every
tourist's bucket list. Popular snorkeling sites are found a few meters
away from where boats drop off tourists and at the
Apo Island Marine Sanctuary and Protected Seascape.
If you're lucky, you can swim with green turtles that live in the area
and enjoy watching few other marine life species. Watch out though for
the black and white banded sea snakes — they're deadly.
2. Trek to the Lighthouse. Apo Island's Lighthouse takes a few
minutes to hike from the island's registration center. The trail starts
from the Liberty Lodge, where you'll be passing rugged walkways and
concrete stairways. Once you reach the lighthouse, you can climb up the
tower to catch a better view of Apo Island and the neighboring Negros
Island. Be careful though as some of the steps on the ladder are already
rusty.
Be sure to come back before sunset. Once it gets dark, you'll have problems navigating the trail.
3. Camp at Apo Island's Marine Sanctuary and Protected Seascape. The
sanctuary, located at the other side of the island, is a place where
travelers can set camp using their own tents or rent a small cottage.
It's only a few minutes away from the drop-off area.
The locals, however, decided to temporarily close it down after the island
was hit by Typhoon Sendong last December 2011.
As of today, locals and concerned divers are trying to rehabilitate the
sanctuary but most likely, it will take a few years before travelers can
visit the sanctuary again.
What Not to Bring Going Back
There's a famous saying that goes,
"Take nothing but pictures leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time."
Do exactly what it says. Bringing of corals, pebbles and sand from the
island is strictly prohibited — same to the island's flora and fauna.
Once you're there, do your part as a responsible traveler and an
eco-champion. When I was snorkeling, I found a glass of wine bottle that
sank at the bottom and pulled it out before somebody accidentally steps
on it. Little and simple things you do can help preserve the marine
eco-system.
How to Go Back to Dumaguete
To go back to Dumaguete, you can take the bus that occasionally pass by from Bayawan or you can take the jeepney for
PHP20.00.
The jeepney is a better choice since most likely you'll be wet from Apo
Island. Don't worry about the other passengers — they'll understand.
Drop-off point is at the Dumaguete Fire Station. Take the tricycle going back to your hotel.
In my next post, learn why we went to Apo Island. It involves mending my
friend's broken heart. I'll also be posting the complete itinerary of
my Dumaguete City - Apo Island trip. In the meantime, here are some of
the pictures I took. As always, comments, suggestions and questions are
welcome below.
