Upon reading some good reviews of Camotes Islands and knowing that there is a dive operator in the area, I promised myself to visit the place someday. But I didn’t know that this someday would be so soon, thanks to my dive buddy Ate Claudia who were so willing and immediately agreed to join me in another pursuit for roads less traveled and dive spots less dived and to my good friend Racquel Bontia who just recently went there, for the tips 🙂
Camotes is a group of islands composed of four towns of Cebu (Poro, Tudela, Pilar and San Francisco), geographically located east of the province’ mainland and two hours away by boat from Danao, north of Cebu City. Cebu Pacific took me to there via their early flight to the Queen City of the South. I arrived Cebu City before eight in the morning, where I met Ate Claudia straight from Cagayan de Oro City. Per advised of Racquel, we took a taxi to Gaisano Mandaue (P75.00), and rode a multicab to Danao City (P25.00) for almost an hour.
It was half past the hour of nine, the multicab dropped us at the port of Danao, right in front of the century old church and we purchased our ticket to the 11AM RJR boat to Consuelo, Camotes (P180.00). With some ample time to spare, we decided to go to Gaisano Danao for breakfast.
The boat left fifteen minutes after 11AM. Along with some locals, foreigners mostly composed of Koreans and some Caucasians, and the hogs and chickens aboard the ferry, the boat sailed for two hours to the calm waters of Camotes Sea.
We reached the port of Consuelo past 1PM and we were welcomed by Kuya Elmer, a local guide referred by Racquel. We paid P50.00 each for the transfer from the port to Bellavista Resort where we checked-in for a fan room good for two at P850.00 per room per day. Bellavista Resort or formerly Beach View Resort is located along Santiago Bay in Barangay Santiago, San Francisco, where most tourists stay.
By 2PM, white it was drizzling, our habal-habal or motorcycle tour with Kuya Elmer started. First stop was Lake Danao Park, a big lake ideal for family picnic. There is not much to see or do here unless you will go fishing or boating. If you go fishing, you have to pay for whatever you catch; meanwhile boating is at P500.00 per hour for a boat that can fit 20 persons. Entrance fee to Lake Danao Park is P10.00 for adults and P5.00 for kids.
We skipped the activities in Lake Danao Park and proceeded to Timabu Cave, an interesting underground cave with freshwater spring forming a natural pool that offers a different swimming experience. The pool is incredibly clear and aqua blue. According to locals, for unexplainable reason, the water subsides during high tide and goes high again at low tide. The trail to the pool is made up of paved and concrete stairs and lighted electronically by lamps. A grotto of Mama Mary is also carved inside the cave. It is a beautiful cave, although I think it would be more interesting if it was left on its natural form.
Next stop was the baywalk in San Francisco, the first and only baywalk in the island, an ideal place for leisurely walk and town events. We took some time to rest and eat our snacks there before crossing the bridge that links Pacijan Island to the neighboring Poro Island. We passed by a paved road in the middle of the mangrove forest for our next destination – the Buho Rock, a big rock along the beach that was developed to be a park, with cottages and even a swimming pool, though not being used.
It was almost 5PM, Kuya Elmer advised us to skip Bukilat Cave in the farther Barangay of Tudela in Poro. So we went back to Santiago and arrived at the resort half past the hour of five, and I was amazed with how the beach of Santiago Bay looked like on low tide. A wide stretch of cream sand was revealed as the water receded from the shore. What a sight!
It was a tiring day mostly spent on almost all mode of transport – plane ride from Manila, taxi ride to Mandaue, jeep/multicab to Danao, padyak to Gaisano, ferry to Consuelo, multicab to Santiago and ended up on a habal-habal or motor tour in the laid back town of Camotes. It was all worth it. We got a glimpse of the inland treasures of this remote group of islands of Cebu.
Tips:
- Accommodation in Camotes: Bellavista Resort (formerly Beach View Resort), Santiago Bay Garden and Resort, Masamayor Beach Resort and Payag Beach Resort in Santiago; Mangongodlong Rock Resort in Mangongodlong; Harbor View in downtown San Francisco.
