Tag: Philippines

Spontaneous BACOLOD Weekend: 48 Hours In The City of Smiles

Hey yo, hey yo! How have you been? I am very sorry for being missing in action for the last few weeks. I’ve been really busy with trips, work & engagements. My siblings & I also moved out of our house of 12 years. Imagine the amount of things we packed! Anyway, I’m super happy I finally have time to write again. I have so many trips & things to share with you. I know I haven’t started posting about my recent Japan trip, but I’ll definitely put up the posts soon.

Last weekend, my current & former colleagues went on a 48-hour spontaneous tito (or tita for my female friends) weekend trip to the City of Smiles, Bacolod. The city is located in the Visayas & is the capital of Negros, Occidental. The city is popular for the annual Masskara Festival (Festival of masks), the abundant sugar cane plantation & the famous piaya snack.

Now back to the trip. Don’t expect this to be an adventure-filled weekend. We flew to Bacolod with no plans at all & our goal was to have a break from the busy life in Makati. Let me share with you the whereabouts this 48-hour relaxing trip to the City of Smiles.

Plane Ticket

The trip started when my friends & I (a group of 7 people) booked a return Bacolod ticket for ₱3,706 each last January 2019. We found the fare deal in one of Philippine Airlines‘ low fare sale. The tickets include in flight snacks, 7 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance & 10 kilograms of check-in baggage allowance. Considering the flight schedule, flight dates & the fare inclusions, the ticket we got was worth it. Plus, it’s Philippine Airlines – our country’s flag carrier. Philippine Airlines’ fares are not as affordable as low cost carriers’ fares, except during seat sales.

Our flight left Manila at 3:55 in the afternoon & arrived Bacolod at 5:15 pm (with a few minutes delay). The flight back left Bacolod after 6:00 pm & arrived Manila before 7:30 in the evening. The schedules were perfect – we only took the Friday afternoon off from work plus we had enough rest time after the trip.

accommodation

Our trip was pretty last minute so the famous accommodations were already booked out. Good thing we found Jay’s property in Booking.com. The units were in CityScapes Bacolod, a relatively new residential building along 6th Avenue, a few meters walk from Lacson Avenue. We booked 2 units (one unit for the ladies & 1 unit for the gents) for 2 nights. It only cost us ₱970+ per person already for 2 nights. Affordable, right? The units were equipped with private shower & toilet, free Wi-Fi, private balconies, small refrigerator & a whole lot more. The units exceeded our expectations.

Click this link to check out Jay’s property at Booking.com. You may also opt to contact him directly for bookings – his number is +639477786688. Book early, his units are always in demand.

around bacolod

We flew to Bacolod without any plans at all. The only thing in our mind was to rest, eat the best chicken inasal & have dessert in Calea. We figured out our itinerary when we arrived. We initially thought of spending a day in Lakawon Island but we got stressed by expected travel time & resort / island fees. We decided to just go to the nearby upland town & go around the city. Check out the following places we went to & the local restaurants we tried.

The Ruins

The Ruins is an ancestral home mansion of Lacsons. It is located in within the family’s plantation in Talisay City. The house was burned down during the World War II. The remains of the mansion after the fire is now Negros Occidental’s most famous tourist attraction.

Aida’s Chicken Inasal

A visit to Bacolod is never complete without having the famous chicken inasal. One of the best places to have this staple Bacolod food is in Manokan Country, right beside SM City Bacolod. One of the most visited restaurants in this place is Aida’s Chicken. We went here for dinner on our 1st night.

Bacolod New Government Center

My friends & I stopped by the Bacolod New Government Center to have a photo with the big BACOLOD signage.

Don Salvador Benedicto

Our driver recommended that we go on a half day tour to Don Salvador Benedicto. It is a small town 45 minutes to an hour away from Bacolod City. This municipality is called Negros’ Little Baguio because of its location in the mountains & its (not so during our visit) chilly weather. We went to different viewpoints & Instagram-worthy places, plus Nami Island-like place full of pine trees. We also saw Malatan-og Falls from afar; we had no more time to hike down to the falls.

Balay Negrense

Balay Negrense is another ancestral house previously owned by the prominent Gaston family of Silay City. The house was abandoned years after the death of Don Victor Fernandez Gaston & was later turned over to the Negros Cultural Foundation & the Philippine Tourism Board. The house was restored into a museum in 1994 & was declared a heritage site by the government.

Seaside Restaurant

We headed to a seaside community in Silay City to have lunch. I forgot the name of the place but it’s a small row of ‘paluto‘ restaurants that offer cheap but fresh seafood. My friends ordered 2 buckets of oysters at ₱65 per bucket. We also had rice, buttered shrimp, pork sisig & liempo & a few more dishes for a very affordable price.

