Olango Island I Justmom Travels 2020

What's in Olango Island before COVID-19 Pandemic?

Speaking of Olango Island, what comes to your mind first and foremost? A bunch of questions, right? Is there a white beach there? How to get there? Where to stay? What will be the tourist spots in the area? Questions like that will guide and motivate you on how to be there actually. For a solo or duo trip, going somewhere you wish to visit is I think probably the easiest way to travel. But for a family, it really needs planning ahead. A good thing to know, google is reachable for everyone as long as you're online. You can search right away, read reviews from influencers, watch relevant media, check flights, and search hotel/beach resort accommodations nearest to the island or place that you're going to visit.

White beachfront in Olango Island, Cebu. Need photos, visit Shutterstock / Adobe Stock

Here's the thing. According to Wikipedia, Olango Island is a group of islands found in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines and is a part of Cebu Province. The Olango Island Group comprises Olango island and 6 satellite islets namely: Sulpa, Gilutongan, Nalusuan, Caohagan, Pangan-an, and Camungi. It belongs to Lapu-Lapu City under the Municipality of Cordova. When you look at the island on the Google Map, it's the island w/ surrounding islets in between the big island of Mactan and Bohol. So that's it.

Bamboo Boardwalk at Olango Island,Cebu Need photos, visit Shutterstock / Adobe Stock

Olango Island is popularly known for its wildlife sanctuary, the 920-hectare Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, and three Dive Sites: Mabini Point in the Northern tip of the island well known for hammerhead and whale sharks, Baring along the North-Western side with Grey reef sharks, tuna, barracuda, snappers and jacks can be found around the area, and further south is Santa Rosa. The dive starts with a sandy bottom covered in soft corals, leading to a drop-off at 15m, descending to 50m. There is a good variety of reef fish in the shallows here, while further down are fusiliers, catfish, jacks, snappers, and sweetlips, among others.

Olango Island I Justmom Travels 2020 - Olango Wildlife Sanctuary Boardwalk Need photos, visit Shutterstock / Adobe Stock

Summertime is the best time to go to Olango Island. So we picked February this year to visit the island of Olango. Actually, it was on "Heart Month" when it comes to the most celebrated events of the year. It was a month before the ECQ and lockdown in most areas of the Philippines got started due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I remembered the last day we fetched our kids from school after their periodical exam on that month. Since then until this month of November, our kids and so with the rest of the students or pupils in our country are not yet allowed to go to school or even visit public places. So sad but it's real. I hope everyone is safe and healthy up to this moment.

How to go to Olango Island?

Going to Olango Island is very easy if you're already in Cebu. From the Mactan International Airport, you just take a taxi or ride a jeepney plying the Punta Engaño route going to port beside Hilton Hotel which is now known as Movenpick Resort. The other way is to go to Angasil Port found near Mactan Newtown Beach (previously known as Portofino resort) in the Mactan Newtown area. You may use the Waze app or Google for the directions. These are the two routes going to and from Olango Island. Make sure to prepare your fares and terminal fees in CASH because credit or debit cards can't be used to pay at this time. There are many ATM machines in the Mactan Newtown area and in the Arrival Area of Mactan International Airport.

Olango Island I Justmom Travels 2020 - going to Angasil Port. Need photos, visit Shutterstock / Adobe Stock

Olango Island I Justmom Travels 2020 - from Mactan Port beside Movenpick Resort Need photos, visit Shutterstock / Adobe Stock

Trans-Olango Fare Rates

Where to stay on Olango Island?

Since Olango Island is a popular tourist destination in Cebu, there are many beach resorts or hotels of your choice to book. But to us, we go directly to booking sites available like AGODA.COM, BOOKING.COM, etc. Down below you can search directly the partnered beach resorts and hotels in Olango Island, Cebu. One advantage of booking your trip online on any of the booking sites is that you can find the best deals and discounts offered by their partnered merchants. So during our visit to Olango Island, we booked Casa Blanca by the Sea for our accommodation. Check my review about this beach resort, Justmom Beach Resort Review | Casa Blanca by the Sea

Casa Blanca By the Sea

Visit Casa Blanca by the Sea for room rates & discounts.

