Carnaza Island is 5-6 hours of travel time from the heart of Cebu but despite the distance, local and foreign tourists wouldn't mind spending hours of travel just to temporarily enjoy a haven of unbelievably beautiful seascapes.
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| the Barrio at Carnaza Island |
If only I could linger in the island for just one more day I could have done so but I had stuff to do in the 'real world' (I meant work here) so I had to squeeze in all the must-sees in Carnaza into one whole day. Although there were unexpected circumstances, travelling with friends made everything easier to handle. Get some tips on how to have a hassle-free Carnaza getaway!
Getting there...
If you are taking the public transpo, you should take the bus bound for Daanbantayan via Maya-Bagay as this would drop you off near Tapilon Port. Bus conductors could easily identify if you're off to Carnaza Island once you tell them you'd disembark at Tapilon Port so you wouldn't have troubles getting there even if you sleep through the whole journey. They would wake you up. [not kidding]
The bus would have two stops, sort of a pee break somewhere in Carmen and the last one would be in Bogo City where you could buy the famous delicacy made from corn, milk, and cheese (are you drooling right now? LOL). Locals call it pintos.
The travel time takes 4 hours depending on the traffic. What's great about traveling at the wee hours is that you could avoid the annoying traffic and get to your destination earlier than expected. Bringing food to munch while on the bus would be a great idea because the bus stopovers are quite short to really eat or wait for food to be served.
From the drop-off point, ask the locals of Daanbantayan as to which road leads to Tapilon Port and they'd be glad to tell you the directions. The locals are really friendly [even if you're not a foreign tourist. LOL.]
Tapilon Port is not as exquisite as the ports in Cebu City. It's pretty much a docking area of small boats, that's it. There are no waiting areas or seats. Boatmen would greet you and try to bargain a special trip (pakyaw as they call it) to Carnaza Island. As of this writing, PHP 2, 000 - 2,500 is the usual cost they would offer. If you're a large group, this amount is practical but you may also wait for other smaller groups so you could just pitch in for the total cost. Travel time may depend on the size or the capacity of the engine or the boat.
While this would seem the only option at first, you have to note that there are legitimate or registered passenger boats that would arrive at around 9:30 - 10:00 AM. They claim that they are legitimate because they are registered under the municipality of Daanbantayan and they are also geared with safety equipment and life jackets. This boat is also bigger. If you don't see any life vests inside the pump boats, then these are not the registered ones.
Touchdown!
Upon reaching Carnaza, you would be greeted by a small seaside community called the Barrio. Unlike in the previous years, this place already has small restaurants (karinderia) and affordable inns. If you don't wish to stay at Carnaza Eco Park, this would be the better option. The food they serve in the restaurants also has more varieties than that of the Eco Park.
Although the beach side of the Barrio has been made as docking area of boats, the waters are crystal clear and it has soothing temperature especially in the morning - perfect for a early morning dip! Beside this small community is a seemingly mysterious craggy hump that looks like coral rocks where you could actually get a breathtaking bird's eye-view of the ocean.
From the Barrio, you could explore the island and the nearby islets by boat. You may rent boats for island hopping at around Php 1,500. There are great beaches and an incredibly long stretch of sandbar in La Manok, an islet near Carnaza. It's absolutely free. You shouldn't miss this. Skull Cove is another white sand beach in Carnaza owned by Carnaza Eco Park and it's part of the package if you book in the Eco Park. It has a cave with two human skulls resting in it. Kailina is also a promising public beach with a longer stretch white sand compared to the Skull Cove. Finally, Carnaza Eco Park is one of the attractions of the island where you could get better accommodation. There are air-conditioned rooms available with unlimited supply of water for shower. Alternatively, outdoor tents and wooden tents are also available. Explore other options for accommodations here.
Furthermore, you could visit other parts of the island such as Daanbarrio, another barangay, that has small restaurants and karaoke places. The main transportation of the island is the motorcycle and it usually costs Php 30 per ride or destination.
Going home...
According to the locals, the boat embarks at around 8 AM but most of the time it starts to load passengers and cargoes at 7 AM on the shores of Brgy. Barrio. Sometimes passengers have to ride on a smaller boat to reach the main passenger boat depending on the tides. At exactly 8AM or even earlier, the boat already heeds to Tapilon Port so you have to be quick as there would be no other schedules unless you'd take a special trip at a special price.
Carnaza Island Itinerary
CALLTIME: 3AM
DAY 1
3:45 AM - Bus bound for Daanbantayan via Maya - Bagay
*stopovers at Carmen and Bogo City
Fare: Php 217 (Ceres Bus)
7:30 AM - Arrival at Tapilon Port
7:45 AM - Aboard the small passenger boat to Carnaza Island
Fare: Php 200
11:30 AM - Touchdown Carnaza Island
12:00 NN - Lunchtime / Prep for Island Hopping
Meal: Php 50 - 60
1:00 PM - Island Hopping to:
1:45 PM * La Manok
3:00 PM * Skull Cove
4:00 PM * Carnaza Eco Park (drop off point) Entrance Fee: Php 200
Island Hopping Cost: Php 335 / person
6:15 PM - Motorcycle Ride to Daanbarrio
Fare: Php 30 / person
6:30 PM - Dinner at Daanbarrio (Psalms Resto)
Meal: Php 70 - 100
8:00 PM - Cecil's Place (inn at the Barrio) Php 300 per person
Tricycle Fare: Php 30 / person
DAY 2
5:00 AM - Early morning dip at the Barrio + Photo shoot sesh
6:30 AM - Preps!
