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You know what I like in Cebu? During lazy travel days and you want to hit the beach, there is always a beach spot close to the city for that quick escape. So, when we found ourselves with nothing to do on a Cebu Sunday, we hopped on a cab to Angasil Port and boarded a boat for an island known for its wildlife and rustic tropical vibe. It wasn’t going to be another usual Sunday. We will be vibing in Olango Island.  When you have nothing to do on a weekend or a Sunday in Cebu, explore Olango Island! Olango Island is a group of islands composed of the main island and 6 islets. The main island and 4 islets are under the jurisdiction of Lapu-Lapu City while the Nalusutan and Gilutongan Islets are under the municipality of Cordova. The main island is a popular weekend spot from the city because of its accessibility. It is home to a wildlife sanctuary and beach camping spots that give guests that tropical rustic vibe. The island slows you down and recharges you from the buzz of the metro. Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary The Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary is the main tourist attraction of the island. The 920-hectare sanctuary is one of the known “bird transit stops” in the world for migratory birds. It has the largest concentration of migratory birds in the country, with 48 out of the 97 identified species as migratory birds from Japan, Northern China, and Siberia. The tidal flats were declared a protected area in 1992 and is one of the 10 areas included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in the Philippines.  Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary is the prime tourist attraction of Olango Island. Visiting Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary needs proper timing, that is, during low tide for you to be able to fully experience and explore the sanctuary. The main entrance has the time posted as to what is the best time to visit the sanctuary. You can still explore the place during high tide but you won’t be able to head up to its bird viewing decks. You can also opt to camp in the sanctuary as they have designated areas for overnight stays.
Guests are first given an orientation at the sanctuary’s Guest Area. The AVP gives you a brief on the facts about the sanctuary and its importance in the ecosystem, not only in the Philippines, but also in the world. Most of the tourist facilities are located here so, if you need to go to the rest room, you need to do it first before heading out to the birdwatcher’s station. From the guest area, we walked along the trail thru the Bantigue Mystic Forest. The “forest” is a mangrove tree lined path that gives you a preview of the island’s vast mangrove covers. The trail leads to a fork that leads to the two birdwatching stations of the bird sanctuary.
Bird-station 1 is located on the southern end of the island. You walk along a natural rock trail that leads to the viewing deck. On one side you have the mangrove covers and on the other side you have the shallow marsh area of the sanctuary. There were very few birds at the time that we visited and the birdwatching guide later on explained that the birds usually move to the area just right before the sun sets. The vibe was very calming as you watch the horizon. On a clear day, you could see the city view of Cebu from a distance.
We headed back to the fork and walked through the stone trails that leads to Bird-station 2. This cemented pathway is visually appealing because it cuts straight into the marsh waters of the sanctuary. The resting hut in the middle of the pathway adds drama to the landscape. A guide was stationed in this station when we arrived. He gladly gave us a quick view of a flock Little Egrets in view on the shoreline of the island. The calm vibe of the spot, with the refreshing sea breeze, was so relaxing and energizing. It was a good way to enjoy a lazy Sunday. Blu-ba-you Beach This nice and cozy beach spot is a perfect spot to enjoy a quick dip without the usual crowd. This is a fave spot is enjoyed by locals facing Cumungi Island. The waters are calm and serene with a perfect view of the neighboring island.
This beach spot was a great spot to enjoy the sun and sand. It has basic facilities for a day guests and it also has facilities for those who intend to stay overnight. The blue waters of the sea was inviting that I could not stop myself from getting my feet wet. This is definitely a perfect weekend spot if you want a quick escape from the buzz of Metro Cebu. Caribbean Beach Resort From the calming vibe of Blu-ba-you, we went on to enjoy the fun and tropical vibe of Caribbean Beach Resort. This new spot buzzes with its party music and its crowd. It gives off that beach party vibe complete with neon colors, party music, and crowd. It is also a beach stop of an island hopping pirate ship so don’t be surprised if the resort flows with the crowd.  Getting a dose of the sun at Caribbean Beach Resort. We found a spot close to the beach as we enjoyed a quick foot and leg massage under the sun. The entrance fee comes with complimentary fruit shake that cooled as down while enjoying the beach vibe. If you want to take a quick dip, the resort has a small cove for that. They also offer water activities for guests.
