Apo Island - Exploring the Island's Beauty

Another post about Apo Island guys. I just wanted to clarify that Apo Island is different from Apo Reef in Occidental Mindoro. The island is in Negros Oriental, and it's really an island not a big series of coral reefs. And, FYI the latter is more famous for its beautiful contiguous coral reef system compared to the former.

Apo Island

Apo Island

I'd like to give you more stories about Apo Island. 

Marine Sanctuary

The island boasts for its rich marine natural resources. Together with the government, private institutions, and the local residents of the island, the preservation of the marine life has been so far successful. Fishing in traditional methods is allowed, but never the non-ecological methods like dynamite fishing. 

Marine Sanctuary in Apo Island

Fish Sanctuary area

The cool sea breeze welcomed us. The coolness of the place was soothing and relaxing. The area was full of dead white coral reefs that looked like a vast white beach. I even mistaken them with small pebbles, but they're actually dead crumbled corals. WANT MORE? 

Dead Corals in Apo Island

Top: Jomar From Right to Left: Eddie, Hearty, Valerie, Phioxee, Grah, Jay, and Randy

Salt-Water Lagoon

The island has a big lagoon that gives sustenance to the vast mangroves area. I am not really sure, but boating and kayaking can be available if one would request. 

Apo Island lagoon

Way to Sanctuary and Lagoon

Mangroves

Luckily, our cottage was situated near the lagoon that gave us the advantage of the beautiful view and cool air. The island has limited electricity and fresh water, so after a whole day sun bathing, the humid and damply feeling is expected.

Our cottage w/ CR for only Php 500.00 (but we had it for free)

Habagat Eco Trail and Rock Point View

This is one of my favorite spots in the island. The steep 600-meter Habagat Ecot Trail in Apo Island rewarded me with the beautiful and picturesque seascape. 

Sea scape from Rock Point View Deck

View from the cliff

Shots from the edge of the cliff

trek on our back

The uphill hike was so challenging that we almost gave up. But one should never miss the Rock Point View Deck when coming to Apo Island. Try it yourself if you're near Negros Oriental, Philippines.

Hearty, Phioxee, Grah, and Eddie

Rock Formation

The island is a volcanic type (see here) of an island. The presence of gigantic rock formations is apparent. In fact, there's a black big rock that easily identifies the island from all other places. 

Big Black Rock in Apo Island Beach Resort

Best beach bodies buddies ever!

Unfortunately, this particular black big rock is within Apo Island Beach Resort's area. Tourists not checking in to the place are not free to take pictures behind them. You would need to pay Php 50.00 for the entrance fee. Since we didn't know about it, we unknowingly entered the resort and took a lot of pictures. lol The guard even welcomed us. There was a man who asked if we wanted to have a guide. 

Randy

Valerie

Hearty

We declined, and by then he asked for an entrance fee from each of us. We told him that we're already leaving, and we didn't have to check in the place. 

Apo Island Beach Resort's entrance (Php 50.00)

In fairness to him, he's still polite and didn't stop to encourage us about snorkeling and kayaking using the resort's amenities.  

Grah and Val in the cave

If you don't want to pay for the entrance fee, you could go over this big rock to get to the other side and enjoy the diving from the Big Black Rock. (But I couldn't dive)

Parola  

I don't actually know what to right about Parola. I haven't been here, because NO ONE would like to go with me and witness the grandiose lighthouse of Apo Island. I hated my friends every time I recall how I begged them to go in Parola.

PHOTOS? Click HERE 

 

Almost all of them have been to the light house, and most of the first timers were smokers and didn't want to go on a breath-gasping hike. Accordingly, the trail would be three times challenging than Habagat Eco Trail. But I don't think so!

Anyway, I truly enjoy my stay in the island. I went home the next day, because I couldn't wait to upload all the photos and check them out in the big screen. 

REMEMBER!

I'd like to thank you for your visits today. My next post would be about the fiesta and the bad experience we had in the island. But if Xoxo_Grah would post it on her blog, I may not be able to post it here. Just check out here blog update about Apo Island. I'm pretty sure she's a good story-teller.

Just me, 

Phioxee 

P.S. Thanks to Jake and Eddie for some of the photos.