30 March 2006
Safe anchorages around Busuanga
by Tequila Mike©
There are many safe and lovely anchorages around this beautiful cruising area, however if it is your first cruise, I thought it might be useful to list the ones I consider easy to navigate in bad weather. There are in fact, many more for those who love to tuck into tiny coves and tie off ashore, so many, that you're never more than ten miles from one, with the exception of the north side of Busuanga, where I'll begin:
Maricaban Bay Marina (the resort is now called 'El Rio Y Mar') is not a true typhoon mooring, I would go by the formula of 35 knots of steady wind for a 40 foot yacht to be the maximum. However, opposite the village of Maricaban, one mile away, there is a western style house on the beach and a safe anchorage there in mud at about 10-12 mtrs. Basic supplies and transport to Coron as well. The rest of the large protected area behind Cabilauan island has numerous pearl and seaweed farms. (Not easy to navigate in a blow).
Going anti-clockwise from here, to visit the westerly islands, there is no shelter until you have rounded the point of Calauit island (stay outside Pinnacle rocks for safety). South a few miles is the entry to Illuktuk Bay, a long narrow bay open to wind, but not waves. Stay to the south of the entry channel as the reef comes further south than it seems! Anchor just outside the little bay on the north side. The bar across is 2 mtrs at mid tide so you should be shallow draft to get in here.
This bay is also the home of the rangers who provide the truck to do the African animal safari tour. I suggest you arrange this in the evening and do it in the early morning - it's much cooler then - a good trip if you haven't been to Africa.
Next safety stop would be Gutob Bay. The channel begins opposite Talampulan Island and is very pretty with safe anchoring just off the first island you come to one mile up. Be careful of the reefs and head over to the west side beach of the Busuanga river where you'll find the Swiss owned Las Perlas resort with a lovely swimming pool and the Filipino Rio Playa resort with more rooms but not as peaceful. A trip up this river is a good idea, and basic supplies can be had at the little village store. Sand flies can sometimes be a problem on the beach.
South is Concepcion village, home of Swedish Mike and his lovely wife Liz, who have the large lodge house at the beginning of the pier. The anchorage is not good in a blow though, too many reefs to worry about, so head south 1 mile and go through a dogleg to the inside of a small bay where you will find peace and quiet in a lovely anchorage out of wind and waves. 500 mtrs off this bay is the Japanese wreck of the Taei Maru, buoyed fore and aft, and a good dive.
All the islands fanning out from here are beautiful and have East facing sandy sloping beaches so anchoring on them in the North East Amihan wind is easy. I can even set back and jump off my yacht onto the beach at South Cay! The bay on the southeast side of Popototan Island is a good anchorage but is a little deep in between the two piers belonging to the Coral Bay resort and the large private houses on the hillside. The Resort may be able to give you a basic meal and drinks but they normally need advance warning.
Going east now, the area behind Sangat is too deep and too full of reefs and pearl farms to be any good in a blow so you should head for Coron or Culion. In between Sangat and Coron, going North through the Uson Island entry, there is an anchorage inside 'Port Luyucan' Bay on the port side, (be careful of the reef over on the port side at 2.2 mtr). Just west of the main yacht anchorage in Coron is Gunther's island (Canitauan on the chart), where on the west side, beside 2-3 permanently anchored boats, you can find safe anchorage. (Good bar, restaurant and rooms available).
Don't stay in a storm in front of Sea Dive, as the fetch is too long. The safe anchorage in Culion is around the corner from the town going east, deep but safe if you can get a good hold. If you're heading around Culion Island there is a well-known typhoon hole on the west side called "Halsey Harbour”. Head into the South arm almost to the end and you'll be very safe and have a great water source and huge cheap prawns available, it's like being in a mini Norway in there!
Please note: many have found anomalies on the yellow/blue 'Coron Bay' chart, up to 200 mtrs off on the GPS! The two other B/W charts covering Busuanga are good.
Over to the east side of Busuanga, there are two good spots, namely the estuary leading up to Borac village, although there are pearl farms to navigate here and then further up the coast behind Napuscud and Depagal islands in a small inlet. Do not try to cross the reef going north from here, as it's too shallow!! From there no safe havens to be found until Club Paradise is again on the horizon.
Please visit with all the Busuanga guys who have advertised in “Cruiser News” They are a wealth of knowledge and will be happy help you. Try also to pass by beautiful 'Pandan Island' on your way south, it's only 55 miles to Club Paradise. They have a mooring available and can help with supplies of fuel, beer and ice as well!!
Editor: Previous article by Mike regarding this area can be found in the back issue section of our website.
Approximate GPS positions named locations:
Maricaban Bay 12° 11.00’ 120° 06.50’
Calauit Bay Entry 12° 15.85’ 119° 51.30’
Gutob Bay Entry 12° 08.50’ 119° 51.50’
South Bay Conception 12° 01.20’ 119° 58.20’
Popototan Bay 11° 59.60’ 119° 51.30’
Port Luyucan 11° 59.30’ 120° 07.00’
Gunthers Island 11° 59.80’ 120° 11.30’
Culion Bay Entry 11° 53.50’ 120° 01.50’
Halsey Harbour Entry 11° 45.20’ 119° 55.00’
Borac Entry 12° 02.55’ 120° 20.00’
Napuscud Entry 12° 09.00’ 120° 16.00’
Pandan Island Anchorage 12° 51.00’ 120° 45.00’
Busuanga to Puerto Galera via Boracay
In the Soutwest monsoon
By Tequila Mike ©
First, a word of warning! Watch your weatherfax or the TV weather twice a day as this is typhoon season and they can come very quickly, although normally you have several days warning. They normally go north for the first few months and slowly become more westerly, but this year they’re all over the place.
This trip includes four good typhoon holes evenly spread over the trip: - Masin/Tambaron area – SE Mindoro. Looc Bay (south end) – Tablas Island. Santa Cruz – NE Marinduque. Port Balanacan – NW Marinduque. Waypoints below.
This is a fast one week trip but relaxing when taken over two weeks or more. Leaving from Coron or Club Paradise the first and last few days would be remote anchorages with some civilisation thrown in the middle, a good recipe since Puerto is waiting at the end where everything can be enjoyed by gourmands such as we are!
From Coron I would suggest a stop at Tara Island for the night or you’ll have a 65 mile first day. The next stop is in the western part of the channel between Ilin and Ambulong islands off the southern tip of Mindoro. Anchor in 14 meters of sand in front of the large solitary wooden house on Ambulong Island at the north end of the village. There are many small fishing or seaweed floats close in so don’t get to close to the steep to reef. On the opposite side of the channel there is a good anchorage for the NE monsoon in 7 meters sand in front of the mangroves, which show as a small bay on the chart. There is nothing available in this village.Next stop, about 55 miles away is Boracay.
