Snorkeling at Hilutungan
Before island-hopping became mainstream phenomenon here in Cebu, we were able to do it on a cut deal – 1 banca good for around Php2,000 with 20 passengers. It wasn’t popular at that time that’s why it came cheap. The package was good for 3 islands: Hilutungan or (Gilutungan), Pandanon, and Olango. These islands are now synonymous to Cebu island hopping.
Hilutungan has the marine sanctuary, reeking with Finding Nemo-like fishes. I tried to catch them but for one reason or another they seem to beat me to it. Must be because they’re fishes, they’re good at swimming. But if you bring some food with you like bread, they mob you just like Filipinos do whenever there is fiesta. And if you’re gentle enough, you can touch them and marvel at these creatures of the sea.
We had the island hopping adventure at this order: Lapu-lapu (I consider our starting point as it is an island! lol), Hilutungan where we swam with the fishes, Pandanon where we took our lunch and had a photo ops session, and finally beside Olango since we didn’t make it in time when there were lots of birds. We just enjoyed taking a dip in the aquamarine waters. By the way, Olango is the place to be if you’re a birdwatcher. There’s a season when birds migrating from Southern hemisphere to the North rests here, and that’s around November to March.
Snorkeling at Hilutungan
Snorkeling at Hilutungan
If you’re planning to go there, I highly recommend Island Banca Cruises if you’re on a splurge. Check out their website and you can see the different packages you can choose from; usually it includes this snorkeling activity. If you’re not, there are several locals in Lapu-lapu that offers the same tour. The price depends on how many people will go, and how many islands to visit. Usually it’s around Php2,500 for around 10 people I think. Shoot me an email and I’ll give you our contact there.
When you go there, bring your own food and extra money. You have to have food since you wouldn’t have the time to buy or simply because there’s no sari-sari store or restaurants along the way. Heck, I wouldn’t invest on a floating restaurant in the middle of the sea either. You also need to bring extra money since there are entrance fees in Hilutungan and Pandanon. These beauties don’t come cheap and are money-making rackets of local politicians.
Hilutungan snorkeling
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hi, i find your blog very much helpful. me, my husband & my 8yr. old son scheduled for cebu this coming july 3-4…budget and schedule are so tight.. my son really loved to go on snorkeling.hope you can send me numbers of your contacts or if possible can you please give me much cheaper island hopping tour packages..thanks a lot!!
@emily and gracie: sent you emails!
Hi! I had been visiting your blog every now and then and i find it really informative. My family is planning to go to Cebu next month and try island hopping. i have 3 boys who are very adventurous and they would love to go snorkeling and visit some of the islands you mentioned. if you can please give me the number of your contact. The rates of island banca cruise are quite high and we are in a tight budget. I hope you can help me on this one. thanks and more power to your blog.
Joan
@joan: sent you an email!
we (five of us) are planning to visit cebu next week.. well try island hopping. can you recommend cheaper island hopping tour package? we will just limit to 2 islands. thanks much
hi! i wanted to try this too.. can u send me the contact number for this island hopping? thank you!
@lirio and peter sent you guys email!
hi fetus,
i would like to have the number too.
i sent you an email.
hi.. we want to try this.. can you please try sending me your contact’s number.. if you have several contacts that would be great so that we could have options. i would highly appreciate ur response. thanks.
hi! we’re going Cebu this April 28,2011, three of us. Planning for island hopping the following day, just two islands will do. Heard Hilutungan and Nalusuan are good ones. Can u send me the contacts please. Thanks a lot.
please do send me contactc coz wer planning to hav our trip this friday. we will be about 25 people in a budget. Thankx
Hi! Can I ask for the contact number of the boat rental? TIA!
Hi there! I
We intend to spend our honeymoon in Mactan Island on Oct 13, and we would like to do island hopping (Nalusuan and Hilutungan only) and do snorkling. Kindly send me numbers of your contacts who could possibly give us affordable tour packages. One more thing, it would be appreciated if you could recommend affordable resort/accommodation in either of those islands.
Thanks a lot.!
Mr. and Mrs. B
good day! can i ask for the contact number of the boat rental? thanks!!
peter´s last [type] ..♥s day
Hi! Mu husband , my 3 y/o kid and I will be in Cebu on May 12-15. We want to get sana the contact number of locals there who can book us to 2-3 island hopping tour. Yung mura sana. The ones on the net are rea;lly expensive. thanks
hi my husband and i will be going to cebu this sat- june 11, can you send me contacts for cheap island hopping. since we are only 2, most of the prices i see is not below P3k per person.. will 7am-4pm do for the 3 islands?
cj jimenez´s last [type] ..Road Revolution Cebu – Independence from Fossil Fuel
hi kindly send me contacts that can offer cheaper rates. my husband and i are going to cebu on june 11-13. we are planning to do island hopping on the 11th. most of the rates i saw are not below 3k…will 7am-4pm enough for the 3 islands?
tnx
cj jimenez´s last [type] ..Road Revolution Cebu – Independence from Fossil Fuel
hi fetus! My group is intrestd to try this..pls.give us contact details! Thanks!
Hi! Can you give me a contact number of the banca you are referring? thanks! kindly send it to k_bisnar@yahoo.com
Hi, we are 4 in a group who planned to go to Cebu this coming Sept.4-6. Unfortunately, we only have free time on Sept.4 to do the island hopping activities. Can you help us on how much we spend for this day island hopping tour? We’re on a tight budget too and I’m not sure if we can afford the packages offered by Island banca cruise. hope you could help us on this.
Thanks!
please send me a contact number. thanks for your blog, its very helpful!
Hi,
I’ve read your blog and find it really helpful. We are a group of 7 planning to do island hopping in Cebu. Kindly send the contact details and hopefully they can give us affordable rates. =)
Thank you very much. =)
hi,
i sent you an email..can you send me a reply…i asked if how much would we cost for an island hopping if we’re only 8 persons… we’re planning to have it this monday.. tnx
Would you recommend going on the island banca? is it worth it? or do you think the people you used were just as good? can you email me their prices / contacts. thanks in advance..
hi…thanks for your blog, i really find it helpful especially im planning for our cebu trip.
since bantayan and malapascua is far from the city, we just plan to have a cebu island tour.
it would really of help if you could give me the contact number of your boatman.
thanks
hi, thanks for the response, i already got the number. ill contact him tomorrow.
thanks again
no problem.
cheers.
Hi,wasjustwonderingiftheystillhavelargecapacityboatsforislandhopping.Mayihaveyourbotman’scontactnumberpleaseoremailaddmaybe?Thankyousomuch.
hi anne i sent you an email.
Hello! Thanks for your very helpful blog =)
May I ask for the contact info for island hopping. For around 10 pax. Thank you so much!
can you please send me contact number of your boatman? I am planning to go to cebu nextmonth.
Hello there! Thank you for this post. I am going there with my friends on January. We’re looking for a cheap boat rental since we are on a tight budget. All the websites say it’s 3K per head. Can you please send me the contact number of your boatman in Cebu? Thanks in advance for the email
Hello can you send me the contact number please. i have two friends going to cebu this jan 2 2012 and they want to go island hopping. hilutungan, pandanon, nalusuan thanks for the informative blog.
hi!can i have the no. of a boatman in cebu thank you
Hi… we are considering an island hopping experience in Cebu next. Please give me the contact details. Thanks!
Hi! Can I have the # of your contact person in Cebu for snorkeling activity? Appreciate it.