Sabaidee Travel

My three-week Philippines itinerary

• Day 1: from Australia to Bohol (via Cebu City)
• Day 2-4: Bohol
• Day 5: from Bohol to Dumaguete
• Day 6-8: Dumaguete
• Day 9: Dumaguete to Moalboal
• Day 10:  Moalboal
• Day 11: Moalboal to Cebu City
• Day 12: Cebu City to Boracay
• Day 13-16: Boracay
• Day 17: Boracay to Siargao
• Day 18-22: Siargao
• Day 23: from Siargao to Cebu City
• Day 24: from Cebu City to Manila
• Day 25: end of trip, back to Australia

Day 6-7: Day trip to Apo island

My seventh day in the Philippines started on Christmas day. But in my mind, it felt like it had started the night before. In true Filipino style, the hostel had organized a buffet feast and karaoke for all the hostel guests.

That night I met Filipino, Australian, British, and Dutch travellers. One of the most memorable of them was Mon, a fellow backpacker from Mindanao. Mon was the star of the night, setting the tone for what would be one of my more memorable Christmas Eve celebrations.

During the Christmas Eve dinner, plans were made for the following day: a day trip to Apo Island would be on the cards.

Apo Island is known for being one of the Philippines’ oldest marine sanctuaries. The island is located 30 kilometres south of Dumaguete City. A short drive out of the main city and a 30 minute boat ride enables tourists and locals to see a large number of endangered green and rare Hawkesbill sea turtles, as well as a diversity of fish species and corals.

For those travelling through Dumaguete, Apo Island is a must see destination if you want to see turtles as they are abundant in the sanctuary. A large number of them congregate close to the shore line, making it very easy for less confident swimmers to see them with minimal effort. 

Whilst the turtles are the stars of the island, the views of Negros Island’s volcanic peaks also provide stunning vistas. The imposing peaks of Mount Talinis tower over Dumaguete and the surrounding areas.

After several hours of swimming with turtles, we hiked up a small peak on the island to get a better view of the island. It was only 15 minutes, but the heat and humidity provided us with a little bit of challenge.

As part of the tour, a barbeque lunch consisting of grilled fish, rice, vegetables, and fruit was provided by the tour company.
In the afternoon, we took more opportunities to take photos with the turtles before heading back to Dumaguete. The day wrapped up around 3 PM.

Whether it’s snorkelling with turtles, taking in the panoramic views, or just sunbathing at the beach, Apo Island is up there with the Philippines’ best day trips. Booking a trip to the island with a hotel or hostel is easy, and for those who want to take more time to enjoy the island, there are a couple of accommodation options available, one of them being Liberty’s Community Lodge and Dive Resort.

If travelling to the Philippines is on your bucket list, make sure to include Apo Island on your list of destinations! Let’s hope this pandemic ends soon…