Underrated Beauty of Masbate

          

          Known as the Rodeo Capital of the Philippines. Masbate is an island province in the Bicol Region, which lies roughly in the middle of the nation's archipelago. Its capital is Masbate City, and consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.

Halea Nature Park (one of Ticao's gem) see more for details 

Masbate is endowed with rich natural resources, and other industries such as large farming, livestock and poultry raising. Along its coastal areas, fishing industry predominates. Agricultural lands are planted with rice, corn, root-crops and coconut.

Video of our 4d3n Masbate trip

(Full itinerary and budget below)

My friends booked me a ticket to Legazpi for our Masbate trip. You can either book a flight to Legazpi and then a FastCraft to Masbate, or a direct flight to Masbate City. (Watch out for seat sales! Masbate airfare were tad expensive as compare to International flight, or other Local destination.) 

So there, from Legazpi Airport, you can either hail a tricycle, or rent a van going to the port located in Pilar, Sorsogon. 

  

  

Our driver allowed us to stop, and take few photos. Mayon was covered with thick gloomy clouds.

Time check, 0720! Luckily, we scored an 8AM trip! We took a quick breakfast at a carinderia nearby, and hop aboard!

Note! Montenegro Fast Craft (Pilar Sorsogon to Masbate)

Daily schedule: 5AM, 8AM, 12NN, and 4PM

Fare: Fast Craft (standard) Php 360.00 (Bring ids to avail senior, student, or pwd discount)

Contact number: (034) 708 1322

  

  

Travel time from Pilar, Sorsogon to Masbate is roughly two and a half hour. From Masbate port, ride a tricycle (Php 10), and head to your hotel.

My friend's family is the owner of Rendezvous Resort which is a 5 to 10-minute ride from the port. (Thanks again, Medina family!)

WELCOME TO MASBATE!

DAY ONE

Rendezvous Resort, Masbate, Philippines

  

  

Rendezvous Resort is along Punta Nursery, Masbate City which is a short distance away from Buntod Reef Marine Sanctuary (see photo above for Island Hopping rates). The hotel resort is one of the oldest, and has been a favorite to many, specially media personalities.

Rendezvous Resort Facebook

Sir Kokie Medina - 0905 327 2778

Click to enlarge: (Left) Wall of fame (Right) Buntod Reef Marine Sanctuary Adventure rates and other Island Hopping rates
 


Beautiful sunrise at Rendezvous wharf

Mayong Payong

How to get to Mayong Payong

From Rendezvous Resort / Masbate City, ride a tricycle going to Brgy. Tugbo (Php 10). From there, ride another tricycle going to Mayong Payong Mobo (Php 8).

Hike, or Habal-Habal

You can either hike by foot, which is said to be an hour or two hike, or rent a habal. Habal-habal Php ride (Php 50 one way) is roughly 20 to 40 minutes. 

*Trail tend to be very muddy. Check for weather updates!

 

Welcome to Mayong Payong! Entrance / Environmental fee: Php 30/head

    

    

Mayong Payong gives you the 360-degree bird's eye view

Wear sunscreen, bring extra clothing to keep you warm at night, food, and water to keep you well hydrated. Use of comfort room Php 5. While their nipa nuts can be rented for Php 200 overnight.

    

 

After Mayong Payong, we head back to the city proper, and had our late snack at Ham's Cup. 

HAM'S CUP

 

Ham's Cup is a great place where you can sit back, relax, and savour affordable yet delicious meals. 

I love their cheesy bacon mushroom burger! Wifi is also available! Yey!

Ham's Cup Facebook

Instagram: @hamscup

Address: Ibanez St., Masbate City

Contact number: (056) 582 0205

Store hours: 10:00AM - 12:00AM

DAY TWO

We spent our second day touring around Masbate, and an afternoon at Paraiso de Palani Beach Villas.

 

Sir Kokie of Rendezvous Resort gladly helped us arranged a van rental for our Day Two trip

Fazenda da Esperança

Farm of Hope. A drug and rehabilitation center based on 3 main principle: Spirituality, Community Life, and Work. 

The experience of Family of Hope started when Nelson, co-founder of Fazenda da Esperança after some years of concretely loving the boys at the first Fazenda community, on May 24, 1990 consecrate his life to this mission. See full story here

You can buy flavored milk here for only Php 25 per 200 ml bottle. Other dairy products, vegetables, rice also available.

 

Sese Brahmans Ranch

A rancher for a day

 

 

Paraiso de Palani Beach Villas

After a scorching morning tour, we headed to Palani, and spent the rest of the day chilling at the beach.

  
  

SuTuKil

 

DAY THREE

Activities to do: Island Hopping, snorkeling, scuba diving, cliff diving, beach strolling, rock scrambling, kayaking, and etc..