Calea Pastries & Coffee

Calea Pastries & Coffee is Bacolod’s most famous dessert place. They have a large range of cakes & pastries to choose from. They also have a wide variety of coffee & drinks to try. We were a group of 7 so we each got a unique cake of pastry. Their best seller Imported Chocolate Cake was so-so. We liked the pecan apple pie & pistachio cake.

Negros Occidental Provincial Capital Grounds

We dropped by the provincial capitol grounds before going back to our accommodation. We took photos of the building against the sunlight & the partly blue sky.

21 Restaurant

We had hopes of having batchoy for dinner at 21 Restaurant only to find out they only offer it until 5:00 in the afternoon. We had no choice but to order other kinds of food. We still had a good meal even if we felt we were under-dressed (we were in shorts & shirts).

Ted’s La Paz Batchoy

We can’t get over the fact we missed 21 Restaurant’s la paz batchoy so we decided to have lunch at Ted’s. Batchoy is a local noodle soup with round noodles & pork, chicken or beef as flavor. The broth is very rich & tasty. The soup is best paired with pandesal or puto (steamed rice cake). Ted’s la paz batchoy originated in Iloilo (another Visayan city in Panay Island) & fortunately has branches in Bacolod.

Felicia’s Pastry Shop

We spent our last few hours in the city at Felicia’s Pastry Shop. I didn’t try their signature chocolate cake because it didn’t look enticing to me. I got the pecan cheesecake instead. It was okay, nothing special. Their ensaymada with signature hot chocolate was so good!

Pendy’s Napoleones

One of Bacolod’s famous delicacy is napoleones. It is a pastry made of sugar, egg, flour butter & milk topped with white sugar glaze. In my opinion, Pendy’s & Roli’s have the best napoleones in the city. We went to Pendy’s the updated price as of early March 2019 is ₱18 per piece or ₱180 per box of 10. It’s a must buy pasalubong from Bacolod, of course together with the famous piaya.

That basically sums up our quick 48-hour trip to Bacolod last weekend. We basically went there to have food trip. Everything was relaxed & spontaneous, no plans or whatsoever. I look forward to more trips like this.

Any suggestions on where I should go next for 48 hours? Or maybe have you been to Bacolod? How was your visit? Which food or place did you enjoy most? Feel free to start the discussion in the comments below. You can also share your thoughts via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Until the next 48-hour weekend trip! I don’t have anything planned or booked yet but let’s see where I’ll go next.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In BOHOL

Did you know that my Hong Kong trip with high school friends last March 2018 had a follow up trip? We (a group of 8 people) recently went on another weekend trip, but this time to a nearby domestic destination – Bohol. Yes, we only spent 48 hours in the beautiful island of Bohol. It may be too short, but I think we covered the places we wanted to visit. This barkada trip was more of a rest & relaxation one, so there was no pressure for us to explore everything the island has to offer. Let me share with you the details of this quick weekend trip.

Bohol squad with the Chocolate Hills! Photo credits to Mark 🙂

In case you missed it, I’ve been to 2 other 48-hour weekend trips this year – Hong Kong & Port Barton. Check out these stories to know more about these quick but super fun trips!

Airfare & Accommodation

We didn’t wait for any airline offer or promotion when we booked our tickets. We used Traveloka‘s discount codes instead. Our Tagbilaran return ticket cost us ₱3,264.12 each, after the discounts.

We were a big group of 8 so we had a hard time looking for a place to stay. Good thing we found this newly-opened accommodation called Casa Teofista. This accommodation is located a few meters off the main highway & about 8-10 minutes walk from Alona Beach.

We only stayed in Bohol for 48 hours but we fell in love with the place.

We got 2 spacious family rooms with 2 double beds each for ₱9,856 for 2 nights – that’s ₱1,232 per person already for 2 nights. We didn’t choose a beachfront & luxury accommodation because we were only there for a short time anyway. I forgot to take photos of our accommodation – I’m sorry. If you want to contact Casa Teofista, head over to their Facebook page & shoot them a message.

DIY Countryside Tour

My friends & I opted for a do-it-yourself countryside tour because we wanted to skip a few places (Loboc River, Blood Compact Shrine & Loboc Hanging Bridge) from the usual tour, plus we planned to go to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch (instead of the Loboc River Cruise). We hired a van with driver for ₱2,800 for a full 8 hours including gas & parking fees. We asked the driver to pick us up from the airport & we went straight to our countryside tour. We asked to be dropped off at Casa Teofista at the end of our tour.

This was a DIY tour so we paid the following entrance fees – ₱50 for Chocolate Hills, ₱60 for the Tarsier Conservation Area & ₱45 for the Butterfly Garden. Check out the countryside photos below.