One thing that guests really enjoy here is getting that IG-worthy pictures. They have installations that really catches the curiosity and creativity pf its guests. From their stairway to heaven to their “I love Cebu” sign, it promises to be a visual treat on guests’ socmed feeds. The resort currently offers daytrips only but it is being developed by the owners to a fully functional resort in the future. Olango Island Tour Apart from exploring Olango Island, there are boat tours that tour you around the waters of the island. The jump-off point of these tours are in Maribago and the boat trip sails you along the waters of Hilutungan Channel. The cruise makes stops just a few meters from the shore where you can enjoy a quick salty dip and/or immerse in the underwater beauty of Olango Island.
Our tour started out in the morning where we boarded a boat that could easily fit 25 people. The bangka cruise made its first stop near the San Vicente Sanctuary where we had fun jumping into the waters of the channel. We then proceeded further down where we were met by providers of water activities so we hopped on a banana boat to get that extra thrill of enjoying the waters of Olango Island. There were also fishermen who docked on our side, selling fresh produce from the sea. Of course, we had our fill. Cruising on the waters of Olango Island is also a great way to enjoy a lazy day with friends. POST TRAVEL NOTES Olango Island is a quick destination, close to the metro, that could give you that easy beach fix. Whether you are jumping into its waters or exploring its sanctuary, it does not fail in giving you that much needed city break without having to go very far. Olango Island is indeed a sanctuary, not only for migratory birds, but also for humans who need a break from the usual humdrum of city life.  We're exploring another Metro Cebu destination next! There will always be lazy days even when we are on the move. There will be times where, as much as we want to take a break, there are constraints. Remember that travel is not about going to a new spot. It can be your usual destination, your go-to-spot, or somewhere near, only this time, you try to re-discover the place or just simply enjoy what you have loved about the destination. Watch out for the release of my Lapu-Lapu City adventure on my Youtube Travel Channel soon. #MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: There are direct flights to Mactan-Cebu International Airport from both local and international airports. You can take a cab from the airport to Angasil Port where you can take a ferry from Angasil Port to Santa Rosa Port in Olango Island. You can hire a trike to explore the island. You can contact Kuya Gerby for a day tour in Olango Island at (0927) 680 1542. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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The distance and the challenge of public transport make this landlocked province a gem to discover. For the few who have explored the province, they have always come back speaking of its enchanting beauty. I am now of these few. With Baguio-based travel organizer - Napapagna Outdoors, I traveled more than 9 hours to experience how Luna rises from the horizon.  Locking in on my 70th PH province in Luna. Photo by Napapagna. Originally called Macatel, the town of Luna is located on the northern side of the province of Apayao, along the boundary of neighboring province of Cagayan. It was renamed to its present name Luna by the Ilocano explorer and the town’s founding father, Antonino Barroga. It serves as a de facto capital of the Apayao where its provincial capitol and other government agencies are located. But beyond being a provincial government center, the rise of Luna is rooted on its enchanting natural attractions that has trickled on to social media feeds. Its enchanting beauty has caught the interest of many tourist, both local and international. Dupag Rock Formation Located in Marag Valley, the Dupag Rock Formation once served as a fortress by the NPA and, later on, by military forces in the 1980s. Its geographical formation of clustered jagged limestone rock boulders, rising to about 7 to 8 feet, make it a perfect hideout. The rock complex has become an attraction because of its overlooking views at its highest point and its dramatic rock surface when viewed from atop.  An early morning bloom atop the Dupag Rock Formation. We found ourselves in the middle of the vast Marag Valley, the jump-off point to the formations. From where we were standing, I couldn’t see the formation except for a forest cover from a distance. That was where we were headed to. It took us around 20 minutes hike, through the fields and across a river, to get to the base of Dupag. It is highly recommended that you explore the formations early morning because the place offers very little cover from the sun and the rocks can get pretty heated up by the sun.
