A Guide To Traveling To Alibijaban Island (Itinerary & Tips)

ALIBIJABAN ISLAND will always be one of our favorite places in the Philippines. During the Holy Week break, together with our friends, we visited the beautiful island of Alibijaban. Honestly, we've never heard of this island before but, after searching it on google, we immediately fell in love with its mysterious and appealing beauty. The simplicity of this island made us want to live there. This island will encourage you to embrace its way of life. 

How To Get There

We did not commute going to Alibijaban Island but, we researched and asked a few of our friends who have been there on how to get to the island.

You have two transportation options if you choose to commute:

1. NON-STOP - You can ride an ordinary bus from Cubao to San Andres via the Superlines Bus or you can ride the Barney Auto Lines at Starmall Alabang (Fare is P417.00 regular price and P337.00 for students and senior. To be sure, ask for the exact fare cause they might change it every now and then). It will take you approximately 12 hours to get there. 

Note: These non-stops buses are an ordinary bus type which means there's no aircon only AIR CONTINUOUS :p

2. 2 STOPS -  You can ride aircon buses from Cubao/Pasay to Lucena Grand Terminal (JAC, Jam Liner, or DLTB Co.) and then from Lucena you may ride a van or an ordinary bus going to Port San Andres.

Cubao to Lucena Grand Terminal - Fare is P280.00 (Travel Time: 5 hours)

Lucena to San Andres - Fare is P250.00 (Ordinary Bus Travel Time is 6 Hours)

When you get to Port San Andres, Quezon, you will need to ride a boat to get to Alibijaban Island.

ITINERARY (3 days and 2 nights)

- Island Hopping

1. Tinalisayan Island + Sandbar

2. Sombrero Island

3. Animasola Island 

4. Snake Island

You have to allot one (1) whole day to do the Island Hopping activity or two (2) days. Locals suggested that its best to start the island hopping activity around 4:00 in the morning so that you can catch the sunrise. The travel time from Alibijaban Island to Tinalisayan Island, via boat ride, is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

We only got to visit Tinalisayan Island and Sandbar and a part of Sombrero Island (a part of it) since we ran out of time. We noticed that the view and the beach keeps getting better every island that we visit. We spent most of our time snorkeling and taking photos and videos at Tinalisayan beach. We loved and enjoyed every second we were in that island. We didn't want to leave! The place was just magnificent! :)

Kindly also take note that they charge environmental fees when you visit the islands. We paid P50.00/each when we visited Tinalisayan. Also, as tourists let us be kind to the locals there. They charge for environmental fees so that they could take care of the place. While we were there, there was this one tourist who was so frustrated that she had to pay for the environmental fee, she was mad and asked for a written proof that they are authorized to collect the environmental fee. I just felt so bad for the locals because they were just doing their job. So please, let's be kind and respectful to the locals.

Here is the Island Hopping Boat Fare

- Visit the Alibijaban Island Sandbar and Mangrove Trees 

The sandbar and mangrove trees are located on the other side of the island. It was a long walk from our place but, it was definitely worth it. If you don't want to walk, I heard that the boat ride costs  P50.00.

- Dine at the Floating Cottage

 The floating cottage is around P200.00/hour. There's a lot of tourists who wants to experience eating at the floating cottage so, its best to talk to the Kapitana to reserve your slot.

ACCOMMODATION

 Our island host is the Alburo Family. You won't see any hotels in the island, however, there are available Barong-Barong (small hut). Our hosts, Kuya Freddie and Ate Nene Alburo ,have three (3) barong-barong that are available to rent.

Here is their contact number: 0910-762-9259. You may also contact them to arrange your island activities. They have been in the island for a looooooong time so they are really experts. They have a boat you may also rent. They are the best, generous, good and kind-hearted hosts we have ever met and they always want the best for their guests.

