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White sandy beach, quaint little towns, caves, scenic routes that overlook the ocean. These are the points of interest in Camotes Island, Cebu, Philippines.
CAMOTES ISLAND
Camotes Island has 3 Islands:
-Pacijan Island: has town of San Francisco
-Poro Island: has towns of Poro & Tudela
-Ponson Island: has town of Pilar
Heading out for the Camotes Island!
Equipped with all the information gathered from the Tourism Department. Some advice from a person whom we’ve met at the Cathedral during the course of the day, who happened to be from Camotes Islands. These set us up for an early voyage to Camotes Islands. There are several ways to get to the Island but I opted for the route that suited our schedule well. I wasn’t able to sleep the night prior to the trip due to so much unplanned activities that night before, so I just waited out until 3am to get ready for the Island trip. A taxi took us to Ouaño Wharf in Mandaue City for the 4:30am boat trip.
'Bon Voyage'
Our good voyage lasted more than 4 hours which gave me enough time to get the much needed rest; I slept all through it. It was easy to get that snooze because everyone on board was quietly resting or sleeping as well. The boat has a capacity of 200 passengers but only a handful was traveling that morning, although I saw tons of cargos at the lower deck; a few brand new motorbikes, sacks of produce, rice, groceries, and more indistinguishable goods.
Port of San Francisco
The boat finally reached its first port stop at exactly 9am, San Francisco (local calls it SanFran). Almost everyone disembarked the ferry. Only about five people or so stayed put for the next port - Poro, where we were headed. A guy popped up from the lower deck and approached me. He asked if I wanted to maybe get off already because the boat will need to unload its tons of cargos and it will take some time to unload. He will take us to Poro on his habal-habal(motorbike) for Php 50 each. Not a bad deal considering the long wait inside this rocking ferry boat and, we will get to see the islands’ scenic route going to Poro on a motor bike. It's a deal!
San Francisco Port, 2012
Poro
Onto a habal-habal heading to Poro. No more than 15 minutes drive passing through an open road overlooking the ocean. We got dropped off at the Poro Church.
The Holy Child Church
This church in this hushed sleepy town of Poro, has a subtle beauty that somehow reminded me of Lazi church in Siquijor. The Church of the Holy Child has a pale pastel-color belfry. It was built in 1849, the very first in the island of Camotes. Its façade and walls remained intact after hundreds of years of existence.
Poro church, 2012
In Port Poro!
After the church visit, we continued walking, under the searing heat of the sun, towards the town’s rotunda, near the Poro Port, stopping occasionally to shelter near the ocean shore. It was 9:20 in the morning and the town was calm and lacking of activities. Only a few habal-habal passing through the empty road.
Poro Port, 2012
Broad or Alkaline Coffee?
I ended up having brunch near the port while waiting for Jay-r, the guy we met on-board the ferry. He lives in San Francisco and agreed to meet us up in Poro to take us for a spin around the island, on his habal-habal, gas on us. We'll be checking out Bukilat Cave in Tudela, Timubo Cave in San Francisco, and Santiago Bay Beach Resort.
Impatiently Waiting..
It's 10:30 AM and I was beginning to wonder if Jay-r was still coming because it's been an hour, and there’s this one persistent habal-habal driver hovering over me while i'm having brunch at a small diner, offering us a tour of the island for Php 250 each, which isn’t at all a bad deal, except that we already reserved a ride that is supposedly on its way. This 'hovering' driver said, he’ll just wait up outside in case our ride doesn’t show up. Finally, I saw our driver pulled up the curb in front, so I announced to the habal-habal driver sitting outside, waiting patiently, that our ride has arrived. Disappointment showed on his face, though still managed to crack a smile as he walked away. Our driver’s motorbike was smaller than the usual habal-habals, so I was hoping it can haul our asses with not much trouble.
Tudela
We headed up to the eastern-most tip of Poro Island - Tudela, where Bukilat Cave is. We cruised the open road with ease, road's empty, maybe one or two vehicles every now and then. We passed along the shorelines with its usual spectacular view of the blue ocean. A 15-minute drive on a provincial road to a quiet town called Tudela, where we bought a bottled gas for the motorbike. And while at it, we asked the vendor where the exact location of the cave. From Tudela town proper, another 6 km or 10 mins drive continuing onto the provincial road that forked left to a barangay road that'll lead us to the Bukilat Cave's entrance.
Bukilat Cave
Bukilat Cave is an underground cave that has a downward cemented stairway leading to the cave. The above opening is enclosed of fences and aesthetically decorated with plants. A few steps downward will come to a view a brightly lit cavern with light rays coming from its seven circular holes above. Inside this airy grotto-like cave is a well-made pathway that leads visitors to the many formations of stalactites and several cemented stalagmites arranged to resemble natural focal points of the caves. The cave is photographically beautiful, but lacks the thrill factor. It has a shallow pool of crystal-clear salty water, too shallow for anyone to swim, unless you're just up for waddling about or to get a refreshing salt bath. I shouldn’t be complaining too much because after all, it’s only Php10 to get in, practically free.
Bukilat Cave, 2012
An underground opening, 2012
A crystal clear water, 2012
Seven ceiling holes where the sun rays enter the cave, 2012
San Francisco
We drove back to the direction where we came from, to Poro. On our way to the town of San Francisco, a small quiet town. We were heading to Timubo Cave by this time.
San Francisco, 2012
Timubo Cave
Timubo Cave is quiet unique. It’s an underground cave over a flat field. You would never know there’s a cave in the area. The cave is a short descent, and then a short traverse inside, to where a pool of clear cool water is located.
Cave opening entrance, 2012
A cool lagoon inside, 2012
Santiago Bay Beach
After Timubo Cave, we drove to a private beach resort, Santiago Bay Beach. It’s our last stop before heading back to the port. This resort has a tiny beach and a beautifully landscaped huge rock where few structures are built, mostly as a view point and relaxation areas.
Santiago Bay Beach, 2012
There's a brewing storm over the horizon, 2012
A Change in the Weather
A sudden pour of strong gustily rain delayed our ferry ride for about an hour. But I like this 'waiting moment' in this small wharf, getting hit by this wildly swoosh of the rain, wind, and all...
Expenses:
Taxi – P75 (from Cebu City to Ouaño Wharf)
Ferry Boat - P250 (from Ouaño Wharf to the Island)
Habal-Habal Ride - P150 (for two, around the island)
Cave Entrances - P15 (caves)
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