The Camotes Experience

A few weeks ago,Β Mel and IΒ met up in Ayala to talk about a possible website project that he wanted to do with me. During the meeting, summer plans came up. He mentioned that he wanted to check out Camotes because his friends have been raving about it. I have never been there myself so I said that I would totally go if he knows how to get there and if we could afford it.

The next day, I told Gian and Harry about our plans and luckily they both liked the idea. (See, we needed more people to cut travel and accommodation costs) And so, it was set. We leave for Camotes on February 27, Saturday, and head back to the city on February 28, Sunday. Flawless plan.

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Cebu’s little piece of heaven – Camotes.

The next week, I busied myself looking for all available information online. I figured that we needed a place that was nice and affordable. I know those two words don’t always go together but well, it was worth a try. I found a website about a resort called Mangodlong Rock Resort. The gallery looked pretty mouth-watering and a single room was about 1,700 each night. That would be around 400 per person. Kinda steep, but not bad (if the photos in their website are real,) I told myself.

Two days before the big trip, Mel gave me the horrible news. He couldn’t make it because he had to go to Ormoc. Uh-oh! I had to make some changes to the plan. And I also had to text Gian and Harry a couple of times each day to make sure that they were 100% committed (I just really wanted to go. haha) They both promised they’d go. Thank God.

The night before the trip, me, Gian, and Harry agreed to have a small meeting at the IT Park in Lahug to finalize things. We couldn’t afford any more plan changes. Only me and Harry showed up at the meeting, though. Gian was still at the office and he said that he needed to go to a photo shoot the next day. He couldn’t say no to it. I was totally ready to drop all plans and spend my travel cash on a grand, grand midnight buffet at the Waterfront (naa ba? hahahaha) when Harry said that he was still willing to go. “Are you positively sure?” I asked. He said yes. “But can we afford it?” I asked. He just shrugged. For a moment, the idea of swimming the whole day and then going to bed hungry crossed my mind. “Let’s do it!” I exclaimed!

We both agreed to meet in Chowking in Mandaue at 8 sharp the next day. But I got there at 9 because I totally forgot that the 21B route was so long and that Mandaue drivers have this tendency to just stop in the middle of the road to chat up a complete stranger, smell the roses, or just do yoga or whatever. Anyways, Harry was kinda pissed when I arrived because he thought that I was still asleep. Haha. Sorry Har. So, yeah, after breakfast, we found a jeep headed for Danao City in front of D’Atrium Mall in Mandaue-Highway. I think the jeep route number is 24. I’m not completely sure. Fare is 25 pesos and you travel for around 30 minutes to an hour.

We got off at the Danao City Terminal and we flagged a tri-sikad to take us to the port in front of the Danao Church. We arrived at the port a few minutes before noon. Fortunately, according to the guard, a boat was set to leave for Consuelo, San Francisco Camotes in thirty minutes. (Boat scheds: 6am, 10am, 12:30pm, 2pm, and 5pm) So, we got our tickets and we paid the terminal fee.

Port in Danao City, Cebu

Boat tickets!

Harry and our boat!

We were taking some photos of ourselves, the port, and the boat when three Korean guys came to us. “Can you take our picture?” one of them asked. I took their camera and they posed with their fingers sporting the peace sign. They thanked us and we were on our way.

Okay, honestly, the boat looked pretty scary when I first looked at it. And it looked even more scary when I saw the wooden walkway swinging wildly every time the boat rocked. Then, as I was thinking about possible scenarios should the waves knock me off the walkway, an old lady with a big shopping bag and a pocketbook crossed the walkway ever so coolly like she was walking on a perfectly stable slab of concrete. She was a pro!

Our gigantic wooden boat.

The cute walkway. It’s like walking the plank, yo!

I realized that it was kinda easy when I was finally able to get to the boat. It’s really just a matter of timing. We sat near the back part of the boat near the rest rooms. Strangely, I didn’t feel nervous at all. I’ve heard stories about the crazy waves in the seas between Cebu and Camotes, but they never really crossed my mind when we were there. Despite the wooden parts, the boat looked really strong and kicking!

The three Korean dudes walked animatedly towards the back part of the boat and sat beside us. Once again, they asked if we could take their picture. Why not? Then, they offered to take our picture. They’re a fun bunch. Haha.

Harry and his new friends!

The boat left at exactly 12:30. Based on my estimate, more than half of the people on the boat were tourists. The trip was one and a half hours long. So, if you get bored easily, a pocketbook or a PSP, or a fully-charged phone should come in handy. I saw that old lady joyfully finishing her pocketbook on the way to Camotes. She was awesome!