In the SW monsoon you will anchor on the east side of the island off the reef fringing the windsurf beach. I go around the north of Boracay to get here but the currents can be strong so check your charts for the direction of currents. This beach is easy to find, as it is the lowest middle part of the island. At the north end of the beach you will see a hole in the reef with a sandy area in 14 meters of water to anchor in outside the reef. Do not try to go through this entry with anything but your dinghy, very shallow. Ashore you will see a long low wall on the beach, this is the bar restaurant of American Ray and his wife Dolly called Bayview Hills. A good place to hang out and listen to Rays’ classic music collection, hundreds of records. Time your dinghy trips in and out as inside the reef becomes very shallow.
From Bayview hills it’s a short walk across the island to White Beach where most of the action is. This time of year the beach path is shielded from the wind and sand by huge screens so the view isn’t as good as high season but most places are open and I find the place more enjoyable when everybody is more relaxed with far fewer tourists around. Calypso divers is a great place with a lovely clean swimming pool to hang out in the daytime. They also do a great buffet every night for reasonable price. Talk to Richard or Gabby about the dives around the island, everyone here is friendly and will help with info. Next door there is a huge tourist info and bank/post office complex with good e-mail café. 100 meters north is Chalhs Bar, the only one actually on the sand, where happy hour sunsets can be enjoyed with good music.200 meters south of Calypso is the best Portuguese restaurant outside Macau or Portugal. Run by Helena and Antonio, who I’ve known for 20 years, they are a bit more expensive but everything is Portuguese imported. You’ll love it, say hi from me. Another long time favourite is the Indian restaurant True Food found further north on the path, sit on cushions and have an authentic meal. Someone has opened a copy of this restaurant, which I can’t comment on so maybe it’s also good. Nigi Nigi Noo Noos is a good place with great breakfasts as is the English Bakery. For a good cheap buffet dinner try Alice in Wonderland.
If any storms are on the horizon, head up north about 20 miles to Looc Bay on Tablas Is and being careful of the reefs head to the south arm of the bay between the small reef right at the bottom and the mangrove area. The currents are very strong between the islands of Boracay, Carabao and Tablas so watch your track.
If the weather is fine then head straight up between Tablas and Romblon for Romblon town on the NW corner of the island. It’s about 45 miles normally calm water between the two islands. Famous for its marble and a tall Englishman, it’s a good place to stop for a few days exploring. Very friendly people here and loads of cheap marble shops and quarries. Anchor in the north arm of the bay in front of the town next to a marble chip factory but don’t anchor shallower than 15 meters in sand or you’ll be on the reef. It’s deep but safe. The Governor normally keeps his powerboat here so you’re safe and in good company. Dave Kershaw is the tall Englishman and can be found at his Internet café or across the road at his restaurant Jaks. He’s been here many years since he left Puerto Galera and if you ask him for anything he’ll probably help out, (tell him beers should be allowed in his internet café!). Walk up to the old fort with its Pagasa weather station and great view or head south with a tricycle to some of the lovely beaches on the coast road. You can even anchor off some of these on the way up from Boracay if you like. Better to be safe in town and ask Dave to fill up a cooler and send you off in a trike.
A short hop north of here is a good anchorage in calm weather or in the NE monsoon on the SW side of Banton Island. Otherwise head up to the NE side of Marinduque and work your way behind the islands to Santa Cruz harbour for a safe anchorage in the channel this is a big town and supplies are available. An alternative is the NW corner where you’ll find Port Balanacan harbour which also safe and you’re about 20 miles from Boac, the capital town. Not much available in Balanacan.
From here it’s a bit of a slog back to PG so I would stop in the little bay just north of Bantigui point but be careful of all the seaweed floats here. It’s calm here and you’re already two thirds the way back to PG which can be a nasty trip if the wind comes out of the west as it normally does if it’s blowing hard. That’s all for now, waypoints follow, but not for navigation, rough guide only!Tequila Mike
Ilin/Ambulong
12° 14' 00N
121° 02' 00E
Tambaron/Masin
12° 16' 00N
121° 22' 00E
Boracay
11° 57' 00N
121° 56' 50E
Looc Bay Tablas
12° 13' 00N
121° 59' 50E
Romblon
12° 35' 00N
122° 16' 00E
Banton Is.
12° 56' 00N
122° 03' 00E
Santa Cruz
13° 30' 00N
122° 04' 00E
Port Balanacan
13° 32' 00N
121° 52' 00E
Bantigui Bay
13° 42' 50N
121° 27' 00E
A Two Week Cruise To Busuanga
By Tequila Mike
Many people don’t have too much time to spend on their holiday cruise so I’ll give you an idea which could take one week but would be great on a two week cruise.
The destination cruise area is Busuanga Island, which is the most northern of the Calamian group of islands in the very north of Palawan. The area is really still unspoilt except for the immediate vicinity of Coron town, which should be avoided except for the good provisioning available here.
The itinerary I describe here, I have completed maybe 20 times and combines beaches, islands and resorts all in one cruise. The waypoints I include are basic and not to be used for navigation, merely to show the approx locations of the places described. I’m also assuming this cruise will be undertaken during the Amihan or north-easterly wind season, i.e. November to May.
An early morning start from PG and a due west heading takes you towards Calavite point, passing Del Monte point which is due south of Golo Island light house (useful for the return as you will see!) this is sometimes a wild area with currents and strong winds confusing the sea, either that or no wind at all and flat calm for the 40 miles to Calavite lighthouse. If the wind is strong NE then you will find smooth flat calm between the light and the south point of Calavite where the wind will kick in again very strong. There is a bay with a small village 3 miles south of Calavite light, which is a good anchorage in The NE but may be a little rocky if there has been a NW swell for a few days. Otherwise head over to the shelter of Mamburao, being careful to give Mamburao reef a wide berth!
30 miles or so south is the lovely private island of North Pandan, owned by two Swiss French guys who love to party. The island sometimes has a mooring available but better is to anchor in the sandy area off the NE point near the bar/restaurant in 8 metres of sand and sea grass. Don’t anchor in coral as this a protected island, any doubt, the listen in on Ch 68 and phone numbers are all in the list below this article. They will buy ice and beer etc for you from the mainland if you like and the island is very reasonable for food, drinks and accommodation if you would like to have a break ashore.
20 miles or so to the east is the vast marine park of Apo Reef. This is a fantastic reef covering about 27 sq kms and if the weather is not rough there is a safe anchorage inside the main reef to the east of Apo Is lighthouse. Please visit the ranger station and give them a bottle of something to ease their lonely existence. They will also ask for a small fee for snorkelling or diving. This money is put to good use conserving the reef, as you will see the first time you stick your head underwater!