You are given two options at the base of the Dupag Rock Formation - easy trail or hard trail. Both trails will end at the Father Rock - the highest point of the limestone formation. Being adventurous guy that I am, I chose to take the hard trail. The easy trail gets you to the top via the crevices in between rocks. The hard trail started off with me climbing atop the formations through a steep crevice with the help of ropes. Upon reaching the top, I had to clamber over the sharp tips of the limestone rocks. You need to take extra caution because the rock sides can also be slippery and steep.  Father Rock gives you a panoramic view of Marag Valley. Upon reaching the Father Rock, I was treated with an amazing view of the plains below. I was not surprised that it was once a hideout since it offers a strategic and panoramic view of its surrounding areas. A view from above the rocks is dramatic. It looked like I was sitting on a a petal of a huge flower-shaped rock with greens around it. All my huffings ang puffings were rewarded with a great view and perfect IG-worthy shots. Manacota Cave and Underground River Initially I thought that our lunch picnic by the river/dike was just our coordinator’s way of making us enjoy the rustic vibe of Apayao. Little did I know, we were already at the jump-off point of another Luna attraction. So after a filling lunch, we hiked down the river trail to the underground river. Get ready because the 40-minute hike will have you walking under the sun with a couple of river crossing.  Getting ready to get wet at Manacota Underground River. Photo by Napapagna. As we got into a clearing by the entrance of a cave, we were greeted by the emerald green color of the water and the sign “I love Manacota Underground River”. The calm waters were calm and inviting. We were lucky that we were the only visitors for that day and we had the whole place for ourselves. So that dis not stop us from taking a quick dip in its cold waters.
We boarded wooden boats and our guides paddled us towards the Manacota Cave and Underground River. The cave is considered to having a “high quality ecosystem”. In pitch dark, our guides flashed their lights to showcase stalactites and stalagmites formations. The river runs through the cave and the deepest part of the river is at 12 meters. It is a through and through cave where there are two cave openings. We docked on the other opening of the cave where you could experience the rush of spring water flowing into the cave. An opening at the top of cave lets light stream in giving this part of the cave a more dramatic vibe.
We ventured further up the headwaters of the river. The gorge had steep rock-walls on the sides. Large rock formations gave the gorge that rugged vibe. We had to wade through rushing river waters to get to its headwaters. Large boulders were stacked atop each other at the end. This was a spot where one could cliff jump from the boulders before you let the rushing waters carry you back to the shallower parts of the river. Or you can also choose to find your own spot by the riverbanks and get soothed by the calming sounds of waters rushing down. Whatever you choose, you would get to enjoy nature at its finest. Apayao Ecotourism and Sports Complex The four-hectare complex fuses the rustic natural beauty of Apayao with modern sports facilities. It is complete with Olympic-size pools, a track oval, and a club house that overlooks the sports facilities. It also has a hiking trail in the area where you can enjoy a quick commune with nature. The facility served as host of the region-wide athletic meet in 2024.  The sign that captured how we felt when we visited the sports complex. The complex was a perfect spot to slow us down after a full day of adventure. It offered a tranquil vibe as we explored the area. Of course, we did not miss out having our pictures taken with the “I ❤️ Apayao” sign. The souvenir shop though was close on the day that visited and we missed out on that. The complex also has accommodation facilities for those who want to spend the night here. I hope that the facility would be maintained to provide world-class sport facilities for Apayao and its neighboring provinces. Apayao Provincial Capitol Luna now serves as the de-facto capital of the province of Apayao. It for this reason that a new government center that was built at the heart of Luna. The provincial capitol serves as the center of governance in Apayao providing basic services to the people of Apayao.  