A foreign dude traveling to Camotes with his Cebuana wife.

As soon as the boat left Danao, Harry and I started asking around for directions and suggestions. We asked one old guy (who was part of the crew) how we could get to the resort. Instead of answering our question, he started talking about why we shouldn’t ride their competitor’s boat. Harry and I were like, Okay!

Our boat in action.

We spent the rest of the trip dozing off and taking pictures of each other. What else was there to do? Hehe.

We reached Consuelo, San Francisco, Camotes at around two in the afternoon. I thought that the sight of houses on stilts and some rundown seaside videoke joints would greet us. But I was wrong. The port was really clean and the water was crystal clear. The people were smiling and I saw a group of young boys leisurely swimming and fishing nearby.

The port of San Francisco. Look at the water!

Locals meeting the boat.

Welcome to Camotes!

We were walking behind the old lady with a pocketbook when a young man grabbed her hand and pressed it against his forehead. It was her son. And he was there to meet her. I couldn’t help but smile as he checked the bag that his mom was carrying. He asked her if she got him a new pair of slippers. She said yes. And I saw the smile on the boy’s face.

At that moment, I just knew that I was going to have a truly wonderful weekend!

A man asked us if we had a ‘sundo‘. We said no and we told him that we were going to Mangodlong Rock Resort. He said that he could take us there. 40 pesos per head. Deal! My friends later said that regular fare is only 25 pesos. But he was a good guide and driver. So, I guess that’s okay. πŸ™‚

Our tour guide/driver – Manong Ban-ban.

On the way to the resort, he asked if we wanted to tour the islands. He said that he could take us to Santiago Bay, the Tumibo Cave, and Danao Lake Park for 300 pesos. We thought it was pretty reasonable. So, we agreed.Β  But first, we said that we needed to get a room and grab something to eat. After dropping us off at the resort, he said that he’d come back after an hour.

We felt like the luckiest people ever when we learned that the resort still had one non-aircon room (1000 per night) left. They had two more aircon rooms for 1800 per night. After paying a thousand bucks, they asked for a 500-peso deposit. We can get it back when we check out. On our way to our room, we realized that we got there just in time. Five groups arrived at the resort a few minutes later. The three Korean dudes got one of the two remaining rooms. The last room was given to a group of Tagalog-speaking dudes. The three other groups had to look for another resort. Oh yeah!

Link:Β Mangodlong Rock Resort

The name of our room was Mamsa. It’s a type of fish. And yes, all rooms have fish names. Pretty neat. Our room was not really just a room. It was a cottage, actually. But it was a few meters from the beach. But that’s not a problem at all. Our room had two beds – a single and a double. Harry and I both wanted the bigger bed. So, we did rock- paper-scissors. I lost. Dang!

Our cottage.

Mamsa!

We then went to the restaurant and checked if there was something that we could afford to buy. They have a pretty impressive menu. And the cheapest set meal was around 140 pesos. Plus softdrinks at 25 pesos. Okay, it looked like a terrible idea. Harry mentioned that he forgot to withdraw some cash in Danao and there was no ATM machine near the resort. But we were really hungry so we gave it a go.

Our lunch.

Food was great though and we headed back to our room after leaving our plates spanking clean! Haha. We both ended up sleeping, however, although the trip wasn’t tiring at all. Luckily, Harry was able to wake up at 4 pm and remembered that Manong Ban-Ban, our driver said that he’d return at 3pm. I hope he’s still there!

Yep, he was still there. And I can sense that he was a bit pissed because the sun would soon set and we’d surely miss some spots if we didn’t go already. Haha. Sorry, bossing!

First on the list was the Danao Lake Park. It’s a pretty impressive park around a huge huge lake. Entrance fee is only 5 pesos. We spent a great amount of time taking photos and scaring ourselves at the jog path. It was pretty creepy. I tell you. Plus, we saw something move in the trees. We thought it was a tarsier. But it was just a mouse. Hehe.

Link:Β Lake Danao Park

Don’t jump, Harry! We still need to split the bill!!!!!!!!!! Haha!

Creepy jog path. Well, it wasn’t really ‘creepy’ creepy. But, you know, it just gives me the creeps. So, yeah. Haha.

Next, we went to the Tumibo Cave. It’s a cave with an underground spring. Entrance fee is 10 pesos per head. The place is really gorgeous and the water is very refreshing. We didn’t stay long though because it was getting dark and we couldn’t afford to miss Santiago Bay.

