One of the most common answer when you asks Pinoys (we, Filipinos) where's the best place to do island hopping, well, the popular answer would be none other than in Alaminos, Pangasinan's
the Hundred Islands. Hundred Island is a national park in the country that is about 1,800++ hectares. It is composed of 124 islands during high tide and 123 islands in low tide and these islands are scattered all over the Lingayen Gulf.
How to get there?Board any bus that is bound to
Alaminos, Pangasinan. You may take the Victory Liner in Pasay or in Cubao. Travel time is about 3-4 hours and fare is around 400 pesos. Once you are already in Alaminos, go to the terminal of Lucap and take a tricycle ride going to the jump-off point of
Hundred Islands National Park called Lucap Wharf. Fare is 15 pesos per pax.
As you reach the National Park, you have to pay an entrance fee of 20 pesos (for day tour) or 40 pesos (for overnight in any of the island) per pax. It is also the site where you can hire a boatman to tour you which ranges from 800 pesos to 1,500 pesos depending on its size.
I've already been to Hundred Islands and also blogged about the place,
refer this link, so this blog post will be just like an update or an additional information on what else can you expect when you visit the Hundred Islands. In my first write up about Hundred Islands, I featured its 3 major islands, namely: Children's Island, Governor Island, and Quezon Island. As for this blog post, aside from revisiting the said 3 major islands, I also went to its other minor islands and islets.
Children's Island
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| Approaching Children's Island |
Governors Island
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| At the viewing deck of Governor's Island |
Marcos Island (and the Imelda Cave)
Near the Quezon Island is a unique island named Marcos Island which is named after the former president of the Philippines, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. This is also my well-loved island in Hundred Islands. I find Marcos Island as the most attractive site compared to other islands of this National Park because aside from its clear and clean water, the sand here is also powdery and creamy.
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Busy shore of Marcos Island
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It's not only the white sand and the clear water that draw people into Marcos Island. Because taking the 50-meter trail in Marcos Island will lead you to a twin-chambered, cathedral-shaped cave. The cave is named after the former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos' better half, Imelda. Imelda Cave is not an ordinary cave as this is also a pool that is 70 feet deep. Cliff jumping is being held here and considered the most popular activity of this site. Bats are also also visible on the ceiling of Imelda Cave.
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| Cliff jumping site of the island |
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Marvin holding that unknown kind of jellyfish. Nothing happened to him after this shot
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Cuenco Island
Cuenco Island is known for its cave. A cave that even shallow and short, visitors will be able to see different limestone formations in different areas of the cave. Cuenco Cave has an opening on both ends. One end is the entrance and docking area for its visitors and boats while the other holds a diving area and now, a Resto Bar and Grille has been established. So if you're looking for some foodtrip in this island tour, then you should visit Cuenco Island.
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| Entrance of Cuenco Island's cave |
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| The other end of the cave |
Other Islands and Islets
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| The island that is full of fruit bats |
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| What's up Ter? |
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| Edmarc has his own little thing going-on in this shot |
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Just a random island that we chose to stay in.
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Since it was not everyday that we had a chance to bond. We definitely maximized our island hopping at Hundred Islands by going to some other islets nearby. Whenever we saw people in an island, we really tried to visit it and board on it as well. Good thing that our bankeros (boatmen) were really patient enough and entertained everything we ask to them.
Breakdown of Expenses:
Bus (Cubao to Alaminos) - 400 Pesos
Tricycle (Alaminos Terminal to National Park) - 15 Pesos
Entrance fee - 20 Pesos / Pax
Boat rental - 1,500 Pesos / 5 pax = 300 Pesos / Pax
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