Top Beaches in Visayas (A Review)

It's Summer! And as always, a trip to the beach is simply inevitable! Well, these are the best beaches in Visayas only. This is a simple review of the beaches that I have visited. I hope this will help you pick the right beach for your vacation.. =)

My personal rating 
1 - highest/best
5 - worst

Antulang Beach, Negros Oriental

Travel Time from Manila - 55 minutes by plane
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Dumaguete, tricycle to Ceres bus station in Dumaguete, bus ride to Antulang, habal-habal ride (motorcycle) to the beach
Proximity from Manila - #3
Accommodation - #2
Expenses - #3
Food - #1
White Sand - YES
Nightlife  - none
Drinking spree - only at the resort
Multitude of People - #3 (usually foreigners)
Adventure - nature photography, breathtaking view, walking along the trail
Serenity/Paradise - #1 (best reason)

Primary Reason - the view and the atmosphere are simply world-class

Related link -

http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/exploring-negros-oriental-and-negros.html

Camotes Island, Cebu

Santiago Bay Resort

Travel Time from Manila - 1 hour and 12 minutes by plane
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Cebu, taxi to North Bus Terminal, Bus to Danao Port, Ro-Ro to Camotes, habal-habal to resort 
Proximity from Manila - #4
Accommodation - #2
Expenses - #3
Food - #2
White Sand - YES
Nightlife  - none
Drinking spree - resort only
Multitude of People - #2
Adventure - lake, falls, spelunking (best reason)
Serenity/Paradise - #2 (best reason)

Primary Reason - going to Santiago Bay is the best reason to enjoy your vacation

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/camotes-island-white-sand-beach-and.html

Bantayan Island, Cebu
best choice!

Anika Beach Resort

Travel Time from Manila - 1 hour and 12 minutes by plane
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Cebu, taxi to North Bus Terminal, Bus to Hagnaya, Ro-Ro to Bantayan, tricycle to the resort 
Proximity from Manila - #3
Accommodation - #1 (best reason)
Expenses - #1
Food - #1 (best reason)
White Sand - YES
Nightlife  - YES, at the town proper
Drinking spree - YES, at the town proper
Multitude of People - #4
Adventure - #2 scuba diving, snorkeling, water sports
Serenity/Paradise - #1

Primary Reason - best white sand in Cebu!

Related link -

http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/bantayan-island-in-cebu.html


Biliran (Naval)

Travel Time from Manila - travel by air to Tacloban City, 55 minutes
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Tacloban, tricycle to van station, van to Biliran, motorcycle or tricycle to the resort
Proximity from Manila - #3
Accommodation - #4
Expenses - #4
Food - #3
White Sand - minimal (almost brown sand)
Nightlife  - none
Drinking spree - none
Multitude of People - #2
Adventure - falls, trekking, hiking, island hopping
Serenity/Paradise - #3

Primary Reason - it has great falls (Ulan-Ulan Falls)

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/biliran-paradise-undiscovered.html
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/eastern-visayas-tour.html


Boracay (Station 1)

Travel Time - (varies) you can reach Boracay either by air, land or sea
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - 
  if your flight is Kalibo - plane to Kalibo, van to Caticlan, pumpboat to Boracay
  if your flight is Caticlan - plane to Caticlan, tricycle to the pier, pumpboat to Boracay
  if you opted 2GO - ferry ride to Caticlan, pumpboat to Boracay 
Proximity from Manila - #2
Accommodation - 
    Station 1 - high end (10,000 - up)
    Station 2 - average  (5,000 - 9,000)
    Station 3 - 1,000 - 4,000
Expenses - #4-5
Food - #1 (best reason)
White Sand - #1(best reason)
Nightlife  - #1 (best reason) 
Multitude of People - #5
Adventure - #1 (best reason)
Serenity/Paradise - #4 
Drinking spree - #1 (best reason)
Sunset or Sunrise -  sunset (best reason)
Primary reason - best white sand in the Philippines

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/boracay.html


Guimaras (Alubijod Beach)

Travel Time from Manila - travel by plane to Iloilo, 50 minutes
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Iloilo, taxi to Pantalan (pier), pumpboat to Guimaras, motorcycle or tricycle to the resort
Proximity from Manila - #2
Accommodation - #3
Expenses - #3
Food - #2 (you have to taste the mangoes)
White Sand - YES
Nightlife  - none 
Drinking spree - only at the resort
Multitude of People - #3
Adventure - island hopping, spelunking, trekking
Serenity/Paradise - #2

Primary Reason - Mangoes!

