Camaya Sands and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Bataan

The historical place of Bataan has many tourist spots to offer

and here are two of the best spots.

May 2015

After so many attempts to go to these two spots, finally I was given the chance to visit them in just one day.

From Tanauan City, Batangas, I boarded the bus going to Buendia-Taft, Pasay and alighted at the LRT station. I boarded the LRT going to Monumento and alighted at Doroteo Jose. In Doroteo Jose, there are two bus companies to choose from namely: Bataan Transit and Genesis. I chose the latter.There are also bus companies in Cubao. I boarded the bus going to Mariveles. It took me 3 hours before reaching the town of Mariveles. From Manila, it is 171 kilometers and the fare was P280 (same in Cubao)

Reaching Mariveles, the problem started when I was told that there are no public transport going to Camaya Coast or Camaya Sands and the only option was to hire a tricycle for the amount of P450. I asked for a discount and fair enough, I was able to hire the trike for P400. The ride going to Camaya Sands is 16 kilometers from the town or 50 minute ride from the town. So, it's a lot better to bring your own car for this trip. The ferry ride from Manila was no longer available.

After an hour, I was able to reach the entrance and I was told by the security guards that there slated rides to the resort. I arrived 12 noon and the next ride was 1:30. I told them that I cannot wait that long. Luck was on my side, they called a guy who was working inside and the guy gave me ride to the resort. I asked the trike driver to wait for me at the gate. And told him, I will give him a total of P600 if he would wait and he will be my ride back to town. The driver agreed for P650. 

I was happy even though my rides were a bit high. I've been dreaming of this resort for months and finally, I'm here! The motorcycle ride was smooth and relaxing. The terrain and the landscapes of the resort were amazing. From the entrance to the registration area, it is 3 kilometers.

From the top of the highway going to the resort, you can have a bird's eye-view of Camaya Sands. I was already excited!

After 15 minutes, I was already at the registration area. I paid P550 for the entrance and it includes the use of the beach, swimming pools and a free lunch.

Camaya Sands

I roamed around the beach area and took souvenir pictures. There were minimal tourists that day. Good thing it was a Thursday.

I have not seen the other beaches in Bataan. But this one is white sand.

What I love about this resort is the view and the ambience. It's cozy and relaxing!

Even the huts and cottages are world-class.

And they even have an infinity pool.

After staying for more than an hour and taking my free lunch, I decided to go to my other destination. Two-thumbs up for this resort!

I boarded the trike back to the town of Mariveles and alighted at Genesis bus station. I boarded the bus going back to Manila. I told the conductor that I was going to Las Cas Filipinas De Acuzar. I was told that I have to alight at Pilar crossing in Barangay Alaule. I paid P75 for the 42-kilometer ride. I alighted at crossing and had two choices, namely: a mini-bus for P30 or a jeepney ride. The jeepney ride was better but I took the mini-bus going to Acuzar.

I alighted at the trike station and paid P20 for the ride going to Acuzar. 

Las Islas Filipinas De Acuzar

I went to the registration area and paid P685 for the entrance fee with tour. But I did not join the tour due to lack of time. I have to go back to Batangas that day. And so I roamed around the area on foot and without a guide.

The place reminded me of the heritage houses of Vigan, Taal, Marinduque, Intramuros and Sariaya. By the way, the P685 payment includes a free towel and a welcome drink. There is P800 plus payment for the food. I chose the P685.

They also have an infinity pool.

The view was simply awesome and spectacular as if I was not in the Philippines!

Good thing I have my action camera and I was able to take pictures.

The houses are well-preserved. According to what I have seen in TV, these houses are from the different parts of the country and they were bought, transferred piece-by-piece and assembled here in Bataan.

I love this place! 

The designs and facade of the heritage houses are way beyond comparison.

My only regret was I was not able to join the tour. One of the amenities of joining the actual tour is that you can enter the heritage houses.

But the best part of the area is the hotel and I was not able to enter the hotel!

After staying for nearly 2 hours, I decided to go back to Batangas. 

I boarded another tricycle to the jeepney station going to Balanga. The fare was P30 and the ride was good for 45 minutes.  In Balanga, again, I boarded the Genesis bus going to Avenida. The bus ride was good for almost 3 hours and the fare was P200 (118 kilometers). Then, I boarded the bus going to Batangas.

Bataan is simply Amazing!

Return to Fortune Island, Nasugbu, Batangas

After the tour in Apo Reef and Calaguas last May 2015, I was thinking of another tour. 

Initially, I thought of going to Camaya Coast and Acuzar in Bataan.

Last minute, I changed my plan and decided instead to go back to Fortune Island.

Relived my last year's adventure in this uninhabited white sand beach island.

And that was the first time I joined JJ Tours.