Link:Β Tumibo Cave

Underground spring looking amazing.

Okay, what the hail is Santiago Bay? We had no idea. We thought it was another small beach with small cottages and stuff. When we got there, however, our jaws dropped. Literally. It was just heaven on Earth! White powdery sand. Great sunset. Tourists playing volleyball on the beach. It was a very lovely sight! Before I could begin taking photos, Harry was already running, jumping, and cartwheeling like a mad man. We took off our slippers and raced across the huge, huge beach like little kids. Ah! It was just gorgeous. But it was getting pretty dark really fast and we needed to go while it wasn’t completely dark yet. [FYI: Camotes doesn’t have street lamps, street lights, jeeps, buses, etc]. We made Manong Ban-Ban promise that he’d take us back there the next day before dropping us off at the port. He promised and we were both like little school boys given two packs of Bobot. LOL.

Link:Β Santiago Bay beach

Gorgeous ain’t it?

Sunset at the bay

We reached the resort just in time for dinner. Which reminds me, can we still afford to buy dinner? LOL. We were busy calculating how much we needed to spend the next day when I happened to check my phone and saw one text message. It was from Gian. He sent it around 2 pm. He said that if the pictorial ends early, he’s coming. He also said that he got a little cash from the session and that he’s going to buy us dinner or something.

Harry and I were very happy. What a joyous moment! So, we headed towards the restaurant and ordered dinner. After eating, we waited until 7:30 just to be sure. Well, at 8 pm, Gian obviously wasn’t coming. So, we went back to our room and got busy calculating again. Haha. After dinner, the only money we had was the 500-peso deposit at the counter. Fascinating!

The beach at night.

The next morning, Harry and I were resigned to the idea that we’re never going to taste food again until 5 pm. Our computation was:

Boat : 180 X 2 = 360
Habal2x 40 X 2 = 80
Jeep to City 25X 2 = 50

That’s like 10 pesos extra for the both of us. Plus we had to check out of the resort at noon. So, we still had 2 hours to kill before the boat leaves. We were doomed.

We were both sitting quietly in our room. Nobody said I word. I tried to check my wallet again just in case I missed a spot or something. Then, there, in one of the small pockets of my wallet, I saw 300 pesos! The crisp bills were neatly folded and hidden behind a bunch of calling cards. I remember I kept it weeks ago during a motorbiking trip. But, OMG! We were the luckiest people ever! We both cheered. We were literally jumping on our beds. Yeah! So, we went to the restaurant all confident and stuff. We got breakfast meals worth 110 pesos each (including drinks. Yahoo!) And we still had 80 pesos left to spend! Yehaa!

Our breakfast. πŸ˜€

We were just overjoyed. We spent the rest of the morning swimming and running on the beach and swimming. Harry and I hardly talked because we only had a few hours left and we wanted to make the most of it. Haha. After a short break, we’d go back to the beach and drink sea water some more. LOL.

Local kids enjoying the water. That’s exactly how we both looked. Haha.

We checked out at noon and we just sat in the shade while waiting for Manong Ban-ban. He arrived 30 minutes later and then he took us to Santiago Bay. We took lots of photos there and we just enjoyed our few remaining minutes on the island. We arrived at the port thirty minutes before 2 pm. We still had enough time and money to get lunch. Well, if you call ready-to-cook noodles lunch. Hehe. We bought two bowls. And two bottles of water. Balance: Php0.00 Hahahaha.

The boat, this time a bigger one, left around 2 pm. We saw the same familiar faces on the boat. It was, after all, the last trip out of the island. I saw the Korean dudes, and the Tagalog-speaking guys, and that rowdy group of call-center peeps.

Our ride home.

In the middle of the trip, Harry and I were talking about the whole experience when the passengers on the other side of the boat started clapping and cheering. Apparently, they saw a dolphin. I wanted to go to the other side of the boat but it was too late. Suddenly, the ladies sitting beside us said that they just saw some dolphins, too. Really? Where?!?!!?!?! I turned my camera on and switched it to video just to be sure. I was ecstatic not only because I’ve never seen a live dolphin before but also because I didn’t know they still roamed our seas. The idea was just WOW!

My fingers were crossed when I saw what looked like the back of a shark. “There they are!” the other passengers exclaimed. I pressed record and just focused on them. I was so excited. Then, they disappeared. I was about to turn the camera off when they reemerged just below us. Wow! There were four of them!

