Weekend Getaway: Cagbalete Island

Cagbalete Island 2013

Cagbalete is another jewel of the Quezon Province. Located in the Lamon Bay fronting the Pacific Ocean, it is another paradise in the province of Quezon surrounded by white sand that exposes during low tide.

This 1,640 hectares privately owned island is home to a diverse ecosystem. With unique variety of birds, rich marine life, and the abundance of unique species of plants, the island is a complete paradise for adventurers and nature lovers. Similar to Jomalig Island in Northern Quezon, a part of the Cagbalete’s beach is dotted with Agoho trees, a family of pine tree. 

source: wikimapia (http://wikimapia.org)


This is my personal itenerary going to the Island of Cagbalete in Mauban, Quezon.

Day 1:

2 AM: From Gil Puyat (Buendia) via Jac Liner bus at 2am going to Lucena Grand Terminal.- (Bus fare 209 php)

5 AM: Arrival at Lucena Grand Terminal, you can freshen up or rest for a while and then look for the NCR Bus going to Mauban. 

*personal note: public comfort rooms are available just ready your 5 php coin.

5:30 AM: From Lucena Grand Terminal to Mauban will take you approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. (Bus fare 54 php) 

*personal note: NCR bus is a non-air-conditioned bus so be ready with your jackets because it gets chilly traveling from Lucena to Mauban specially in the morning where the road is all covered in fog. 

7 AM: Arrival at Mauban, Quezon, you can get off the bus in the terminal and head for their public market to buy some stuff you need (Water, breads, fish, pork, spices and condiments, charcoal and don't forget the Booze).

*personal note: take all the time you have buying all the stuffs you need just make sure you arrived at the jetty before 10 AM, you can ride a tricycle 10 php per head.

10 AM: Arrival at the Jetty board to the boat and rest, take some pictures of the view or even kids swimming at the jetty. The boat usually leaves around 15 to 20 min or until all the cargoes and passengers have boarded, the travel takes 45 min to 1 hour going to Cagbalete Island (Boat fare 50 php). 

*personal note: there are only 2 trips going to Mauban to Cagbalete Island (10 AM and 3 PM) and also 2 trips from Cagbalete to Mauban (7am and 1 pm).

Mauban Jetty

Mauban Jetty

A man fishing

Kids diving at the boat

View of the town from the Jetty

11 AM: Arrival at Cagbalete Island, there is no jetty in the island so a small boat will carry you to the shoreline. Also there are a lot of resorts now in Cagbalete Island but we choose to stay at Pansacola Beach Resort. (for inquiries see website below). 

*personal note: some boats will offer you a ride going to your selected resorts for a fee, but you can also take a walk, a lot of the local kids are willing to be your tour guide.

The island of Cagbalete

This is the boat that will bring you to the shoreline.

My new found friend Billy Joe taking a dive at the boat when we arrived at the island. 

Life of Pi.

Cagbalete Island on low tide

Pansacola Beach Resort on a low tide

Summer? It's more fun in the Philippines!

Summer getaway

The electricity on the resort is available from 6pm till 12mn only so better charge your gadgets during the said time, better if you have powerbanks or like me a solar charger for your mobile phones.

You can also rent kitchen utensils at the resort.

We spend overnight on the island and returned back to Mauban taking the last trip (1 PM), rode a tricycle to NRC bus terminal headed for Lucena Grand Terminal and back to Manila.

There you go! Have a fun-filled summer guys! :)

Jac Liner website: http://jacliner.com

Pansacola Beach Resort website: http://cagbaleteisland.com/