Island Hopping based on experience

[camzywinsy]

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Guys, if you're planning to go on island hopping bantay2x mo anang sa mactan.. pandanon, hilotongan, talima oz you'll end up spending more than what you can really get or enjoy!

Went there today with family and relatives and because some came early at t he banca port, they boarded this 35 capacity pumpboat. When the others arrived, we realized we're a total of 42 and for safety, we wanted to get the bigger pumpboat instead to avoid overloading. But the management of the pumpboat said we cannot cancel the first bance the others boarded in already. Take note, we didn't left the shore yet. Igo ra jud sila nanglingkod sa pumpboat. But because they were rigid with their rules, we paid for another pumpboat worth 4k just to accommodate the extra 12 heads. Imagine! Pero naa naman mi didto.. food, outfit ready so nisugot nlanag mi magbayad ug additional banca.

Our first stop was at Pandanon Island. Being a beach lover myself, I have been to a lot of beaches before even outside Cebu and I should say there's nothing exceptional at Pandanon only grabe ka mahal ang entrance. Php150/head dayon nig tugpa ninyo sa island and then nagbayad pa sa cottage and additional tables and chairs. The beach is not remarkable either pero white sands lang jud cya. And their water available for nawnaw is tubig dagat japon. At least i-justify nila ilang entrance na 150/head ui bisag nindot lang na CR.

Then late afternoon, we decided to swim sa lawm bitaw to see fishes and feed them so we went somewhere near Talima... layo ra but makita ilang mga watersports equipment. Hala! naa'y murag mga guards na nag small banca, collecta dayon ug 50/head napud. Wow! We asked why we were collected money and they said ana jud daw na dha.. kay sila daw manglimpyo sa dagat. Ows? Lupig pa ang swimming pool! And also, fish sanctuary daw na didto.. wa jud koi nakit-an na coral bisag usa swear! How can it be a fish sanctuary? Naa'y fish pero gagmay kaayo. Not worth snorkeling.

And when we asked for a receipt, they gave us a receipt na plain lang. Kanang mapalit ra bitaw sa mga bookstore.. no name of owner or kung kinsa among gibayran! Di jud unta mi mubayad pero di jud muhawa ang tig collecta.. namayad napud mi. Naa na diay titulo ang dagat karon na kung mudunggo ka dha mubayad man.

Then pag-uli namo, we had to walk at least a kilometer gikan sa pagdunggo sa banca until sa terminal kay hunas.. ok ra kung limpyo ang dagat, hugaw sad.. we went home half wet and dirty. We also have three private vehicles. Ang usa ka sakyanan gikawatan ug cover sa canyoto sa ligid bitaw.. as in gihurot ug ibot. They still have the guts to ask Php50 napud for parking. Ok ra mo?

Anyways, guys I hope you don't experience the same thing. It was fun because the family was there but knowing how these people charge us as if we're tourist is ridiculous, maka guba jud sa lingaw! Samot ko galagot when I heard na a part of hilotongan was bought by a Korean daw and sa una imbis na 25/head ra ang bayad sa fish sanctuary, karon 100 na! Ang Korean lang nidatu..

Sobra ra jud mo mangwarta, asta mga Cebuano mag-unay.

[KASAAC]

Sorry to hear from your experience sis.
Kadto nag island hopping me mam ang
mga tawo grabe nag abusar, imagine
didto sa marigondon sa ocean player nga
beach didto man ang pick-up point sa taga CIB
unya didto pud me gibalik ba...sus!
ang ilang tubig pangnaw-naw usa ka
regular size nga baldi kay 20 PESOS!!!
Dili pa jud madala ug hangyo T_T
Bayad lang pud intawn me kay kinahanglan
jud mangnaw-naw...

[curious_me]

Hala.. what an experience. So far our experience with island banca cruises was worth it. Although 1.2K per head amo gibayran nya 6 person ra mi... It was very relaxing and the staff are very accomodating. We feel safe with their boat. I agree with you on the part sa pandanon. Wla gyud mi nagbayad sa entrance kay super mahal ra jd nya wla pa jd cottage available, we ended up going back to talima and nag-snorkel ra mi balik rather than staying sa pandanon. Luckily, we didn't experience na gipaninglan mi ug money for snorkelling...

Well sis, hope others will not experience kanang mga extra charges... Haayz.. Pipol tend to abuse sometimes not knowing na nag-budget pd bya ta...

[mybabyfudgee]

ayaw mo naog sa pandanun island area kay paninglan jud mog entrance tag 100 per head bisag wla pa mo naligo kami jud kay nihunong ra among bangka didto dapit paninglan dayun mi per head gisaka pa sa amoa bangka watch out lang mo guys

[KASAAC]

Naka try sad me adto sa pandanon...naka pa picture2x pud intawn me pero dili taman sa ginhawa kay mega sugod man dayun si manong namo paningil ug 150/head nga entrance fee LOL ana me hala wala me kwarta, wala me kahibaw lakaw me pabalik sa bangka giingnan pajud me asta ang bangka naa daw murag parking fee?! chuva! hahaha dapat daw dili malapas sa unsa toh oi murag bato arun dili daw me kabayad nyahaha T_T mahala sa entrance oi! bongga kaau!

[camzywinsy]

grabe ang 150/head.. mura'g unsay naa didto!!

heller mas nindot pa ang canigao island na 5/head ra ang entrance. not worth it.

[katherine.anne]

i heard rumors about the expensive entrance fee to pandanon and the "docking fee" sa mga bangka...but i was not expecting nga ingon ani kamahal...my gosh...cheaper unta ang prices since locals man unta ta...tsk tsk...

[J.Abz]

we'll it serves a lesson or two..

these people, klaro lang jud nangwarta ug gipangkwartahan mo.. kahibaw man gud sila nga naay money jud ning ing.ani.. ug klaro pud kaau nila nga ang mag island hopping gani ang mga dayo didto sa isla.. naa jud nay dala mga wawarts...

You should report these operators to Department of Tourism aron mahibaw.an pud ni sa tagtungod.. but then again, its a private resort/s so the best the government can do is to just regulate and post warning signs to those who have the guts to go there...

again.. lesson learn, when going on any trips.. always bring a much extra dough than you would normally bring.. and expect the worst in the locales when visiting their turf....

they see you as $$$ not as a someone who appreciates the scenery...

[joan624]

grabe ang 150/head.. mura'g unsay naa didto!!

heller mas nindot pa ang canigao island na 5/head ra ang entrance. not worth it.

asa ni ang canigao?

[camzywinsy]

OT: canigao is in matalom leyte. Php 40 ra ang pumpboat ride back and forth nya 5/head entrance sa island. Imong 5php didto naa na'y mga tanod na guard sa island, fresh water pang ligo ug limpyo nga dagat.

Basta di na jud ko mubalik ug island hopping sa mactan.