CAMOTES ISLAND

Sugary White sand, pristine clear blue water,laid back and close to nature, and spectacular view of tourist spot,friendly communities and just 3 hours travel from cebu city. This are the reason why I decided to visit Camotes Island, Philippines. As usual doing my backpacking for 2 days clothes,cameras,extra cash, a pin and note for writing Im ready to go.

A brief background of Camotes island.It is 62 kilometers of northeast of cebu and 25 kilometers east of Ormoc.It has four islands,with sub islands and four municipalities.

Municipality of Poro

municipality of tudela

Municipality of San Francisco

Municipality of Pilar

Poro and San Francisco are connected by a causeway for a bout 1.5 km.the main livelihood of the community is farming and fishing, their Dialect is Cebuano as part of the Visayan region, while in poro speak porohanon a native language distinguish by pronouncing of a certain words.A population of 89,324 as of 2007 census,the island  Camotes name after when a Spaniard arrives to the island and ask the native whats on the basket they are carrying and they replied "camote"a sweet potatoes  that is how it derives the name of the island.The climate of the island is typified as a dry  season like the rest of the country,while monsoon season starts early of July to January the next year,with sometimes a strange patterns of the weather since it is a small island prone to typhoon patterns of the country.

An 8 flights daily is serving Manila to Cebu,and if you are from Mindanao once a day flight on major cities bound for Cebu,or yet a daily schedule of sea ferries for those who wants to travel by the sea.From cebu,the best way is via Danao,northern part of Cebu by a V- hire van located near to SM mall,or in North bound Terminal to those who want to take a bus. A 50 pesos fair for  a V hire or by a taxi for about half an hour drive without a traffic and it will cost you for abour 300-350 pesos from the Airport.We took the early morning trip to catch the first trip of the Jumalia barge for Consuelo port.From Danao a Roll on-Roll off boat you can take with a daily schedule: http://travelcamotes.com/schedule.html.

From Consuelo Port,a lot of habal-habal that you can arrange for a half day tour,A multi cab available for a group tour for only 1,500 pesos for the entire cab,since my two girl friends is with me,we choose the multi cab instead.The tour includes a visit to town proper of San Francesco, Bay walk,Buho rocks,Timubo Caves,Bakhaw beach in Esperanza,Lake Danao and Santiago bay where we had our delicious  lunch by the seaside.

BAYWALK

First stop is the baywalk along the town proper of San francisco near  to the market where a lot of stalls selling foods and drinks for the tourist and locals,perfect to stay,relax and enjoy the sunset while serinnating you with their music using a big speaker.At night, the area is filled with BBQ and grilled sea foods stalls catered both locals and tourist for a fun dinner and doing some video-k.

BUHO ROCK

Buho rock is another tourist spot in the island.Located in Poro town is a government run Eco park where there is a cottages right for the group who want to have a picnic and enjoy the beauty of the crystal blue sea strike by the sun while a  big rock  in the middle where you can take pictures with your friends.Entrance fee and facility rates is just right for your budget.

TIMUBO CAVE

Our next stop we headed up north is the Timubo Cave, hidden at the mountainous side of San Francisco,for 15 minute ride from the town proper,we stumble into a hole with a stairways down to the hidden paradise of builders stones,stalagmite,a drops of cold water as we get deeper into the cave so expect to get wet,though the government put a line of lights on the way so just be careful on a slippery and wet floor step,passing trough a small but clear pond where caves stones are visible to our naked eyes as we pass trough finally we are inside to the enchanted clear cold river of the caves as if we cannot wait for a minute we jump off to the water till we are wet and wild overwhelm with joy and happiness and embrace the hidden paradise that we bare witness,after taking pictures and stayed there for long,we pay grace to mama Mary where there is a small altar in the corner for people who seek solidarity and peace.You will get to experience the wonders of the cave with an entrance fee of 10 pesos per person,no food allowed inside.

Entrance of Timubo cave

You will have to cross a small pond before a river of clear blue water on the way

Timubo Cave

LAKE DANAO

Our next stop is the Lake Danao, its  like and eight shape body of fresh water as the largest lake not only in province of Cebu but also in the whole region of Visayas.It is rich on fishery where the locals surrounding the lake depend on the resources as their subsistence,boating and other water sports are the few things you can do aside from picnicking on  their spacious area. A 10 pesos entrance fee for the maintenance of the government park and be amaze of the bountiful scenery of the lake with extra bonus if you visit their during the  visiting of the migratory birds.    