Sagastrand Beach Resort

Visit Sagastrand Beach Resort for room rates & discounts.

Triponia’s Seaside Homestay - Agatha

Visit Triponia's Seaside Homestay - Agatha for room rates & discounts.

Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary

Visit Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary for room rates & discounts.

Things to Do on Olango Island

The popular things to do on Olango Island are beach swimming, diving to any if not all of the popular diving sites (Mabini Point, Baring, and Santa Rosa), visiting the  Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary where you can watch some of the different species of birds and 48 of which are migratory birds out of the 97 species, and eating at floating seafood restaurants.

Olango Island I Justmom Travels 2020 - Olango Wildlife Santuary

Olango Island I Justmom Travels 2020  - Floating Restaurants Need photos, visit Shutterstock / Adobe Stock

Justmom Travels 2019 I Camotes Island - Tulang Diot Island

How to go to Camotes Island from Cebu?

Shipping Schedule

Passenger Rates

Camotes Island Attractions

SANTIAGO WHITE BEACH

TULANG DIOT ISLAND

Klook.com

LAKE DANAO PARK

TIMUBO CAVE

Where to stay?

Camotes Island Ocean Heaven Resort

Visit Camotes Island Ocean Heaven Resort for room rates & discounts

Visit Santiago Bay and Garden Resort for room rates & discounts

Visit Mangodlong Rock Resort for room rates & discounts

Visit Camotes Eden R6a for room rates & discounts

Visit Aladin White Beach Resort for room rates & discounts

Visit Villa Marquez for room rates & discounts

Visit Swisslagoon Restaurant and Hotel for room rates & discounts

Travel Tips:

• Bring the printed map because the WIFI signal is scarce everywhere. Globe signal is weak or no signal at all, especially in Brgy. Esperanza while Smart signal is good around the island.
• 
  
• Bring a flashlight because it's very useful when you go inside of any one of the caves around the island. Brownout is real on the island. We experienced brownouts during our stay on the island. Mostly happened early in the morning.
• 
  
• Be sure to have a list of the restaurants or "karenderia" aside from the beach resort restaurant because we're having a hard time where to dine especially when you're on the road going to a specific tourist spot.
• 
  
• For souvenir items, a small shop can be found at the tourist spot. We found one in Timubo Cave in Brgy. Sonog, 2 or more shops at Santiago White Beach, and one in Poblacion of San Francisco. At Consuelo Wharf, I didn't find one only the Cassava Cookie Nuts Camotes Island 

Hidden Beach Resort.

• *** By bus or private car (look for bus schedule in Cebu South Bus Terminal ahead)
• *** Travelling time is 3-4 hours of road trip from Mactan International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City
• *** Use navigation app like Waze to direct you the place in timely manner. You may use Google Map/ Earth too.

• *** Aircon Room - Php 2500 (good for 2 persons) -  Php 3500 ( good for 6-8 persons)
• *** Fan Room - Php 600 (good for 2 persons) 
• *** Cottages  - Php 300 - Php 600 (overnight use)
• ****** nipa hut/ concrete
• ****** with lighting bulb and outlet for charging

• *** Adult - Php 70
• *** Children / Senior Citizen - 50% off 

• *** Beach Store (charcoal &  6-galloon drinking water are available for sale, hot water in styrocup, snacks & sandwhiches, beverages, canned drinks, wines & liquors)
• *** Shower area
• *** Toilet 
• *** Grilling Area
• *** Karaoke 

• *** To enjoy the beach, make sure to search the beach water level (High Tide/ Low Tide)on the exact day to stay. 
• *** Beware of dogs beacause the resort has many of them roaming around.
• *** It's a remote area and the path going to the resort is not cemented.
• *** Since it's a long road trip, you may use offline music since No FM signal on the place as we observed.
• *** To have more private stay in the resort, go on weekdays instead of Saturdays and Sundays.

DIRECTION 

Reception Area

Parking Area

Pathway

ACCOMMODATION

Klook.com  AMENITIES

Disclaimer: Above info details are my own observations about the place by the time my  family and I had checked in. I am not connected with the management. Photos and videos were personally taken during our stay at the beach resort.