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’