Chocolate Hills

Tarsier Conservation Area

Man-made Forest

Butterfly Garden

Baclayon Church

Bohol Bee Farm Organic Lunch

We had mango pizza for appetizer? Lol so good!

Filipino food for lunch – everything organic!

That’s us having lunch at Bohol Bee Farm!

Also tried Bohol Bee Farm’s famous ice cream. Got Guyabano & liked it.

If you are travelling alone, you can always rent a motorbike & explore Bohol by yourself. You can also join countryside group tours. Rates vary from one agency to another.

Alona Beach Dinner & Night Out

Alona Beach at night

After a few hours of rest & sleep, we headed out to Alona Beach to explore the area. We had dinner at Pyramid Beach Resort & transferred to Outback Bar & Grill for drinks. I also met up with James, another friend of mine who was in Bohol, in Outback Bar & Grill.

Met up with James who was also in Bohol that weekend. Photo c/o James 🙂

Private Island Hopping Tour

We hired a boat for a private island hopping tour for our second & last full day in Bohol. The boat cost ₱2,500 for the whole day including gas & guides. We left Panglao Island at 7:00 am & went dolphin watching. We then went to Balicasag Island for snorkeling & swimming with the turtles. The last stop of the tour was Virgin Island, which is known for its long & beautiful sandbar. We were there during lunch time, so the sand bar was still submerged in water. We were back in Panglao at 1:00 pm.

Given ours was a private tour, we paid ₱650 each in Balicasag Island for entrance fee, environmental fee & snorkeling gear rental. Solo travelers can join group island hopping tours for a certain rate. Again, rates vary from one agency to the other.

View of Balicasag Island from our motor boat

I don’t have photos of the dolphins, turtles & the underwater creatures because I forgot my adventure camera. Let me share with you photos of Balicasag Island & Virgin Island’s (almost) sandbar.

Balicasag Island

A beautiful & sunny day in Balicasag Island 😍

Virgin Island Sandbar

Crowded Virgin Island Sandbar

Last Night In Bohol

Inside St. Augustine Church in Panglao

We started our last night in Bohol by attending Sunday mass in St. Augustine Church in Panglao. We went back to Alona area afterwards to have dinner at Irene’s Restaurant. Majority of the group went back to our hotel after dinner. Marc & I went to Aluna Bar & met up again with James for a few drinks.

Last dinner in Bohol with the whole gang

That sums up our 48 hours in Bohol. The place is very beautiful & relaxing. We may be there for only 2 full days but we surely enjoyed the place with great company. We made memories which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Have you been to Bohol? How many days did you spend there? How do you think of the place? Are there other places that are worth-visiting? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you want to keep your identity, feel free to send ’em to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also drop me a message on Facebook, post a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Thanks for the time & see you in the next 48-hour or maybe 24-hour trip?

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

4-Day Siargao Weekend: It’s All About Epic Tour Days & Crazy Party Nights

Siargao is a small island in Philippine Sea, located in the province of Surigao del Norte. This island is widely known for its big surfing waves & stunning nature views. It used to be popular only to foreign & local surfers & adventure seekers until the island was featured in a local film last December 2017. Boracay’s closure also led to more people diverting their planned vacations to this island. The increasing accessibility of Siargao these days is slowly transforming the island into a popular tourist destination. Hubs like Cebu, Manila & Clark are now connected to Siargao via a growing number of daily flights to the island.

My friend Geof at Sugba Lagoon

3 weeks ago, my friend Shiela & I flew to Siargao check out what this island has to offer. Friends told us that this island is beautiful & one of a kind. We didn’t put our hopes up & let the island surprise us. Let me share with you what happened in our 4 days in Siargao.

Beautiful view from Cloud 9’s Boardwalk

Plane Ticket

I’ve always wanted to go to Siargao but I can’t due to very expensive airfare. Last February 14, Cebu Pacific Air had a ₱143-base fare sale. Promo seats on the direct flights from Manila ran out fast. We had no choice but to get the tickets with a layover in Cebu.

Shiela & I paid ₱2,837.64 each for a return ticket from Manila to Siargao via Cebu. That’s 4 flights in total for less than ₱3,000. What a bargain! Check out the flight details below.

Shiela & I paid ₱5,675.28 for 2 people – that’s ₱2,837.64 each! Bargain.

Cebu Layover

Lechon Cebu for lunch ~ yum! 

We had a 4-hour layover in Cebu on our way to Siargao. Since there isn’t something to do in the airport plus my friends working there don’t have work, Shiela & I went to nearby Rico’s Lechon to have lunch. We had their famous Lechon Cebu (of course!) with rice, vegetables & a bottle of Tsingtao beer. Yes, that’s a bottle of beer for lunch! We headed back to the airport after eating to catch our connecting flight to Siargao.

