Sta. Cruz Island is a small island in Zamboanga City famed for having a pink sand beach. I was awed by the island’s beauty when I first visited in 2013. I was a bit worried when it started gaining popularity because National Geographic included it in a list of the best beaches in the world. While such a distinction can ruin a place and put it in danger of over-development, I was glad to see that the island remained as beautiful and pristine as ever when I returned several years later for in time for their Summer Festival.

Sta. Cruz Island gets its unique color from bright red organ-pipe coral (tubipora musica) dissolved by the waves. Surf erosion causes the corals to turn into tiny red particles which gets mixed in the existing white sand, giving the beach a rosy hue. From afar, the sand looks more cream than pink, but if you look closely you can see the pink effect clearly. If you walk down the beach, you can find a lot of pieces of the red corals that have washed up on the shore. Please don’t try to take home any of the corals and sand from the island.

There are two Santa Cruz Islands: Great Santa Cruz Island and Little Santa Cruz Island. Only Great Santa Cruz is open to the public and tourists as the smaller island serves as a military installation. The whole area surrounding both are considered a protected landscape and seascape. Efforts are underway to rehabilitate the coral reefs which suffered from illegal coral reef mining in the past.

Aside from the unique color of the sand here, one reason I think it deserves to be in a “best beach list” is because it provides some best practices on how to preserve a tourist destination. All visits must go through the tourism office. The number of visitors are limited per day to ensure the island’s proper carrying capacity. Before boarding the boat to visit the island, guests are oriented on how to protect and island while enjoying its beach and natural beauty. While on the island, visitors can enjoy low-impact eco-tourism and cultural activities handled by the local community. Tour guides and visitors are also expected to bring out their trash by the end of the day. 

There are no hotels or resorts on the island and overnight camping is not allowed. Bringing of liquor and alcoholic drinks is also not allowed. I’ve seen the effect of irresponsible tourists who camp out on beaches, get wasted and leave their trash behind, so I think it’s a wise decision of the local tourism to regulate this. There are several cottages, huts and tables that day trippers can use. 

The reason why people go to islands and beaches is because they want to enjoy natural surroundings. There’s really no need to develop artificial structures here since you can easily get the city comforts a short boat ride away. This island really offers a taste of the vibrant culture and beauty of Zamboanga City. Just seeing the colorful vintas or traditional boats on the beach makes visiting the island worth it. For those interested to visit, here’s a quick guide to help you out.

Location

Sta. Cruz Island is located in the Basilan Strait just 4 km south of the downtown area of Zamboanga City, a city in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region in Southern Philippines. The island can be reached by a 20 minute boat ride on motorized boats.

How to get there

The jump-off to Santa Cruz Island is Paseo Del Mar in Zamboanga City. Boats are licensed by the LGU and can accommodate up to 10 people for Php 1,000. If you’re a solo traveler, try joining with a group to save on costs. Our trip here was arranged by ITravel Tourist Lane, a tour agency offering hassle-free tours in and around Zamboanga City. They can handle everything from hotel pick up and drop off, boat transfers, entrance fees and optional tours. Special arrangements can also be made for food (highly recommended!).

For Tour Booking/Reservation:
Call (062) 991-1174
Text/Call (0917) 7226410 / (0917) 3929474 / (0995) 6993274
or visit them at Mayor Jaldon St., Canelar, Z.C. (near DHL Office)
Email: info@itraveltouristlane.com
Website: www.itraveltouristlane.com

You can also avail of packaged tours from the Asociación de Guia Turístico del Zamboanga (AGTZ), an association of tour operators in Zamboanga City. Contact them at 0917-724-3199.

Things to do in Sta. Cruz Island

Enjoy the beach. Go swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving. The excellent water visibility makes the area surrounding the island ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Bring your own equipment. You can enjoy simple beach games like volleyball.

Take a mangrove / lagoon boat tour. This is an optional tour on small boats that gives you a look at the local activities for fishermen. You get to cruise through the mangroves in a lagoon, harvest sea grapes and see stingless jellyfish up close.

Sail in a vinta. Tourists can try their hand sailing on small vinta boats, traditionally used by the locals. The boats are icons of Zamboanga City representing the colorful culture and history of the Muslim community.

Visit the Badjao cemetery. Underneath a canopy of trees in the forest on the Eastern part of the beach is an old Badjao burial site. Badjaos are known as sea nomads or gypsies of Sulu Sea, believe that the journey continues in the afterlife.

Soak in the culture. Our visit coincided with the island’s Summer Festival where we got to witness traditional dances and games on the beach, which added a cultural dimension to the usual beach / island experience.

Stop by a sandbar. If the tidal conditions are right, you can spot and set foot on a small sandbar in the middle of the sea here on your way back to the city.

What / where to eat

Day-trippers can bring their own packed food and drinks or food for grilling. ITravel Tourist Lane who handled our tour prepared a really special lunch for our group. We got to feast on a seafood overload of Zamboanga City specialties like curacha, grilled squid, shrimps, fish and freshly harvested lato (seaweed). Vendors on the island were also selling crabs and other seafood specialties.

One of the most interesting dishes we got to sample was oko-oko or rice cooked in sea urchin, typically prepared by the Sama Banguingui tribe.

You can also try snails, locally called “chupa kulo” cooked in coconut milk and squash. The only way to get the meat from the snails is to suck it out of one side of the shell’s opening.

What to bring

This is a small island without any commercial developments or establishments. Just prepare for a day of swimming and enjoying the beach.

• Food and drinks
• Reusable water bottle
• Dry bag
• Swimwear
• Change of clothes (optional; just shower when you get back to the city)
• Hand Sanitizer
• Sunscreen
• Personal Toiletries
• Action cameras
• Powerbank
• Snorkeling gear

Rates & fees

• Boat: P1,000 (good for 10)
• Entrance Fee – Php 20.00
• Terminal Fee – Php 5.00/pax/pax
• Cottage rental (small good for 6) – Php 100.00
• Cottage rental (large good for 10)  Php 200.00
• Pavilion rental (good for 15-20 persons) – Php 500.00

Travel tips and useful info

• You can only visit Sta. Cruz Island from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Visitors are not allowed to camp out or stay overnight.
• Only a limited number of tourists (up to 400) may visit per day. Make sure to book a slot in advance if you plan to go during peak seasons or weekends. For inquiries, you can contact the tourism office at +63 927 283 5684.
• As Zamboanga City’s premier tourist destination, it is safe to visit Sta. Cruz Island. All visits come with military escorts and armed security personnel from the PNP and Armed Forces are stationed at the island when there are tourists during the day.
• There are cottages with grill stations for rent. Bring enough food supplies and drinking water for your stay. Visitors are not allowed to bring liquor and alcoholic drinks.

Group shot with fellow travel bloggers, media and tourism staff at Sta. Cruz Island, Zamboanga City for the coverage of #Savores2017. Thank you to DOT Region 9 and ITravel Tourist Lane!