There are nice the explanation why the island of Marinduque is dubbed because the “Coronary heart of the Philippines“. To start with, the island itself is actually formed like a human coronary heart. Along with that, the association of the island is much like the anatomy of the place the guts is within the human physique. My associates and I had been capable of go to Marinduque final April and it was really an incredible expertise. We had an opportunity to affix a tour organized by Backpackers Route which is a 2-Days-1-night keep in Mongpong Island. Mongpong, to not be confused with Mogpog, is a small island positioned on the northeast a part of Marindique. It’s the nearest island subsequent to the well-known Maniwaya which is popularly recognized for the Palad Sandbar.
Whereas Maniwaya Island is actually a prime vacationer vacation spot in Marinduque, Mongpong Island is particular by itself. For example, the island options some distinctive rock formations together with the one referred to as Ungab. Our 2D1N tour in Marinduque permits us to discover your complete neighborhood of the island by means of island hopping and habal-habal tour. We additionally get an opportunity to go to the Palad sandbar and witness some thrilling night time actions in Mongpong. We additionally concluded our tour by visiting the Girasoles Farm in Candelaria, Quezon.
Right this moment, I’m sharing you the abstract of our latest Marinduque escapade in addition to some notable bills we had on prime of our packaged tour with Backpackers Route.
Day 1: Arriving in Mongpong
We had been picked up from Cavite on Friday night time and we had been capable of attain Catanauan, Quezon province Saturday morning at round 5 am. From right here, we had a forty five minute boat journey going to Mongpong Island. The very first thing that can greet you upon arriving the island is the El Marinduqueño’s Island Resort. In contrast to different islands that I’ve visited up to now just like the Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte or the Sombrero Island in Masbate, Mongpong is barely commercialized. There’s a common energy provide within the island, nicely furnished lodging, a bunch of sari-sari shops, a public college, a market, and extra. The very first thing we did upon arriving is to arrange our tent.
Since we’re already a part of a packaged tour, all the doorway charges within the island is already shouldered by our organizers. Nonetheless, if you’re planning to go to the island through DIY tour, remember that there’s a minimal entrance charge of Php 50 within the resort. You possibly can pitch your personal tent for Php150 or higher but attempt their cottages and rooms starting from Php600 to Php4000/night time. If you’re planning to go to the island, make sure that to e-book your lodging first by messaging them on to their official web page (El Marinduqueños Island Resort)
There’s a massive cafeteria-like corridor the place you should purchase meals, drinks, and souvenirs. It additionally acts as an occasion space which supplies you entry to their sound system and videoke machine. You even have entry to their man-made pool. Mongpong seashore includes a combination of coarse and powdery white sand. In addition they supply some seashore actions like Banana boat and kayak. After establishing our tent, we had sufficient free time earlier than our lunch so we determined to avail the so-called Habal-Habal tour. Utilizing the habal habal (bike), the driving force (information) will tour you round some unspoiled spots in Mongpong. A habal-habal can solely accommodate one guess per journey and it’ll price Php250 per tour. Our tour guides took us to a few notable location; the Pier, the Siargao Vibe, and the Hidden Paradise.
The Pier
The primary vacation spot is the pier. Though there’s actually nothing a lot to do on this space, you will get a good looking panoramic view of the island. You can too seize the chance to take a pleasant Instagram-worthy image in that little shed on the finish of the pier.
The Siargao Vibe in Mongpong
Our second vacation spot is what the locals described as “Siargao Vibe“. That is in reference of Siargao’s well-known Palm Tree highway. One other picturesque spot in Mongpong.
Hidden Paradise in Mongpong
We concluded our Habal-habal tour within the so-called Hidden Paradise. It’s certainly a paradise and in contrast to the shoreline in entrance of El Mrinduqueño’s Island Resort, this one just isn’t simply accessible. We had been informed that it’s extra superb to go to this place within the afternoon as you will get a powerful view of the sundown. As a lot as we wish to keep longer, we had been scheduled to return within the resort for our lunch.
The crystal clear water of Mongpong
Out of curiosity, I requested my tour information if there’s any church close by the resort and he was form sufficient to drop me off in a small chapel earlier than we head again to the resort. The small chapel was devoted beneath the patronage of Our Girl of Lourdes.
The Ungab Rock Formation
After our lunch, we proceeded to one of many main highlights of our Marinduque escapade. We had an opportunity to witness the favored Ungab Rock Formation. Ungab is thought for its distinctive arch-like formation. There’s additionally a minimal environmental or touchdown charge of Php50. Ideally, you must go to this place on weekdays because it will get actually crowded on weekends. We had been supposed to go to the Palad Sandbar after Ungab however the tide is already excessive so our organizer determined to maneuver it the subsequent day.
We went again to the resort and concluded our first day with an incredible fireplace dancing exercise.
Day 2 : Palad Sandbar and Girasoles Farm
The marginally submerged Palad Sandbar of Maniwaya
Maniwaya Island has been sitting on my bucket record for fairly a while and I’m glad that i had the chance to go to the well-known Palad Sandbar. Sadly, although we arrived there on time, we had been fairly late to witness the sandbar in its full kind. The tide is beginning to go excessive and the sandbar is almost submerged in water already. Along with that, the place is stuffed with an amazing crowd. Though it was not likely a satisfying expertise or most likely not likely how I pictured the tour can be like, we determined to get pleasure from our time and take advantage of out of it. We took as many photos as we presumably can earlier than we head again to Mongpong and pack our issues.
Girasoles Farm in Quezon
Earlier than heading again to Manila, we had a few aspect journeys. We first went to a pasalubong store in Quezon and we headed subsequent to the Girasoles Farm in Candelaria. It’s a stunning attraction that one way or the other jogs my memory of the Sunflower Farm in Tayug, Pangasinan however higher. It options lots of picture-worthy points of interest that depict numerous well-known festivals within the nation like Panagbenga, Pahiyas, and Flores de Mayo to call a couple of. The doorway charge is Php100.
How a lot is our Tour prices?
The 2d1N Marinduque tour supplied by Backpackers Route is value Php2999 per head. These embrace the van and boat transfers, 3 units of meals, tent, entry to swimming pool, toll and parking charges. Right here’s the breakdowns of bills for our Marinduque escapade. I’m excluding private bills like pasalubong and additional drinks.
| Marinduque Bundle Tour | Php 2,999 |
|---|---|
| Habal-Habal Tour | Php 250 |
| Ungab Rock Formation Eco Price | Php 50 |
| Eco Price | Php100 |
| Girasoles Farm Entrance | Php 100 |
| Whole: | Php 3499* |
(*)This excludes our first breakfast which we had in Quezon and numerous private bills. Costs and costs are additionally topic to vary with out prior discover.
(**) This tour can be NOT SPONSORED by Backpackers Route and all of the aforementioned charges are shouldered by me
That is additionally the beginning of my Marinduque Escapade sequence and I’ll have extra particulars about every vacation spot in my future weblog entries. For the meantime, be happy to look at my Vlog about this latest journey (and please subscribe 🙂 )