Lunch at Rico’s Lechon near Mactan Cebu International Airport 

Accommodation

Had a nice stay in Bravo Beach Resort Siargao!

Accommodation choices in Siargao range from the most basic & simple dormitory beds to luxurious & spacious hotel rooms. We opted for the mixed one – simple & shared dormitory beds, but with a touch of luxury. We stayed for 4 days & 3 nights in Bravo Beach Resort Siargao. I made a separate post about our stay at the resort, head over to this link for more details.

Bravo’s surf bunk room – our room for 3 nights!

Getting Around Siargao

Another photo of the Cloud 9 Boardwalk – only ₱20 pesos to go here from GL

Getting around Siargao is very easy. The most popular way is by motorcycle. Daily rental rates range from ₱350 to ₱500. I will recommend this to people who will really go around the island for the whole day or for those who will explore the island by themselves. If you’ll only use the motorcycle for a few times, then best not to rent one. You can hop on a tricycle or motorcycle (locally known habal-habal) for ₱20 per person (during the day until around 10:00 pm; rates go higher from late night to after midnight – could go as high as up to ₱60 per person) to anywhere in General Luna. These tricycles & motorcycles are also available for rent; make sure to inquire how much the daily rental costs.

Inland & Island Tours

Just like any other place in the Philippines, Siargao also has island & inland tours offered to visitors. We only had limited days in the island so we opted for the locals say the best tour provider – Siargao’s Best – Tour Organizer. The company is owned & managed by Mr. Nicholas “Kuya Bebot” Salgado.

Sohoton Cove – the highlight of Package A

Kuya Bebot offers 2 group tours – Sohoton (Bucas Grande) & Tri-Island Tour (Package A) which costs ₱1,550 per person & Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour (Package B) which costs ₱1,500 per person. The tours are open both to private groups (minimum of 8) or to joiners. Rates include all transportation & boat fees, lunch, entrance & environmental fees, group cottages & paddle board or kayak rental in Sugba Lagoon. Call time in the morning is at 6:00 am at General Luna Public Market. Tour groups leave at exactly 7:00 am until 5:30 pm for Package A & around 4:00 pm for Package B.

Shiela & I took both group tours. We took the Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour on our 2nd day with my friend, Geof (plus his friends, now also our friends) who was also in Siargao that time. We took the Sohoton Cove & Tri-Island Tour on our 3rd day with some of the people we met on the 1st tour.

Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour

Sugba Lagoon 😍

Our group left the public market at 7:00 am & headed to the Port of Del Carmen by land. The land trip took about an hour. We then transferred to a small motor boat (small groups of 6 to 7 people) & took an hour trip to Sugba Lagoon. We spent 2.5 hours in Sugba Lagoon swimming, jumping from the diving board, paddling our boards & kayaking.

About to jump from the lagoon diving board

After a few hours in the lagoon, we took the boat back to the port, transferred to our van & drove by land to Magpupunko Tidal & Rock Pool. We had our lunch then enjoyed the rock pool afterwards. We left the place at 3:30 pm & got back in General Luna a few minutes past 4:00 pm. Check out the photos we took during the tour.

Magpupungko during low tide

Magpupungko Tidal & Rock Pool from my friend’s drone 😍

Another Magpupungko Rock Pool drone shot from our friend Wilson 😍

We were so happy we were one of the first ones to arrive at Sugba Lagoon, we had the place to ourselves. The tour was just right – not rushed & everything was provided. They served a lot of food for lunch plus they gave us enough time to enjoy both places.

Sohoton Cove & Tri-Island Tour

Inside Sohoton Cove – beautiful place! 😍

We left the public market at 7:00 am & took a 3-hour boat ride to Bucas Grande Island, Surigao del Norte. We first went to the jelly fish sanctuary in Blue Lagoon by paddle boat, then to Sohoton Cove by motorboat. We went inside Hagukan Cave, or also known as luminescent cave. We splashed the water inside the cave & it turned into electric blue / green color. Surreal. We headed to Magkuku-ob Cave next; hiked up a few meters & jump from a 5 meter cliff back to the lagoon! We went back to Sohoton’s small port / tour office & had lunch.

View from the paddle boat to Blue Lagoon 🤩

Hello Mr. Jellyfish!

We left Bucas Grande Island around 1:30 in the afternoon & took another 3-hour boat ride back to General Luna. We dropped by Naked Island (no nice photo of Naked Island – sorry), Guyam Island & Daku Island along the way. If I remember it right, we spent around 30 minutes on each island. The tour ended around 6:00 pm.