Harry and I were shouting like mad. Apparently that was a common sight for locals because they didn’t even bother looking at them. They were looking at us, instead. Hahaa. Oh well, I don’t care. It was my first time and I’m doing what first-timers usually do. Haha. It was still an awesome experience.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wbmfzL8Vpg]

We reached Danao City at around 4 pm. We didn’t ride the tri-sikad this time. Well, you know, because we couldn’t afford it. We walked all the way to the terminal. LOL. By 5 pm, we were in SM City Cebu.

Except for our skin color (mine, most especially,) people couldn’t tell that we’ve ever left the city. But what they’d miss is the fact that we’ve seen dolphins and we’ve cartwheeled on a gorgeous beach. That we’ve made new friends and got a taste of Camotesanon life. And most of all, that we’ve spent 2 days and 1 night in a beautiful island resort most people wouldn’t even hear about their entire life. In February 2010, we were tourists. In February 2010, we experienced Camotes! πŸ™‚

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Break it down, yo!

Jeep – Cebu City to Danao City – 25 pesos
Trisikad – Terminal to Port – 10 pesos
Boat – Danao City to Consuelo – 180 pesos
Terminal Fee – Danao Port – 5 pesos
Habal-Habal – Consuelo Port to Resort – 40 pesos
Hotel Room – Mangodlong Rock Resort – 500 pesos
Lunch – Mangodlong Resort Restaurant – 165 pesos
Entrance Fee – Danao Lake Park – 5 pesos
Entrance Fee – Tumibo Cave – 10 pesos
Dinner – Mangodlong Resort Restaurant – 165 pesos
Breakfast – Mangodlong Resort Restaurant – 110 pesos
Habal-Habal – Resort to Consuelo Port – 40 pesos
Habal-Habal Tour – Manong Ban-Ban – 150 pesos
Lunch – 25 pesos
Water – 15 pesos
Boat – Consuelo to Danao City – 180 pesos
V-Hire Danao City to Cebu City – 40
Grand Total – 1665 pesos/per person

Never mind that I’m totally broke now and that the next couple of days will be spent in hunger.Β No regrets! Hahahaha. πŸ™‚

172 thoughts on “The Camotes Experience

    1. hi this is alfred. i have aircon vans and multicabs for island tour in camotes. my aircon van is the same rate with non-aircon vehicle. for more info: contact us: 0926-529-6337 ; 0910-879-5577 ; 0922-2291336. thank you. our rates is always negotiable.

      1. 0922-2291336 in no longer available… my new sun number is 09339378870…

        thank you.,…we are in promo right now…. try to contact us… also motorbikes is in promo also… thank you…

  1. wow!! really enjoyed reading this post, ley. this was truly a awesome trip! thanks for the very detailed information. i am sharing this with my fb friends πŸ™‚

  2. Thanks for showing me the touristy side of Camotes. I am also thankful for not mentioning the Camotes’s best keep secret which is my homeplace. Pilar is a separate island whose people don’t mind being left as an afterthought in terms of tourism. Its ecosystem is too fragile for commercial tourism, although it has nurtured a more than 200 year old society. We do welcome visitors, simple living is the best we can offer; living in harmony with nature is very real here. For an expat like me there is nothing on earth matches this island as a get away, and I’ve been to some of them.

  3. BEAUTIFUL place!
    enjoyed reading your post, so interesting.
    it was a very worthwhile trip, I’m glad you went

  4. Wow!!! I will try to make sure when I go back home to go there!! thanks ley for a really good post…. excited to see more of the camotes post..

  5. ley
    that was one of the best you ever posted,it was just on time im so crazy thinking of Camotes, i heard alot of good things bout that island but it was all just talk and now because of you i now realize how amazing is the place, im pretty sure that will be the very first place im goin when im comin back there this july of this year and maybe me and my family can invite you for a good delicious mouth watering cebu dishes when we get there….hehehehe ok Ley

  6. thanks for the detailed story and pictures. can’t wait for the rest of the pictures. when i last went to camotes, i was just a guest in an annual family reunion in another town. so my memorable experience was different too, like a bonfire on the hills, a bath in a very cold mountain spring, a walk along firefly-lighted mangroves, and a swim in its crystal-clear waters.

    beautiful camotes, i hope commercialism will not ruin your pristine beauty.

  7. WOW! IT’S PARADISE!!! I love everything about it. Happy to know that you had so much fun there, good for you Ley. Thanks for sharing it. God bless.

      1. I will consider it, Ley. Also, my family are excited to see the choc. hills & tarsiers in Bohol & the rice terraces in Baguio. πŸ™‚ What’s the best way to go both places? We’re planning to go there in Jan. 2012. Thanks a lot, Ley. God bless.