Barong - Barong #1: This hut is a bit bigger compared to the other huts. It can accommodate around 5-6 pax. The rental fee for this hut is P700.00/night

Barong - Barong #2: This hut can accommodate around 3-4 pax. The rental fee for this hut is P500.00/night

Barong - Barong #3: This hut can accommodate around 4-5 pax. The rental fee for this hut is P500.00/night. This hut has a small island style kitchen with available cooking wares to use

They have an available  bathroom for all of their guest to use. One side of the comfort room has a toilet bowl and the other side is solely for taking a bath. If you need to use the bathroom because you need to do #1 or #2, get a bucket and fill it up with sea water so you can use it to flush down the toilet.  

If you'd like to take a bath, we suggest to that you do it around 5:00pm - 6:00pm because you still need to get the water from the well. The water from the well is a bit salty but its okay. However, if you really want to take a good bath then, you'd have to walk pass the elementary school to get to the artesian well/pump (in tagalog, poso). lol!

In our experience, what we did is that we took a shower using the poso (I'm so arte haha :p). On our way back to our place, we stopped by the well and filled up our bucket with water so that we have spare water in case of emergency. We changed our clothes inside the bathroom.

In case they don't have any available huts for rent, you may rent a tent from Kuya Freddie and Ate Nene for P200.00/night or buy your own tent. During our visit, they didn't have any available hut for rent and that is why brought our own tent. 

This is Kuya Freddie. He is our hardworking and very kind tour guide. He owns the Four Kings Boat.

TIPS

- Bring the essentials: Sunblock / Sunscreen, Flashlight or Headlamp, Insect repellant, First-Aid kit, Personal Medication, Shampoo and Conditioner sachet, Soap, Aloe Vera gel, Water (for personal consumption), Powerbank and extra cash.

- What to wear: Just bring enough clothes during your trip. Bring a hat and shades since its really hot there. I got a really bad sunburn because I was under the sun all the time and unfortunately, I forgot to bring a hat. For swimwear, we suggest that you bring Rashguard and Reef Shoes. Especially when you're visiting the different islands, your skin will be exposed to the heat of the sun and that is why its best to wear a long sleeves Rashguard. Believe me! I know what I'm talking about :) The reef shoes will protect you from getting your feet hurt from sharp reef edges, stones, and sea urchins. There are a lot of sea urchins in the island and you need to protect yourself from them.

- Food: If you're going to stay for 2 days and 1 night, we suggest that you bring your own marinated raw food and canned goods so that you don't have to spend a lot for food. On the other hand, if you're going to stay there for 3 days and 2 nights, you can still bring your marinated and ready to cook raw food and canned goods but, you can buy fresh sea foods in the island. Food is not too expensive in the island. There are no available kitchens or ovens and so, you will need to learn to cook your food the island way. Also, just bring paper plates, plastic spoon and fork, and plastic cups. This will save you from the hassle of washing your dishes all the time. In addition, if you're going to bring raw food to cook, bring some portable grill and cook wares. On the other hand, you may also ask the island host if you could borrow some of their kitchen wares to cook your food. Charcoal is available for purchase and is very inexpensive at San Andres, Quezon. So before boarding the boat going to the island, buy your charcoal first. Oh! and don't forget your cooler to keep your drinks cold. You can also buy some ice in the island. :)

- Bawal Maarte! Alibijaban Island is not a place for people whose number 1 priority is comfort. There's no Meralco, Maynilad or Cable TV available for your convenience. You will need to embrace its way of life. Converse with the locals. Learn about the history of their place. Learn their means of living. It helps to know the heart of the island for you to really fully appreciate this beautiful place. Beyond those Instagram filters, the real beauty and treasure of this place are its people.

- Practice the LNT (Leave No Trace) policy. Bring a trash bag and make sure that you dispose your trash properly.

- Best to visit this place with your whole family or friends. Like how the saying goes, The more the merrier! :)

We can't wait for you all to visit Alibijaban Island and experience the amazing island life. If you have any questions, concerns, or even suggestions to make everyone's stay more enjoyable and fun, please comment down below!

We are beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to discover another beautiful place in the Philippines. We can't wait to go back and see more of this place. Daghang Salamat Alibijaban Island for all the wonderful memories and to many more!