Exploring Hundred Islands

Hundred Islands Natural Park is a unique natural attraction in Alaminos, Pangasinan. Of over 7100 islands and islets in the Philippine Archipelago 124 of which are found within the Lingayen Gulf covering an area of 16.76 square kilometers. It is also said that during high tide one islet is not visible. The islands are also home to some wildlife. Among 124 islands only 3 of them have been developed for tourism; Governor Island, Quezon Island and Children's Island. The 3 islands has available cottages for rent and comfort rooms. Day tour is often recommended if you plan to visit the park.

Governor Island

Governor Island has a viewing deck offering a panoramic view of several islands threaded with blue and emerald waters. You need to trek several steps up going to the viewing deck. For easy movement, you can leave your things on the boat and the trusted boatmen will look after it. When you dock in this island, the caretaker will ask to see your receipt that you paid at the registration area so make sure to keep it with you.

Governor's Island - viewing deck

Quezon Island

Quezon Island was named after former President Manuel L. Quezon. This is our second stop after the Governor Island. In this island, there are a lot of giant clams that are protected but can be viewed by the public. You can only swim and snorkel at designated swimming area because swimming near the giant clams are not allowed. This is where we prepared our lunch and rented tables. The tables for rent inside the pavilion is first come first serve policy. The care taker will just collect the payment once you and your group are already seated.

Quezon Island

Giant Clams

Snorkel Area

After our lunch at Quezon Island, our boatmen brought us in the middle of nowhere where they've told us that the area is good for snorkeling.

snorkeling time

Marcos Island

This island is named after former President Ferdinand Marcos. In the island there's a famous cave name after the former first lady Imelda Marcos, wife of President Ferdinand Marcos. To get to the cave, you need to trek up a little and there's a narrow stairway passage going down and at the end of it there's like a circle pool structure that will welcome you. You can jump in the water that will quench your thirst for an adventure. (Sorry no picture taken above the cave)

Imelda cave at Marcos Island

Island Hopping

During island hopping you cannot dock in most of the islands because most of them has no shores. Most of the islands are for our eyes only. Some islands were name after the famous persons and there are some are named based from its shape and major fauna that are living in it. To name a few, Turtle Island, Snake Island, Crocodile Island, Shell Island, and Bat Island. Next time I will try to take photo of each island :)

Cuenco Island / Cuenco Tunnel

Turtle Island

How we get there

We hired a van for our transportation. From Manila to Alaminos to Lucas Wharf our travel time was approximately 4 hours. 

Hundred Islands Park Fees

At the Lucas Wharf, tourists need to register their name, age and nationality and pay the entrance fee of P20/head for day tour and P40/head for overnight. After the registration, the reception people will assigned boat/boatmen for your group and you will be given flyers and contact numbers of officer-in-charge in case of emergency. Boat fees are depending on the size of the group and the capacity of the boat

P800 - good for up to 10 persons include island hopping to 3 island destinations (Quezon, Children and Governor)

P1500 - good up to 15 persons include island hopping to 3 island destinations (Quezon, Children and Governor)

P1800 - good up to 15 persons, service boat means you can go wherever you want

Other things are for optional rent: Life vest - P50/day, set of snorkeling gear - 150/day

kayak - 250/hour, tables 300/day, CR 5/enter

Please note that there's no fresh water in any of the islands. You can wash up at the shower area near Lucas Wharf (registration area) for P20/head.

Accommodation

If you plan to overnight, you can bring and pitch your own tent in any of the 3 developed islands or you may rent a tent P400-500 and P200 for camping fee or you may stay at the open pavilion or rent the Pinoy Big Brother house (tv reality show house) in Governor's Island for P10,000/night good for 10 persons. There are also available inns and hotels in the town proper.

I think for a group of 14 persons, each of us cost P1500 only including our communal food for a day tour. One thing I like the most in Hundred Island National Park is all fees are standard and the same for local and foreign tourists. So what are you waiting for, pack your beach essentials, head to the north and visit Hundred Islands Natural Park.

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Each trip is memorable to me but our trip to Hundred Islands is one of the trips that I will treasure. Because we went there on a day before my 25th birthday, first time to visit it, it was my third time to host and organized a trip for our group. We were fourteen all, the first 2 was my former officemate and his girlfriend that I invited to join the trip, the 5 whom I met during Taal Volcano and Mt. Romelo hike that I both organized too, and the other 6 were totally strangers to me including our MTAG founder Chris. :)