Lake Danao

BAKHAW BEACH

After taking photos and having a little snack while appreciating the wonders of the lake we decided to move on to our next stop which is the Bakhaw beach,Located in Baranngay Esperanza,San francisco.from there we enter a narrow roads with bushes and coconuts around, no wonder it is called the hidden paradise and unexploited stretch of sugary white bars of sand with a laid back feeling while your in the place, since the government and the land owners near the beach agreed to leave the place as it is in their natural habitat.With a 10 pesos entrance fee that will give you a quite and peaceful mind while appreciating the long stretch of sand,secluded and unspoiled. Picnicking on green grass under the coconut trees lullaby you with the sea breeze.Deep yourself in a clear blue water under the sun or perhaps walking along the seashore that well give you a feel like therapy from a powdery sand,just to make sure to have a sunblock on hand.Pack your own foods because you cannot see stores selling  in the area.although at the distance from the beach far enough not to obscure the beach is a resort called Borromeo Beach Ressort,they do not sell any food and from what I heard from our driver even their guest buy their foods at Esperanza proper.

Bakhaw beach

Area where you can have a picnic in this lush carpet of green grass

SANTIAGO BAY,SAN FRANCISCO

Since I'm talking about food I cannot wait to move on to our next destination which is the Santiago Bay where we will be having  our lunch,our driver told us that there is a restaurant that serves fresh sea foods cooked as you want, not so pricey and the location right on the beach front!how was that?!I'm thinking already and its sound good!

Anyway,Santiago bay is a baranggay of san francisco,several beach resort lying on the beach namely,Belle Vista resort offers a cheaper room rates,Santiago bay Garden and resort which has a infinity pool a restaurant,function hall,gardens, private cottages and rooms with a view overlooking

 the Santiago bay,Masmayor Beach Resort and Payag Beach Resort.During low tide the water goes down for about 200 meters from the shore,walking barefoot is fun to do especially low tides come in the afternoon where the sun goes down and enjoy the sunset afterward.It is not that well maintain unlike to other private beaches, it  was run by the government of Santiago so the collection of garbage and maintenance for the cleanliness of the beach depends on the income of their renting cottages (for those who want to have a picnic) and the voluntarism of the community.Since the beach is crowded, different stalls selling souvenirs,henna tattoo shop and restaurants are sprouting along by the bay,You can discover the beauty of the Santiago bay when you are inside the Santiago Bay Garden Resort overlooking the whole bay area,from there you will find the magnificent vast of white sand. A mirror from the clear blue water from afar is the formation of the clouds. 

A view from  Santiago Bay Garden Resort

A view from  Santiago Bay Garden Resort

Cottages along the bay area

PITOS' SUTOKIL

 Taadaah!look at that food!inviting right,will that is just two of the main menu in PITO'S SUTOKIL Restaurant right at the bay area of Santiago bay where we had our lunch,they had fresh sea foods catch by their local  fisherman from the area everyday,so expect the freshness of the food when it is cook.Very affordable with only 80 pesos per serving good for 2-3 person and a regular rates of rice platter for only 30 pesos good for 3 persons and 30 pesos per liter of soft drinks and battled water,it is not a high end restaurant as you imagine by it but it is a typical and simple filipino restaurant serving filipino famous dishes.According to the owner they run their restaurants for several years now and they have master the secret ingredient needed  according to the taste preference of their clients that is why regular client from Cebu are keep's coming back just to taste their food,Pito's are also known to the entire island as the best seafood restaurant. that is why all the driver's either multicab or habal-habal they recommend Pito's Sutokil as the best sea food restaurant in town plus bonus the location where it is located  fronting the white beach of Santiago.
Some of the beach goer's who stayed their overnight had their food cooked by Pito's with extra charge ranging from 100-200 pesos depend on the kilo of food they brought along,the best right!wait there's more,you can sing along with their video-k while having an extra battle of beer to cool you off from a day of tour in Camotes Island. Dinner serve you with extra candle light or a bonfire and dance with the beat of the music. You can make a request just be creative and the people of Pito's will do the rest off charge.

Tuna fish Kinilaw

Pork Sisig

Beat the best pork Sisig I ever taste only in Pito's.Perfect cooked meat crispy pork skin on top with checharon and egg spicy enough with extra hotness of chili!Most recommended while you are in Pito's

The Famous PITO'S SUTOKIL

....After Enjoying our lunch we decided to end our day by having a little rest to our resort which is the Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort...and this will be my next story.