That’s me & Shiela at Blue Lagoon / Jellyfish Sanctuary

A normal 6-hour 3-island tour costs ₱1,000 per person. For paying a few hundreds more, we were able to visit Sohoton Cove which is undeniably beautiful. The 3-hour boat trip to & from Bucas Grande may be too long, but the trip was worth it.

Not so good weather when we were in Guyam Island

Guyam Island – the smallest of the 3 islands!

I strongly recommend Kuya Bebot’s island & inland tours. The activities are worth the price plus you’re well taken care of. Feel free to contact him in the numbers below:

Tour Company: Siargao’s Best
Contact Name: Mr. Nicholas “Kuya Bebot” Salgado
Contact Numbers: 09064595679 / 09309749974
Facebook Page: Siargao’s Best

Surfing at Cloud 9 Area

The famous Cloud 9 Boardwalk

A trip to Siargao will never be complete without surfing. The island has long been a destination for local & foreign surfers. Cloud 9 is the most famous wave in the Philippines & this surfing area is one, or if not the most visited areas in Siargao. An hour-long surfing lesson with a guide costs ₱500. I didn’t have the chance to surf due to hangover, but I promise to try it when I go back.

Look at those big waves!

Siargao Party Nights

Party people, make sure to read this. One of the many good things about Siargao is that parties are concentrated in only 1 or 2 bars per night. That means other bars do not have the crazy party on days where the party is held in another bar. We were there for 3 nights & we partied 3 straight nights – that’s for sure. The Saturday night party happened in Harana Surf Resort, the Sunday night party was in Bravo Beach Resort (our accommodation) & the Monday night parties were held at Loose Keys & Rum Bar.

Party night at Harana Surf Resort – one of the 3 crazy nights we had!

Don’t forget to ask your hotel / hostel reception where the party will be during your stay. Visitors should go party in Siargao at least for a night.

Siargao is a paradise – can’t wait to go back!

This sums up our 4 days & 3 nights in Siargao. Our schedule was full; we didn’t have time to “relax,” if you know what I mean. We were able to visit the popular places to go to plus we met a bunch of new & crazy people. I don’t have regrets spending a lot on the day tours & alcohol. It was a memorable trip. Every peso spent was worth it, super worth it. I look forward to going back to this paradise island, to finally try surfing in the big waves & to relax.

Meet the Siargao Squad – no complete photo so I added 2 group photos! 😉

Are you flying to Siargao in the coming weeks or months? I suggest you take the tours offered by Kuya Bebot. You’ll definitely have a great time. Don’t drink too much at night so that you’ll have enough energy the following day. Do you still have questions about our trip or about Siargao? Feel free to post them in the comments below. Alternatively, you can shoot me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

One last photo of Siargao! 🤩

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my friend Wilson for allowing me to use his Magpupungko Tidal & Rock Pool drone shots & one of our group photos above.

Thank you for reading & until the next post. ✌️ Safe travels wherever you’re going. 🙂

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & HTC U11. 

Hostel Resort Of The Day: BRAVO BEACH RESORT SIARGAO – Reasonably Priced Shared Luxury Accommodation in Paradise Island

Two weeks ago, my friend & I went to Siargao for a quick 4-day break from the busy metro life. I know I’ve just been to Palawan last month, but I wasn’t able to resist the promotional ticket I got last February. We stayed at Bravo Beach Resort in our 4 days in Siargao.

Hostel Resort of the day: Bravo Beach Resort Siargao!

Bravo Beach Resort is a highly-rated luxury (island standards) resort in Siargao. This resort features a traditional x modern rooms, a garden, an on-site bar & restaurant, a swimming pool & beach access. The resort basically provides everything a guest needs. Technically, this resort is not a ‘hostel,’ but they have dormitory rooms for those who want to share rooms & meet new people during their respective trips – one of the reasons why I’m featuring this resort in my site.

Location & Access

Bravo Beach Resort is located along Tourism Road in General Luna. The resort is located by the beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is 3 kilometers away from the world-famous Cloud 9 Surfing Area.

Inside Bravo Siargao – on the way to the rooms. 😍

The nearest airport to Bravo Beach Resort is Sayak Airport (also known as Siargao Airport) located in Del Carmen, Surigao Del Norte. From the airport, one can take a public van transfer to town for only ₱300. The van driver will drop you off in front of the resort. You can also hire a tricycle from the airport to General Luna for ₱500 per way. Same rates apply for transfers from the town to the airport.

The resort reception offers airport transfers for a higher fee of ₱400 per way. If you want a hassle-free & door-to-door private transfer, feel free to contact the reception.