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/guimaras-paradise.html


Malapascua Island, Cebu

Travel Time from Manila - 1 hour and 12 minutes by plane
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Cebu, taxi to North Bus Terminal, Bus to Maya, pumpboat to Malapascua, walk to the resort =)
Proximity from Manila - #3
Accommodation - #2
Expenses - #3
Food - #2
White Sand - YES (best reason)
Nightlife  - none
Drinking spree - only at the resort
Multitude of People - #1 (usually foreigners sunbathing)
Adventure - #2 Thresher shark diving
Serenity/Paradise - #1 (best reason)

Primary Reason - One of the best diving spots in the Philippines

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/malapascua-island-best-island-in-cebu.html

Moalboal, Cebu

Travel Time from Manila - 1 hour and 12 minutes by plane
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Cebu, taxi to South Bus Terminal or Librando Bus Terminal, Bus to Moalboal, tricycle or motorcycle to the beach 
Proximity from Manila - #3
Accommodation - #3
Expenses - #3
Food - #3
White Sand - YES
Nightlife  - moderate
Drinking spree - only at the resort
Multitude of People - #4
Adventure - diving, boat racing
Serenity/Paradise - #3

Primary Reason - One of the best diving spots in the Philippines

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/passing-in-moalboal.html


Panglao, Bohol

Travel Time from Manila - 47 minutes by plane
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Tagbilaran, Bohol, van to Panglao Beach
Proximity from Manila - #2
Accommodation - #2
Expenses - #2
Food - #2
White Sand - YES
Nightlife  - moderate
Drinking spree - moderate
Multitude of People - #4
Adventure - island hopping, scuba diving
Serenity/Paradise - #3

Primary Reason - best spot in Bohol

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/experience-bohol.html

Siquijor

Travel Time from Manila - 50 minutes by plane
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Dumaguete, tricycle to pantalan (port), Ro-Ro to Siquijor, motorcycle ride to the resort  
Proximity from Manila - #4
Accommodation - #3
Expenses - #3
Food - #5 (be very cautious on what you eat or drink)
White Sand - YES
Nightlife  - none
Drinking spree - none
Multitude of People - #2
Adventure - falls, visiting old churches, spelunking
Serenity/Paradise - #1

Primary Reason - the entire island is white sand =)

Related link -

http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/siquijor-adventure-in-three-hours.html



Related links:
Traveling in Cebu - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/04/traveling-in-cebu.html
Top Beaches in Mindanao - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/04/top-beaches-in-mindanao-review.html
Top Beaches in Luzon - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/04/ro-ro-travel-from-allen-to-matnog-ort.html
Islands of Cebu - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/04/islands-of-cebu.html
Eastern Visayas Tour - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/eastern-visayas-tour.html

Siquijor Adventure in Three Hours!

Port of Siquijor

Ever since I was a child, all that I've heard about Siquijor is about witchcraft, black magic, voodoo stuff and bad omens. Good thing I went to Siquijor and all these perceptions changed and what now remains are good memories!

From Dumaguete Port, one has to ride a boat to Siquijor. The fare is P100 or P120 depending on the shipping line. There are 4 shipping lines at the port going to Siquijor. GL Shipping (fastcraft and pumpboat) or Jaylann, Ocean Jet, Aleson (RoRo) and Delta (fastcraft)

Travel time to Siquijor varies on the boat that you will be using -

    Fastcraft - 55 minutes 

    Pumpboat - 1 hour and 15 minutes

    RoRo - 2 hours 

Schedule 

Delta - 11:15 am

Jaylann - 5:45 am; 7:00 am; 9: am

Aleson - 8:00 am

ocean Jet - 10:00 am

Last trip is 6 pm.

The tour in Siquijor using the habal-habal is P1,000 and it covers all the primary tourist spots in the area, including the trip to the mountain.

But I was given only, 3 hours that day and I paid P700.00 for my tour.

My guide is Mr. Felix and his contact number is - 0905-907-5927.

The first stop for the day was St. Francis Church. it is very close to the port.

Capilay Spring Park

 It's my first time to see a big spring beside the main road.

Then, Lazi Catholic Church. And in front of it is another spot.

Old Convent

Cambugahay Falls

Falls No. 1

Falls No. 2

Falls No. 3

The most beautiful and good for swimming.

from boyetstour.blogspot.com

last stop was - Salagdoong Beach

I enjoyed my three hour tour of Siquijor.

It's Really More Fun in Siquijor!