PhilippinesThis article has been translated from Russian language using an artificial intelligence-based translation algorithm. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the quality of the translation. You can read the original of this article in Russian here, and ask questions on the topic of our travel forum in English here.
Apo Island - a small island off the coast of the southeastern part of Negros Oriental, belongs to the resort and city of Dumaguete (APO on the map). It is very tiny, barely reaching the size of 2 by 1 kilometer, but is known as one of the best places for diving in the Philippines. Especially to visit it and dive, people come here from different parts of the Philippines, but mainly from the nearest Islands Cebu and Bohol. Coastal waters are rich in soft and hard corals, a huge number of colored fish, you can see the giant fish Caranx (Giant Trevally). But the most important thing is the almost 100 percent chance of seeing giant sea green turtles, since the waters of the island are their home. There are a couple of diving centers (from 1200 pesos per dive), you can rent snorkeling equipment (100 pesos).
There are several beaches on Apo, but only one suitable for swimming and relaxing, the rest are rocky. This is a small sandy beach, with mostly large coral sand. Most of the island and its perimeter are mountainous and rocky, there are several eco-routes for hikers with exits to the lighthouse, observation decks and secret beaches. If you wish, you can even take a trekking walk and spend the night in a tent in the forest or on one of the banks.
To visit the island and go diving or snorkeling on it, the easiest way is to stay in Dumagueta on the Big Island, and get here with a tour or on your own for one day. But if you wish, you can stay on Apo on the island itself, there are a couple of options for accommodation: hotels and Homestays. But keep in mind that the infrastructure on the island is very poorly developed: there is almost no internet, electricity is turned on only for a few hours a day in the evenings. Therefore, stopping at Apo for the entire period of your rest may be a mistake.
Options for accommodation on Apo in the world booking systems are not yet available, so you will have to book accommodation by phone, e-mail, or on the sites of the facilities:
If this is not possible to book, you can come and look for accommodation in Homestays on the spot. In any case, at least spartan conditions will be offered to you, but they will not leave you without a roof over your head. The cost of the cheapest room is from 500 pesos (8.75 USD, see the currency of the Philippines and its exchange rate), and in H&H Guesthouse a bed-place with 150 pesos (2.63 USD).
Apo Island Beach
Sea turtle
🕐 Working hours: round the clock, boats go approximately until 17 hours.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 100 pesos Environmental Fee (1.75 USD). Does not depend on the number of days or nights, paid once when leaving the boat on the island.
🚶 How to get there: Apo is located 30 kilometers from Dumaguete (APO on the map). It is most convenient to visit from Dumaguete (see how to get to Dumaguete) in the form of excursions that are offered in hotels and travel agencies on the street of the city in the center. Cost from 1500 pesos (26.25 USD) for a one-day snorkeling excursion, and from 2500 (43.75 USD) for a diving tour. Since Dumaguete is not the most developed resort, sometimes it is not so easy to find a travel agency, so it makes sense to select and book excursions via the Internet in advance. If you can not find it, then go to the hotel or website http://www.haroldsmansion.com/, they offer some of the cheapest excursions.
It is not difficult to get to the island on your own, but this option is more suitable if you want to spend one or more nights on the island. From Dumaguete bus station, take an air-conditioned intercity bus or jeepney towards Zamboanguita. There are many buses in this direction, including those passing every 15-30 minutes, cost from 20 pesos. Drive to Malatapay market and Malatapay Wharf. Tell the driver that you need to go to the island of Apo, you will be dropped off at the right place, it remains only to walk a little to the pier. Here is the information center of the pier and Peninsula. The price for boats is fixed: for 4 people - 2500 (43.75 USD), 6-3000, 8-3500, 10-4000. These are round-trip prices, and even if you plan to stay on the island for several nights, you need to pay the round-trip cost immediately. If you are alone, you can wait for other tourists to share the cost.