Surf Bunk Room

Bravo Beach Resort offers 3 types of luxurious accommodation rooms – Garden Room, Double Room & Surf Bunk Room. The first 2 room types are private rooms while the surf bunk room can be shared with other guests. You can head over to the resort’s website for more details about the rooms.

Inside Bravo’s Surf Bunk Room

My friend & I decided to stay in the surf bunk room for 3 nights. A night stay in this 4-bed dormitory room costs ₱1,200. It may be double or triple the price of a regular dormitory bed accommodation (usually ₱300 – ₱500 per night on average) in Siargao but I tell you, the expensive rate is worth it.

That’s me in front of the mirror – shower room’s in the left & toilet’s in the right

The air-conditioned surf bunk room has 2 bunk beds with 4 individual beds. Each bed features a pillow, clean sheets, bath & pool towels, a plug & a reading light. Each guest has his / her own locker. The rooms have a separated shower area (with hot water) & toilet, plus a balcony / small lounge area outside. Daily complimentary breakfast is included in the rate. Breakfast time is from 7:00 am to 10:00 am only. Take away breakfast is not allowed.

Breakfast is served – so good!

Breakfast menu – you can personalize your meal!

We showed our bunk room to some of our friends who were not staying in Bravo & they all said that the ₱1,200 daily charge is worth the price. It may be expensive compared to the island’s standard rates, but we had a relaxing, luxurious & mosquito bite-free stay in this surf bunk room. I’ll definitely stay in this bunk room again when I go back to Siargao in the future.

Resort Amenities

Resort’s swimming pool – also open for restaurant guests!

All guests have access to the resort’s beach & swimming pool. The beach is just okay for swimming, but definitely not the best in the island. I mean, the beach view while eating your breakfast or drinking a bottle of cold beer is already enough. The swimming pool is located by the restaurant.

Resort beach – not the best in the island but the view will do 😍

The resort offers free Wi-Fi access all throughout the property. The reception, rooms & bar & restaurant all have Wi-Fi. The connection was good during the first 2 nights. We had a hard time connecting on our last night – we don’t know what happened.

Bar & Restaurant + Sunday Night Party

Bravo Siargao also has an on site Spanish restaurant. The restaurant offers a wide range of international dishes such as tapas, paella & the likes. The food price is not cheap but is reasonable. Food servings are big – could be good for sharing if you’re a light eater. The restaurant sometimes has live music by a band or an artist during dinner time.

Bravo Restaurant at night 😍

Bravo also has an on-site bar which offers beers, cocktails, wines & hard liquors. They have a very famous drink called Pomada. It’s a combination of gin, calamansi juice & sugar. A glass costs only ₱60. My Swedish friend who stayed in Siargao for over a month told me this drink is very cheap & addictive. I think I had more than 20 glasses of that in the whole duration of our stay.

Slow Cooked Coconut Pork Curry (₱290) & a glass of Pomada (₱60) for lunch

Bar parties in Siargao rotate every night. Bravo Beach Resort hosts this bar party every Sunday night. At 9:30 pm, the restaurant turns on a bar with a dance floor in the middle. The resort hosted an epic Sunday night party during our stay.

Bravo’s famous drink & also my favorite – Pomada! No party photos, sorry.

Bar & Restaurant operates everyday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, with the exception of the Sunday bar which closes at 12:00 am to cap off the party.

Tour Desk

Pool & beach view from the resort’s restaurant – so relaxing!

Bravo Beach Resort Siargao also offers daily tours. The tour desk is located in the reception area. The tour dates are updated regularly. I was not able to get the updated tour rates but as far as I can remember, the 6-hour x 3-island tour with lunch costs ₱1,000 per person. Sugba Lagoon tour costs around ₱2,000 per person. Feel free to send the resort an email for the updated tour prices & the tour schedule.

Bravo Beach Resort may not be the cheapest accommodation option in Siargao but their surf bunk room provides a luxurious but affordable experience a guest can get. Surf bunk room guests also get to enjoy the amenities the private room guests have access to. Believe me, it’s worth it. I’ll definitely stay here again when I go back to Siargao.

