My Most Precious Moment in Bohol: Half-day of Dolphin Watching, Balicasag Snorkeling and Virgin Island Swimming

When I made the itinerary for Bohol vacation, I had the island hopping set in our second day in Panglao Island. That would guarantee us a whole day of experiencing the sun, the water and the sand. So on our second day, we all woke up very early, knowing that we have to leave for the sea at 5:30 AM to make sure of dolphin sightings. We were already having breakfast and everyone was so excited. Then at exactly 5:30, Kuya Tatsky Cubero, who I've contacted for both island and country tour in Bohol sent me a text message asking if I'm already awake and informing me that the boatman he contacted to take us island hopping cancelled. The reason given to me is that the sea is turbulent and the boatman doesn't want to risk our safety. I suddenly lost every energy I had in my body specially when I asked the people from Whites and Greens about the condition of the sea that morning and they all told me everything seems normal. Even the fisherman in the shore I asked told me the same thing. I felt irritated especially when I saw at least seven boats with tourists sailed that morning to go island hopping. Up until now, I don't know what's the real score. I just remember we were texting the night before and he was asking me if it's ok if two other tourists would join us in the boat. I did say no politely since my family seemed not to be comfortable with the idea. I didn't know what truly transpired. I just know, we won't be able to push through with the original plans that day. We just went on country tour instead, with Kuya Bogart, Kuya Tatsky's comrade, which turned out pretty fine.

So on our third day, and having exactly just a half day to spend in the islands, we sent to the sea early. I cancelled the boat service from Kuya Tatsky and negotiated with another boatman with a spotter instead. It was a long boat ride, exceeded the one hour I've expected. Finally after 20 minutes more, we arrived at the waters near Balicasag Island. There were already several tourist boats in the area. We joined them. The spotters have a very sharp eye, they would see right away where the dolphins are coming from. They would then start the motor boats headed to the direction of the dolphins, signaling others to follow. It was fun! It was like a race with the dolphins.

Our spotter  has very keen sight with these friendly creatures and most often than not, the dolphins would pass nearest our boat. They come in group, swim fast then jump above the water for a brief moment. I was first trying to capture their photos but   found their movements elusive to get a perfect shot. I'm only using a point and shoot camera after all. So after trying to click my camera a few times, I decided to set aside capturing photos and just witness the dolphin show on their natural habitat. For a moment I forgot about my blog and tried to be a normal traveler and just enjoy every minute of it without feeling the need to document. There were lots of dolphins that day which our boatman said doesn't always happen. It was so exciting and everytime they appear, I can't control myself from shrieking. Irritating I know, I just can't stop. lol! After 30 minutes of chasing with the dolphins, we decided to head to Balicasag Island. We knew we have limited time to spend.

Just a few minutes, we docked the shores of Balicasag Island. Balicasag is one of the 73 smaller islands surrounding the main island of Bohol. It is a barangay gifted with so much beauty. Several pandan trees grow near the shore. The sand is white and is obviously crushed corals. The sea water is so clear. The barangay has the territory of the 400 meter diving Marine Sanctuary that boasts of diversity when it comes to marine species. Since I'm not ready to dive yet, we did snorkeling.

The snorkeling area is near the shore, yet we needed to ride a small boat that would take us in the waters. The locals don't encourage tourists to walk from the shore to this area since accidental stepping on the corals may destroy it. We paid Php100 each for the small paddle boat ride.

Upon reaching the area, we started exploring what's under the sea. Sadly, on the shallow area, I noticed the corals looked bleached. On the deeper part though, life underwater is blooming. There are a lot of healthy looking corals. Fish are abundant too specially when you try to feed them bread, fish would be swarming you in no time. You wouldn't even know in what direction they came from. It was my first time seeing a lot of fish like this and it's euphoric. TI also saw several blue starfish on the sea bed. This island just made me more in love with the world under water. Hope to do diving next time.

After an hour of snorkeling, we wanted to have lunch in the island. Locals sell fresh sea food and can cook this for tourists for a minimal fee. We didn't have a chance though since we're running out of time. We then proceed to Virgin Island.

