It seems like everyone is planning
a trip this summer to Boracay, Baler or Cebu.
If you are feeling a bit adventurous and want destinations that are more
on the "off the beaten path" category, less touristy and more
secluded, these destinations are for you.
Bulalacao and San Jose, both located at the
southernmost tip of Mindoro Island, are two of the country's most underrated destinations.
We took this trip two weeks ago, and I am
already at a point when I am a little antsy and obsessing about my next
destination. So, I decided to do this
blog post to ease my wanderlust a bit.
Plus, my mind has constantly been drifting to Tambaron Island's stunning
open beach cottages; Aslom Island's breathtaking underwater wonders; and Buyayao
Island's serene setting.
Our first stop in this getaway was Tambaron
Island, which was our home in Bulalacao for two nights and three days.
We stayed at Tambaron Green Beach Resort.
I must say it was an awesome discovery. We stayed at the open beach cottages, which
we got for P 500.00 per night. We were
allowed to bring in food, but there was also food available in the resort. Their comfort rooms were well kept. Overall, the resort was nice and clean.
So, it was such a wonderful place that when we
heard of some hitches on our travel plans, we really didn't mind. It just meant
more time to lounge around here
or here.
Can you imagine these spots with a good book and an ice cold beer?
It also meant more time to explore the nearby
cove, which was equally beautiful and serene.
It was also another chance to witness a
glorious sunset.
So, this is what happened. We were supposed to go on an island hopping
adventure on our second day, but I guess the coordinator was too drunk when we
finalized our arrangement, so we ended up with a boat that can barely fit 5
pax. We were 15.
Anyway, all's well that ends well. Former Mayor Villas came to our rescue. He lent us a boat. We got his number from a fellow Tambaron
Resort guest who heard about our predicament.
So, off we went island hopping on our third
day. First stop was the breathtaking
Buyayao Island. We couldn't resist
jumping into the water as soon as we landed.
It was everything my dream island is made of - secluded, clear blue and white sand.
We didn't want to leave but we had other
islands to visit on our list plus our tummies were already grumbling. So, we moved to Suguicay Island. It was
not exactly what we expected as there were too many people plus there were
trash on the island. We actually
didn't feel happy with the fees the community was imposing, but we paid
anyway.
Looking at the pictures now, I can say we were
a bit hard on the island, and it was also beautiful.
So, after lunch at Suguicay Island, we traveled
to Aslom Island, passing by Target Island, which was off limits that time
because the owner was there (?).
It was not a big loss anyway as Aslom Island
deserved more attention.
If you think the sandbar is awesome, wait til
you see the thriving marine life residing beside it. What's more incredible is that the water was only up to the knees high.
Aslom is another private island, and swimming
is restricted to a few areas only. We
actually do not mind because the policy protects its coral reef. We just wish it stays this way forever.
It was a grand ending to our Bulalacao Island
hopping.
After Bulalacao, we decided to go to San Jose
where we also took the bus back to Manila.
But before we ended our trip, we managed to squeeze in one final island
exploration.
We chose White Island.
We initially wanted to see Illin Island,
specifically Grace Island Resort, but the boat schedule was too tight, and we
cannot afford to miss our bus back to Manila.
So, we went to White Island.
White Island is another beautiful and simple
island, with a few cottages, a store, and a comfort room. It is also a good snorkeling spot.
That ends our adventure in Bulalacao and San
Jose.
While we were already falling in love with this
part of Mindoro, we all had work to go back to and there are thousand other
islands to explore.
Here's to more damn good travels!
3 comments
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ReplyDeleteHey there! Nice post. Would like to ask for advice, when is the best time to go there? And, could you please post an itinerary and costs? Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteHi, Don! Sorry for the late reply. Sorry, do not have the cost summary anymore. Re: best time, best bet is summer, but more people.
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