33 miles south of here is the main island of Busuanga. The only safe anchorage on the north side of this island is the peaceful Maricaban Bay Marina Resort where there are seven moorings available for 150 Pesos per night. The good news here is that once that is covered, the beautiful swimming pool, bar restaurant, showers, towels etc are available to all the crew on the yacht free! It’s a lovely place to relax. The drinks and food are Manila prices because everything is shipped from there. This and the sister Island resort of Club Paradise are up market resorts but they will make you feel very welcome thanks to the influence of yours truly who set up the moorings. Let me know if you encounter any problems please, but do be aware that your first visit will be from our security guards who will be very courteous and help you to a mooring. They will carry Armalites but we are remote islands and our security is for everyone’s benefit and peace of mind!
There is a very strong mooring available off the SE tip of Club Paradise (Dimakya Island on the charts) for large boats to 100 tons or more but it’s normally free and it’s a good idea to motor the 3 miles from Maricaban Bay to the island for some snorkelling, diving or lunch during the daytime before returning to the tranquil mooring. Both resorts have an amazing amount of wildlife and bird population: giant monitor lizards, Calamian deer, mouse deer, huge fruit bats, night herons and thousands of birds, Maricaban has a troop of monkeys in addition and Bear cats. There is also the second largest WW2 Japanese shipwreck here at 2 miles from Maricaban. 500 feet long it is a good wreck for two dives. Talk to the dive shop in Club Paradise for help with directions, or better still, go with them!
From here I suggest a slow cruise along the coast going west and then south around the Pinnacle rocks heading for a night at anchor in Calauit Island bay (Illuktuk Bay on the chart). This is a very peaceful anchorage and a typhoon hole. It is also the base camp for the Calauit Safari tour. Hundreds of animals were brought by Tony Parkinson (SY Riva) from Kenya for the Marcos family to create a sanctuary. You will find Giraffe and Zebra among many other species on this island tour, which is very reasonable. They do the safari in the evening and early morning and need notice. I suggest you go ashore in the evening and arrange the early morning trip, its cooler!!
Heading south around the island there are some stunning, and for me the most beautiful, small islands where the sea is always calm, even in the westerlies. Stop at South Cay and Maltatayoc Islands on their east side where you can anchor and sit back onto stunning white sand beaches and enjoy some good snorkelling. These islands are mostly deserted but there are caretakers on some and they will ask you normally for 50 Pesos each for the privilege of having a private island. This goes for the islands’ upkeep and cleaning so please give without discussion, actually a lot of the islands are owned by an Englishman and he’s told me he has set phones on some of them for emergencies now.
A good anchorage in this area is Coral Bay Resort on the south side of Popototan Island in a sheltered bay. Head in and anchor no shallower than 13 mtrs at the head of the bay as the reef comes up fast. Just off the large second pier in is where I go. They may or may not have drinks or dinner available but it’s a very quiet spot.
Next day, head through the islands towards Conception town being careful of reefs and pearl farms (see note below). Safe anchorage in 14 mtrs water 500 mtrs SW of the pier, don’t get too close, reefs everywhere close in! I include this anchorage for two reasons: The Pierhouse lodge right on the pier is a very relaxing reasonable place to hang out and eat, drink and check out the waterfall, and is run by Swedish Mike and his lovely wife Liz who really does provide great food. The beer is also the coldest in Busuanga!
Lovely sunsets from the veranda, with the sun going down behind the anchorage. The other reason is that there is an ice plant on the NW tip of Kaniki Island in front of Conception, Mike will tell you where it is or will get ice for you. He can also arrange for stuff to be sent from Coron the following day via jeepney if you don’t want to head into Coron. Sat phone available.
From here we follow the coastline and the pearl farms around the island to another stunning resort called Sangat Island Reserve (Tangat Island on the chart). English Andy and his lovely girls have a 1,000ft limestone backdrop to their resort on a beautiful beach with a very good coral reef in front. Lots of monkeys and monitor lizards and again very peaceful. The generator is only run from 18:00-22:00 so nights are silent (no chickens, dogs, jeeps or karaoke!). Diving the Japanese wrecks from here is perfect because Andy is not more than 20 minutes from any of them. Sat phone available.
Coron would be the next stop on this trip although I will add another weeklong trip from here going around the island to the south in one of the following issues. It’s only about 15 miles to Coron and easy enough except for the two shoals to be wary of south of the Uson Island entrance going north. As you see the town from the passage in you will pass a resort painted yellow and blue on your starboard, called Divelink, from here head straight for the town and especially a large cream coloured hotel with three stories and double steps down to the water on either side. This is Sea Dive resort, owned by Jim, an American who is always happy to welcome yachties and is the best and easiest place to tie up your dinghy when ashore. Anchor in 10 mtrs near the large bankas in front of Sea Dive, but, again be careful of the reefs here. If in doubt, anchor out and change later after local advice as to how far to come in. Seriously smelly muddy anchorage, be prepared to wash a lot of chain on departure! Town is also very smelly but provisioning is very good here and transportation by ship and plane to Manila is very easy and cheap!
Recommended bars/restaurants: Sea Dive, L&M Pe bar, Bayside Divers lodge, Kalamayaan Inn, Kokosnuss restaurant resort (out of town but great food and quiet rooms!), Discovery Divers Island resort (also another good anchorage where they will help you, look for a Trader 40, a blue and yellow ketch and a 36 foot classic racing yacht and you’re in the right place. It’s the anchorage before you get to Sea Dive. Banaue Café and the Old House up and down are also good restaurants.
PEARL FARMS
The first time you are confronted by what looks like a solid sea of mines, do not fear, they are actually very easy to navigate. These floats are set out in “long lines“ and when closer it’s very easy to see from the float spacing. At the end of the long lines are large anchoring floats, sometimes small platforms, the actual pearl net floats are small, round and black and they are spaced much closer than the anchoring floats. All long lines are navigable along their length and every 100 mtrs or so you will find they end and leave a large space before the next one. These are channels and are navigable. So to get through these farms you can do a criss cross route or go around, and one thing which helps is you can always go to the landward side of the lines if you like as the nets are hung in 10-20 mtrs of water and they don’t like shallow. You will also find you will have an escort boat to help if needed; these are guards as this is big money. If in problems, just shrug and point to where you want to go and he will lead you through the best way, it’s his job. Do not stop ever in these farms, they’re armed and suspicious, but over the last few years they’ve become more used to yachties and sometimes I even get some smiles! They’re really not such a problem and because of them all sea life is protected by the farms from illegal fishing methods. You will also note that submerged reef points and rocks will have solitary buoys marking them for the safety of the public, very helpful, stay outside these buoys if you see them.