  

Halea Nature Park Lagoon

 

  

Burubangkaso (Burobancaso) Island

 

Catandayagan Falls

where the water falls straight down into the sea! Unfortunately, we didn't went near the falls due to strong current.

Buntod Marine Reef Sanctuary





  

 

From Rendezvous Resort, you can go straight to Buntod Marine Reef which is a 10 to 15 minute boat ride.

BUNTOD MARINE REEF SANCTUARY ADVENTURE RATES

Boat Rental:

          Php 500 / 1-4 pax

          Php 800 / 5-14 pax

Kayaking 

          Php 200 / hour

Pedal boat 

          Php 300 / hour

Scuba Diving Gear 

          Php 1,000 (set)

Snorkeling Php 

          100 / hour (set)

Reef Guide Php 

          100 / head

Whole day Island Hopping rate: Php 8,000 / boat (good for 15 to 20 pax)

How to get to Masbate

By air: 

*From Manila*

Direct flights to Masbate City / Airport. Watch out for seat sales!

*From Manila to Legazpi to Masbate*

Fly to Legazpi Airport. From there, hail a tricycle, or a van going to Pilar, Sorsogon Port. Then board a fast craft headed for Masbate City.

By sea/land:

From Manila you can ride a bus going to Pilar, Sorsogon (Php 800 to 1,000 depending on the type of bus). Travel time is roughly 10 to 12 hours. Then from Pilar, Sorsogon you can take a fast craft headed for Masbate.

Again, Montenegro Fast Craft (Pilar Sorsogon to Masbate)

Daily schedule: 5AM, 8AM, 12NN, and 4PM

Fare: Fast Craft (standard) Php 360.00 (Bring ids to avail senior, student, or pwd discount)

Contact number: (034) 708 1322

ITINERARY:

DAY 1:

0500 - ETD Cebu Pacific Air Manila to Legazpi, Albay (roughly 40 to an hour)

0620 - 0720 - ETA Legazpi Airport. Rented a van for Php 800/6 pax from airport to Pilar, Sorgoson

0720 - 0800 - Purchased an 8AM fast craft ticket going to Masbate. Had a quick breakfast at a carinderia.

0800 - 1100 - Travel Time (roughly two and a half hour). Rest.

1100 - 1120 - Tricycle from Pilar, Sorsogon port to Rendezvous Resort

1130 - 1500 - Arrival at Rendezvous Resort. Lunch. Rest. Preparation for Mayong Payong trek.

1515 - 1530 - Tricycle from Rendezvous to Brgy. Tugbo

1530 - 1543 - Transferred tricycle ride: Brgy. Tugbo to Poblacion 2, Mobo

1545 - 1610 - Habal-habal to summit (20 to 40 minutes *depending on the trail status)

                       *Got the luxury of time? Hike by foot! Mobo to summit is 3.5km, and is said to be an hour or two trek.)*

1610 - 1800 - Enjoy the 360 degrees bird's eye view

1800 - 2000 - Descent.

                       Rode the sa habal-habal from the summit back to the jump off, then to the City - Ham's Cup

2030 - 2200 - Bought few groceries. Head back to Rendezvous. Dinner.

DAY 2:

0800 - Breakfast

0900 - 1200 - Rent a van for our day two tour (Php 3,000 inclusive of gas)

                     Villa Bayot

                     Fazenda de Esperanza

                     Sese Brahmans Ranch

1230 - 1630 - Paraiso de Palani Beach Villas 

1800 - 1900 - Dinner at SuTuKil

2000 - Dinner at Rendezvous Resort. Socials. Rest.

DAY 3:

0500 - Sunrise at Rendezvous Resort wharf

0600 - Breakfast

0700 - 1800 - Island Hopping (Php 8,000 / boat *capacity 15-20 pax*)

Due to strong current, and for our safety, they recommended us to hire the huge boat.

Malakas nga alon during these months! Katakot haha

                         Halea Nature Park Lagoon

                         Burubangkaso Island, Monreal

                         Catandayagan Falls

                         Buntod Marine Sanctuary

1800 - 2100 Went to a market place (Saudan), where you can buy dried fish etc.. Back to Rendezvous Resort. Dinner. Socials.

DAY 4:

0700 - 0800 - Toured around Masbate Municipal. Proceeded to port, and bought a 12PM Fast Craft headed for Pilar, Sorsogon. (Php 396 / head)

1200 - 1500 - Fast Craft

1500 - 1700 - Legazpi Ayala Mall. Lunch. Coffee at Starbucks (Mayon from afar! Promised to explore Legazpi soon!)

1700 - 1800 - Check-in. Bought pasalubong at a store within the airport.