Virgin Island is a tiny island with a crescent shaped sandbar surrounded by crystal clear waters. During low tide, one can walk up to the end of the sandbar. When we arrived, it was high tide that the sand bar was already submerged under water. We tried walking and the water  is up my knees, on other areas it goes as high as my legs. On the sides are deeper water that can probably submerge me instantly. The island is a paradise. The water is sparkling. The white sand is fine. It was very inviting that we had a hard time leaving when the time turned eleven. There were lots of foreign tourists that time (I even overheard a lady who was about to leave telling herself she doesn't want to go home, hehe.. ) yet it didn't change a thing about the island. For some reasons, it still glowed in beuaty to me, it was indeed a majestic island. After quickly frolicking in the waters, few photo shots and swimming in the shallow areas, we sadly bade goodbye to this part of Bohol.

Bohol is truly blessed with beauty. Their waters is one that they can truly be proud of. I'll surely never forget Bohol. It is just mesmerizing.

Potipot, a Small Island Paradise

Potipot Island is a privately owned island. Rumors have it that it is owned by a high ranking military official and politician. That doesn't matter much though. What weighs more is the fact that setting foot in this paradise-like island is allowed, even camping for the night is accommodated.

Potipot is separated from the main land and crowd of Candelaria Beach located in Brgy. Uacon. The best thing is it's very accessible, only a 5 minute boat ride before you get to exhale in awe for the beauty of this small yet promising island.

We arranged for our lunch to be cooked very early in the morning. Mang Noel, Alta Niña Beach Resort's caretaker agreed to cook our food through our entire stay at their resort. He also arranged a boat ride for us going to Potipot. Usual boat rate is Php400 and boat can accommodate maximum of 6 people. We left the resort bringing our lunch basket with kilaweng tuna, grilled porkchop, hotdogs, fruits and breads.

It was my second time to be in the island, having visited it about two and a half years ago with my colleagues. I don't usually go back to the same place twice, thinking it's always better to invest money, time and energy with something new. This is different though. I kind of fell in love with this island and I can't wait to see my family's reaction once they set foot in its creamy white shores. Their facial expressions and remarks assured me they felt love at first sight too. :)

We paid Php100 entrance each, it doubled since the last time I was there. Overnight fees doubled up as well.

Right after breakfast, we all basked into the very inviting waters of Potipot. The cyan to bluish water never failed to tempt me and I always gave in. The sand is creamy white and looks really white from the shores of Candelaria, thus the name Potipot. It is fine unless you walk to the other side of the island but that's tolerable and not annoying at all.

I'm not sure how long we've swam and wallowed in the shallow crystal clear waters but I found myself going back to the shades of the trees and lying on my hammock. It was really relaxing, the view, the tress, the cool wind, being with my family.. Well, life was perfect that moment and I wished it remains like that forever, haha!

After lunch, cumulonimbus clouds start appearing yet the sun seemed to have been in a competitive mode for it shone even brighter and it kind of hurt my skin even after applying a lot of sunblock. That doesn't stop us though from going back to the waters, frolicking under the heat of the sun and the crystal clear water. You’d even see your feet while standing.

One of the best features of Potipot besides the color of the sand is the stillness of the water. It is the most calm of all the beaches I've been so far. It's just like hundreds of olympic sized pools joined together, no wonder why I fully learned how to swim in its waters. About an hour passed and the clouds turned blacker then it rained. We we're laughing and shouting, we are all like kids once again. I can't remember the last time I bathe in the rain, this time it happened while we're swimming. It was nothing but fun. I noticed that the sea suddenly got warm once the downpour started.

Few hours after the rain, we decided to explore the rest of the island. We walked around it and should have made it in 30 mins if we didn't stop frequently to take pictures.

At the other side of the island, we saw there's grass area. The sand is still smooth until we walked further and rocks started to appear in the waters.

We saw a dead sea snake in the shore, and my sister walked past it right away, she's terribly afraid of snakes. We also saw two blue star fishes, sadly, one is left dead and drying in the sand. I took that dead star fish, placed it is a mossy rock in the waters then captured a photo of it. I remember seeing more starfish on my previous visit. I was thinking where they might have been :(

Walking further, I noticed that a long stretch of the shore is teeming with see weeds. If there's an influx of tourists in the island, it would make it impossible for them to swim in that part of the beach, I'm sure it would be very bothersome feeling things rubbing on your skin. I'm not sure though if the caretakers clean that area during peak season, otherwise people will be concentrated on the eastern side of the island.