Jun Villegas a.k.a. Smart Backpacker at the top of Fortune Island

June 6, 2015

I ended up joining the JJ Tours in Fortune Island. But this tour was different. I'm usually with Rico (my travel buddy) but this time I was with Faty Wines (co-teacher in FEU). I told her she needed this tour as part of here preparation for the Mindanao Tour slated likewise on the same month. She happily obliged. We paid P2,700 each for the said tour and it was worth every penny of it! 

Meeting time 3:00 am, Meeting place - EDSA-Buendia Shell station

How to get there

There a variety of options in going to Nasugbu, Batangas.

Option 1 - from EDSA, Pasay City

Ride a BSC or DLTB bus en route to Nasugbu, Batangas. Travel time is 3-4 hours. It is 92 kilometers from Pasay. Fare is P155.00. Alight in Jollibee, Nasugbu, Batangas. Then, ride a tricycle to Barangay Wawa for P10.00 only. Specifically, in Fortune Island Resort.

Option 2 - from Buendia, Pasay City

Ride a DLTB bus en route to Nasugbu, Batangas. Travel time is 3-4 hours. It is 94 kilometers from Buendia. And the fare is also P155.00. Alight in Jollibee, Nasugbu, Batangas. Then, ride a tricycle to Barangay Wawa for P10.00 only. Specifically, in Fortune Island Resort.

Option 3 - from Park n Ride, City Hall, Manila

Ride the bus going to Nasugbu (they have a schedule and it is better to inquire), Travel time is 3-4 hours. Fare is P173.00.  Alight in Jollibee, Nasugbu, Batangas. Then, ride a tricycle to Barangay Wawa for P10.00 only. Specifically, in Fortune Island Resort.

Option 4 - from Cubao

Ride the bus (DLTB) going to Nasugbu.  Travel time is 3-4 hours. Fare is P173.00.  Alight in Jollibee, Nasugbu, Batangas. Then, ride a tricycle to Barangay Wawa for P10.00 only. Specifically, in Fortune Island Resort.

Option 5 - from Olivares, Tagaytay
From SM Calamba, ride the van going to Tagaytay and alight in Jollibee, Olivares. Fare is P70.00 and travel time is more than an hour depending on the traffic. From Olivares, ride either the jeepney or bus going to Nasugbu, fare is P78.00 and travel time is 60-80 minutes.  Alight in Jollibee, Nasugbu, Batangas. Then, ride a tricycle to Barangay Wawa for P10.00 only. Specifically, in Fortune Island Resort.

Option 6 - from Talisay, Batangas
Ride the jeep going either to Talisay or Laurel, Batangas. Fare is P23 and travel time is less than an hour. Alight at the Municipal Hall in Talisay and board the tricycle to Banga. Reaching Banga, ride the jeep (P40), motorcycle (P150) or tricycle (P300) to Tagaytay. Travel time is 15-20 minutes only. Alight in Olivares,  ride either the jeepney or bus going to Nasugbu, fare is P78.00 and travel time is 60-80 minutes.  Alight in Jollibee, Nasugbu, Batangas. Then, ride a tricycle to Barangay Wawa for P10.00 only. Specifically, in Fortune Island Resort.

Option 7
Hire a van going to Nasugbu. 
Foton Van for Hire (several units available)
Derick Villegas - contact numbers: 0917-504-0770 / 0998-545-0016 / (043)-778-4657
With wifi, GPS Navigation, videoke, RFID, Sky

Fortune Island Resort

From EDSA- Buendia MRT Station, we rode a van to Nasugbu, Batangas. Travel time that morning was only 2 hours less the traffic. We alighted at Fortune Island Resort.

Fortune Island Resort

 Apacible Blvd, Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines

Contact number - 0906-380-5259

Internet phone - 070-4300-7715

email: ggkbr6269@gmail.com

homepage: http://m_cafe_naver_com/fortune island

Fortune Island Resort is the one managing ALL the tours in Fortune Island.

They also provide scuba diving and island hopping tour.

They also have ATV rentals.

It is co-owned by Mr. Kim and Mr. Steve whom I both met in the resort.

It is BETTER if the resort will be the one to ARRANGE your boat to the island. If you are traveling alone or 2 or more, they will the the one to squeeze you in other tours. Look for Maricel, Jenny or Erika.

Entrance fee to the island

P300 - day tour

P400 - overnight

ALTERNATIVELY - (But I still RECOMMEND that Fortune Island Resort be the one to arrange your boat rental needs.)

Boat for Hire

Ely B. Catubigan / Batoy Catubigan

Tabernacle Beach Resort

 Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas

0947-574-7548 / 0905-602-2041

Boat hire / Guide 

Mang Chris - 0908-722-5628

Mang Dante - 0939-489-5292

Day Tour - P4,000.00 (10 pax only) 

Overnight Tour - P6,000 (10 pax) / P8,000-9,000 (15 pax)

Best time to visit the island is between the months of March to June only. It is better to travel in a large group (8-10 pax) to minimize the cost of renting a boat.  

Jenny is the one wearing blue and Maricel is wearing gray inside the bar.

