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
Hi! I chanced upon your blog while doing some research on things to do in cebu. My group and I (siguro, walo kami) are planning to go snorkelling, particularly at Hilutungan, Nalusuan, and Talima. You mentioned in your blog that you can recommend a good contact there? I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much!
Wow, the water looks so inviting. It has been so hot lately in Manila. Your post makes me want to jump on a plane and head for Cebu. ;o)
the water is very beautiful!! i wish we have a place like that nearby that is not so expensive…
i sent you an email with my contact’s fone number! cheers…
Thank you for your comment at our blog. Yes, you’re right: you have a lot of beaches we would almost die for! *giggles*
That looks absolutely gorgeous – especially since they’ve promised more snow to come here tomorrow… *sigh*
Here’s The Twitterer’s Tweet:
wow, it seems you’re really having a great time there. i miss the beaches even though i don’t know how to swim. LOL! wait, i know how to float, do you think i can snorkel?
happy island hopping!
Wow, that water does look amazingly clear! Love to do this but can’t afford at the moment
Cupboard Creatures!
Hi Kuya! I like your blog. I remembered my island hopping experiences with Boss Anne before and I miss it na. huhuhuh!
hello, we are going to cebu this march 25-28, we are planning to go on island hopping. 6 kami
pero tight budget, hope you can send me contact and how much pati narin mga entrace fees sana 
thanks. and do you know nulsuan island? how much additional if we go there? and how much are the entrace fees 
thanks…! i’m excited 
oh and please send ity on my email account, i might not be able to find this blog again..
thanks! much.
The water looks so inviting! Snorkeling has always been a family thing for us – we’d love to try Island Banca Cruises some time.
I’ve seen their ads several times and their packages do look intriguing.
hello poh..were planning to go on island hopping..den hope na mka less unta mi..pls send the number pls..
Hi i heard about your contacts in cebu for island hopping , i would appreciate it if you could share it out with me . Cheers!
Hi, as with the others before me, I’d really appreciate if you can give me your contact for Island Hopping in Cebu. We’re only around three (3) people. Do they also provide the equipment and everything? Thanks!
heLLo…
me and my cousins are planning to go this may in cebu… but we have a tight budget, we wish to island hop also… could you please give me the no. of you r contact in cebu… and also do they provide some equipments?… thanks… hope to hear from you asap…
i’ve sent you an email joy!
cheers!
Hi, I’m trying to organize a beach outing with my highschool batchmates and figured out that we could go on an island hopping tour. I wonder if you could help me out, I’m from Cebu but I don’t have much knowledge on where to find cheap packages like the one you guys went on. I heard about the 3k package but so far, what I’ve seen in the websites are 3k per person. Hope you could help. I’d like to know your contact here in Cebu. Thanks.
hi! thanks for giving info bout HILUTUNGAN
we’ll try out this adventure this week.. i’m wondering how much we need to budget if we come up w/ 11persons 
thankies much,
hello, thanks for the comment. i’ve sent you guys an email. ciao!
hi my bf and i are planning to go to cebu on sept 28-30; were on a tight budget, can you help me organize our tour? i would realy appreciate it
hello grace, i’ve sent you an email…
nag island hopping kami last june 27 and we had a blast. we actually rented a boat for 3k. maraming boats actually na pwede mong erent when you arrive at the bluewater resort… mas affordable as compared to those of the islands banca, and pwede pa kayong mgdala ng food niyo without worrying to pay for corkage. hehehe. mas maganda lng talaga kung islands banca kasi mas maganda yung destinations and boats nla.
Hi!
My fiancee and I are going to Cebu this August and I’ve searched around the net for reasonably priced banca rates. Could you email me your contact’s details? So far, the other sites I saw are at P2,150/head (without lunch) for just ONE island and I think that’s too pricey. Really really hope you could email me! Thanks so so much!
Salamat po sa pag comment at pag share ng details!
