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| google map |
Polillo Island is a group of islands located in the north-eastern side of Quezon Province. It is subdivided by three towns namely, Polillo, Burdeus and Panukalan. It is the most off-beaten town in the country that I've been to so far. Getting there as backpacker requires a lot of patience just like getting to the other islands of the country.
Since a long weekend is coming (Chinese New Year Celebration I organized a backpacking trip to Polillo Island. Together with 4 other friends we boarded a bus bound to Real, Quezon at 11:30 PM passing the several towns of Rizal and Laguna provinces. The weather was nice and fare when we left Manila but when we reached Ungos port in Real Quezon after 4-hour bus ride it was raining.
The fast craft ferry bound to Polillo will leave at 5:15 AM but passengers were allowed to board the ferry early. I was determined to catch some sleep while waiting for the ferry to leave but a big group of tourists were very noisy. The ferry exactly left at 5:30 AM. During the 2-hour ferry ride I still didn't get some sleep because another group of passengers were very noisy.
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| approaching Polillo Island port |
It was gloomy Saturday morning when we arrived in Polillo port at exactly 7:30 AM. At Even I have contacted Isla Polillo Beach Resort, the only resort I found in the internet prior of our trip, we looked for the tourism office near the port to get recommendations where to stay but sadly it was closed. I had a second thought in staying in Polillo Island Beach Resort because even there are good blog reviews there are also bad reviews in TripAdvisor. We checked the Tarictic Bay View Inn near the port, an air-condition room offered to us for Php900 a night good for 5 persons, seems a good price but at the end we decided to go to Polillo Island Beach Resort because we thought there's nothing more to do in the town so it's better to stay in a beach resort.
Isla Polillo Beach Resort
Getting to the resort from the port/town proper took us 30 minutes tricycle ride on the unpaved road. Fare is Php300 for a group of 5. Kuya White, the trike driver said fare is Php50/head for 6pax but since we were only 5 we paid Php300.
Upon entering the property of the resort we were welcome by a nice landscaped of bermuda grass and tropical ambiance so we immediately decided to check-in at the resort even the Php 1800/night fan room rate is pricey.
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| lawn |
The resort has pool, lawn tennis court, basketball court, videoke that are free to use.
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| man-made lake |
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| the pool |
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| Kubo fan rooms |
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| 'beach front' on low tide - there's no beach front where you can laze around |
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| bar |
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| bird sanctuary |
The resort is a promising tourists destination if not for the following reasons:
1. The bahay-kubo (hut) fan room is a bit expensive for Php 1800/night even if it's good for 4 persons.
2. Our room's doorknob is already rusty and the tiled comfort room is a bit off.
3. The water in the shower and faucet is low.
4. Electricity supply is from 2 PM to 6 AM only therefore we didn't check if the fans and light are working, we just discovered that wall fan isn't working when we are about to sleep, the ceiling fan is working but we are afraid that it might fell-off anytime and the CR light bulb is also not working.
5. The bahay-kubo fan room has no screen so don't forget to bring your insect repellent and there's leak on the roof prompting my friend to move his folding bed.
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| our room |
6. We waited for almost 2 hours for the resort's service to brought us at Agta Beach after lunch and we thought it was free because they told us to wait but when we checked-out on the next day, Tita Pines said we must settle the service fee directly to Kuya Dave, the driver. If only we knew that it's not free we should have contacted Kuya White to fetch us instead of waiting for too long.
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| the resort's service being push after the battery has discharged at Agta Beach |
7. Tita Pines also told me that they will cater our food while we are in the resort but there was no menu available. I also asked how much it will cost she said 'mura lang' (it's cheap) but did not disclose the price. She is jolly and friendly so I put the trust on her. When we settled our bill on the evening because we decided to check-out on the next day due to bad weather that's where the only time he handed us our bill and it took her some time to list down our bill. Ok the food is cheap but without disclosing the prices even we asked multiple times makes us feel bad. For dinner, Tita Pines listed 5 sweet and sour dalagang bukid (fish) but it was only 4 pcs. were given to us. We were also charged for drinking water, our group has atleast 10 liters of water when we went there, if only we knew that drinking water has charge we should have drink from our own water. We didn't contest anymore because you know when you are in a remote area you should practice maximum tolerance and we just wanted to leave the resort as soon as possible.
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| our meals |
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| the sweet and sour - how many fish do you see? |
8. The management doesn't stick to what have they said. I was secretly told that they have had contacted habal-habal drivers that will take us to Burdeus town for Php 500 (2-way) for 2 persons, cheaper than Kuya White's offer, the trike driver who brought us to the resort. But in the evening we were told that the road going to Burdeus is difficult, and the price is now Php 700, the same price offered by Kuya White. Because of that and the weather we decided to check-out on the next day.
Although we were given a discount, instead of Php 1800 for our room we paid Php 1700 only and the extra bed was free instead of Php 300 I would not recommend to anyone to stay overnight in the resort. The resort needs a little renovation for it to return on its old glory. It's good for a day tour only, just pay the entrance fee and enjoy the ambiance for a day.
AGTA BEACH
From the resort it took us almost 1 hour to reach the Agta Beach. The beach has a long stretch of brown sand just like the color and texture of brown sugar and I love it. Even if it was raining and the waves are strong the water is still clear.
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| Agta Beach |
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There's an unfinished port on the beach and there's a story of deception behind it. It's an eyesore and I'm glad they didn't finish it or else the rawness of the beach will be tarnished.
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| the unfinished port |
There are only few open cottages available on the beach and there's no available commercial establishment in the area and there's no accommodation available so if you want to stay there for a night, bring your camping gears. Entrance fee is Php 20 only.
How We Get There
For those who wanted to crossed-out Polillo Island from their places to visit.
1. From Raymund bus terminal in Legarda, Manila near Arellano University ride a bus that is bound to Infanta or Real or Ungos port in Real Quezon. The last (11:30 PM) and first trip (1:30 AM) of Raymund bus go directly to Ungos port.
2. From Ungos port, ride a ferry bound to Polillo. First trip will leave at 5:15 am followed by 7 AM and 11 AM.
3. Getting around the Polillo town proper is by tricycle.
4. If you want to skip the town proper of Polillo and go directly to Burdeus town where beautiful islands and beaches located, look for the ferry that is bound to Brgy. Anawan, Polillo. From Anawan port there's a jeep bound to Burdeus that usually leaves a 8 AM.
Here's our list of expenses:
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| expenses |
From my experience in the island, the town of Polillo is not yet ready for tourism. It was long weekend when we get there, the tourism office should have had at least one person to assist the tourists even on a Saturday. The roads going to other barangays that are at least 30 minutes away from the town proper are still unpaved.
Nevertheless, in every misadventure I learned something new and new adventures unlocked.
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