Red Chuca arranged the tour, food, and the boat rental.  

Again, please look for Maricel or Jenny at the resort. 

Past 7 am, we were boarding the boat en route to Fortune Island.

Travel time by boat to the island is more or less 1 hour depending on the weather.

There is a helipad in the island.

After 30 minutes, we could already see the island.

And after 1 hour, we arrived at Fortune Island.

It was my second time to see the island.

The beach is white sand. There are portions of the beach with powdered white sand and there are portions with rough white sand and shells abound in the shore.  Aside from our group, there were 7-8 other groups who will spend the night in the island.

We went to our camping site. But Faty and I decided to go immediately to the top of the ruins in order to take advantage of the blue sky and sunny weather that day.

From the top of the ruins, you can have the bird's eye-view of the island. I thought I was in Parthenon in Greece! The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron.

Then, we went further to the highest point in the ruins and explored it.

Behold the ruins of Fortune Island!

                        Fortune Island is a photographer's dream! A sight to behold and get lost!

After taking a multitude of pictures, we decided to descend.

Before 12 noon, we took our lunch. Hooray for Red Chuca who made our lunch ahead of time. A sigh of relief! =)

After taking lunch, we rested for 2 hours and then headed to the other side of the island.

The trek was good only for 10-12 minutes.

The landscapes in Fortune Island are breathtaking!

And the site was the site for CLIFF JUMPING or CLIFF DIVING!

First to jump was Matias (German) followed by Alfred who jumped with his GoPro!

Erwin, Basil, Dana (Natalie Del Rosario), Dolly,  and Norry also jumped!

Last to jump on our group was Norry.

But aside from us several groups jumped that day. Noteworthy is the group from Baguio City.

The most beautiful girl to jump that day was from Baguio City! And I was not able to get her name, (per comment, her name is Justine Nicole Sison).

After cliff jumping, we decided to go to the other spot for cliff jumping.

But this one is not as high or dangerous as the previous one. It is located just beside the beach area.

Again, we rested fro 1 hour and thereafter, headed to the shark infested area. 

But after waiting for nearly an hour, not a sight of a shark appeared.

Instead, we went back to the beach area and enjoyed the waters of Fortune Island.

And the best part of it was - SNORKELING!

You will love the corals of Fortune Island!

While the rest took their souvenir pictures.

Past 5 pm, we went back to the top of the ruins. But this time for sunset viewing.

I met a group who were also waiting for the sunset to unfold. I forgot their names.

Around 5:50 pm, sunset was in the horizon.

The sunset in Fortune Island is quite different because it is situated beside the cliff and you have to be creative to get your own shot.  

Then, later that evening, we took our dinner.

After dinner, the drinking spree. A lot happened before, during, and after the drinking spree which I am not at liberty to say.  We played several games and Denise emerged as the victor.

It rained twice that night. Woke up thrice that night.

 There was no sunrise the following morning. But we still enjoyed the breakfast the following morning.

Around 10 am, we headed back to Nasugbu mainland.

We fixed ourselves and headed back to Manila. We made a stopover in Mahogany Market in Tagaytay City for our lunch. And I alighted in Olivares.

It was definitely 

MORE FUN IN FORTUNE ISLAND!

Persons who joined JJ Tours in Fortune Island

Erwin Nuer

Red Chuca

Faty Wines

Jeremy Cirujales

Vianca Domdom

Natalie Del Rosario

Dollie De Gala

Kim Alfred Ponce

Norry Nepomuceno

Eike Nunberger

Basil

Alona Espartero

Gui Granzo

Matze Lutjen (Matthias)

Nelson Dona Aclan

Denisse Eraine

Jun Villegas

About the Island

According to the locals, it is owned by Mr. Leviste.

There is no electricity nor drinking water in the island. No food outlet or canteen. But it has mobile network signals of Smart and Globe. There is a toilet but there is no water. It is better to bring your wet wipes or use salt water for toilet purposes. 

There is a lighthouse in the island and a helipad.

The shipwreck is gone!

Activities in the island

camping, trekking, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, island hopping, cliff jumping 

Scuba Diving and Hopping Tour

Steve Song

General Manager and PADI Scuba Instructor

Fortune Island Resort, Apacible Blvd.

Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas

+63-915-881-9756

Internet phone - 070-4300-7715

e-mail- quepit76@naver.com

homepage -  http://m.cafe.naver.com/fortuneisland

Tips - 

1. It is better to negotiate your rent of the boat directly to Fortune Island Resort..

2. It is better to bring supplies of water in the island.

3. There is no tent rental in the resort or island. Please bring your own. Using hammock is neither an option. Sleeping bags can be used as there are dilapidated shelters in the island.

4. The waves can be so strong that you will get wet while boarding or onboard the boat, better bring a spare clothing just for this purpose.

5. Do not forget to bring a camera! Enjoy Fortune Island! 

Previous blog - Exploring Fortune Island 

http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2014/06/exploring-fortune-island.html