APO Island, located in the southern part of Dumaguete City in the Philippines, is a paradise-like island, known as "one of the top ten diving resorts in the world". The BBC and Lonely Planet have also published special reports on this place. The clear jelly sea, cute turtles, and the original state of life all attract diving enthusiasts from all over the world to experience it.
Introduction to APO Island and transportation
Introduction to APO Island
Apo Island is located 25 kilometers south of Dumaguete. It is a rugged volcanic island. It is surrounded by a huge marine life reserve. There is a colorful underwater world, and there are dozens of large and small. Only sea turtles live here for many years.
The entire island covers an area of about 74 hectares. It overlooks a volcanic island in the shape of a tortoise from a high altitude, and it is also famous for its gathering of dozens of turtles. In order to protect this sea turtle paradise, the Philippines has specially built a sea turtle sanctuary, and on this small island with less than 1,000 inhabitants, electricity will only be turned on at 6-12 o'clock every evening, trying to maintain the original ecology. The beauty and quietness.
Dumaguete City to the terminal
Most of the tourists going to APO Island live in Dumaguete City, so you need to go to Malatapay Wharf from Duma City first. There are several ways:
- Public transportation-It is said that it is a bus, but it is actually a jeepney. The ride is at the Ceres Liner Terminal station next to the robinson shopping mall. A small sign of the destination will be hung in front of the bus. In addition, remember to prepare some change, otherwise you will regret not seeing this little reminder if you don’t ask for money. After getting off the bus, there is a small road leading to Malatapay Wharf, which is about 5 minutes’ walk away. La~
- Tutu vehicles-it is very convenient to find one in the urban area, but it will take a little longer, about 1 hour, so remember to bargain!
- One-day trip-if you feel that it is troublesome to find yourself, or if you do not have a good command of English, you can find a day trip in advance, hotel pick-ups, and car and boat tour guides to do it in one step, saving worry and effort.
Note that you must carefully watch whether this trip will go to the island before reporting for the group! In order to keep prices down, many travel agencies use the guise of a day trip to APO Island, but they don’t even go to the island! The feeling of sitting on the boat for a whole day is still a bit sour.
Pier to APO Island
After the tourists arrive at Malatapay Wharf, they can register and pay the fees, and then they can directly board the boat arranged by the staff on the island.
Picture: Malatapay Wharf terminal by network
Introduction to APO Island Infrastructure
Introduction to main activity areas
Picture: The main activity area of APO Island by Sea Bird's Nest
The area of APO Island itself is not very large, and there are not many places to be developed, so most of the activities of tourists on the island are in this part of the picture.
Area 1: At the island of APO Island, after arriving by boat from Malatapay Wharf, you will go to the island from this area. The green-roofed building facing the island is the Liberty Lodge Hotel. On the left, around a protruding rock about 200 meters, is the Apo Island Beach Resort. On the right is the sign and management office of I LOVE APO;
Area 2: Dining area;
Area 3: Rest area, tourist rest area, dive guide rest area and toilet are all here;
Area 4: Sea Turtle Sanctuary, generally snorkeling and watching sea turtles is in this area. As mentioned earlier, some local travel agencies do not take a day trip to APO Island, and their boats will always float around Area 4.
APO Island Sign and Management Office
Friends who have been to Duma and Siquijor Island should know that if you want to choose a local place to check in, and send a circle of friends by the way, the I LOVE series of signs must be regarded as the most direct one. Therefore, you can't miss it when you come to APO Island~ The sign is very easy to find. You can see it directly after taking the boat to the island from Malatapay Wharf.
Picture: I LOVE APO ISLAND by the tour guide climbing
The management office is next to the I LOVE APO sign, a small room where local people often sit and chat.
Picture: The sign board and the management office where the island fee is paid by the tour guide
rest area
After getting on the island, you can see the resting place on the right side of the beach, which is actually a row of small sheds made of bamboo and wood.
There are several tables in the shed for tourists to store items, rest, and dine, but it should be noted that these small tables are chargeable!
There is an orange square two-story building next to the rest area, where the local dive guide rests. Behind this small building is the bathroom.
Island Hotel
After a day of fun, most people will choose to take a boat back to Malatapay Wharf. But if you want to stay on the island to enjoy the beauty of Apo Island and experience the almost original ecological life, there are two hotels on the island to choose from:
- Apo Island Beach Resort: A total of nine beautiful cottages are located on the beach in a private bay overlooking the ocean. Each cottage has a private marble bathroom, fan and balcony. It should be noted that drinking water is provided to each customer in the store in a large public container, and electricity will be available from 6pm to 11pm.
- Liberty Lodge: The location is close to the snorkeling area of the Turtle Sanctuary. There is an open-air restaurant on the top. The dining environment is great, but the overall living environment is slightly inferior to Apo Island Beach Resort.
In the evening, when you come to the beach, you will find that the APO island at this time is more like an oil painting. Watching the sunset on the sea, the exhaustion of the whole day will disappear.