1800 - 1900 - Back to Manila

BUDGET:

Php 3.100.00 each round-trip airfare: Manila - Legazpi, and Legazpi - Manila

Day 1: Manila-Legazpi-Masbate

Php 800.00 - Van from Legazpi to Pilar, Sorsogon Port (Php 133.33/head)

Php 2,160.00 - FastCraft from Sorsogon to Masbate (Php 360.00/head)

Php 90.00 - Sorsogon Port Terminal fee (Php 15.00/head)

Php 120.00 - Tricycle from Masbate Port to Rendezvous Resort (Php 20.00/head)

Mt. Mayong Payong budget:

Php 60.00 - Rendezvous Resort to Brgy. Tugbo (Php 10.00/head)

Php. 48.00 - Brgy. Tugbo to Mayong Payong Mobo (Php 8.00/head)

Php 300.00 - Habal-habal going to summit of Mt. Mayong Payong (Php 50.00/head)

Php 180.00 - Mt. Mayong Payong entrance/environmental fee (Php 30.00/head)

Php 300.00 - Descent via habal-habal (Php 50.00/head)

Php 120.00 - Same habal drivers/ride to Ham's Cup Masbate City (Php 20.00/head)

                      Php 200.00 - *optional* I bought Ham's Cup Cheesy Bacon Mushroom burger, and Mocha Frappe :)

Php 60.00 - Tricycle back to Rendezvous Resort (Php 10.00/head)

Total: Php 4,238.00 per group of 6 or Php 706.33 per head

Day 2: City Tour

Php 3,000.00 - Whole day van rental (gas is included) (Php 500.00/head)

                      Php 25.00 - Fazenda de Esperanza bottled milk *optional*

Php 300.00 - Paraiso de Palani entrance fee (Php 50.00/head)

Php 500.00 - Cottage rental (Php 83.33/head)

                      Php 835.00 - *optional* (Lunch for 7 pax) We ordered fish, pork and chicken adobo, rice, and softdrinks.

Total: Php 3,800.00 per group of 6 or Php 633.33 per head

Day 3: Island Hopping

Php 8,000.00 - Boat rental *accommodates 15 to 20 pax* (Php 1,333.33/head)

Php 200.00 - Halea Boat Docking fee (Php 33.33/head)

Php 150.00 - Halea Environmental fee (Php 25.00/head)

                      Php 1,100+ - *optional* Jollibee and water haha since that time there are no stores on the island.

Total: Php 8,350.00 per group of 6 or Php 1,391.67 per head

GRAND TOTAL DAY 1 to DAY 3 (group of 6)

Php 16,388.00 for group of 6 or Php 2,731.33 per head
exclusive of accommodation, food, and pasalubong I've bought

I did not include day 4 since two of us luckily booked a direct flight from Masbate Airport to NAIA

Day 4: Masbate to Sorsogon to Legazpi Airport (computation per head)

Php 8.00/head - Tricycle from Rendezvous to Municipal

Php 20.00/head - Tricycle from Municipal to Masbate Pier

Php 20.00/head - Tricycle from Rendezvous Resort to Masbate Port

Php 396.00/head - Masbate to Pilar, Sorsogon via FastCraft

Php 70.00/head - FX from Pilar, Sorsogon port to Daraga

From Daraga, you can either hail a tricycle en route to Legazpi Airport, or anywhere you wish to visit.

Php 300.00/4 = Php 75/head - Trcicyle from Daraga to Ayala Mall Legazpi

Php XXX - Late lunch at Bigg's Diner

Php 70.00/4 = Php 17.5/head - Tricycle from Ayala Mall to Legazpi Airport

Php 150.00/head - Legazpi Aiport Terminal Fee

Total: Php 756.50 per head *exclusive of food, drink, nor pasalubong*

My budget for 4 days (day 1 to day 4): Php 3,487.83 
exclusive of accommodation, food, and pasalubong I've bought

MASBATE TRAVEL EXPENSES and ITINERARY 2017
in photo (ideas for pasalubong also included)
*click photo below to enlarge*

Special thanks to Medina family (Rendezvous Resort), Sir Kokie, and Tita Nene, for your endearing and warm welcome! Also a pleasure to meet Tita Kitty, and the rest of their friends. Thank you so much!

MASBATE IS TRULY A HIDDEN GEM! Salamat po!

"Kill nothing but time.

Leave nothing but footprints.

Take nothing but pictures.

Keep nothing but memories."

All photos are mine unless stated otherwise. Portrait photography by Juan Carlos (JC) Omaña.
Feel free to use, but please give credit. Thank you.


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Masbate City / Ticao Island, Philippines

August 31 to Sepcember 3, 2017