We have an early morning flight from Manila to Dumaguete City. Lucky for us that our flight is not in the list of flight cancellations due to APEC Summit. We arrive in Dumaguete at 6am.
Initially, we plan for a Siquijor getaway. As we arrange our trip itinerary, we come across several articles on Dumaguete and Siquijor. There is a blog about Siquijor telling us that we can roam around Siquijor in one day. So we then decide to venture on some spots near Dumaguete.
It comes to our knowledge about the Apo Island. Now it’s interesting to see Apo Island and its pawikans (sea turtles). We then make it our first destination before going to Siquijor.
From the airport, we take a tricycle going to Ceres bus terminal but we also tell our driver to stop at the port area first to get a ticket to Siquijor. We purposely buy a ticket going to Siquijor to secure our seat in the last boat. After buying our tickets, we proceed immediately to Ceres Bus Terminal.
We take the bus going south and ask the conductor to drop us at crossing Malatapay since we do not know the place. The fare is around 25 pesos. The ride also takes us 30-45 minutes. What’s exciting is we are very attentive that every time the bus stops, we feel like we’re the ones to get off.
Finally, when we arrive Malatapay and it’s not only us who get off the bus. There are plenty of peolpe because it was market day that time. Lots of vendors also selling their produce along the street and others bringing their livestocks. We just feast our eyes on the goods since we’re there for the boat to Apo Island and not for the market day.
Maan makes one advance arrangement with Ate Edna Suan (09066735795) to assist us in getting a boat to Apo Island. She’s also the one instructing us how to commute to Malatapay. She has a carinderia near the boat terminal where we buy our food for lunch in the island. We also have the chance to buy a kilo of lechon (roast whole pig) for lunch.
We go straight to the registration table to ask for boats to Apo Island. Minimum fee for the small boat is Php 2,000 while big boat is Php 3,000. There are two guys waiting at the registration area to join small groups for them to save on boat fees. To our advantage, we let them join us.
At first, we plan to change to our swimming outfits when we arrive in the island. But when we see the boat, it is really small and we figure out that we might get wet along the way. So immediately we change our clothes, secure our belongings and put in zip lock the things that are not waterproof. There is also a pay toilet near the registration cottage where you can comfortably change clothes. You can even take a bath with a minimal fee.
We’re on board the boat and now ready to go. There are seven of us; five guests and two boatmen. The first one minute ride is good yet the remaining ride is bumpy. It is November and I am expecting to have rough seas. The sun is up, it is sunny and no advice for any rain or low pressure. So small boats sailing towards Apo Island are okay to sail. It is an exciting and challenging ride. When big waves hit our boat, huge splash also hits us. Literally, we’re wet on the boat, good thing we prepare for it.
Boat ride takes us almost an hour. The scary feeling now changes to excitement as we see the crystal clear waters. Off from our boat and began to enjoy the pebbly sands. We think of just putting our things on the rocks yet one local came to approach us and tells us to have a cottage just walking distance. Cottage fee is 100. Registration fees at Php 100 each also will be paid at the tourism booth in the island.
We rent a cottage and secure our things there. Snorkeling guides are also available near our area. We pay Php 600 for the five of us and take us at least 3 hours at the turtle sanctuary. The guides will spot the turtles and literally they will pull us towards the location of the turtles. It is amazing seeing these big sea turtles feeding right in front of our eyes. Some turtles are at the waist-deep portion of the beach, some stays at the deeper part.
There is a no contact policy, no touching of the creatures. We just watch and observe what they’re doing. Our guides are kind enough to take photos of us with the Pawikans. We enjoy swimming with the turtles and the sanctuary. They have beautiful bed of corals and plenty of marine species in the area. You can feast your eyes on everything. What made them more beautiful is that they are gifted with very clear waters where you can clearly see the bottom of it.
After more than an hour of swimming and snorkeling, we take a break and eat our food. We have to regain our energy for more wonderful views underwater.
We go back to the seas taking another spot of the turtle sanctuary. It is really amazing having these turtles swim with us. It feels like they are tame and are already used to human encounters. They just continue their feeding session while we are also busy taking pictures and videos with them. I cannot explain the feeling since we are not expecting to have the chance of a very close encounter with them. We think at first that we can only see these turtles from afar yet it is the other way around.
The bumpy ride is so worth it. Not minding the striking heat of the sun, we keep on swimming and enjoying the beach. We plan to go back to the mainland at 1pm so we can catch up with our boat to Siquijor at 4pm. We brave again the bumpy boat ride now with a bigger waves yet it’s like we’re already used to it.
Here’s our video on our journey to Apo Island.
When we arrive at the Malatapay port, the market day is almost over. We ride a tricycle going back to Dumaguete and pay Php 50 each taking us directly to the port.
All in all, the experience is all worth it. It is truly remarkable, swimming with the sea turtles on a close encounter. A must-visit place when in Dumaguete.
Been here: November 18, 2015
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