Departure from Coron anchorage is via a tricky passage through the reefs of Coron to the Eastern passage out, (take local knowledge before attempting the town reefs, it’s a tight channel!!) and wends your way out of the limestone crags of Coron Island to your starboard. You may also want to stop at lovely Cayangan Lake on the north side of Coron Island but this must be arranged in Coron as the local Tagbanua natives have control now of their ancestral domain and fees must be paid. Well worth a visit though. Talk to Seadive Lodge for a no hassles day trip to this lake and also the Coron town Hot springs, cheap and fun!
From here you can go inside or outside Dinaran Island and Mataya reef, heading NE for Tara Island. Anchor in sand on the West side at the south end next to the village or further north inside a large offshore rock inside the reefs, be careful, and when you leave here beware a submerged shelf way off from the last rock on NW tip of Tara. Stay at least 500 mtrs from everything.
During the NE I would suggest to return to Pandan and then Calavite. If the wind is howling, head for a bay on the south side of Golo Island about one mile west of the light. Coming from the south you will see a high ridge going west from the light, where it drops down to almost sea level is the anchorage. Sand and coral but out of the wind and waves and you are already well advanced into Calavite passage for the return the next day through the wind and waves, this can be brutal.
Later in the year I will do another extension trip ton return via S. Mindoro, Boracay, Romblon and Marinduque to take care of the SW winds.
Phone numbers:
PGYC 043-4420136
Club Paradise 0981-991797
Swedish Mike Conception 0985-409241
Seadive Coron 048-5509207
Tequila Mike 0919-5244978
Waypoints: East North
Del Monte point 120°05’ 13°33’
Calavite light 120°17’ 13°27’
Pandan Island 120°45’ 12°52’
Golo Island 120°22’ 13°39’
Club Paradise 120°05’ 12°13’
Maricaban Bay 120°06’ 12°17’
Pinnacle Rocks 119°50’ 12°20’
Calauit entrance 119°52’ 12°16’
South Cay 119°53’ 12°02’
Conception 119°58’ 12°03’
Sangat Resort 120°03’ 11°58’
Coron anchorage 120°12’ 11°59’
Here are two additional trips for people with more time to spend exploring this beautiful cruising area:-
The first extension starts from Coron town since provisioning is easiest to do here after the first part of the cruise. There are no stores or ice plants for the next week!
Head over to Culion town and anchor in about 13 mtrs of water 100 mtrs to the east of the main commercial pier. There is a small protected harbour for dinghies on the other side of the pier where your dinghy will be safe while you go ashore. This town is famous for its history as the leper colony of the Philippines dating back to the 1800’s. There is a very interesting museum if you can find the curator and key, and the old lookout by the large church on top of the hill provides a wonderful view. The hospital is the best in the area, and have no fear of leprosy, you would be hard pushed to find anyone with this. The town is clean and the mayor is a young man with a vision for his area, go and meet him and have a chat, he likes to receive people in his town.
The waters around Culion are also very clean and reefs easy to spot, unlike Coron town! From here I would suggest you cruise through the Inland Passage heading west and south towards Bulalacao Island for the night. The inland passage is really interesting, take it slow, do stop at tiny private Malcapuya Island, it’s lovely and you can come over the reef on the south side and anchor in crystal clear water in sand and snorkel around the perfect protected reef, it’s not far to travel on each day of this extension. Anchor in Bauan bay on the NE corner of Bulalacao island, it’s safe and protected. You could take your dinghy through the mangroves in the south of this bay to the multi coloured shoals on the south of the island to watch the sunset, look for the bangkas coming through to find the channel.
A few miles away is the southern tip of Coron Island which you should round and drop anchor just off a stunning bay surrounded by 1000 foot cliffs, only a dinghy can enter this spot, and try not to land as this is part of the Tagbanua tribal lands and you may be asked for cash, it’s really a good place to dinghy around taking photos before heading back for lunch on the yacht! The natives in this whole area will normally have some fish for sale if you’re interested.
A favourite place for me to stay from here is inside the horseshoe of Ditatayan Island to the SW of Bulalacao, although some people have complained about flies there recently. There is a stunning sandbar off the north tip of this island with a huge area of turquoise water, sandy bottom which would be a good place for a night if it’s very calm.
From here, head for the south of Culion Island and pass inside the little island of Calipipit and the large island just off the south tip of Culion. Again I repeat to be alert for reefs, the charts are good for this area but just take care, they’re easy to spot in this clear water. Turn the corner and head north for the entrance to Halsey harbour, there is no problem with the south passage into the entrance, the channel is 100 mtrs wide at minimum so no need to go around and approach from the west.
The best place to anchor here is at the end of the south fork (bay on the chart). This is very peaceful and the villagers will come out and offer you huge prawns for a very good price, suggest no more than 300-400 pesos a kilo. This whole bay is huge and worth a couple of days motoring around to check it out, it’s also a good typhoon hole, and at the village in South Bay you will find a large pipe which pumps out drinking water all day long from a spring ashore.
Head north from here and it’s a quick trip to Galoc island, and if you feel like being a little daring, take the passage to the south of Galoc and North of Culion to head back into Coron entrance just south of Coral Bay resort again. I have been right inside the shoals half way through this passage and the colours in the water are great if the sun is high. Take great care here.
For a no hassle passage go north of Galoc and pass by Coral Bay resort, stop here for the night or carry on for Concepcion or Sangat island resort, (see last issue). Another nice place to stop is just to the east of tiny Pass island in a bay on the west side of Lamud Island where German Jojo and his wife Margie will welcome you. There is a mooring here or anchor in front of the bar in about 15mtrs water. A good reef and good restaurant for lunch or an overnight stop. From this anchorage, do not head east as the reef between the islands is awash!!
That’s it for now folks! Next article will be an extension cruise via Boracay, Romblon and Marinduque back to PG which would be fine in NE and SW wind seasons.
Tequila Mike
WAYPOINTS
Bauan Bay 11 46 00 N 120 10 50 E
Calis Point 11 49 00 N 120 16 00 E
Cullion Town 11 54 00 N 120 01 00 E
Ditatayan Is. 11 44 00 N 120 06 00 E
Halsey Hbr. 11 45 00 N 119 56 00 E
Popototan Is. 11 59 00 N 119 52 00 E
Many people don’t have too much time to spend on their holiday cruise so I’ll give you an idea which could take one week but would be great on a two week cruise.
The destination cruise area is Busuanga Island, which is the most northern of the Calamian group of islands in the very north of Palawan. The area is really still unspoilt except for the immediate vicinity of Coron town, which should be avoided except for the good provisioning available here.
The itinerary I describe here, I have completed maybe 20 times and combines beaches, islands and resorts all in one cruise. The waypoints I include are basic and not to be used for navigation, merely to show the approx locations of the places described. I’m also assuming this cruise will be undertaken during the Amihan or north-easterly wind season, i.e. November to May.
