Picture Perfect Cagbalete Island!
Its summer, the sun is hot, your swim suits are ready and you’re definitely itching to go to the beach. You want white sand with clear blue waters, serene, less hustle trip and some good time but you’re on a tight budget. Well guess what, I have a perfect place for you — Cagbalete Island in Quezon!!
The place isnt THAT far away, you wouldn’t even need to hop on a plane to achieve that white sand on your #SummerPaandar pictures reason you dont have to spend a lot. See below hehe..
Sunbathing mode
Still aren’t inspired this summer? Here’s some more..
Myself amazed by the sand ripples
And more..
Picture pa, more! 😀😜
Alright Im here to give you some tips on how to put your itinerary together. I will be discussing everything about the cost, I have a separate blog called The Story Behind The Pictures: My Summer In Cagbalete Island (which will be up shortly) you might want to read that too narrating my journey to this beautiful island during SUPER PEAK SEASON: HOLY WEEK.
What you will read are: Tips, Price Quotation and Expenses Breakdown
First, transportation (How to get there):
1. Take a Jac Liner Bus in Buendia – You have two options: Lucena or Mauban Bound. I took the Lucena Bound for PHP 209 because there’s only two trips for Mauban Bound which are scheduled at 5 am and 12 noon whilst Lucena buses leave every hour. Then, get off at Lucena Grand Terminal (Travel Duration: 3-4hrs)
2. From Lucena Grand Terminal take an ordinary bus to Mauban for PHP 54 and you will get off at another terminal in Mauban where you will take a tricycle for PHP 9 per person (Please ask the driver to take you to the Tourism Department for Registration before you go to the port.. They’re super far apart, you dont want to walk) (Travel Duration: 1 hr 30 mins)
Next, Registration Fee is PHP 50
3. At the port, ride a boat that will take you to Cagbalete. Here’s your options: Take a passenger boat for PHP 40. There’s only two boats operating and in case you miss it, you will wait for two hours for it to come back. If two hours sounds insane to you, you can hire a Private boat for PHP 1200 that can accommodate 6 people.. here’s my contact (Marino Captain: 0909 400 5157) Feel free to haggle! Do not hire the one from the tourism department coz its a rip off the prices go like PHP 3000 – 3500 for 8 people depending on who you ask! (Travel Duration: 45 mins)
And you’re now in Cagbalete Island!!
Sand ripples at low tide.. Now, isn’t that gorg?! 🙂
Second, Accommodation (Where to stay):
1. I stayed in MVT Sto Nino because every resort was fully booked at that time, when I tried calling the resorts they told me straight away they were fully booked reason I didn’t had the chance to ask for the price. But for me, its a blessing in disguise because I loved the resort. Update, a lot of my friends went to Cagbalete Island unfortunately by that time my blog wasn’t up reason I failed to give them tips as I was so busy.. I received msgs asking why their pictures aren’t as gorgeous looking like mine.. Well, because they made a mistake on which place to check in. During my stay, the only shoreline that stood out for me was those from MVT Sto Nino and Pansacola. Here is MVT’s contact number 0917 562 1106. Also, here’s their rates per night:
- Fan Room: PHP 1500 good for 2; PHP 2000 good for 4
- Air-Conditioned: PHP 2000 good for 2; PHP 2500 good for 4
- Nipa Hut with Fan: PHP 1200 good for 4
- Tent: PHP 350 good for 2; PHP 500 good for 4 (Plus entrance fee of 150 per head per night)
- Tent Pitching (guests with own tent): PHP 200 per night (Plus entrance fee of 150 per head per night)
- Day Tour: PHP 150 per head for the whole day
Here are sample pictures of the resort:
MVT Sto Nino — Look how clean
Its huge.. At the front is where you can play volleyball
Third, Food (Where to Eat):
1. Sadly, the resort doesn’t have a concept of restaurant and you would need to bring your food there, I mean cook your food in the resort. They have full kitchen amenities which are: Gas range (PHP 300 rent per day); Charcoal stove (these are free you just need to bring your own charcoal or if you run out of it, the resort sell them for PHP 40 per one huge bag); Kitchen and dining utensils are free to use just deposit your ID to the caretaker which you can claim once you return all the stuff you borrowed back.
Fourth, Activities (What to Do):
1. Its an island, sure they offer island hopping but we didn’t avail it (reason I don’t know the price), we just want to sun bathe and swim all morning. Although there’s no electricity during the day as the generator only runs from 6pm to 6am, you can kick back and maybe read books. Also, mobile signal is available in the island.. I was able to update my followers with my summer pictures! The resort has nice facilities too like Basketball and Volleyball which are free to use.
Wouldn’t you just want to kick back and read a book and relax all day.. and SUN BATHE GALORE!?
Expenses Breakdown for 3D/2N:
|  ₱       54.00 | Bus to Mauban |
|  ₱         9.00 | Tricycle |
|  ₱       50.00 | Registration Fee |
|  ₱    275.00 | Private Boat to Cagbalete Island (split 2200 for 8 people) |
|  ₱ 1,500.00 | Accommodation for 2 nights (split 3000 for 2 people) |
|  ₱ 1,000.00 | Food for 3 days including snacks (split 2000 for 2 people but still depends on your apetite) |
|  ₱    200.00 | Private Boat to Lucena (split 1200 for 6 people) |
|  ₱       10.00 | Tricycle |
|  ₱       60.00 | Van to Lucena |
|  ₱    300.00 | Lunch at Mang Inasal in SM Lucena |
|  ₱    180.00 | Longganisang Lucban (60 per tali in Tayabas) |
|  ₱    150.00 | Yema cake at Daily Bread in SM Lucena |
|  ₱    209.00 | Bus to Manila |
|  ₱ 3,997.00 | TOTAL EXPENSES |
|  ₱ 3,602.00 | If we have taken the passenger boat back and forth |
Just like in many cases if you are travelling by group and not just in pair the prices will go down. The big chunk of the budget went to accommodation which can be divided into 4 and not just 2. You will definitely have more hands to carry all the food stuff you need and wont need to buy things from the island as they are more expensive thus trimming the food budget low.. So if you ask me, is PHP 2500 for 3D/2N doable? Oh yes, if you are at least a group of 4! Enjoy your SUMMER!
HAVING A FUN TIME BEACHIN!
That’s myself beach bumming all morning.. Worshiping the Sun!
Other contacts for Resorts in Cagbalete Island:
Donya Choleng Resort: 0998 352 0544 or 0910 882 3346 look for Ryan
Pansacola: 0928 505 8633
Villa Noe Beach Resort: 0915 703 2334
Villa Cleofas Beach Resort: 0917 814 3475 or 0917 814 0496
Joven’s Blue Sea Beach Resort: 0917 984 8505
sungoddessnaz 