My Cebu-Camotes Island adventure

After 4 days, I'm back from my Cebu trip. I could only describe my adventure in 3 words. IT WAS AWESOME! I can't really believe I've done this trip alone. It is an adventure I will never forget.


All my planning & budgeting was well executed (although there are minor changes & unexpected turn of events, but nevertheless, all was good). 
It is a good thing that I've separated my money for the hotel, transportation, food & souvenirs because it helped me budget my money and it allowed me to know whether I'm spending too much as to what is planned.




Going to Camotes Island
After arriving at Mactan International Airport, I went straight to Pier 1 to catch the 9am scheduled trip to Poro port via Ocean jet liner (I made an early booking reservation through Fine Travel & Tours which cost around Php 700-roundtrip, it always advisable to get your tickets ahead of time to prevent delay). Travel time from Airport to Pier 1 is around 25-30 mins (depending on traffic).Taxi fare (yellow metered taxi) was around Php 250. Travel time from Pier 1 (Cebu city) to Poro port (Camotes Island) is approximately 2 hours.

(Poro port)

After embarking at Poro port, my next destination was to go to Santiago Bay Garden & Resort (located in Brgy. Santiago, Camotes island) which is around 35-45 mins from the port. The only means of transportation getting to the hotel is by renting a service van from the resort (cost around Php700) or riding a habal-habal (a motorcycle modified to seat more than two persons) which is Php 150 per person (one way). The ride from Poro port going to the hotel is fun (although let me warn you, it's a long ride, and there are rough roads on some part of the town, so better be ready to feel some pain after the ride-which is, by the way, part of the exciting adventure), you get to see the very nice view of the beach, a wide vast of trees and the clean and peaceful town in Camotes.

(habal habal ride around the town)

Santiago Bay & Garden resort

After travelling 45mins from Poro port, we finally arrived at Santiago Bay Garden & resort. It was a very nice resort located in the heart of Bry. Santiago, Camotes Island. My habal-habal driver (Kuya Wendell) gladly took some time to show me some of the places I can visit (like the plaza & some nearby resto) around the town.

My 2D2N stay at Santiago Bay Garden & resort cost me php 2,000 (1000 per night) for standard, non-aircon room . The room was fine. It was clean, it has its own bathroom, but no TV. The only thing I don't like about the hotel is that mobile signal is very weak. I guess it is given knowing that the town is really far from any cellphone site.

(Santiago Bay Garden & Resort)

(Standard Non-aircon room)

I was not able to try any local delicacies there, which is very unfortunate for me. So I just decided to try the food being served at the hotel's restaurant. The menu offers both Filipino & American dishes. They have our very own Chicken Pork Adobo, Sizzling Gambas, Calamares, Breaded Porkchop, Buttered Chicken and more. They also have Pizza, Pasta and Desserts, The meals are just fine. Prices are reasonable (except for the junk food like Chippy or Piatos which cost around Php 40). For my 2D2N stay, I spend around Php 1000 for food (estimated price may vary depending on your choice of meal).

(Breaded Porkchop - Php 130)

After having a nice meal, I decided to take some pictures of the white sand beach of Brgy. Santiago. It was high-tide when I arrived there that's why the wide vast of white sand was not visible on my first day of stay. Another very unfortunate event was that, it rained during the afternoon which I didn't expect at all (well because it's summer). But nevertheless, the picturesque view of the beach, very accommodating hotel personnel and very nice hotel ambiance really made my stay at Santiago Bay Garden worth remembering,

Total Expenses (2 days, 2 nights):

Hotel Accomodation: Php 1000/night

Airport to Pier 1: Php 250

Oceanjet ticket (roundtrip): Php 700

Poro port to Santiago bay garden & resort (roundtrip): Php 300

Food: Php 1000

Pier 1 to Cebu city: 150

Total: Php 4,400 (airfare not yet included)