An early morning start from PG and a due west heading takes you towards Calavite point, passing Del Monte point which is due south of Golo Island light house (useful for the return as you will see!) this is sometimes a wild area with currents and strong winds confusing the sea, either that or no wind at all and flat calm for the 40 miles to Calavite lighthouse. If the wind is strong NE then you will find smooth flat calm between the light and the south point of Calavite where the wind will kick in again very strong. There is a bay with a small village 3 miles south of Calavite light, which is a good anchorage in The NE but may be a little rocky if there has been a NW swell for a few days. Otherwise head over to the shelter of Mamburao, being careful to give Mamburao reef a wide berth!
30 miles or so south is the lovely private island of North Pandan, owned by two Swiss French guys who love to party. The island sometimes has a mooring available but better is to anchor in the sandy area off the NE point near the bar/restaurant in 8 metres of sand and sea grass. Don’t anchor in coral as this a protected island, any doubt, the listen in on Ch 68 and phone numbers are all in the list below this article. They will buy ice and beer etc for you from the mainland if you like and the island is very reasonable for food, drinks and accommodation if you would like to have a break ashore.
20 miles or so to the east is the vast marine park of Apo Reef. This is a fantastic reef covering about 27 sq kms and if the weather is not rough there is a safe anchorage inside the main reef to the east of Apo Is lighthouse. Please visit the ranger station and give them a bottle of something to ease their lonely existence. They will also ask for a small fee for snorkelling or diving. This money is put to good use conserving the reef, as you will see the first time you stick your head underwater!
33 miles south of here is the main island of Busuanga. The only safe anchorage on the north side of this island is the peaceful Maricaban Bay Marina Resort where there are seven moorings available for 150 Pesos per night. The good news here is that once that is covered, the beautiful swimming pool, bar restaurant, showers, towels etc are available to all the crew on the yacht free! It’s a lovely place to relax. The drinks and food are Manila prices because everything is shipped from there. This and the sister Island resort of Club Paradise are up market resorts but they will make you feel very welcome thanks to the influence of yours truly who set up the moorings. Let me know if you encounter any problems please, but do be aware that your first visit will be from our security guards who will be very courteous and help you to a mooring. They will carry Armalites but we are remote islands and our security is for everyone’s benefit and peace of mind!
There is a very strong mooring available off the SE tip of Club Paradise (Dimakya Island on the charts) for large boats to 100 tons or more but it’s normally free and it’s a good idea to motor the 3 miles from Maricaban Bay to the island for some snorkelling, diving or lunch during the daytime before returning to the tranquil mooring. Both resorts have an amazing amount of wildlife and bird population: giant monitor lizards, Calamian deer, mouse deer, huge fruit bats, night herons and thousands of birds, Maricaban has a troop of monkeys in addition and Bear cats. There is also the second largest WW2 Japanese shipwreck here at 2 miles from Maricaban. 500 feet long it is a good wreck for two dives. Talk to the dive shop in Club Paradise for help with directions, or better still, go with them!
From here I suggest a slow cruise along the coast going west and then south around the Pinnacle rocks heading for a night at anchor in Calauit Island bay (Illuktuk Bay on the chart). This is a very peaceful anchorage and a typhoon hole. It is also the base camp for the Calauit Safari tour. Hundreds of animals were brought by Tony Parkinson (SY Riva) from Kenya for the Marcos family to create a sanctuary. You will find Giraffe and Zebra among many other species on this island tour, which is very reasonable. They do the safari in the evening and early morning and need notice. I suggest you go ashore in the evening and arrange the early morning trip, its cooler!!
Heading south around the island there are some stunning, and for me the most beautiful, small islands where the sea is always calm, even in the westerlies. Stop at South Cay and Maltatayoc Islands on their east side where you can anchor and sit back onto stunning white sand beaches and enjoy some good snorkelling. These islands are mostly deserted but there are caretakers on some and they will ask you normally for 50 Pesos each for the privilege of having a private island. This goes for the islands’ upkeep and cleaning so please give without discussion, actually a lot of the islands are owned by an Englishman and he’s told me he has set phones on some of them for emergencies now.
A good anchorage in this area is Coral Bay Resort on the south side of Popototan Island in a sheltered bay. Head in and anchor no shallower than 13 mtrs at the head of the bay as the reef comes up fast. Just off the large second pier in is where I go. They may or may not have drinks or dinner available but it’s a very quiet spot.
Next day, head through the islands towards Conception town being careful of reefs and pearl farms (see note below). Safe anchorage in 14 mtrs water 500 mtrs SW of the pier, don’t get too close, reefs everywhere close in! I include this anchorage for two reasons: The Pierhouse lodge right on the pier is a very relaxing reasonable place to hang out and eat, drink and check out the waterfall, and is run by Swedish Mike and his lovely wife Liz who really does provide great food. The beer is also the coldest in Busuanga!
Lovely sunsets from the veranda, with the sun going down behind the anchorage. The other reason is that there is an ice plant on the NW tip of Kaniki Island in front of Conception, Mike will tell you where it is or will get ice for you. He can also arrange for stuff to be sent from Coron the following day via jeepney if you don’t want to head into Coron. Sat phone available.
From here we follow the coastline and the pearl farms around the island to another stunning resort called Sangat Island Reserve (Tangat Island on the chart). English Andy and his lovely girls have a 1,000ft limestone backdrop to their resort on a beautiful beach with a very good coral reef in front. Lots of monkeys and monitor lizards and again very peaceful. The generator is only run from 18:00-22:00 so nights are silent (no chickens, dogs, jeeps or karaoke!). Diving the Japanese wrecks from here is perfect because Andy is not more than 20 minutes from any of them. Sat phone available.
Coron would be the next stop on this trip although I will add another weeklong trip from here going around the island to the south in one of the following issues. It’s only about 15 miles to Coron and easy enough except for the two shoals to be wary of south of the Uson Island entrance going north. As you see the town from the passage in you will pass a resort painted yellow and blue on your starboard, called Divelink, from here head straight for the town and especially a large cream coloured hotel with three stories and double steps down to the water on either side. This is Sea Dive resort, owned by Jim, an American who is always happy to welcome yachties and is the best and easiest place to tie up your dinghy when ashore. Anchor in 10 mtrs near the large bankas in front of Sea Dive, but, again be careful of the reefs here. If in doubt, anchor out and change later after local advice as to how far to come in. Seriously smelly muddy anchorage, be prepared to wash a lot of chain on departure! Town is also very smelly but provisioning is very good here and transportation by ship and plane to Manila is very easy and cheap!
Recommended bars/restaurants: Sea Dive, L&M Pe bar, Bayside Divers lodge, Kalamayaan Inn, Kokosnuss restaurant resort (out of town but great food and quiet rooms!), Discovery Divers Island resort (also another good anchorage where they will help you, look for a Trader 40, a blue and yellow ketch and a 36 foot classic racing yacht and you’re in the right place. It’s the anchorage before you get to Sea Dive. Banaue Café and the Old House up and down are also good restaurants.