Hello Cyndee, I sent you an email. Good luck!
Hello, thanks for this post. I am going there with my family on October and I’m pretty scared because all the websites say it’s 3K per head. I guess it’s very much expensive when it’s the organizer has a website
Can you tell me please your contact in Cebu? Might as well get a local bankero in advance. Thanks in advance for the email 
Thank you so much. I got your email.
haha me too can i have your accommodation and tour contact?:)
i want to treat my whole family on vacation and we all love snorkeling..:) my dad want to go back to puerto galera,for a change i want to bring them to cebu..hope it fits my budget..thanks!!:)
Hi there!
I’m going to cebu in the end of August. I’ve been looking for contacts of different boatman and companies for island hopping. One of them quoted me around 2900 php / boat but it doesnt include any food, drinks, entrance fee or equipment retals and then the rest are asking for 2000 per person!!
Do you have any contact of boatmen who charge a more reasonable rate?
cheers!
i’ve sent an email to you jen!
hi.. it would be helpful if you’ll email me your contacts in cebu for island hopping. we’re just a group of 5, 3 adults, and my two sons age 6 & 7 y/old. we’ll be in cebu next week so hope to hear from you before we leave. thanks so much
hi, we are planning going to cebu on december and ive tried looking for packages but they are way too expensive. can you kindly email me your contact. thanks you very much
sorry too much error… =) we are going to cebu on december and i’ve tried looking for packages but they are way to expensive. can you email me your contact. thank you very much
sent you an email EJ.
hi there, i need some help, Me and my family wanted to go island hopping sa cebu, kaya lang the one on the website is so expensive and medyo tight and budget, do you have any contact number nung at least 3K per boat. Thanks in advance
hey ana liza, i’ve sent you an email.
Yeheeeeeeey! thank ,thank you so much for the help.. hulug ka ng langit! God Bless you..
God bless you too, and enjoy!
Hi Fetus,
Hope your can send to me your contacts for bancas. We are planning to visit the island this coming December
sent you an email!
Hi Fetus,
I am planning to go to Cebu and do the wonderful things that you described above. But as a normal employee – I am on a very tight budget.
Would you please help send me tipid tips as well pls?
Thanks!
Rick
hi fetus!
me and my friends (5 of us) are going to cebu on february…and ur story looks very inviting…i’m hoping to have a contact number of the island hopping package that you had (and we’re on a tight budget)…it’s our first time to go to cebu and we’re juat playing it by ear…and if you also have some tips like cheap accomodations near everywhere, and places to go!thank you so soo much!
Hi fetus,
it’s so obvious that i am also asking for the contact person so that we could go for island hopping even with a tight budget. help!!! thanks in advance!
goodpm!
Hi sir! can you send me a contact of a local boatman.
internet packages are expensive.
thank you!
hi, i’d like to ask for the contact person of the local boatman,
me and my friends would want to island-hop on saturday, there are 5 of us.
would appreciate your response.
thanks
@rick, angel, lynn, Jonas Gotuato, Lolita, i’ve sent you an email.
to the next commenters, i apologize but my contact changed numbers, i can’t reach him anymore. i’ll be posting a contact’s phone number as soon as i have it.
hi, nice blog! we’re planning to go snorkelling, particularly at Hilutungan, Nalusuan, and Talima or Pandanon, and Olango. You mentioned that you can recommend a good contact there? I would really appreciate it you could give me. we’re just a group of 10 plus 1 senior citizen.
Hope your can send to me your contacts for bancas. We are planning to visit the island this coming March 12-13, 2011.
Thanks in Advance
Very helpful information. You’re getting comments even after 2 years. I’m also interested to go Island hopping this summer. Can you send me contact of tour packages. Thank you in advance and more helpful blogs to come.
@macky and claire: sent you emails!
Hi! Can you please share with me your Cebu contact? I am planning a weekend of island hopping / snorkeling with my family. Thanks a lot!