Waves of Joy: A Family Trip to Camotes Island

Hello, Hive!

Let me start with my usual blog intro: it’s been a while.. 4 months-ish since my last post?

Believe me when I say I have mastered the art of procrastination. I started writing this blog entry in March, and here we are, finally sharing it with you all. Gonna blame it on the brain fog and the very very hot weather, I guess. Speaking of the hot weather, how are we all coping with the heat that seemingly gets a hundred times more intense by the second?

If you must know, March in the Philippines signals the beginning of warmer weather, then it gets progressively hotter throughout April and May. In recent news, Cebu’s heat index will range between 37 to 38 degrees Celsius. Usually, Filos during this time are already looking forward to outdoor activities, especially trips to the beach but personally, with this kind of heat, I’d rather stay indoors and stay hydrated.

It's a good thing that my entire family on my mother's side and I decided to kick off summer a little early before Mr. Sun turns up the heat and goes full blast. We spent 3 days and 2 nights in one of Cebu's hidden gems, Camotes Island.

There are multiple transportation options available for traveling between Cebu City and Camotes Island. Both OceanJet and Jomalia Shipping operate daily trips, providing a travel time of approximately one to two hours. OceanJet's route spans from Pier 1 in Cebu City to Poro Port in Camotes Island, while Jomalia Shipping departs from Danao Port in Cebu and arrives at Consuelo Port in Camotes Island. Ticket prices vary depending on the chosen ferry operator. Opting for Jomalia Shipping, we booked our tickets a few days prior to our planned travel date through South Shore Cebu Ticketing.

At 4 AM on Friday, February 9th, we eagerly stood and patiently waited at Danao Port. At around 6:30 AM, the RoRo set sail bound for Camotes.

bon voyage!

One of the many things I love about traveling early in the morning is that I get to see the beauty of the sunrise. There's something magical about watching the sun rise over the horizon; it promises a brand new day, fresh start and simply sets you on the right foot. It's like experiencing nature's canvas coming to life and it never fails to enchant.

Anyhoo, after two hours, we finally arrived in Consuelo Port, and we were warmly greeted by our affable tour guide, Isla Boy, accompanied by his also equally friendly companion. With cheerful and welcoming smiles, they rode us off to the hostel we had chosen for our stay.

The hostel can accommodate up to 40–50 people, and the rooms are fully air-conditioned. It also had a kitchen, complete with utilities that you are allowed to use. And did I mention it was a beachfront hostel?

Once our bags were settled in the rooms, we proceeded to have our brunch in this beautiful resto called Blue Pagoda Resto Bar. The staff were very accommodating and the food was delish! After we’d replenished, we finally started our island tour.

First Day: Tulang Diot

Our first stop is a charming islet called Tulang Diot. It’s in Bgy. Esperanza, San Francisco town on Pacijan Island, part of the Camotes Islands. While the locals commonly identify this area as Tulang, they've split it into two places, which encompass Tulang Dako and Tulang Diot (‘dako’ means big and ‘diot’ means small in Cebuano).

After a quick 5-minute boat ride from Tulang Dako, we reached the islet. On a quick side note, days before our trip, the weather didn't look very promising. And since this was my first visit to Camotes, I was fervently wishing for favorable weather. You know the saying, 'Be careful what you wish for’? Well, say less, because the sun was blazing and bold, making sure that nature was able to show off its best colors. The fine, white sand felt like a plush carpet around the alluring crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Taylor Swift was right. It’s a cruel summer.

Without a moment to spare, we plunged into the water for a snorkeling adventure! (After slathering on a generous amount of sunscreen, of course!)

We also did a snappy tour around the tiny island, and check out these rock formations – absolutely flex-worthy! Not to mention that the water also became more and more enticing. Ah, nature. The wonder that you are. Now, if only it weren't so deep, and if I knew how to swim (which, spoiler alert, I don't!), I'd dive in and splash around to my heart’s content.

I wasn't kidding when I said the sun was scorching—intense and blinding with a biting heat. It was already midday and I could feel exhaustion slowly creeping in. Sad to say, I no longer have the energy of a bull like I used to when I was younger 😂 And so before my social battery drains, thankfully we decided to hop on to the next agenda.

Timubo Cave

Timubo Cave is situated in the middle of a farm and isn't immediately visible because its cave entrance is underground, unlike the typical caves we're used to. Upon entering, you'll find a descending concrete staircase with a handrail and installed lights, leading to a pristine freshwater pool. However, caution is advised due to low cave ceilings, sharp-edged rocks on the pool floor, and the potential for rising water levels. It's worth noting that the management does not provide headgear, life vests, or other safety equipment for guests, so proceed at your own risk.

The water inside the cave also served as the source of water supply to the locals used for cooking food and drinking water.

Truth be told, I was a bit apprehensive to go down the cave and navigate through its slippery, narrow path because it made me feel claustrophobic. But in the spirit of adventure, I decided to give it a try anyway.

Just a few of my cousins bravely went; the rest seemed uninterested and chose to stay in the truck.

We were inside the cave for a good while, long enough to appreciate the stalactites and stalagmites and to enjoy the warm waters. We then decided to head back to the hostel and call it a day as dusk started to loom.

SECOND DAY: Lake Danao

Our initial plan primarily revolved around visiting the caves; however, since the adventurous vibes of the caves did not appeal to many of us, we just opted to remove them from our itinerary. So our agenda for the second day was to visit Lake Danao.

Lake Danao is located in the northern part of the Pacijan Island, San Francisco Camotes. This guitar-shaped lake has not only been applauded as the largest lake in Cebu Province but also because of its clean environment and water and its abundant flora and fauna around the area.

Some people would also refer to this lake as Lovers Lake because of its ambiance. There are benches and cottages everywhere, so you can sit, relax, and enjoy the fresh air and nature around you. You can also do fun things like kayaking, horseback riding, and zip-lining.

But before I proceed with sharing the rest of our day, let us just take a moment of appreciation for this photo🤪:

Santiago Beach

We're almost done for the day, and our last stop is the Santiago White Beach. The long stretch of milky-white sands greeted us, and the sea horizon touching the clear sky made it more enticing and would make you want to bask in its beauty. Without further ado, we quickly looked around the area and took a dip in its shallow but crystal-clear water. However, the searing heat of the sun made it unbearable to be out of the shade for long.

We just spent our last day walking along the beach near our hostel. It was low tide and we had fun searching for tidepool creatures. After that, we all worked together to make our meals. Then, we packed up and went to the port to go back home to our regular routines.

This weekend trip with my family was truly one of the best summers I've ever had. While it wasn't all smooth sailing and we faced some challenges along the way, the bond we shared and the moments we experienced together outweigh any obstacles we faced. These memories will be cherished for a lifetime.

Thank you for reading and have a good one!

_{I am a proud cat lady and a slightly introverted bookworm. Cats are my kindred spirits and you'll often find me lost in the pages of a novel, connecting with fictional worlds. I spend most of my free time reading books, immersing myself in BTS songs and exploring the great outdoors. Join me in my quiet moments of contemplation, where books, cats, outdoor activities, and music intertwine to shape my world.}

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