PEARL FARMS
The first time you are confronted by what looks like a solid sea of mines, do not fear, they are actually very easy to navigate. These floats are set out in “long lines“ and when closer it’s very easy to see from the float spacing. At the end of the long lines are large anchoring floats, sometimes small platforms, the actual pearl net floats are small, round and black and they are spaced much closer than the anchoring floats. All long lines are navigable along their length and every 100 mtrs or so you will find they end and leave a large space before the next one. These are channels and are navigable. So to get through these farms you can do a criss cross route or go around, and one thing which helps is you can always go to the landward side of the lines if you like as the nets are hung in 10-20 mtrs of water and they don’t like shallow. You will also find you will have an escort boat to help if needed; these are guards as this is big money. If in problems, just shrug and point to where you want to go and he will lead you through the best way, it’s his job. Do not stop ever in these farms, they’re armed and suspicious, but over the last few years they’ve become more used to yachties and sometimes I even get some smiles! They’re really not such a problem and because of them all sea life is protected by the farms from illegal fishing methods. You will also note that submerged reef points and rocks will have solitary buoys marking them for the safety of the public, very helpful, stay outside these buoys if you see them.
Departure from Coron anchorage is via a tricky passage through the reefs of Coron to the Eastern passage out, (take local knowledge before attempting the town reefs, it’s a tight channel!!) and wends your way out of the limestone crags of Coron Island to your starboard. You may also want to stop at lovely Cayangan Lake on the north side of Coron Island but this must be arranged in Coron as the local Tagbanua natives have control now of their ancestral domain and fees must be paid. Well worth a visit though. Talk to Seadive Lodge for a no hassles day trip to this lake and also the Coron town Hot springs, cheap and fun!
From here you can go inside or outside Dinaran Island and Mataya reef, heading NE for Tara Island. Anchor in sand on the West side at the south end next to the village or further north inside a large offshore rock inside the reefs, be careful, and when you leave here beware a submerged shelf way off from the last rock on NW tip of Tara. Stay at least 500 mtrs from everything.
During the NE I would suggest to return to Pandan and then Calavite. If the wind is howling, head for a bay on the south side of Golo Island about one mile west of the light. Coming from the south you will see a high ridge going west from the light, where it drops down to almost sea level is the anchorage. Sand and coral but out of the wind and waves and you are already well advanced into Calavite passage for the return the next day through the wind and waves, this can be brutal.
Later in the year I will do another extension trip ton return via S. Mindoro, Boracay, Romblon and Marinduque to take care of the SW winds.
Phone numbers:
PGYC 043-4420136
Club Paradise 0981-991797
Swedish Mike Conception 0985-409241
Seadive Coron 048-5509207
Tequila Mike 0919-5244978
Waypoints: East North
Del Monte point 120°05’ 13°33’
Calavite light 120°17’ 13°27’
Pandan Island 120°45’ 12°52’
Golo Island 120°22’ 13°39’
Club Paradise 120°05’ 12°13’
Maricaban Bay 120°06’ 12°17’
Pinnacle Rocks 119°50’ 12°20’
Calauit entrance 119°52’ 12°16’
South Cay 119°53’ 12°02’
Conception 119°58’ 12°03’
Sangat Resort 120°03’ 11°58’
Coron anchorage 120°12’ 11°59’
Here are two additional trips for people with more time to spend exploring this beautiful cruising area:-
The first extension starts from Coron town since provisioning is easiest to do here after the first part of the cruise. There are no stores or ice plants for the next week!
Head over to Culion town and anchor in about 13 mtrs of water 100 mtrs to the east of the main commercial pier. There is a small protected harbour for dinghies on the other side of the pier where your dinghy will be safe while you go ashore. This town is famous for its history as the leper colony of the Philippines dating back to the 1800’s. There is a very interesting museum if you can find the curator and key, and the old lookout by the large church on top of the hill provides a wonderful view. The hospital is the best in the area, and have no fear of leprosy, you would be hard pushed to find anyone with this. The town is clean and the mayor is a young man with a vision for his area, go and meet him and have a chat, he likes to receive people in his town.
The waters around Culion are also very clean and reefs easy to spot, unlike Coron town! From here I would suggest you cruise through the Inland Passage heading west and south towards Bulalacao Island for the night. The inland passage is really interesting, take it slow, do stop at tiny private Malcapuya Island, it’s lovely and you can come over the reef on the south side and anchor in crystal clear water in sand and snorkel around the perfect protected reef, it’s not far to travel on each day of this extension. Anchor in Bauan bay on the NE corner of Bulalacao island, it’s safe and protected. You could take your dinghy through the mangroves in the south of this bay to the multi coloured shoals on the south of the island to watch the sunset, look for the bangkas coming through to find the channel.
A few miles away is the southern tip of Coron Island which you should round and drop anchor just off a stunning bay surrounded by 1000 foot cliffs, only a dinghy can enter this spot, and try not to land as this is part of the Tagbanua tribal lands and you may be asked for cash, it’s really a good place to dinghy around taking photos before heading back for lunch on the yacht! The natives in this whole area will normally have some fish for sale if you’re interested.
A favourite place for me to stay from here is inside the horseshoe of Ditatayan Island to the SW of Bulalacao, although some people have complained about flies there recently. There is a stunning sandbar off the north tip of this island with a huge area of turquoise water, sandy bottom which would be a good place for a night if it’s very calm.
From here, head for the south of Culion Island and pass inside the little island of Calipipit and the large island just off the south tip of Culion. Again I repeat to be alert for reefs, the charts are good for this area but just take care, they’re easy to spot in this clear water. Turn the corner and head north for the entrance to Halsey harbour, there is no problem with the south passage into the entrance, the channel is 100 mtrs wide at minimum so no need to go around and approach from the west.
The best place to anchor here is at the end of the south fork (bay on the chart). This is very peaceful and the villagers will come out and offer you huge prawns for a very good price, suggest no more than 300-400 pesos a kilo. This whole bay is huge and worth a couple of days motoring around to check it out, it’s also a good typhoon hole, and at the village in South Bay you will find a large pipe which pumps out drinking water all day long from a spring ashore.
Head north from here and it’s a quick trip to Galoc island, and if you feel like being a little daring, take the passage to the south of Galoc and North of Culion to head back into Coron entrance just south of Coral Bay resort again. I have been right inside the shoals half way through this passage and the colours in the water are great if the sun is high. Take great care here.