        1. ianne, its so easy to go around bohol. just take the supercat (prob 2 hours travel) and when you get to bohol there are numerous vans-for-hire that you can hire for a certain amount and it will tour you around the island for a day. you could stay in panglao island, they have good resorts there. enjoy! i surely did…..

  8. Ley asa man mas nindot nga beach Mangodlong Rock Resort or Santiago Bay Garden Resort? How about sa accomodation? Compare sa duha ka resort asa man mas affordable nila. Asa man imo recommendation na resort between the two resort kung daghan me muadto like mga 12 mi kabuok.

    1. personally, mas ganahan ko sa mangodlong. kay naay shallow water dayon naa puy lawm. pwede pud makadive2x. sa santiago kay layo pa daw ang tubig kay dako kaayo ang balas. hehehe. pero nindot gyud kaayo ug view sa santiago.

      pero i guess murag same owner ra ang duha ka resorts. pare-pareho ra pud ug services ug facilities. kung asa man gani inyong mapili, pwede ra mo muvisit sa other resort. sakay lang mo habal2x.

      1. thanks ley!!! unsay pay lain nga transportation didto around the island naa sila tricycle or van na ma rent? naay lain restaurant didto sa Camotes na duol sa resort, other than the restaurant sa resort.. nice post ley!!!!

        1. my friends and i recently visited the place. bakhaw was jaw-dropping! for a group u may charter a cab for 1200-1500 depending on your haggling skills. u may also try riding in tandem with habal-habal for 100-200 per head

  9. What a lovely short-break. You entice me to go there Ley. Especially watching the dolphins video, the ocean looks friendly(no big waves). Thanks Ley.

  10. Camotes is definitely on my list for the next time we are in Cebu. Thanks for the story and looking forward to ur expanded versions.

  11. i want to go back to the philippines! *sniff sniff*
    according to some divers the philippine waters is a fantastic place to explore, one of the best…
    great post ley πŸ™‚

  12. By far, this is your best post ever (imho). I’m still not sure I’m brave enough to ride that boat, but after reading this, I just might. Thanks for another exciting vicarious trip!

  13. Great trip report, Ley! I am happy to know you became a real tourist in your own country. I am glad that you guys are enjoying it now and not just leaving it to tourists including us who are expats now since we don’t leave in Cebu anymore.
    Share some more when you can!

  14. Such a great detailed topic! tnx for posting this up! inow i have a target place this holy thursday!!!! hope to know much more place in queen city of the south! keep loving our own place!

  15. I love your blog. =) I’m convinced to go to camotes because of your post. But I want to go to falls. What falls can you recommend? Something near San Francisco

  16. Enjoyed reading about your Camotes experience and your photos are amazing! It’s unbelievable how 1500 pesos could give one such wonderful and memorable experience. Here in the US, that amount of money is not even enough to pay for a movie and a dinner. How I wish I could move back to Cebu again. It’s sad that each time I visit, I always leave frustrated because a 2-week vacation is never enough to have the utmost experience of the island. To all Cebuanos: Please feel lucky and blessed to be part of the beautiful island and never wish to be away from it for the longest time. Savor each moment when you are in those beautiful and exotic places in Cebu. You’ll never know what you’d miss until you are no longer part of it.

  17. wow! it’s a great adventure…thank you for sharing the photos… I should visit Camotes Island next time…i like adventure too.

    God bless you guys and good luck to your next adventure!

  18. been to this island! and i did like it there! nice beaches!(5-15pesos for an entrance fee! amazing underground spring which i love the most! :)) 10 pesos to get into that cave! cheap! isn’t it? could prolly find a cheap place to stay! :))

  19. thanks for visiting camotes and posting it here..
    I felt ashamed that I grow up in Camotes but missed to visit the cave nearby Sonog. Maybe because of familiarity.

    I will rediscover Camotes once again. Thanks for the blog.

    Time permits I will stay at least for 2 weeks in my childhood barangay..Consuelo, San Francisco

  20. i have been to Camotes six times, since it’s just across us..but i never had the luck to experience seeing dolphins on my to or from Camotes… u guys are a lucky bunch… i enjoyed the article…

  21. ei ley! mel here! nalingaw jud ko basa ani na blog!haha specially sa ‘financial crisis’ issue nnu! been there april 2009 and it was one of my unforgettable trips jud! any plans of going back? πŸ˜€

      1. no prob! i expected it anyway after i remembered nga Mel sad d i imong friend na namention ani na blog. any chance mka kuyog ug trip ley?hehe

  22. husband and i enjoyed our wonderful night.i would say… Perfect resort to stay and relax. very affordable , friendly staff and good accommodation. we shall be back soon.

