Sumilon Island, Oslob, Cebu | Island Day Tour At 32!

Day tour / itinerary and expenses in Sumilon Island, Oslob, Cebu

My overnight birthday trip in Oslob, Cebu was a blast!!! A day-tour on a captivating island on the first day and another buwis-buhay adventure on the second day!

In 2010, I started to list the places that I want to visit using MS Excel - with a filename 'Potchie's Bucket' (maybe this is where I got my blog's name - pinag isipan ng bongga diba? Haha!). Since then, I regularly update the list every time I saw a 'must-visit' place from yahoo news, blogs and different travel sites. Sumilon Island in Cebu was not an exception. It was in 2012 when I read an article about it on yahoo news, authored by the blogger 'singles4fun' (unfortunately, the blog site is already down). And as usual, bewitched by the island's beauty, I added it on my bucket list for '2012'.

Last February, I booked a promo ticket bound to Cebu via Cebu Pacific airline for my birthday. I was thinking then to celebrate it in Shangri-La. Chos! Just dreamin'! Haha!

It was already June - my birth month, and I was not decided yet on where to go in Cebu. Revisiting my bucket list, I realized I still have several places to see in this province. Two of those were Sumilon Island and Whale Shark Watching, both in the town of Oslob.

When I was searching on how to get to Sumilon Island via my bff - google, some of the results retrieved 'Bluewater Resort'. Intrigued, I opened Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort's website and learned about glamorous camping or 'glamping'. Exciting but expensive. Haha! Aside from glamping, Bluewater Resort (sister resort of Bluewater Maribago and Bluewater Panglao) has so much that a classy hotel has to offer. Though this is the only resort on the island, you don't need to book a night here or avail their services to enjoy Sumilon Island. I believe many tourists just rent a boat for P1500-P2000 good for 10pax to get to the island and just pay the P10 entrance fee.

In my case, I booked the resort's day tour package for P2000/head because my 4-year-old son would truly enjoy the infinity pool and kayaking :)

Glamping for a day costs P9000, P10000 for an overnight during weekdays and P12000 during weekend. Pricey isn't it?

Bluewater Sumilon Island Day Tour Package (got it from one of my email conversations with Bluewater's)

A reservation is not needed when availing the resort's day tour package. Just take note that their boat is strictly following a schedule.

Bluewater Resort's Boat schedule

How to get to Sumilon Island (or in our case, to Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort).

According to Bluewater Resort, there are 3 ways to get to Sumilon:

1. Fly from Manila to Dumaguete. From there, go to Sibulan Port via private car, jeepney or tricycle. Travel duration is 10-15 minutes. Then, take a fast craft or pumpboat to Liloan port. Travel duration is 20-25 minutes. Lastly, ride a Ceres bus or tricycle going to Bancogon, Oslob. Ask the conductor to drop you off at Bluewater Sumilon. Travel duration is 15-20 minutes. Once you got off the bus, just walk a short distance going down to Bluewater Resor's port. The boat ride is approximately 7-10 minutes.
2. Fly from Manila to Cebu. From there, ride a taxi going to Cebu South Terminal Bus Station. Travel duration is around 20 minutes. Then, take the Ceres bus going to Bancogon, Oslob. Travel duration is 3 hours. Ordinary and aircon buses are available. Once in Bancogon, go straight to Bluewater's jetty.
3. The most expensive way is arranging your transfers with Bluewater Resort from Dumaguete or Cebu airport. For Dumaguete, it costs P7000/boat/way. They have their airport representative to meet you at the airport and take you to Siliman Beach where you will ride a boat going straight to Sumilon Island. Travel duration is 45-60 minutes. On the other hand, they can arrange private transfers for P3500/car/way from Cebu's Mactan Airpot to Sumilon Island.

Cebu Pacific Air, Zest Air, Seair, PAL Express and PAL have regular trips from Manila to Dumaguete and Cebu.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

It's my birthday! Hurray!!! We arrived at Mactan, Cebu airport at 5:35 AM. 

We headed first to Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño so I could properly thank the Good Lord for another year of life. You may view the mass schedule here. 

We grabbed a taxi outside Basilica and headed to Cebu South Bus Terminal. A P10 terminal fee is collected if the taxi will drop you off inside the terminal. We searched for an aircon bus bound to Oslob, then asked the bus driver and conductor to drop us at Barangay Bancogon where the Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort port is. The bus was immediately filled-in with passengers and left the terminal before 8AM. From terminal to Oslob was a 3-hour scenic drive. When we reached the town of Carcar, a chicharon (deep-fried pork rind) vendor hopped on the bus selling their famous product. I didn't waste the opportunity to taste the pride of Carcar. And it really was a mouth-watering one! I bought 3 packs for P100. Kobe loved it too!

A little passed 11 when we reached Bluewater Resort's jetty port. It's just a 5-7 minute boat ride.

Heading to Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort

Welcome to Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort

A big map of the resort is available before you reach the pavilion. Thank you Bluewater Sumilon Resort for e-mailing the map ;)

Bluewater Sumilon Map

I don't want to get you bored on too much detail so I'll just share with you the pictures :)

Infinity pool with a great view of the sea. This was where we first headed the moment we changed to our swim wear because my Kobe is too excited to swim.

They also have this small infinity pool (or jacuzzi? hehe)

Pavilion Restaurant. A palatable lunch was served in the resort's dining area.

Children's play ground.

Locker room. If you avail the day tour package and you want to secure your valuables, you may rent a locker for P100.

Aquamania Water Sports. Beside the locker room is where you can request your snorkeling gears. Towels and snorkeling gears are free. These are included on the day-tour package.

Glamping site. Maybe it's not yet for me, but I will definitely experience you someday :)

Hammock. Relax, sleep or just simply enjoy being alone al fresco.

Kayaking area.

Hiking / Trekking. There are parts of the island that are not yet fully developed. It's a 40-minute hike to go around the island, or, a 10-15 minute trek to have a glimpse of Sumilon Island, especially if you have a kid with you who's too lazy to walk :)

Welcome to Sumilon Island!!!

We spent our remaining hours in the resort by enjoying the strong waves of the island.

Beautiful isn't it?

Let's see how deep the water is

My baby boys

Tourists starting to leave the island

I don't have much information and pictures to share to promote Sumilon Island as I was busy running after my son :)

At around 6PM, we were back at the resort's jetty port. Our Sumilon Island trip ended here but it's just the start of another adventure in Oslob - whale shark encounter next!!!

To summarize our expenses (excluding airfare):

Contacts:

Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort

Sumilon Island, Oslob, Cebu 6025

T (63 32) 318 3129 / 318 9098

C (63 917) 631 7512 / (63 917) 631 7514