For a no hassle passage go north of Galoc and pass by Coral Bay resort, stop here for the night or carry on for Concepcion or Sangat island resort, (see last issue). Another nice place to stop is just to the east of tiny Pass island in a bay on the west side of Lamud Island where German Jojo and his wife Margie will welcome you. There is a mooring here or anchor in front of the bar in about 15mtrs water. A good reef and good restaurant for lunch or an overnight stop. From this anchorage, do not head east as the reef between the islands is awash!!
That’s it for now folks! Next article will be an extension cruise via Boracay, Romblon and Marinduque back to PG which would be fine in NE and SW wind seasons.
Tequila Mike
WAYPOINTS
Bauan Bay 11 46 00 N 120 10 50 E
Calis Point 11 49 00 N 120 16 00 E
Cullion Town 11 54 00 N 120 01 00 E
Ditatayan Is. 11 44 00 N 120 06 00 E
Halsey Hbr. 11 45 00 N 119 56 00 E
Popototan Is. 11 59 00 N 119 52 00 E
Maricaban Bay Cruising Club
Yacht Friendly Moorings
Extract from PGYC Cruiser News
This second in our series of yacht friendly moorings features Maricaban Bay Cruising Club, the home of El Rio y Mar Resort and Tequila Mike. It is located on the northern side of Busuanga and is a part of the Calamian group of northern Palawan.
El Rio is a small, friendly boutique resort with 14 high-end rooms available in a peaceful bay setting. Within a few hours of being here, guests and staff are usually on first name basis.
The location offers a very peaceful nights’ sleep with almost ne’er a wave in the bay, and is the best starting point after Pandan island (last issue) for exploring the more than 100 islands surrounding the main island of Busuanga.
Most of these islands are deserted, except for the odd caretaker, and the eastern side of all of them offers a good anchorage backing onto a sandy beach during the Amihan (Dec-May Nor’easterly) season.
These are ‘yer actual’ picture postcard islands. It is worth checking in back issues of this magazine and local internet sites for information on the other two main islands of this group, Coron and Culion islands, as they all have different attractions.
Maricaban/El Rio has seven moorings available for yachts to 50 feet/25 tons max. The moorings are 25 mtrs down and have 1” poly rope underwater and 2.5 tons of concrete on the bottom.
Tequila Mike’s yacht survived the last Nov 20th typhoon, which went through Maricaban with 100 knot plus winds, tied off long to two moorings. For more information but you should read ‘Safe anchorages around Busuanga’.in Issue 4 number 4 of this magazine.
The two photos in this article show an approach to the bay from the NNW towards the first waypoint and the second shows a view toward the moorings with the resort off the starboard side. Keep 100 meters off the resort and you should be fine to the waypoint on the moorings.The charts you will need for this area are:-- Northern part of Busuanga- Western entrance to Coron Bay- Coron Bay.
Another helpful chart is the chart for anchorages around Busuanga. On all charts the area is referred to as ‘Port Caltom’
The mooring charge is 150 pesos per day and this entitles each crew member to the following benefits:-
Extract from PGYC Cruiser News
This second in our series of yacht friendly moorings features Maricaban Bay Cruising Club, the home of El Rio y Mar Resort and Tequila Mike. It is located on the northern side of Busuanga and is a part of the Calamian group of northern Palawan.
El Rio is a small, friendly boutique resort with 14 high-end rooms available in a peaceful bay setting. Within a few hours of being here, guests and staff are usually on first name basis.
The location offers a very peaceful nights’ sleep with almost ne’er a wave in the bay, and is the best starting point after Pandan island (last issue) for exploring the more than 100 islands surrounding the main island of Busuanga.
Most of these islands are deserted, except for the odd caretaker, and the eastern side of all of them offers a good anchorage backing onto a sandy beach during the Amihan (Dec-May Nor’easterly) season.
These are ‘yer actual’ picture postcard islands. It is worth checking in back issues of this magazine and local internet sites for information on the other two main islands of this group, Coron and Culion islands, as they all have different attractions.
Maricaban/El Rio has seven moorings available for yachts to 50 feet/25 tons max. The moorings are 25 mtrs down and have 1” poly rope underwater and 2.5 tons of concrete on the bottom.
Tequila Mike’s yacht survived the last Nov 20th typhoon, which went through Maricaban with 100 knot plus winds, tied off long to two moorings. For more information but you should read ‘Safe anchorages around Busuanga’.in Issue 4 number 4 of this magazine.
The two photos in this article show an approach to the bay from the NNW towards the first waypoint and the second shows a view toward the moorings with the resort off the starboard side. Keep 100 meters off the resort and you should be fine to the waypoint on the moorings.The charts you will need for this area are:-- Northern part of Busuanga- Western entrance to Coron Bay- Coron Bay.
Another helpful chart is the chart for anchorages around Busuanga. On all charts the area is referred to as ‘Port Caltom’
The mooring charge is 150 pesos per day and this entitles each crew member to the following benefits:-
- 50% discount on all drinks except wine
- 30% discount on a la carte and buffet meal prices
- Free transport to Coron and back (regular shuttles only)
- Free transport to Club Paradise for the day, (500 peso consumable island fee)
- Free use of facilities such as pools, showers, towels etc
- Discounted supplies such as diesel, veggies, beer etc.
Both Club Paradise and El Rio are high end resorts, and sailors are the only group so far who have been given such discounts, so please respect this concession to us mariners and keep the peace. No fishing from yachts is allowed in either resort in an effort to try to protect the reefs and marine life.
In El Rio, there is a beautiful freshwater infinity pool, television / dvd in rooms, internet, lots of watersports with the exception jet skis and parasailing. El Rio is also the closest location to the Calauit Island African Safari, and escorted trips can eb arranged to visit the animals that Tony Parkinson brought over from Kenya in the 70’s, (actually the originals are probably all dead by now but the offspring are thriving!).
The diving from Club Paradise, run by Dirk and Rolfie and a team of experienced divemasters , is excellent. There is a WWII 500 foot wreck just two miles from El Rio and if you need tank fills or equipment, check out the advert in the Cruiser News for the Dugong Dive Centre at Club Paradise.
The house reef there has many large turtles, a giant clam garden, black tip reef sharks and huge cuttlefish as well as large schools of Jacks buzzing around.
Both resorts run on 24 hour generated power and have workshops equipped to help with many repairs. Beautiful rooms are available in both resorts at a reasonable price but bookings can be heavy in season. Well worth checking out if you need a night off the boat in aircon-hot water luxury.
If you blow your horn as you pass the resort on your way in, someone will come out and show you to a mooring suitable for the size of your yacht. First dinghy pick-up is free, but best to use your dinghy to the floating dock after that.
Motor yachts and very large sailboats should anchor 100 meters off the large white roofed building as you pass the resort. Anchor in 25 meters and you should be in sand. This is a honeycombed reef and if you anchor shallower you’ll be dropping your anchor on coral ridges. Certainly not appreciated!