Feel free to contact the resort & ask if there are availabe rooms / beds for your planned stay. See contact details below:

Bravo Beach Resort Siargao
Address: Tourism Rd, Barangay 5, General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines 8419
Phone Numbers: +63 999 877 8518 (Smart) & +63 905 395 5493 (Globe)
Email address: stay@bravoresort.com
Website: www.bravosiargao.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/bravosiargao

Everything in this resort is so beautiful! I’d love to go back soon. 😍

Have you been to Bravo Beach Resort in Siargao? How was your stay? Planning to fly to Siargao soon? Consider staying in this resort – you’ll surely have a good time. Do you have any questions or thoughts in mind? Feel free to post them in the comments below. You can also send those thoughts or questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or feel free to contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Don’t forget to check out the other hostels of the day in this website –  Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach, The Stay Sapporo & Outpost Beach Hostel El Nido. Thank you for reading & until the next HOTD post. ✌

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

PORT BARTON Revisited – 48 Hours In Palawan’s Next Popular Destination

A little over a year ago, I went on a weekend trip to a less known-place called Port Barton. This small fishing village in San Vicente, Palawan is located 3 hours by land from Puerto Princesa & about 4 hours from El Nido. I shared with you all the details of my trip – click this link to take you to that article. That Port Barton blog is actually one of the most read posts in this website.

Inaladelan Island at its finest 😍

Last month, my friends & I went to Port Barton for 2 full days or 48 hours – that’s after a quick visit to El Nido. We only went to El Nido for Nacpan Beach & that’s it. It was a good call to go to Port Barton after because weather in El Nido was pretty bad. It was raining all day & all night.

Since my last visit, Port Barton has remained to be ‘relatively’ unknown to the Filipino traveling community. There has been already a handful of Filipino visitors; but the majority of the tourists are still foreigners – mostly those who are traveling around the Philippines for a few weeks. I loved the fact that this place is still untouched, unpopular & very basic.

Instagram-worthy photo in one of the beach huts in Inaladelan Island 😍

In this post, I will talk about how we spent 48 hours in Port Barton. I’ll talk about how we went there, where we stayed & what we did there during our stay.

El Nido To Port Barton

The most comfortable way to go to Port Barton from El Nido is to take the scheduled van trips. There are 2 to 3 scheduled trips per day – 7:00 am, 8:00 am & 1:00 pm. Fare per person ranges from ₱500 to ₱700, depending where you book your ticket.

In our case, we booked it through Outpost Beach Hostel & the fare per person from the hostel tour desk is ₱700. We took the 8:00 am trip. Travel time from El Nido is around 3.5 to 4 hours. The road to Port Barton has improved since my last visit. There are still parts which are under construction, but most of the roads have now been paved.

Island view 😍

Environmental Fee

As mentioned in the previous post, the local tourism council collects ₱50 environmental fee from all guests visiting Port Barton. This environmental card is given to the visitor after signing the guest log book & paying the small fee. This card is valid for 10 days & is required in taking the boat / island tour.

Deep Moon Resort

Welcome to Deep Moon Resort!

My friends & I stayed in a beachfront resort named Deep Moon Resort. I have a friend working there so I asked for his help in getting a place to stay. We stayed in fan bungalow for 3 people for ₱1,100 per night. The bungalow features a double bed in the ground floor & a single bed in the mezzanine. Both beds have mosquito nets. The bungalow has a private toilet & shower & a balcony. It is located at the back of the beachfront bungalows.

Our fan bungalow for 2 nights

Deep Moon Resort offers free Wi-Fi in the common areas. They also have an on site bar & restaurant which we weren’t able to try. The resort is located right in front of the Port Barton village beach. The staff were nice & helpful, they helped us & our new-found friends book our island tour.

Inside our fan bungalow – I slept in the bed located in mezzanine

The resort recently opened their dormitory rooms under the name Dragon House Dorm. They have 8-bed & 10-bed dormitory fan rooms for those who are traveling on budget. All guests also have access to the facilities of Deep Moon Resort. A dormitory bed costs around ₱400 – ₱450 per night. Not bad, right?

Port Barton Village Beach

Port Barton village beach – right outside your doorstep!

Port Barton is a fishing village that is located by the beach. The first to-do when visiting this beautiful place is to enjoy the village beach. My friends & I immediately went swimming after check-in. This place is very quiet & relaxing.

View from Deep Moon Resort’s Moon Bar

Island Hopping Tour

Jump shot with the whole island tour crew!

Just like El Nido & Coron, Port Barton also has its set of island hopping tours. We asked the help of my friend working in Deep Moon Resort to secure our spot in the sole Lonely Planet-recommended tour guide. The whole island hopping tour still costs ₱700 per person – no price change since last year. The rate includes picnic lunch & boat fees. It doesn’t include the ₱100 per person entrance fee in Inaladelan Island (formerly German Island).

Inaladelan Island from the beach 😍

This island tour had a slightly different itinerary from that of last year’s. Instead of having lunch in Paradise Maxima & Exotic Islands, we spent more time & had lunch in Inaladelan Island. We still visited the Twin & Paradise Reefs & still swam with the famous turtle (now two of them so turtles!). We didn’t go to the I-forgot-the-name-of-the-island & instead went to Long Paradise Island. We were the only visitors in this island. The experience was quite cool. The tour’s last stop is still the Luli Island, now known as Starfish Island. The tour started little past time & ended around 4:30 in the afternoon.