Nearing our rented table, we walked to the nearby tree house. It looked simple but with uniform balustrades in each side of the stairs that added a touch of a little elegance. Visitors are not allowed to climb up and check it out, the guards said it is for the exclusive use of the island's owner. For visitors who would like to stay in the island and who don't wish to bring their own tents, there are huts available for accommodation ranging from Php1500-2500 the day we went there. There is a water pump as a water source as well as cemented bathrooms. I just wonder why the faucet inside the bathrooms wasn't working anymore. I was able to use that on my first visit.

After getting ourselves exhausted from walking around, we tired ourselves even more by swimming. It’s worth to get tired anyways. I know that my family had a really fun day in Potipot.

Time is really fast when you're enjoying, for we didn't notice it's already about time to leave. We fixed our things then I took pictures for the last time, had a few more shots before our boat arrived to take us back to the resort.

How to go to Potipot Island from Manila

Ride a Victory Liner bus going to Sta. Cruz, then ask to be dropped at Brgy. Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales - the town right before Sta. Cruz. (Iba bound buses will work but you need another ride going to Sta. Cruz) You will need to pass a resort of your option (there are many options) to get to the shore of Candelaria Beach where boats can take you to Potipot Island. Our boat was arranged by Alta Niña's caretaker. Trinidad Bay Resort beside Alta Nina has their own boat as well as Isla Vista Resort on the farther end of the beach. Rate is ranging from Php400 to Php600 depending on yor haggling skills.

The Hundred Island Experience

As a grade schooler, I used to see a black and white picture of Hundred Islands in my textbook. This is one of the famous attractions listed in my book along with Rice Terraces, Chocolate Hills and several more. Back then, I just envisioned it as I see it in my book, plain and dull. It never really occurred to me that it will be an exact opposite, for Hundred Islands is one of the most vibrant places I've been.

I was in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, my hometown. It was one of the occasions that I'm really waiting for, to be with my whole family. It's a rare occasion since I'm staying in Manila and my sister is working overseas. Everybody seemed excited and at 5 AM, we're all ready to leave for Hundred Islands.

The Alaminos bound buses (where Hundred Islands is located) from Manila have a different route, it would turn left once it arrives Tarlac City, passing through the town of Camiling so there's no chance that it would pass by the highway near us. What we did is ride a Dagupan bound bus for 2 hours then transferred to another bus going to Alaminos and arrived in about an hour.

Upon stepping down from the bus, tricycles started swarming us, offering to take us to Hundred Islands. We didn't even tell them yet where we were going so I'm a bit surprised. Before accepting the offer, I asked how much the fare is. Prior to this trip, I've contacted Alaminos City's Tourism office asking for different information including tricycle rates. I was quoted Php20 per person, 3 people in each tricycle, by the driver making it cheaper compared to the PHP80 that I was told. The tricycles dropped us to the Tourism Office located in Bryg. Lucap. I learned that we need to register first. From there, everything was so organized. Basically, we just paid for the boat rate and entrance, they are the one who provided us a boat. There's a standard rate for boats making it just fair to everyone. Before starting the tour though, we asked to be dropped to Island Tropic Hotel first, just in front of Lucap Wharf to leave our things. The trike drivers were really kind, even driving us to a grocery store where we bought mineral water. So when they left, we gave them Php100 each.

After checking in, our boat was already waiting for us right in front of the hotel. We started the 30 minute boat ride. Everybody was excited. Minutes later, we saw the vague islands from afar become more visible and become color green. It’s amazing that the islands are made mostly of rocks but trees are growing in it. One of our boatmen also served as our guide, giving us interesting information as we pass by an island. In a few minutes, we're very near Governor's Island which is one of the main Islands. By main, that would mean there are facilities, water and electricity (for a limited time). The view of Big Brother's house welcomed us then our boat docked.

It was beautiful. The water is blue green, the place is uncrowded and the sand is white. It was just exactly how I envision a perfect island. I already wanted to jump in the waters but I know there's more to explore.

We started climbing the nearby stairs that I guessed would take us to the viewdeck. My folks chose to stay near the shore not wanting to climb. Sign of aging I'd say. :P My sister, cousin, Nikko and I reached the view deck, which is said to be the highest point in all the islands. We we're rewarded by a panoramic view of the sea and the scattered islands/islets. We could have lingered a bit longer if it wasn't that hot.

Going down, we chose a different set of stairs that took us to the other side of the Island. There's almost nobody there, something that might be an opposite during summer.