ContactsTequila Mike +63920 9505944
Gm Sharmaine +63 920 6350298
El Rio Y Mar +63 920 9515009
Club Paradise +63 920 9119704
Waypoints:
Port Caltom Bay Entry N 12.11.02 E 120.06.53
Bearing To Moorings 306-307 Degrees Magnetic
Moorings Waypoint N 12.11.46 E 120.05.92
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Tequila Mike's Quick Guide to Puerto Galera
FROM MANILA
Swagman hotel, 411 Flores street, Ermita.- minibus service at 0800 direct to Batangas – 6-700 pesos
Citystate Tower hotel, Mabini street, Ermita- luxury air con coach direct to Batangas – 700 pesos SIKAT COMPANY IN THE LOBBY
Taxi – maybe 2000 one way, also covers most minibuses as private transport
BATANGAS
Look for a boat going to Puerto Galera town (Muelle) for town accommodation
PUERTO GALERA ACCOMODATION
The Moorings serviced apartments, above the yacht club at the west side of the bay, are very nice and priced at 75usd as of now. Discounts available for yacht club members. Swimming pool, tennis court and pleasant peaceful bar area. (DAISY)
Badladz at the eastern edge of the pier has aircon/hot water/tv in basic rooms for 1000 pesos. One of the best bars for meeting the local expats.
Canadian/English owners (SEAN/CHRIS)
Hotel California in the town is fairly noisy with the chickens next door but reasonable at around 700 pesos, tv lounge and good food. Canadian owner (GINO)
Bahay Pilipino, right at the centre opposite Candava supermarket is noisy/basic but great value at around 300-500 pesos, with excellent food, german owned (DR.FRITZ)
Coco point, on the pier near Badladz, very noisy, rooms not too bad, but the karaoke/tricycles and staff watching local tv all day put me off-800pesos
BARS
ON THE PIER
All the following are good:- from east to west
Badladz – rock n’ roll – sharkeez pizza – harbour point(best food) –mr.flippy(fast food but good)
In town :- bahay Pilipino – hotel California – sugar shack
DIVING
Available at Badladz
INTERNET
Available at :- Badladz – bernd’s internet café – rock n’ roll – and wireless connection (free) at Sharkees - also in town
MOTORCYCLE RENTAL
Badladz – 100 pesos per hour or 1000 per 24 hrs
PUERTO GALERA YACHT CLUB
This is a great place to spend a few hours away from the noise and bustle of town. Look for the yellow dinghy at the west end of the pier in front of the Pier Pub Pizza restaurant. A 3 minute ride free of charge will take you to the YC pier, open to all and famous for the Friday night BBQ and the place where most expats and yachties hang out regularly. Check out the notice board downstairs for local info/boats for sale etc. food is good and the menu extensive, the beer is cold and there’s a happy hour aswell. In the Moorings apartments up behind the club are great rooms for rent and you could always ask Daisy if you could have a quick swim in the pool. If you’re staying in Sabang, there is a free jeepney service from there and back on Friday evenings for the BBQ.
Check out the notice board for the Classic Club if you are a gourmet and have nothing to do on Thursdays. The club meets at a different restaurant every week and it’s a bargain for great food and company.
THINGS TO DO
Rent a motorbike from Badladz and visit the following:-
Ponderosa golf club and bar/restaurant, 2000 feet up on a ridge with a stunning view of the whole isthmus of Puerto galera, nice and cool but don’t go if you see clouds up there too much, it rains a lot.
Luca’s Italian restaurant right at the farthest west point of the road past white beach, it ends at a dirt track behind the beach at Talipanan and is well worth the trip for great Italian food, cheap, and right on the sand, very popular with everyone from as far as sabang.
Coral Cove resort, on its’ own little beach with lovely views across the bay and great food and drinks. Go to sabang and turn right at the Tropicana restaurant(looks like a castle), through the market and up and down hills, just ask if you get lost, although it’s not possible. Check brakes before the final descent into the resort, it’s very steep! (DEBBIE-JIM)
The waterfall about 45 minutes out of Puerto galera on the Calapan road.
ON FOOT
The Hash House Harriers running club, every Sunday at Capt’n Greggs in Sabang, contact them for more details. (CHUCK)
Walk 15 minute out of town and have some Italian food with Giuseppe at Fisherman’s cove, going west out of town.
Take a jeep to Aninuan village and walk up the river for 45 minutes to find the waterfalls way up there, it’s a quick walk from there to the Ponderosa aswell.
Sail the Lawin dinghies out of the Sandbar beach resort near the yacht club, contact Donna at the club for details and days to go out.
HAVE FUN
Tequila Mike
29 March 2006
proof of tequila
there seem to be a lot of tequila mikes' out there!!!
hands up who regularly drank 8 beers, half a bottle of bacardi and a full bottle of cuervo gold during each and every day between May and October during the eighties. i reckon i earned the name, imagine how much all that shit cost me!
by the way i'm tequila mike in five countries:- Portugal, Hong Kong, Kenya, Vietnam, Philippines.
it's been a wonderful way of meeting people and having fun, however, due to the encroaching approaching fifties era of my life, i've cut back a lot and now stick to San Miguel, named after me! each shot of tequila gives one day of hangover, so i don't do it much anymore.
you should all visit my friend Tequila Billy coz he has definitely taken over from me. bye
hands up who regularly drank 8 beers, half a bottle of bacardi and a full bottle of cuervo gold during each and every day between May and October during the eighties. i reckon i earned the name, imagine how much all that shit cost me!
by the way i'm tequila mike in five countries:- Portugal, Hong Kong, Kenya, Vietnam, Philippines.
it's been a wonderful way of meeting people and having fun, however, due to the encroaching approaching fifties era of my life, i've cut back a lot and now stick to San Miguel, named after me! each shot of tequila gives one day of hangover, so i don't do it much anymore.
you should all visit my friend Tequila Billy coz he has definitely taken over from me. bye
27 March 2006
It was an amazing day, though. whilst emptying water from one of my fleet of speedboats, I noticed Mike o'Farrell landing his seaplane www.seaplane-philippines.com on the calm waters of our lovely bay at el rio y mar resort. he had to take 4 russians and 400 kg of luggage to Lagen resort off El Nido town in Palawan. Two trips later I joined him for his return flight to Subic Bay, north of Manila, where I met up with Russ and Aiko and Alan Burrell and Susie, along with Tequila Billy, Brian Homan, the owner of Magellans Landing bar, and Tony Bradley et al. Several more beers later we wafted back to manila in Alans' new Chevrolet, 'it drives itself', rv. Boddington met me at his house with a screwdriver to open my suitcase and then many more beers were drunk whilst playing with computers, probably a 25 beer day all in all, hence the last posting.
set up this blogspot today, and bought www.tequilamike.com
set up this blogspot today, and bought www.tequilamike.com
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