Cagbalete Island – Mauban, Quezon (Travel Guide + Tips)

CAGBALATE ISLAND

Cagbalete Island is an island located in the province of Quezon. It has become one of the most visited islands in the Philippines for its white sand and clear waters.

For our anniversary, my girlfriend and I planned to go to the beach. I’ve searched for beaches that are beautiful, not crowded, and don’t cost that much to stay at. One of the most suggested places is Cagbalete Island in Mauban, Quezon Province. It boasts its white sand beaches and clear waters.

GOING THERE

We rode a JAC Liner bus in EDSA near Kamias. There are 2 trips going straight to Mauban. One at 4:30 A.M. and one at 12:00 NN. If you’ve missed these trips, you can take a bus going to Lucena Grand Terminal and ride another bus to Mauban. The trip to the town of Mauban is around 5 hours.

We arrived at the terminal in Mauban around 9:30 AM. Boat rides are scheduled at 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. We rushed ourselves to load the boat in time. Tricycles are available and waiting on the side. We took one and told the driver to bring us to the port. He told us that he would bring us to the market and the Environmental office first before going there. We bought ice and water in the market. You can buy all you need on the island, from fresh foods to toiletries. We’ve bought ice and water since we have food already. We proceeded to the Tourism office located near the port. You will register your names and addresses. The environmental fee costs ₱50.

RAINY MAUBAN

The rain started to pour strongly. Luckily, we reached the port and the boat was still there. We thought that the ride would be canceled due to the weather, but the locals told us that it would be fine, as rains are common there (talking about positivity :P). We stayed in the waiting shed but still got wet because of the strong winds. The boat fare is ₱50/head.

We left the port despite the bad weather. Waves are as high as the boats we’re into. Fortunately, the boat is covered by plastic sheets which help a lot, blocking the water from coming in. One funny moment, I tried to peek outside the sheets to grasp some air but as soon as I took out my head, the wave splashed onto my face (Waves: In yoooour face! XD). The ride took an hour before arriving at Sabang Port, Cagbalete.

We arrived in one piece, but the rain continued to pour. We don’t have reservations for any resort. There were guides who offered us the resorts that they belonged to. We’ve decided to stay at Villa Cleofas Resort. It is located at the far end, opposite the port. There is no road going straight to the resort, so we’ve walked through mud and sometimes big puddles that will reach up to your knee. We only have one umbrella and I let my girlfriend use it. So, I stayed wet… very wet in the wild. 😛 The trek felt cold and challenging, but it was still fun. Felt like an adventure! 😀 If you have a reservation and don’t want to walk, you can ask the resort to pick you up by a carabao cart.

VILLA CLEOFAS

After 30 minutes of walking, we arrived at the resort. Fortunately, the rain also stopped. We paid the entrance fee of 50 pesos per head. We brought our own tent, so we just paid a pitching fee of 250 pesos per night. There are cottages, studio-type rooms, and huts available at the resort if you want a more comfortable place to stay.

Before we pitched our tent, we ate our packed lunch. Cold Chicken Adobo! 😀 We were very hungry and tired because of the challenges we’d been through. We took a rest at the resort’s canteen. We brought our own foods to cut costs. If you didn’t bring any, you can buy them there. The caretakers are nice and very accommodating. They offered us to pitch our tent inside the resort if ever the rain and the wind got strong.

We pitched our tent facing the sea. It was relaxing. The wind was rushing to our faces as we looked at the beach’s white sand. A few meters away from the beach, you can see Bonsai Island. You can access it during low tide since a walkway will surface.

Since it’s still low tide, it’s picture time! 😛

As the tide was rising, we took the time to swim before it got dark. For dinner, we were planning to have a bonfire and cook our food (Hotdogs) there, but the wind was very strong. Instead, we borrowed grills and bought coals from the caretakers.

We decided to sleep early. The rain started to pour again. We can hear the droplets of rain as they hit the top of the tent and the wind shook our side. Luckily, our tent is designed to sustain strong winds. Despite the weather, it’s still a good thing, because it feels cold. More comfortable to sleep.

Day 1 was full of challenges. We got drenched. Dog incident. No bonfire. This is what happens when you travel in a rainy season. But, we’re still hoping for that summer feeling.

DAY 2

We woke up at 5:00 in the morning. The color outside was promising. The sky cleared and the sun rose. Day 2 was the day!!

We didn’t waste time, ate our breakfast, and started exploring the beach and swim.

 There are no rocks and corals present on the right side of the resort, just pure sand.

We stood there, in the middle of the sea. Touched the seawater, felt the wind, and stared at the horizon. It felt like a dream. The place was amazing!

In addition to our day 2 experience, we bought a delicacy of the island for lunch. Crabs with banana blossoms. One of the staff of the resort, Melvin, will cook this for you.

We left the resort around 12 P.M. to ride the boat and bus in time. We road the carabao cart going back to Sabang. The fee is 30 pesos per head. The weather is now sunny so it makes our trip home a lot easier.

Our anniversary date on the island felt very special. We endured and enjoyed a lot together.  We will treasure the lessons and views we’ve experienced there. Cagbalete Island will be in our memories forever. We told ourselves to do island adventures again soon. El Nido, Calaguas or Magalawa? 😀

©CHASEJASE