Luna is now home to the new government center of the province. Situated atop a hill, the Apayao Provincial Capitol is the government complex of the province. This is where most of the offices of national agencies are located. The main building is situated along one side of the hill. A staircase leads down to a fountain with a base in a shape of a star. Each spike represents the 7 municipalities of the province. Interestingly, I find the design of the complex different because of its layout. Unlike other capitol complexes that I have seen, it lacks that wow factor as its Capitol Building faces an unappealing view of its forested/farm area. Lussok Cave and Underground River Lussok Cave is the most popular natural attraction in the province of Apayao. It did not come as a surprise that it is the most developed attraction with trails and picnic spots in the area. The cave once served as a refuge by the Japanese soldiers and native insurgents before social media propelled its beauty to local travelers. In fact, the holes on its ceilings were caused by war bombings. Its name was derived from the local word “lussok” which means sunlight seeping through the holes of the cave ceilings.  Lussok Cave and Underground River is the prime tourist destination of Luna. Photo by Napapagna. The Lussok Cave experience begins aboard a wooden canoe where your guide and boatman paddles you through the steep gorge leading to the mouth of the cave. We were treated with a relaxing view of the thick foliage that cover the gorge. Unfortunately, it rained the night before so the waters were not in its enchanting azure color. Still, the calm and serene vibe as we approached the cave opening kept all of us in awe.
The guides explained to us that the cave is home to many living stalactite and stalagmite formations. As we were covered in pitch darkness, the guides showed us some of the amazing rock formations from images of the VIrgin Mary to images of jellyfish to stalactites shaped like a female genitalia, the rock formations will keep you amazed as you chuckle at the jokes shared by the guide. You will also find that the deep inside the cave is the home of a colony of bats.
Lussok Cave is a cave with a single opening so the boats had to maneuver at the large chamber found at the end of the cave. From here, we headed back to the cave’s opening. This is where you get a clearer view of the cave’s openings along its ceilings. These openings were a result of the bombings during the war. You will also be amazed with the view of the cave opening from the inside of the cave. It was an amazing sight to see. Our guide docked near the cave entrance where he lined us up for that famous Lussok Cave shot. This camera angle shot made Lussok Cave a popular destination in Apayao.  Getting ready to hike back from the cave. Photo by Napapagna. From the cave opening, there are two ways to head back to the receiving area. You can choose to take the bangka back to the docking station or you can choose to take a short hike on its gorge. A trail was established that snakes up to the green covers of its gorge. A hanging bridge connects the gorge to the other side and it also has a great view of Lussok Cave. The 10-minute hike through its forest covers will give you a relaxing walk with nature back to the park’s reception area. POST TRAVEL NOTES There is no doubt that the rustic beauty of Luna will continue to rise in popularity especially that only a few tread the roads to Apayao. Distance and transportation within Luna proves to be the biggest challenge in exploring its beauty. This is the gap that local travel organizers, like Napapagna Outdoors, come in to fill in that gap. They provide opportunities for travelers to explore these destinations hassle-free while providing earning opportunities for their local contacts. This is a great win-win arrangement for tourists, locals, and the organizer. Get ready to explore and commune with nature in Cebu. Having traveled around the Philippines, I am quick to admit that there are destinations where the main challenge is exploring it DIY. I have shared in the past that there are destinations where having an organizer makes it more convenient and more economical. This also gives you the opportunity to making new friends and to make the adventure a shared experience thus making it more memorable… yung tipong babalikan! Watch out for the release of my Luna, Apayao adventure on my Youtube Travel Channel soon. #MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: My Luna, Apayao adventure was organized by Baguio-based FB travel organizer, Napapagna Outdoors. Kuya Eldridge provides a hassle-free and fun adventure from start to finish. You can check out their travel schedules on their FB page - Napapagna Outdoors. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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November 2025
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