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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Burias Island: Tinalisayan Islet, a Small Piece of Paradise


Finally my plan of going to Burias Island pushed through.  This trip took me almost 3 years in the making and through my time of Holy Week in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, it became way to let it happen.  It was only after the Lenten season that I finally decided to go to Burias and just before that I’ve had few more researches about this island.
The port in San Pascual

San Pascual Church
Inside the church
From Pasacao Port, Camarines Sur, Burias Island is approximately a 2-hour boat ride.   San Pascual is a municipality located at the northernmost tip of Burias Island in Masbate.
The lodging house owned by Mrs. Fuentes
I took the MB Maxim boat and the fare was P130.  The boat arrived to the port at 1 p.m.  First I had to look for an Inn and I found a lodging house M.S.S. Fuentes Lodging House owned by Lelly Fuentes.  It was a few minute walk from the port.  I was looking for carinderia for my lunch and the eatery was just located on the same building.
the bangka that I rented to Tinalisayan
me
A view of the islet when your climb a rock
Sitting on a big rocl


A view of a wrecked ship on our way back to the port

Burias has Bicol’s oldest church dating from 1560 in San Pascual.  From the port, San Pascual church is just a few steps away.

I was looking for a small boat going to Sombrero Island.  Since I don’t have enough time, I’ve settled to go to Tinalisayan Islet.  Sombrero is a 2-hour boat ride while Tinalisayan is  only 20 minutes from San Pascual Port.

Me standing on the rock

On the way to Tinalisayan islet the boat had a smooth sailing and perfectly the sea was calm.  Looking on the water, it was crystal-clear and I saw some flying fishes as they tried to go along with the boat.

As we approach the small piece of paradise, I can already feel my sense of excitement.  And finally we arrived Tinalisayan islet and the boatman went down first and pulled the boat to the sand.  The place was just wonderful and it put me to the dreamy mood, and it feels like I was just alone in an island, so serene unlike some of the beach resorts when it’s always crowded.  It was a great surprise to see Tinalisayan islet as this was a new discovery to those who prefer to see a not commercialized beach resort.  Only few people go in this unexploited islet. 

A mesmerizing view of Tinalisayan
And if I had more time and was well prepared, I could have stayed overnight in this islet.  You have to bring your own food, water and tent if you want to spend overnight in this islet. 
Sailing back to San Pascual Port after island hopping
The next day I took the 9:30 a.m. boat going back to Pasacao.  The first trip was at 5:30 a.m.  There’s no boat to Pasacao in the afternoon as it had only 2 trips a day that are available in the morning.  As soon as the boat arrived to the port, I took a van going to Naga and went to Starbucks in Magsaysay Avenue to hang out and open my Facebook account.  It got rained though and that made me stay for a few more hours until I decided to check in to the lodge.


Since Burias Island is just a few hours from Pasacao Port, I am going to visit Burias soon and this time I want to go to Sombrero Island.  


Sameera Chathuranga


13 Responses So Far:

Anonymous said...

Hi! Do you have the number for Fuentes Lodging House? We'll visit the place this holiday. Thanks and keep traveling :)

john said...

Hi,

Sorry for my late reply. Unfortunately I have no contact information for this lodge. As soon as you arrive the port, you can ask the location of the lodging house, and is about 5-minute walking distance from the port. Thank you.

John

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reply sir! may i know how much is the room rate? do they have rooms good for groups? Thanks again.

john said...

Hello Anonymous,

Yes the room rate is 200 pesos only. I believe there are rooms good for the groups. The room that I had can was good for 2 persons.

:)

John

Nico J. said...

hello sir john. How much po ung boat rental from san pascual port to tinalisayan back and forth? And kung overnight po ba, magsstay din dun yung bangkero or babalikan ka nlng nya in the morning, just in case you know the info. Thanks!

john said...

Hi Nico,

Sorry for my late reply. You can rent a boat for only 500 pesos. In my case I did not go overnight but according to the boat man, yes you can stay there for overnight meron naman caretaker dun sa island..then ask the boat man to pick you up on the next day. There's a tourist desk there na they can recomment you a boat service then negotiate the price..make sure you bring water, foods, tents, etc...thanks

John

john said...

Hi Nico,

Sorry for my late reply. You can rent a boat for only 500 pesos. In my case I did not go overnight but according to the boat man, yes you can stay there for overnight meron naman caretaker dun sa island..then ask the boat man to pick you up on the next day. There's a tourist desk there na they can recomment you a boat service then negotiate the price..make sure you bring water, foods, tents, etc...thanks

John

ina mendoza said...

how much ang boat from san pascual to Sombrero and animasola

ina mendoza said...

how much is the boat to sombrero and animasola from san pascual

john said...

Hi Neng,

I've never been in Sombrero and Animasola yet. Only Tinalisayan Islet and I rented a boat for 500 pesos. I think if it's island hopping, the price raises. Sombrero is farther than Tinalisayan.

Thank you. :D

Unknown said...

Hi Sir,

Just wanna know if ever magcamping kami sa isang island san yung pwede??saka may tubig din ba na mapagkukunan sa island???We're planing to go in Burias Island this holy week kasi..Thanks

john said...

Hi Sienna,

Sorry for my late reply. When you reach San Pascual, I think from there you can buy some waters to drink. I have not done overnight at Tinalisayan, but there are some people who go overnight pero may dala silang mga gamit like mineral water, foods, etc..aside dun sa mga pang camping nila...when you reach San Pascual, meron dun local for tourists, make sure na mag register kayo dun and the tourist desk may be able to help you there, para pang safety nyo rin..thank you!

John

Anonymous said...

may mga cottages na pong pwede nyong marent sa sombrero island. need nyo lang po don magdala ng foods and drinking water.