After exploring Governor's Island, our boat started to thread towards Children's Island. It does have the same charm with the former island. Trees abound making the place very cool and airy despite the sun shining really bright. It's getting late and we decided to have lunch here with our boatmen. We rented a table under the shade of trees and needed to pay Php200, kind of expensive if you would ask me. After lunch, I really can't help but be hypnotized by the glistening calm waters. I walked down the stairs into the sand area, walked further to the deeper waters then started to enjoy it. There's no wave at all, very ideal for floating and backstroke. This side of Children's Island is very shady too. You can go up to waist deep waters and be protected by the trees from the scorching heat of the sun.

I swam to my heart’s content before we headed to Marcos Island. This is the only reason we opted for the service boat paying Php800 more compared to the day tour boat. Service boats can take you in all the islands that you want and time is unlimited. I was really excited going to this island for it features Imelda Cave. We trekked for about 15 minutes before reaching the entrance to the cave. It isn't ideal for spelunking since it isn't long but it is famous for the pool inside it where one can jump from the edge of a rock formation. I on the other hand chose to take the slippery wooden ladder then a rope ladder down to the pool. The rope ladder won't stop swaying and I had several scratches having bumped into the sharp rocks. It was worth it though. Water is so clear and cold! We met a French fellow who had so much fun swimming in the pool. There's a small hole at the roof allowing sunlight to brighten the pool. If you swim further, there's an opening at the other end of the cave that would take you directly into the seas. You can swim in that direction and ask the boat to fetch you. It's safer than climbing up the ladder again.

After the cave experience, our boat maneuvered in the direction of Quezon Island. We passed by the Cathedral Island, named after the cathedral shaped opening at the rock formation. It doesn't have a shore though.

Nearing Quezon Island, I noticed right away that a lot of boats are docked. When I stepped into the shore, I then realized that the previous islands are almost deserted because everybody chose to stay in this island. I can't blame them. I think that Quezon Island has the best swimming area. The water is clear and there's an area where you can do fish feeding, accessible only few meters from the sandbar. The water turns from blue to green. It has a wide cream sand bar that glistens and turns white in sunlight. A lot of Korean tourists were playing beach volleyball.

We didn't swim right away to escape the scorching heat of the sun. We stayed in the man-made cave where there are stone benches overlooking the sea. There are a lot of trees and the wind is cold in that part of the island. Speak of picturesque. After snacks, we hit the waters. I had so much fun with the gentle waves. When I got tired, I climbed up the stairs going to a bench area overlooking the beach. It is a very beautiful sight.

Since it was getting late, we decided to leave Quezon Island. I thought that concludes our wearisome but otherwise very enjoyable day when our boatmen passed and docked into another island where they said we can check out. It has a cave where you can walk and reach the end in just several steps. It doesn't have any stalagmites or stalactites but it still was fun walking into what seemed like a tunnel. The sand is really fine and soft in that part of the island. It felt like the sand in Boracay, only it is cream in color. The sand is so fine that it floats in the water. When we swam for the last time and tried capturing underwater photos, it turned out very vague because of the sand particles.

I don't want to stop swimming but the wind got even more colder so we decided it's time to go. On the boat back, the waves turned rough compared to the stillness we experienced the morning we arrived. Despite this, it was a fun ride as our boat was swaying in rhythm. Another boat passed by near us carrying foreign tourists. I waved at them, Maybe just a result of my playfulness, that day I felt like a kid again. What felt even better is they waved back. :) Few minutes later, our boat docked in front of our hotel. We gave a tip to both our boatmen and we bade goodbye.

How to Commute to Hundred Islands from Manila

Ride a Victory Liner Bus going to Alaminos, Pangasinan. Travel time would take about 3-4 hours. Upon reaching the terminal, ride a tricycle going to Brgy. Lucap. The ride takes approximately 15-20 minutes.

Entrance and other fees will be collected at the Tourism Office who will also arrange the boat for you. Entrance is Php20 as of the date we visited. Boats have uniform rate.

Small boat (1-5 pax)Php800 for daytour and Php1,400 for Overnight/Service Boat
Medium boat (6-10 pax)Php1,000 daytour and Php1,800 for service boat
Large boat (11-15 pax)Php1,100 daytour and Php2,000 for service boat

Accommodation is available in Governor's Island, Php10,000 per night for Big Brother's house.
Pitching your own tent is allowed with pitching fee of Php200 in the developed Islands.

You can contact Hundred Islands National Park at 075-551-2505/552-7406 for moe info.