SAMAL ISLAND ESCAPADE
DAVAO, Philippines - Only a few of the 7,107 islands in the Philippines are discovered and have been visited. I have been to a lot of the islands in the Philippines, however, I never imagined that Samal Island and other neighboring islands have a lot to offer. Me and my friends were able to experience island hopping at its finest.
Going to Sta. Ana Wharf is quite easy. You just have to go to Magsaysay Park by jeepney or by cab. There, a lot of boats that are available in the wharf. All you need to do is make reservations by contacting Gail Francess on Facebook. We paid P500.00 for the whole trip which already included lunch.
The boat leaves at 9:00 AM daily. We traveled from Davao going to IGACOS (Island Garden City Of Samal) for about 30-45 minutes.
We had our first stop is Angel's Cove Island and Garden Resort. This is considered to be the diver's choice among many reefs in Samal islands located at the base of Talicud island. We stayed there for 30-45 minutes for a swim. With the help of goggles, we were able to see the beautiful world that lay beneath the waters of this lovely stop. http://southshorediversdavao.com/dive-trips/angels-cove-coral-garden/
Next stop was the famous Babu Santa. It lies near the Island of Talicud, which is another part Samal. It is know for its pristine and white sand beach. We stayed there or an hour to swim and take our lunch.
We really enjoyed our stay on this island. After lunch, we couldn't resist plunging into the water.
Next stop is Isla Cristina. Apparently, everyone is enjoying the water. People jump, snorkel and swim at the same time. It is just pure fun.
During the trip, we also passed by the different beautiful resorts or islands you can only find in Samal. This includes the following: Isla Reta 1, Kaputian, Pearl Farm, Malipano, and Taklobo.
Lastly, we were able to go to the Wishing island. It is one of the islets that surround Samal Island. This is adorned by clear blue waters and growth of corals.
According to Samal-Island.com:
"Wishing Island is revered by island residents as an “enchanted island”. It can only be seen and explored during low tides. It is a favorite picnic venue during weekends. It is littered with mangroves and surrounded by clear blue waters. However, once in the island, one should behave, observe silence, and should we watchful. Visitors are advised to pack and leave immediately especially when high tide commences. There was one incident when a group of backpackers went partying in the island. Some got drunk and became rowdy. To the backpackers’ surprise, a storm happened in a hot mid day sending them panicking to flee the island. Unfortunately, no one was able to leave the island. All were drowned in its shallow waters."
After which, we were able to change our soaked clothes in the comfort room of the boat. We again enjoyed the scenery as the sun set in the sea. We were able to arrive in the Sta. Ana Wharf at approximately 4:30 PM.
Indeed, the whole experience was unforgettable. The presence of my friends, the service and the escapade itself made my birthday more memorable. I realized that we have a lot of places in our country that we haven't explored yet. One of these are the islands of Samal. I would definitely go back to these places soon!
For more information about our island hopping package tour, please click this link: https://www.facebook.com/gail.travelandtours?fref=ts
Comments