Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DONSOL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Although Donsol is famous for its whale shark watching, there are plenty of other activities for
nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
SCUBA DIVING
There's scuba diving at the infamous
Manta Bowl
; though it's actually closer to Ticao (see
p.232), it is best reached from the dive shops attached to several of the resorts in Donsol. The
site is far from shore, and requires divers to descend rapidly and cling onto rocks - try to get a
reef hook or gloves. You then use the strong drift to move towards the Manta Bowl, and if you
are lucky you will be rewarded with close-up views of mantas or even whale sharks. This is not
a dive for beginners, whatever the dive shops may tell you when trying to get your business.
Also be on the lookout for shoddy equipment. A reliable outfit is the Brit-run Scubaid (
T
0920
403 5596,
W
scubaid.org) on Dancalan Beach.
FIREFLY WATCHING
Another popular attraction is
firefly watching
(P1250/boat, for up to five people) in the early
evening. There are two starting points, one beside the bridge on the main road and the other
on the Ugod River. Trips start at 7pm; you can just show up at the starting point in good time,
but it's better to enquire at the visitor centre. April and May are said to be the best months,
when the air conditions are at their calmest.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
A day
island-hopping
near the island of Ticao in Masbate province (P7000 for up to ten
people; plus registration fee P100/person) can be arranged through the visitor centre.
Giddy's
Place
(see opposite) can also sort out
kayaking
trips on the Ugod River (P1500/person).
4
EATING AND DRINKING
★
Baracuda
Dancalan Beach
T
0917 624 0163.
Sprightly owner Juliet shakes up potent margaritas,
daiquiris and piña coladas (P150) at this lovely bamboo
restaurant with cushioned seating. Her food is delicious,
too, including mouthwatering sashimi (P305), squid salad
(P205) and prawns with garlic and olive oil (P180). The
laidback
Baracuda Beach Club
next door is the perfect
spot to enjoy a post-prandial drink or two. Juliet can serve
lunch upon request.
Daily 4pm-midnight.
Butanding Bar & Resto
54 Clemente St
T
0917 848
8851,
W
giddysplace.com.
Part of
Giddy's Place
hotel
(see opposite), this is one of the town centre's better
options; the menu is international, with dishes including
pork schnitzel (P280), Hungarian sausage (P300) and blue
marlin tandoori (P300); they also serve cocktails (P135)
and there's wi-fi, too.
Daily 6am-midnight.
Shanley's
E. Hernandez St
T
0910 933 4760.
Right
by the bus terminal, this local hangout built in native
materials, including bamboo and coconut, hosts live bands
on Fri and Sat at 8pm. Expect dancing, drinking (beer P45)
and belting out at the karaoke; basic meals are served, too
(P150).
Daily 8am-11pm.
DIRECTORY
Banks and money
There is one ATM, at the Rural Bank
of Donsol on Clemente St (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat
8am-noon), but it only accepts Visa cards (and it's inside
the bank so you won't be able to withdraw money when
it's closed). It would be unwise to rely on this, so bring
enough pesos. Some of the accommodation options,
including
Giddy's Place
(see opposite), will take credit
cards, but the only place offering currency exchange (US
dollars and euros) at the time of research was the
Elysia
resort (see opposite).
Internet access
Philip-Annie Internet Shop on St Joseph
St (Mon-Sat 7am-9pm; P15/hr;
T
0933 166 3680).
Sorsogon City
There are few attractions in
SORSOGON CITY
, although it serves as a base to explore the
area's natural sights and has a range of good accommodation. Along the pier, vendors
crack open large clams and display them in large buckets. The
boardwalk
on the pier is
a good place to watch the sun set, with views of Mount Pulag and Mount Bulusan.
Every year, the
Kasanggayahan festival
(roughly Oct 17-23) celebrates the town's
history with street parades, traditional dances and beauty pageants.
