When you think of beach destinations in the country, the most popular islands that immediately come to mind are Boracay, Cebu and Bohol. But aside from these three spots, there are many other hidden gems that remain (and I hope will remain) untainted by commercialism. I was amazed to find some of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen in the country in Romblon, a province made up of a cluster of islands lying in between Luzon and Visayas.
The day after I arrived in Romblon Island from Tablas where the airport is located, I drove from San Pedro Beach Resort on a rented scooter back to the port area in town to meet up with a boatman for a morning of island-hopping. I parked my ride at the motorcycle rental shop across Romblon Deli to secure the bike and helmet.
Resorts can refer guests for boat tours or you can simply go to the wharf in the port area and ask around. Prices vary, but a full-day island-hopping tour to Cobrador, Alad and Logbon Islands can range from P1,500 to P2,000 for a small boat (good for 1-2 pax) to P2,700-3,000 for a larger boat (good for 4 to 5 pax) depending on how long the tour is and inclusive of gas for the boat.
Since I was traveling solo, the fee felt a bit steep, but when I’m in remote destinations and activities are within my budget, I try not to haggle for discounts. It’s a pet peeve when I see tourists who are perfectly willing to splurge on expensive restaurants, hotels and their OOTDs while trying to shortchange boatmen for tours and vendors while buying souvenirs just to save a few bucks. You can save by going in a group so you have someone to split costs with.
After a few false starts, which resulted in having to borrow a battery from another boat to replace our boat’s engine, we were off. Our first stop was Cobrador Island (locally known as Naguso), the furthest island from the port.
This stunning island has a wide expanse of beach with fine white sand and crushed white corals. Just approaching it, I was already wowed. The beach on the eastern side of the islet had amazingly clean with sparkingly crystal-clear water with a view of mountains in the horizon.
There were no other tourists, so it felt really special. I immediately took a dip at the beach which had a gradually sloping sea bed. I’d have been happy to stay there all morning, but there were two other islands left to visit. But man, the water was so clear and there was no litter in sight.
Our second stop was Alad Island, just south of Cobrador. My boatman said there was construction ongoing there for a beach resort. We docked at a white sand beach on the western part of the island where the water was super clear.
There’s a Marine Sanctuary nearby, making it a good snorkeling/diving spot, but I didn’t have snorkeling gear with me. It would have been a peaceful spot except for the unsightly tarps and noisy buzz of drilling ongoing. I chatted with some of the locals who said they were being relocated to a different part of the island. I was sad to see the development going on in the island. You really wish places like these would stay as raw as possible.
The third stop was Logbon Island (also called Lugbung), which is just 20 minutes away from Romblon Island.
The beach has a beautiful sandbar which shifts with the tides in the southeast. One side of the beach has choppy waters, where seaweed and litter were getting washed up on the shore, but the other has a serene curving coast with very clear water.
Logbon is said to have one of the longest white beaches in town, roughly two kilometers. You can also find 6 other whites beaches hidden around the island’s coast. I heard that another big hotel was in the works here.
Our last stop was Bonbon Beach, which seemed just like icing on the cake. It’s the most famous spot in town and you can actually reach this from the mainland.
The day before, I had ridden to the area where you can park motorcycles just and walk to the beach and sandbar, but it was getting dark, so I didn’t proceed. Seeing it up close in broad daylight with the sun shining down on the water was just amazing.
My boatman said that it could get crowded during weekends and Holy Week, but I was amazed again to have this beach all to myself. This is why I prefer to travel during weekdays.
Bonbon Beach may have been the best spot, but I don’t have a lot of photos. If I were were traveling with companions, I’d probably have taken longer trying to perfect those souvenir shots in those contrived fake candid “looking away” or “walking away” poses while wearing a hat or blowing a scarf in the wind that all travelers seem to be required by law to post on Instagram.
I managed to snap a few photos of myself on timer mode just so I’d have proof shots (and because photos without any people or subjects in them look kind of flat) but I just put my damn phone down and spent most of the time sitting in the water enjoying the sound of the waves lapping up on the shore.
Times like these, you wish there was just a pause button on life so you could freeze the moment. I recalled the times I used to travel before social media. It was really more about enjoying the moment instead of trying to document yourself enjoying the moment. Good times. I should do that more.
But first, let me take a selfie.
I capped the morning of island-hopping back in town with a late lunch of Garlic Prawns at Cafe Old Sailor Resto Bar. This small German-owned bar serves dishes like Beef Goulash, German Meatloaf, Hungarian Sausage with french fries, Schnitzel, homemade spatzle plus a range of imported beers, cocktails and fruit shakes.
Definitely pricier (around P290 – P350 per dish) compared to local eats, but since I didn’t have breakfast, I was ok with the cost. Then it was back to the resort to freshen up and explore the rest of the island by scooter. Now for the good part.
TO BE CONTINUED…
My wife and I enjoyed Romblon Island on our visit there last year just as much as you did. We had a wonderful time joining the Logbon locals at catching fish inside the sandbar. However, it’s sad to know about new developments on Alad and Logbon Islands and how the locals are having to relocate.
Hello! How many hours did this day tour take? Thanks!
Hello Anne. The island-hopping tour around Romblon was half-day, roughly 7 hours. You can make it shorter or longer depending on your preference and negotiation with the boatman.