What’s for lunch? 😋 This meal is included in the island tour fee

Let me share to you some photos my friend & I took during the island tour.

Twin Reef

Turtle Point

Inaladelan Island (formerly German Island)

Long Paradise Island

Paradise Reef

Starfish Island

Sunset Watching

The ‘best’ sunset we had during our stay – weather was not at its best!

Port Barton boasts a very beautiful sunset. I’ve witnessed what sunset view this village has to offer last year. Unfortunately, the weather during this trip was not at its best. Nonetheless, this is one of the best things to do in this very relaxing place.

Native Bo Reggae Bar

Spent our last night in Native Bo Reggae Bar – had a fun night with these people!

Last year, my friends & I went to Jungle Bar & had a great time. I’d love to bring my companions to this place but we didn’t have the luxury of time. We opted to enjoy the night at Native Bo Reggae Bar. It’s the reggae bar located by the village beach. This bar offers affordable drinks & a very social atmosphere. They even have a buy 1 get 1 on selected drinks from lunchtime until 7:00 pm. My friends & I plus the ones we met in the island tour went here on our last night in Port Barton.

Other Things To Do

48 hours in Port Barton is not enough to visit everything this place has to offer. Just like my trip last year, I missed out on a few places like the White Beach (because we already a lot of white beaches in the trip?), Pamuayan Falls (again) & the San Vicente Long Beach (this is really far). I also found out that they now offer a tour to the nearby mangrove conservation area.

Port Barton After A Year – ANYTHING NEW? 

It’s been a year & a few months since I first went to Port Barton. Last time, I shared with you some facts about this not-so-famous place. This time, I’ll share with you what has changed after 15 months of not visiting this place.

More Accommodation Choices

Last year, there were only less than 10 accommodation choices available online. Most accommodations can only be contacted via call or text. After 15 months, there has been a boom in the number of accommodation choices in Port Barton. There are already a lot of hostels, guesthouses & homestays available in websites like Booking.com & Agoda. Rates also have increased a bit; though some have retained the rates they had since last year.

More Restaurants & Eateries

There has also been an increase in the number of restaurants & eateries in the village. The growing demand forced the locals to open more restaurants & local eateries. My friends & I still opted to eat at Gacayan Restaurant – they still have the cheapest food in the village. It was not as crowded as it was last year.

Had dinner in Gorgonzola Pizza – one of the new restaurants in the village

Electricity Hours

Port Barton still doesn’t have 24-hour electricity supply. Power supply is only available from 5 pm until 12 midnight & now from 10 am until 12 noon. Make sure to charge all your gadgets & equipment in these power hours.

Still no ATMs

The village still doesn’t have ATMs. The nearest money dispensing machines are located in El Nido, Puerto Princesa & Roxas. Make sure to withdraw enough cash before going to Port Barton. Credit cards can be used here but only for a handful of establishments. Cash is the preferred & the widely-used mode of payment.

Village Clinic for Medical Emergencies

There is a small clinic or health center in the village; it’s located along Ballesteros St near the school. Take note that the nearest hospital in the village is located in Roxas, which is around an hour away. Don’t forget to stack up on medicines before going to the village.

Limited internet connectivity

Port Barton still has limited internet connectivity. The fastest mobile internet connection can be found near the beach & it doesn’t even give you a 4G connection. Plan out all your emails & internet usage before going to this village. Best to also take this trip as a disconnection from the usual internet-dependent routine.

This pretty much sums up our 48-hour Port Barton trip last month. My friends & I made the right decision of leaving El Nido & heading to this paradise where the weather was good. 48-hours was not enough to discover everything this place has to offer. I look forward to staying longer in my next Port Barton trip.

With Maanne & Yana in Palawan. Thanks for the fun weekend! 🙂

Port Barton is starting to gain attention from the local tourism industry. Locals have started to visit this place, unlike last year when it was all foreigners. I hope this place remains the same in the next few years. I can easily say that Port Barton is my current favorite hideout from the busy metro life. I would like to also take this chance to thank my friends, Maanne & Yana, for the fun weekend in El Nido & Port Barton. The trip was short but very memorable.

Can’t get over how beautiful Inaladelan Island is! 😍

Are you planning to go to Port Barton soon? You should! Have you been there? How was your trip? Will you go back soon? Don’t forget to share some details of your past or upcoming trip in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Port Barton? Feel free to send an email to  contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via these social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading & until the next 48-hour trip! 🌴

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11 & HTC Re. Shout out to Maanne for letting me use some of her photos.