  23. ang ganda ng blog mo, very helpful.. natatawa rin ako sa experience nyo.. naiimagine ko hehe.. we’re totally going there yes!! your blog helped a lot πŸ˜‰ contemplating on going to bantayan, pero parang mas convenient ang pagtravel sa Camotes kasi based sa blog mo dito kumpara sa blog mo sa Bantayan mas mahaba ang travel time papuntang Bantayan (?). thank u thank u. ay sana makita rin namin yun dolphins! excited na q.

  24. Hi Leylander, I haven’t visited your site lately, so went back and read a lot of your posts. This trip sounded so cool! Always was tempted to take the boat to Comotes, but was always a little scared of the boatride. Now thanks to you I’ll have to try! Great post! Your love and enthuasium for Cebu shines through in all your posts! Keep up the good work!

  25. it’s worth reading this blog… mora ug nakakuyog ko sa inyo… i want to experience this… but the best thing in this blog is you are promoting local tourism…Thanks for sharing all your travel blogs…very nice

  26. Hello Ley,

    Would you know the updated boat/ferry schedule from Danao to Camotes of RJR? From other sites/blogs it’s 10:30am, while here you posted “Boat scheds: 6am, 10am, 12:30pm, 2pm, and 5pm”. Or do you at least know their contact number? And aren’t there any tricycles in Camotes, do they really use motorbikes only? Well, I’m afraid riding motorbikes. TIA! πŸ™‚

    1. hey. that’s the schedule that they told us when we were there. im not sure if it changes every day.

      anyway, i didn’t see tricycles there. so, i guess you’ll haveto take the motorbike. hehehe. just tell the driver to take his time. hehe

      1. Thanks again, Ley. I guess I’ll just have to search the contact details of the ferries in Danao. And for the motorbike, I’ll just cover my eyes so I won’t be scared with the speed.

  27. i have been to that island a couple times during my college years with my buddies. We had an awesome time over there. I still would want to come back there.

  28. hi.. tanong ko lang sana kung possible ba na puntahan ang mga pinuntahan mo ng nilalakad lang? we’re planning on staying at santiago bay then visit yung mga sinabi mo.. kaso 4 kami tapos kasama ko baby ko and ako lahat babayad.. LOL… nag titipid ako.. 2 nights sana kami.. thanks..

    1. hi julie! kailan ba ang punta nyo dun? kasi plano din namin magpunta this march then we’re going to stay in santiago bay… baka pwd tayo magshare ng rent sa multicab pwd naman isang araw lang iyan puntahan…tight budget din parehas tayo ako din babayad! lol

  29. u did not include sa inyo break down ang 300 which is d tour fee… and the santiago bay entrance..=)
    hopefully we can visit camotes after sinulog.

  30. This is really cool place. I will definitely visit Mangudlong this year. Kaya lang the vacation i can have is only June- July. Thank you for sharing your one of the best adventure!!!!

  31. hi ! im alfred… im a driver here in camotes. if you want to visit camotes island you can contact me with this number globe: 09051550325 and smart:09092673862. i have a motorbike and a multicab. my price is always negotiable… thanks.

    1. Hi Alfred, thank you very much. Ok i have a questions for you. How much will you charge me us for 4 people. Pick up in Poro ferry terminal to Mangodlong Resort?

      1. 100 per person from poro going to santiago bay or magodlong. if you are 4 its 400 pesos.
        just txt me because our internet connection is not always have a signal. thanks a lot. my number is 09051550325.

      1. mas maayo tngale nga mag package deal nalang. our standard rate here for package
        1. port to resort, tour 5 destination, resort to port = 2,000.0
        but if you really want all destination medyo mahal na. kasi depende na sa lugar nga ato gi adto.
        tanan mag depende jud sa destination. our minimum tour price is 1,500.00
        mag depende sad og pila mo kabook mo sakay sa multicab… thanks. just txt me for more info… 0905-1550325.

