A trip to Apo Reef

Itinerary (as arranged by Chabs Bautista)

Day 0: 

1900H – 2000H: Assembly in Shaw/Dinner


2100H: Departure from Cubao to Batangas Port

Day 1: 

0000H: Arrival in Batangas Port
0000H – 0100H: Assembly/Buy Ticket/Board Ferry

0100H – 0300H: Batangas to Abra de Ilog via Montenegro Lines
0300H – 0600H: Abra de Ilog to Sablayan by Dimples Bus

Day 1: 

0700H: Arrival in Sablayan

0700H – 1000H: Arrival in Sablayan/Register and Settle Payments at Sablayan Eco-Tourism Office/Breakfast/Shop for camping supplies

1030H – 1300H: Apo Reef by boat

1300H – 1500H: Arrival in Apo Reef/Setup Camp/Late Lunch 

Crystal clear

1500H – 1900H: Prepare dinner
1900H:  Dinner, Socials, Bonfire, Lights off

Day 2: 
0530H – 0630H: Call time/Watch Sunrise

*530AM Call time is only for those who want to watch sunrise
0630H – 0800H: Prepare Brunch/Break Camp/Swim

0800H – 1200H: Intro dive/Brunch/Explore Apo Reef: Trek the lighthouse (sunset), swim, snorkel, photo ops

1300H – 1600H: Apo Reef to Pandan Island
1600H – 1700H: Pandan Island

1700H – 1800H: Pandan Island to Sablayan

1900H – 2000H: Check in and wash up at local hotel (Php 200/night)

2000H – anytime: dinner

Day 4: (Side trip at Sablayan)

Estimated Budget

(the prices quoted below are the maximum, estimated budget may still be lower)

P800 x 2 – Manila to Sabalayan (minimum of 8 hours)
P1000 – Boat from Sablayan to Apo Reef (3 hours) P7500  – round trip
P250– Environmental/Entrance Fee

P250 – Foods and Supplies and other expenses for overnight in Apo Island
P250 – Miscellaneous expenses, personal items, foods, tips, etc.
P3000 – Intro Dive Instructor and Gear Rental

P100 – rental of tent (P300/3pax)

___________________________________
P6570 = Budget for Apo Reef + Pandan Island

NOTES

**Dimple Star Buses (Sampaloc, Manila) that go to San Jose Mindoro and pass through Sablayan, fare is P800  (P175 higher if you commute per leg Manila-Batangas-Abra de Ilog-Sablayan), their last trip is 8PM

• Tours are managed and controlled by the local government of Sablayan, Contact No: +639284659585 (Ate Norie), email: amazingsablayan@yahoo.com or ecotourism_sablayan_occmdo@yahoo.com.ph
• Boat rental is fixed at 7,500 (good for 10pax) for 36 hours (payable in eco-tourism office)
• Entrance fee in Apo Reef is P250 per person (payable in eco-tourism office)
• Snorkel and Mask set can be rented at the tourism office for 100.00/set
• Tents can also be rented at 300.00 per tent that is good for 3 persons
• Verify the schedule of Montenegro ferry if you are commuting  from Batangas to Abra de Ilog, their site is not updated, you may call them at (043)723-6980 / (043)723-8294
• Going home, there are vans direct to home in Sablayan, rate is P900+
• There are vans from Sablayan going to Abra de Ilog, fare is P220 – P230 but trips are rare and limited
• There are provincial non-airconditioned buses in Sablayan going to Abra de Ilog but the trip take more than four hours due to numerous stops
• The most convenient way for me is to ride a Dimple Star Bus from Sablayan to Batangas for P550 (inclusive of Ro-Ro and Terminal Fee), if you decide to take Dimple Star reserve your seat ahead!
• Check with the tourism office that they SHOULD give tourism boats instead of fishing boats for tourists. Fishing boats would take 4 hours travel from Sablayan port while the tourism boats would only take appoximately 2 hours.
• Make sure to catch the last ride( 8:30 pm) of the Dimple Star bus back to San Jose
• Keep your belongings close to you. One of our bags was accidentally taken from the bus bin. Luckily nothing valuable was on it.
• Always bring bread or biscuits on your trips, You'll never know when hunger strikes.
• Bring a balabal, white flower and candies in preparation for a long boat ride.
• You could pay P500 to have a Manong cook for your food during your whole stay at the island.
• Check the Diving gears/snorkel/tent

Website: www.sablayan.net

Email: amazingsablayan@yahoo.com

Contact numbers: 0929-428-0431, 0915-995-3895

Landline: (043) 458-0028