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traveling

Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog IslandsJan 10, 2012
Culion, Palawan

Touring Culion's 3 Islands - Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Islands

The Elusive Culion
I've always been curious about Culion. According to the map, it's about half the size of Busuanga - which leaves a lot of ground (or reef) to explore. But little is known about it except for being a leper colony. Sadly, I never got to tour it. Through the Calamianes Expeditions by Al and Mae Linsangan, the closest thing to it was the island tour I got that took me to Culion's 3 satellite islands - Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Islands. I was joined on the tour boat by mostly Filipino tourists. I noticed that on scuba dive tours, it's mostly foreigners, but island tours, it's mostly Filipinos. I kinda hooked-up with 3 cool guys from my Letran (where I spent the early years of my grade school).

Malcapuya Island
With a choppy sea, the nearly 2-hour boat ride to the first island, Malcapuya, was not for the sea-sick. But the long ride was worth it - Malcapuya Island boasted of a wide long beach with fine white sand with sheltered huts close to shore. We were there just to chill out and be pampered. Our meals were provided, and they were satisfying and generous - grilled fish, crabs, sea weed salad, bottled water, etc.

A Rescue
On a bouy marker pointed to me by a local, a clustering of juvenile giant clams could be seen just about 10 feet deep. But getting there was a challenge - the waves were pounding and it was quite a distance away from the shore. I was joined by one of the Letran guys who came with a mask/snorkel, but no fins. By the time I reached the clams, I already heard my buddy yelling for help. Without fins, the waves were just too much. He wasn't drowning yet, but soon to be - he looked exhausted. My biggest fear was if I rescue him and he panics, he'll take me down with him! I came close to him (but not within grabbing distance) and talked to him. Knowing he was still coherent, I asked him not to panic as I held his head from behind and did a back-paddling to shore - a rescue procedure I still remembered back in the day. We reached the shore safely with no further incident. I'm just glad he was calm the whole time.

Banana Island
Next stop was the nearby Banana Island. It wasn't as wide or long as Malcapuya but close to the shore was a drop-off, ideal for snorkeling or free-diving - which is what I did. The reef was decent, but can't really compare to the likes of Calumbuyan reef. The peeps from the party boat did some fish feeding with their masks. Again, it was just chilling out until the boatmen prompted us for the next island.

Bulog Island
Of the 3 islands, Bulog probably has the smallest and narrowest beach but with a tailing sandbar that probably connects it to the adjacent island on low tide.

Kite Boarding
The highlight of this island however, was my first sight of a kite-boarder. There was a French contingent doing kite boarding. It was epiphany for me when I saw this boarder change direction but in so doing, flew-off about 25 feet into the air, stayed suspended somehow, and then came down gently on the water while still being pulled by his kite. It was pure green energy at play - no moror boat, no mechanical towing device (unlike wake boarding). I was biten by the bug on this one. I vowed to learned kite boarding after that incident.

Trip Back
The trip back was equally as long, but this time, we were fatigued, wet and cold. Tip - bring a wind breaker with you. It would have been a perfect time to go to Maquinit Hot Spring, but as usual, I got sidetracked into some other place. Altogether, it was a full day with long-lingering thoughts about kite-boarding.

--- TheLoneRider

disclosure: Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours became clients after my initial talks with Al and Mae. This blog is not a lip-service for them - they just happen to be doing a great job and I subscribe to their vision of a community-based social enterprise.


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Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours

Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours

Island Hopping Tours Starting at P650

This Tour:Sun, Sea and Sand Eco-Tourism Experience (Tour C) P950
Malcapuya Island. Option tour to Banana Island, add entrance fee of P200/pax
Contact:Mae and Al Linsangan
Location:#11 San Agustin St., Bgry. Poblacion 3, Coron, Palawan, Philippines 5316
Landline:(02)984.7795
Mobile:+(63)919.305.4363 / +(63)920.254.6553 / +(63)915.254.3246
Email:corongaleri@yahoo.com
Coconut Insider: Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours

Rocksteady Dive Center

Rocksteady Dive Center

We're Not The Cheapest, But You Get What You Pay For

Company:Rocksteady Dive Center
Contact:Gerd and Karin
Location:Barangay 5, National Highway, Coron 5316, Palawan, Philippines
Mobile:+(63)919.624.0034 / +(63)918.695.0608
Email:rocksteadydivecenter@yahoo.com
Coconut Insider Site: Rocksteady Dive Center

Google Map > Busuanga

Google Map Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines

tourist attractions in Busuanga tourist attractions hotels in Busuanga hotel, beach house and accommodation expedition in Busuanga tour and expedition
  • Tribal Adventures Tours Tribal Adventures Tours - multi-day kayak expedition, day tours, island tours, mountain biking, snorkeling, hiking
    +63 998.999.3049 | tribaladventures@gmail.com
  • Calamianes Expeditions & Ecotours Calamianes Expeditions & Ecotours - island tours, community based ecotourism experience
    +639193054363 / +639202546553 / +63 9152543246 / 02 984 7795 | corongaleri@yahoo.com

Great Things Going for Busuanga

  • beaches, islands, snorkeling, scuba diving, wreck diving
  • you want to add some more? please submit on the form below

Not So Great Things Going Against Busuanga

  • slow and unreliable internet
Coron Blogs
  1. Beach Life at Palawan SandCastles Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
  2. Mountain Biking the Trails of Busuanga with Outback Greg of Tribal Adventures Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
  3. Yoga at Palawan SandCastles, Busuanga Oct 31-Nov 22, 2016
  4. In Search of Dugong Nov 21, 2016
  5. 3-Day Circumnavigation of Coron Island by Kayak Nov 17-19, 2016
  6. Exploring Culion Nov 5-7, 2016
  7. Traveling with Cheng Oct 31-Nov 8, 2016
  8. Tribal Adventures in Coron with Outback Greg Jan 13-17, 2016
  9. Chillingout in Coron Town, Busuanga Oct 23-29, 2012
  10. Camp Life in Camp Calauit Oct 18-23, 2012
  11. Mountain Biking Fund Raising Event in Cheey, Busuanga Oct 20, 2012
  12. Salvacion-Cheey Traverse Oct 19, 2012
  13. Into The Black Jan 31, 2012
  14. Blurring the Lines of Work and Play Jan 30, 2012
  15. Free-Diving Calumbuyan Reef, Coral Garden and Lusong Gunboat Jan 14, 2012
  16. Exploring Dive Link Resort Jan 13, 2012
  17. Coron Island Tour - Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Islands Jan 10, 2012
  18. Wreck Diving in Coron with Rocksteady Dive Center Jan 8, 2012
  19. Diving Barracuda Lake and Kogyo Maru Jan 4, 2012
  20. Banol Beach, Barracuda Lake, Calachuchi Reef, Siete Pecados Marine Park, Alcatraz Reef Island Tour Dec 27, 2011
  21. Coron Ultimate Island Tour by Calamianes Expeditions Ecotours Dec 24, 2011
  22. Life's a Beach at Camp Calauit Dec 17-31, 2011
  23. Traversing the Northern Coast of Busuanga Island Dec 14-16, 2011
  24. Skin Diving and Beach Camping at Calumbuyan Island Mar 10-12, 2010
  25. Sea Kayaking, Beach Camping and Skin Diving with Outback Greg on his Tribal Adventures Tour Mar 9-14, 2010
  26. Coron Skin Diving Mar 30, 2008
  27. Coron Kayaking Mar 31, 2008
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Comments:

Judy Tolentino PazonJudy Philippines
(Apr 16, 2012) whew! i held my breath there ha! glad you and your bud are safe.





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Cheey, Busuanga


CORON ESSENTIALS:

Coron Tribal Adventures    SandCastles beach resort Coron Busuanga
tribal adventures


Busuanga Essentials
Tribal Adventures Tours - multi-day kayak expedition, day tours, island tours, mountain biking, snorkeling, hiking
Expeditions BnB - grand opening, all new, Coron Town location
Calamianes Expeditions & Ecotours - island tours, community based ecotourism experience
Palawan SandCastles - beach house, house reef, rustic beach environment away from Coron Town





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