Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MINDORO
MINDORO OCCIDENTAL
Apo Reef Marine Natural Park
Lying about 30km off the west coast of Mindoro, magnificent
Apo Reef
stretches
26km from north to south and 20km east to west, making it a significant marine
environment and one of the world's great dive destinations. There are two main atolls,
separated by deep channels, and a number of shallow lagoons with beautiful white
sandy bottoms. Only in three places does the coral rise above the sea's surface, creating
the islands of Cayos de Bajo, Binangaan and
Apo
, the largest.
Apo Island is home to a ranger station and a lighthouse, and you can spend a magical
night here in tents (turtles often lay eggs on the beach), though the experience comes at
a price. The diving is really something special, with sightings of manta rays, sharks
(even hammerheads), barracuda, tuna and turtles fairly common. Most of the
Philippines' 450 species of coral are here, from tiny bubble corals to huge gorgonian
sea fans and brain corals, along with hundreds of species of smaller reef fishes such as
angelfish, batfish, surgeonfish and jacks.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION APO REEF MARINE NATURAL PARK
Experiencing Apo Reef isn't cheap. For starters, everyone who visits needs to pay an “environmental fee”: P1750 to dive and
P450 for everyone else (including snorkellers). Transport by boat (1hr 30min from
Pandan Resort
) is extra, and you'll pay
additional fees if you want to dive (as opposed to just snorkel).
5
Tours from Pandan Island Resort
Pandan Resort
rates for Apo Reef depend on the boat and the number of
people on it, per person prices ranging from P6820 (two
people) to P1590 (eleven). Overnights cost considerably
more: P11,390 (for two people), to P3655 (for eleven)/
person. These rates do not include the marine park fee, or
even diving fees, which will cost at least another P1650
(snorkelling is included, plus the park fee).
Tours from Sablayan
If you're not staying at
Pandan
Resort
you can visit the reef on one of the liveaboard trips
offered by many dive operators in Coron Town (in Busuanga;
see box, p.395) or Manila, or organize a trip with the
Sablayan Eco-Tourism O
ce in Sablayan (see p.256); a ten-
person boat out to the reef is P7500 (snorkelling only), while
a six-person boat for divers is P8000 (maximum of four
dives, which cost extra). The Sablayan o
ce will arrange
overnight tent rentals for just P300/person, but you must
bring your own food (and the toilets are very basic).
The northwest
It's hard to believe that the quiet, relatively isolated west coast town of
MAMBURAO
,
80km north along the coastal road from Sablayan, is the capital of Mindoro
Occidental. With a population of around forty thousand, Mamburao is significant
only as a trading and fishing town, although the coastal road is undeniably scenic,
with blue ocean on one side and jungled mountains on the other. North of town
there are some alluring stretches of white-sand
beach
, which are slowly being
developed for tourism. The best of these is
Tayamaan Bay
, 4km north of Mamburao
(day-visitors pay P30).
North of Mamburao the road forks. From here, jeepneys and some buses head
northwest along the coast to Palauan or northeast to
Abra de Ilog
, near the north coast;
the journey to Abra de Ilog takes you past dazzling green paddy fields and farmland
planted with corn. The easily motorable road ends at the pier at
Wawa
, 1km past Abra
de Ilog, although the track to Puerto Galera is a popular route with bike riders, and
hikers have also made the trip.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
THE NORTHWEST
By bus
The most comfortable way to traverse the west
coast is via the 4-5 daily services on Dimple Transport,
which shuttle between Mamburao and San José (5-7hr),
Sablayan (2-3hr) and Abra de Ilog (2hr), with connections
to Batangas and Manila.
By boat
From Wawa, the easiest way to get to Puerto
Galera is to take a bangka. Sometimes there are morning
passenger bangka services, but don't be surprised if
you end up having to charter your own (about 2hr;
P1500-2000).