  32. I appreciate the video…It is really cool and My most unforgettable seen is the manta ray jumping up high and made a very big splash when it landed to the ocean..That was soooo amazing!!!! BTW, your pics were so neat..good photograph πŸ™‚

  33. wow!!! Its 4 am here atm was just surfing the net cause I couldn’t sleep and came across on ur blo. Good one bro! Reading ur post made me giggle especially when u guys were running out of money. Yes indeed Camotes is a beautiful place, I really missed this place my island where I was born. Its been ages since the last time I was there. It amazed me of how much u spent on ur trip that here in Australia that amount is enough for a take away meal. Thank u for posting and promoting our beautiful island of Camotes! My family will be going for a holiday over there by the end of this year. Cheers! Mabuhay kitsng MFA bisdak! LOL

    1. if you will take the 8;30 trip by jomalla shipping they have a shuttle bus in SM CITY travelers lounge
      6:00am and 3:00pm for 5:30 trip. for more information you can txt me tru my number 09051550325. txt me so that i can guide you kung saan kayo pwede sumakay pa punta nang danao port. thanks

      1. we will be visiting Camotes Island this coming march 18-20.. good timing because it their Town Fiesta.. ask ko lang if mahirap ba sakayan papunta camotes especially na may okasyon? fullybooked? Kuya Alfred will be our tour guide..we will stay at Payag ..

    2. txt mo nalang ako para ma advice kita saan ka pwede sasakay nang public utility jeep… salamat po… ako po si Alfred no. 0905-1550325. thanks a lot…

  34. nice blog gyud! so far pinaka nindot nga akoa nabasa… naa naba nay CR ang inyo room? kana imo 1600 one day rana ninyo nga trip?

    1. yes. naa nay cr. overnight na namo. pero mas mubarato na kung mas daghan mo. ug usa pa, mahal man gud among gipangkaon kay didto gyud mis restaurant. kung nagbalon mi, mas cheaper pa unta to. hehehe

  35. thank you for the info, i was torn between going to bohol or camotes, as it will be my first time to either places this april and after reading your post my mind is made. salamat again. i’m excited to go to camotes na nuon haha

  36. our standard price is 150 pesos from poro going to mangodlong. poro to mangodlong is 24 kilometers. but mostly i only charge 100 per person from poro to mangodlong resort. just txt me for more information. thanks. we cant monitor always in the internet because our signal for internet in not always there… thanks

  37. thanks for sharing Ley. this blog of yours never ceazes to amaze avid followers and drop-in readers as well. it has been ages since my last peep into mcpb and i’m glad i did. was just browsing for info about mountain view park and BANZAI! from busay nakasuroy ko ug Camotes unexpectedly!!! it is a perfect hideaway.
    more power Dong and Gog bless your trips.

  38. Pag adto namo last April 30 ky..ang mandaue-danao ky 30pesos each..den ang sa consuelo port to mangodlong ky 30..hehe den ug fullybook na sa Mangodlong(fullybook man gud pag adto namo..haha)..pde ra sad mo mag stay sa BBR..babaw rna sa mangodlong..ang tour sad namo ky 500 + 2liters na gas..haha idunno ug mao jd na ang rate..lingaw rman sad ko..hahah.. πŸ™‚ thanks for sharing ley..dako jd ni help imo breakdown.. πŸ™‚

  39. very informative.. thanks for giving some informations.. im planning to go to camotes soon.. God willing.. hopefully things wil go as planned (praying for Gods favor).. and i’ll blog about it afterwards to share to others my experience.. :)) ciao! cebu is truly beautifuL!!!

  40. awesome blog!! am from camotes but now we’re here in this cold place…reading your blog & viewing the pics added to my homesickness.LOL..but really a great blog!thanks

  41. Hi, Leylander.

    Looks wow! Do you think it is possible to make a day trip there? We’ll be staying in Cebu for 2 nights only and we plan to go to a beach on the day in between.

      1. 4 hours, one way? Like on your expenses you did above, can you list down the whole duration of your trip, from Cebu to the resort? =)

  42. Funny and informative blog about your experiences in my island, thank you! Though you’ve enjoyed it there, unfortunately you only saw half of the attractions. You have not visited the Bukilat Cave in Tudela, the Boho Rock Resort in Poro, the island of Tulang Diyot, Bakhaw Beach and sightseeing on top of Timubo Mountain. Two days won’t be enough for all of these to be experienced. Been gone for quite a long time, been to the world’s well known tourist destinations, but It’s nice to know Camotes is where my heart is. Greetings from the USA Ley. Many thanks for your blog.

  43. nice one..i was surprised when i saw those Koreans with you..They were my students before..HEHEH..my friends and i are planning to go to camotes 2 weeks from now..your blog really helped me..Tnx..:)

  44. my friends and I are planning to visit camotes island as well, probably at the end of the semester however..since we’re all students, we can’t afford the price..but is it alright not to rent a hotel room and just stay at the beach sand?