- Going to Consuelo, Camotes from Danao: Jomalia Ferry 830AM, RJR Pumpboat (11AM) from Danao
- Going out of Consuelo, Camotes to Danao: Jomalia Ferry 5AM, RJR Pumpoboat (2PM) to Danao
- Where else to go: White Sand Beaches are in Pacijan Island, Mangongodlong Rock, Bukilat Cave in Tudela, St. Josep Parish, Kalbaryo, Alta Vista, Guadalupe Cave, Busay Waterfalls
- When to go: Summer and dry season
- No electricity everyday from 6PM-7PM
- Mobile signal is weak in some areas of Pacijan Island, especially in Santiago and southern barangays of San Francisco
- No ATM or bank in the island
- Non-aircon room rate good for two is as low as P850.00/room/night in Bellavista, Aircon room rate for two is at P1200.00/room/night
- Consuelo Port to hotel transfer is P50.00 one way
- Half day motorcycle tour rate is P500.00 for the following spot: Lake Danao Park, Timabu Cave, Baywalk, Buho Rock and Bukilat Cave
- Kuya Elmer’s cellphone number: +639067100831
[…] A Tour of Camotes Islands […]
Hi everyone this is Brian your friendly and accomodating tourguide. I am updating my phone number so you may reach me at 09128928676 and 09774633300. We have new vehicles for all your tour needs plus we have a fairly reasonable rates. Please dont be deceived by those that are offering you low rates as most have too many add on payments plus less places or destinations covered. Please come and check my facebook page travel camotes the lost horizon of the south, and we will soon have our official website launching very soon. Thank you 🙂 i hope to see you someday in our little, yet very beautiful and serene island.
hi guys, i am brian a local tour guide on the island of Camotes. Should you want to explore, relax and tour Camotes, I am the man to call. I am a tourism student and this is my part time job. I have motorbikes and multicabs should one wish to explore the caves and the virgin white sandy beaches. My numbers are 09499381098 and 09774633300. My facebook page is travel camotes, the lost horizon of the south. In there, you will find pictures of the tour destinations and the prestine waters of the island. You will also find in there the rates of hotels and the directions from Cebu. please give me a call if you would like to explore our humble island. 🙂 God bless everyone! 🙂 Part of my package includes port to resort transportation and vice versa plus “a whole day tour on the island” compared to other operators who charges you big but will only serve you per hour or only half a day. It is with my utmost desire that all tourist will enjoy their stay and make it a memorable one. My rates are fairly cheap and our vehicles all have updated registration and our drivers all have valid licenses. Plus they are all polite and very professional 🙂 so, why settle for anything less? we provide very prompt and personalized service in all your tour needs. 🙂
I will go th Camotes Island next weeken(May 7,2016). Pls advice me via line
Thanks
P
Id Line : superman-t
Hi everyone, im craig. I just would like to let you guys know how thankful i am to have met my tourguide brian. He is a student who serves as a local tourguide in the island. Im fairly touched by his stories after having known his life. He and his family was abandoned by his father, and he now serves as the breadwinner supporting his sick mom who was diagnosed with “achalacia”. He is able to manage studying while at the same time being a tourguide. I gotta say im happy how he spends his earnings compared to other drivers and tourguides whom i have seen spending their income gambling on the port and drinking. He is very polite, and very professional. I strongly recommend you try and get him as your tourguide. He has a fairly cheap rate and i was able to enjoy my dtsy on the island. He extends extra mile of service when i almost could not get a ticket, but he was able to secure me a ticket. Thank you brian, you inspired me, i hope you will inspire more tourists like me. I am recommending him to my friends in states and in the philippines, i think you should do so. You will be a blessing to him and his family simply by just choosing his service. God bless everyone 🙂
By the way his number is 09499381098 and his facebook is ian padilla anrec. You can leave him a message or perhaps give him a ring 🙂
[…] to cook or take them to a tour around Camotes Island. Santiago Bay is just a piece of Camotes. There is more to explore and discover. But the beauty and charm of Camotes can only be preserved for as long as the locals help protect […]
hello.Kabalo mo kinsay Head tourism officer sa San Francisco, Camotes?
Or contact number sa munisipyo? salamat.
We have 1 tourism officer here in camotes and unfortunately i dont have her number handy. But you can approach her anytime during weekdays at the municipality of san fran.
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
kuya available pa ni? unsa imo mga packages para sa 3-4 persons
Hi Alfred,
Are your motorbike with a valid registration and insurance? Do you have helmets for the passengers? You have a valid drivers licence?
Thank you,
Alain
Wala na silay mga lisensya tnan. Aw naay mapili ra. Mga sakyanan mga wala pud rehistro.
I’ve never been into Camotes but from your photos, it seems really beautiful. I think I may have to talk with my folks and make up a plan to go there. Thanks for putting up this article.
i miss camotes