7:00 AM - Breakfast at the Seaside Eatery (literally downstairs of where we stayed)
Meal: Php 50 -60
8:00 AM - Aboard the passenger boat (till then, Carnaza)
Fare: Php 150
9:45 AM - Brunch (or early lunch)
Meal: Php 40 - 50
10:30 AM - Visited Daanbantayan (Tapilon) Church
11:00 AM - Headed to Daanbantayan Bus Terminal (tricycle ride)
Fare: Php 15 / person
12:00 NN - Bus bound for North Bus Terminal
Fare: Php 192 (Sugbo Transit)
4:00 PM - North Bus Terminal --> goin' home separate ways, xoxo
Chasing sunsets? Witness that in Carnaza Island with a natural foreground
Getting there...
If you are taking the public transpo, you should take the bus bound for Daanbantayan via Maya-Bagay as this would drop you off near Tapilon Port. Bus conductors could easily identify if you're off to Carnaza Island once you tell them you'd disembark at Tapilon Port so you wouldn't have troubles getting there even if you sleep through the whole journey. They would wake you up. [not kidding]
The bus would have two stops, sort of a pee break somewhere in Carmen and the last one would be in Bogo City where you could buy the famous delicacy made from corn, milk, and cheese (are you drooling right now? LOL). Locals call it pintos.
The travel time takes 4 hours depending on the traffic. What's great about traveling at the wee hours is that you could avoid the annoying traffic and get to your destination earlier than expected. Bringing food to munch while on the bus would be a great idea because the bus stopovers are quite short to really eat or wait for food to be served.
From the drop-off point, ask the locals of Daanbantayan as to which road leads to Tapilon Port and they'd be glad to tell you the directions. The locals are really friendly [even if you're not a foreign tourist. LOL.]
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| going down the stairs; we didn't realize there was a better staircase a few meters away LOL. |
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| aboard the little passenger boat |
While this would seem the only option at first, you have to note that there are legitimate or registered passenger boats that would arrive at around 9:30 - 10:00 AM. They claim that they are legitimate because they are registered under the municipality of Daanbantayan and they are also geared with safety equipment and life jackets. This boat is also bigger. If you don't see any life vests inside the pump boats, then these are not the registered ones.
Touchdown!
Upon reaching Carnaza, you would be greeted by a small seaside community called the Barrio. Unlike in the previous years, this place already has small restaurants (karinderia) and affordable inns. If you don't wish to stay at Carnaza Eco Park, this would be the better option. The food they serve in the restaurants also has more varieties than that of the Eco Park.
 |
| Still a pretty sight despite the boats docked on the beach |
Although the beach side of the Barrio has been made as docking area of boats, the waters are crystal clear and it has soothing temperature especially in the morning - perfect for a early morning dip! Beside this small community is a seemingly mysterious craggy hump that looks like coral rocks where you could actually get a breathtaking bird's eye-view of the ocean.
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| Can't skip this beautiful area of the Barrio |
Furthermore, you could visit other parts of the island such as Daanbarrio, another barangay, that has small restaurants and karaoke places. The main transportation of the island is the motorcycle and it usually costs Php 30 per ride or destination.
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| witnessing a love story to unfold. joke. - La Manok Sandbar |
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| Sandbar at La Manok - it's prettier when it's low tide |
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| the beach and the clear waters of La Manok |
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| Carnaza Eco Park beach |
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| Wooden tents at Carnaza Eco Park |
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| beach at Skull Cove |
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| the cave in Skull Cove |
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| the inn where we stayed for a night |
According to the locals, the boat embarks at around 8 AM but most of the time it starts to load passengers and cargoes at 7 AM on the shores of Brgy. Barrio. Sometimes passengers have to ride on a smaller boat to reach the main passenger boat depending on the tides. At exactly 8AM or even earlier, the boat already heeds to Tapilon Port so you have to be quick as there would be no other schedules unless you'd take a special trip at a special price.
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| passenger boat going to Tapilon Port (the larger one,I mean) plus the kid enjoying a morning dip |
Carnaza Island Itinerary
CALLTIME: 3AM
DAY 1
3:45 AM - Bus bound for Daanbantayan via Maya - Bagay
*stopovers at Carmen and Bogo City
Fare: Php 217 (Ceres Bus)
7:30 AM - Arrival at Tapilon Port
7:45 AM - Aboard the small passenger boat to Carnaza Island
Fare: Php 200
11:30 AM - Touchdown Carnaza Island
12:00 NN - Lunchtime / Prep for Island Hopping
Meal: Php 50 - 60
1:00 PM - Island Hopping to:
1:45 PM * La Manok
3:00 PM * Skull Cove
4:00 PM * Carnaza Eco Park (drop off point) Entrance Fee: Php 200
Island Hopping Cost: Php 335 / person
6:15 PM - Motorcycle Ride to Daanbarrio
Fare: Php 30 / person
6:30 PM - Dinner at Daanbarrio (Psalms Resto)
Meal: Php 70 - 100
8:00 PM - Cecil's Place (inn at the Barrio) Php 300 per person
Tricycle Fare: Php 30 / person
DAY 2
5:00 AM - Early morning dip at the Barrio + Photo shoot sesh
6:30 AM - Preps!
7:00 AM - Breakfast at the Seaside Eatery (literally downstairs of where we stayed)
Meal: Php 50 -60
8:00 AM - Aboard the passenger boat (till then, Carnaza)
Fare: Php 150
9:45 AM - Brunch (or early lunch)
Meal: Php 40 - 50
10:30 AM - Visited Daanbantayan (Tapilon) Church
11:00 AM - Headed to Daanbantayan Bus Terminal (tricycle ride)
Fare: Php 15 / person
12:00 NN - Bus bound for North Bus Terminal
Fare: Php 192 (Sugbo Transit)
4:00 PM - North Bus Terminal --> goin' home separate ways, xoxo
Chasing sunsets? Witness that in Carnaza Island with a natural foreground
Till our next laag!
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