  45. nice naman ng blog mo…very informative….

    we’ll be going to camotes island this april 17 na…..any comment about sunset bay???? pls share naman

  46. Thanks all for these replies and for the original travel blog … I enjoyed reading them. I have been in the Philippines many times but never travelled to The Camotes. I want to set up a business in the Visayas area and The Camotes seems perfect for me. If any other people have gone there to live or work I would like to hear their experiences.

  47. β–  Want to tour here in Camotes Island? I’m here to serve! I have two(2) multi cab that can occupy 17 seaters and a van and motorbike or habal habal if you like…■

    This is Eil Saying………. β€œTravel Safely with my service” Just contact my # for more information. β†’ 0909-563-9412β†’ orβ†’ 0912-979-8560β†’. VON VOYAGE EVERYONE!!! God Bless……………..

  48. hi this is alfred. i have aircon vans and multicabs for island tour in camotes. my aircon van is the same rate with non-aircon vehicle. for more info: contact us: 0926-529-6337 ; 0910-879-5577 ; 0922-2291336. thank you. our rates is always negotiable.

  49. hi po..na basa ko po lahat ng adventures nyo..hanggang ngayon po ba ganon din ung rates? per person if ever pupunta ng camotes island?..napaplano kasi kami kung saan e cecelebrate aming anniversary thanks..! at first time namin pupunta doon if ever2… πŸ™‚

  50. my husband and myself along with my sisters went to camotes sometime in december, the seas were very rough and the waves were huge, i was feeling sea sick. we went there to check a beach lot that we have bought even though we have’nt seen it from a relative. beach was beautiful and i would love to develop it along with my sister who also bought the adjacent lot. the problem i have was the big waves, is there a proposal for an airport in camotes? if anybody knows pls advise me. thanking u in advance.:)

  51. Hi there. I love this post! I’m visiting cebu next month and I’m torn between camotes and malapascua. Have you been to malapascua? Asa man mas nindot para nimo? I want to visit the two islands pero 5 days ra man ko cebu gud. Di mada. I want to go island hopping sa mga neighboring islands sa camotes (like how you can visit other islands in malapascua). Pwede kaha mag island hopping sa camotes? Thanks! πŸ™‚

    1. yep, i’ve been to malapascua. but that was years ago. both islands are awesome. but if you want to see many spots, camotes is your best option. malapascua is basically just a very small island. but you can always check out both. πŸ™‚

  52. Hi good day Ley! Gusto kolang itanong kung ano recommend mong resort.. Santiago Bay or Mangodlong Rock Resort? Alin ba mas maganda ang beach at ang view? Thanks!

    1. both resorts are run by the same people. so, they’re basically the same. advantage sa mangodlong is it’s on a cliff with stairs to the beach.

  53. hey .. uhm. jus wanted to ask .. pila ka oras ang byahe danao to camotes? im planning to go there man gud with my friends. thanks .. πŸ™‚

  54. Nice blog, really enjoyed reading it! Planning on visiting the place this coming July, how many days would you recommend staying there to really see the sights and enjoy Camotes?

  55. by 500php good for 2 pax, you can already go to 8 destinations of their tourist attractions.just contact this number wilbes- 09475465768 0r 09264808365.price is still negotiable.He’s a good driver and good tour guide as well.

  56. hello i am ALFRED… i have multicabs, aircon van and motorbike for camotes transportation… i have also extra services like reserving your tickets to the ferry in going back home… my transpo rates is very affordable… right now we have a promo… free pick up and drop off to port and resort to port… all you have to pay is the tour…. try to contact me this are my numbers…

    GLOBE : 09265296337; SMART: 09108795577; SUN: 09339378870

  57. I have van For hire in CAMOTES… cheap and negotiable price.. pls call and txt 09495766062 for more info.. i also offer multi cab and motorcyle for hire.. hurry now… we give a good service to our guest

  58. Great blog! Glad I found you – I linked you on my blog as well (one Pinoy image a week – Camotes this week!). More power and God bless!
    -Emy
    pinoyroots.wordpress.com

  59. I suggest you visit Camotes again! πŸ™‚ This blog was written last 2010 and Camotes has more to offer now! πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ :

  60. Finally been to Camotes Island on the 1st w/end of this month Feb. 2016. We enjoy our 2nights. And lucky its a bigger boat now, Jomalia Shipping Lines.Our w/end break is awesome.

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