Unexpected adventures in the island of Masbate: A ‘Biyahe Ni Drew’ itinerary

Are you ready to explore Masbate, Biyaheros?

Imagine a place where the warm sunrise slowly envelopes sloping hills and vast farms dotted with cattles. And every April, the serene countryside awakens to the cheers of locals celebrating the annual rodeo festival. Cowboys show off their roping skills, while others wrestle with steers or horses.

One can’t help but think, “Am I in Spain?,” as the scene is reminiscent of the famous spanish rodeo sport. Fortunately, you don’t have to fly out of the country to witness such beauty!

Welcome to the island of Masbate, otherwise known as the ‘Home of the Famous Rodeo.’ For  adventure-seekers, there are pit stops with activities that will keep your adrenaline pumping!

Are you ready, Biyaheros?

En route to Masbate

There are two ways to get to the beautiful island of Masbate:

By plane

There is only one airline that has a direct fight to Masbate. One round-trip ticket can cost up to P7,000, depending on the season or how early you buy your ticket.

You may also choose to fly to Legazpi City, travel by land to Pilar, Sorsogon, and take a ferry going to Masbate.

By roro bus

There are roro buses in Araneta, Cubao which you may take for around P1,200. These buses usually leave between 1 PM to 6 PM and the travel time going to Masbate usually takes around 11 hours.

Remember! If you easily get seasick, bring candies, medications or motion sickness bags! Also, bring your neck pillows because it’s going to be a long trip!

Where to stay

Like other tourist destinations, there are a lot of resorts where you can stay in this tranquil island.

Paraiso De Palani
Balud, Masbate

People say that you’ll feel like you’re in paradise when you’re here.

For only P1,000, you may stay at this beachfront hotel and enjoy the perks of having a peaceful scenery amidst the long stretch of white sand beach. You may also order their catch of the day for a very affordable price!

For more details about Paraiso De Palani, check them out here!

Bituon Resort
Mobo, Masbate

Bituon is a Masbatenon word which means “star”.

Room rates range from P800 to P1,800 per night with free breakfast. Each room has its own air-conditioning, comfort room, and cable TV. Meanwhile, VIP rooms have their own refrigerators and mini kitchen.

For more details about Bituon, click here!

Act like a local and go explore!

Island Hopping at Buntod Island

Let the calm water and fresh breeze in this island relax you

In less than 30 minutes from the center of Masbate City, you’ll reach the island of Buntod. To get there, you can rent a big boat good for 10-15 persons which you and your love ones may enjoy for the whole day for P6,000.

Explore Buntod’s famous 250-hectare sandbar and its marine reef sanctuary which is now ranked as the second most resilient sanctuary in Central Philippines. Pay P50 and you can already rent snorkeling gears for the whole day!

There is also a wooden nipa hut station in the middle of the sandbar where you may order fresh seafood dishes for as low as P250. You may also bring your own food and enjoy having picnic with your loved ones!

Bonus! The best part? There is no entrance fee in this island! Woot!

Balud Lighthouse at Jintololo Island

Get your selfie sticks ready, Biyaheros!

A short habal-habal ride to the top of Brgy. Cantil leads to a postcard-worthy view which you should not miss.

Balud lighthouse is a fully-operational structure that used to guide ships and other sea vessels traveling from Luzon to Visayas and vice-versa. It is considered a tourist destination because of the breathtaking view at the peak, so get your selfie sticks ready, Biyaheros!

Bat-ongan Cave
Mandaon, Masbate

Prepare yourselves for what's in store for you in this cave!

It will take you almost an hour to get to this cave and the trek might get a bit challenging so make sure to wear proper hiking shoes. For just P500, you may hire the services of a guide and rent some safety gears for spelunking.

On your way, you may stop over at the Cathedral Cave. Locals say that in the past, people used to go here to wish or pray to ‘saint entierro,’ the patron of the cave who ‘grants’ the materials needed for the believers’ wedding. The place also used to be a burial cave where tourists go to every Good Friday.

Some tunnels leading up to Bat-ongan cave can get really narrow that you have to crawl through it, so make sure you wear your helmets all the time!

But don't worry because all the effort and sweat will be worth it once you see the 360-degree view at the peak which is 177 meters above sea level!

BeAHero Alert! Bat-ongan Cave is known for the breathtaking view at its peak but unfortunately, tourists have left some vandals on the cave’s walls. So Biyaheros, when you go here, remember to just take pictures and leave nothing but memories.

Bonus! You may also try going to what they call ‘The Balcony’ of Bat-ongan Cave. It is located 3-4 meters below the peak of the cave and offers a picturesque view of the whole place.

Would you just look at that view!

Bukad handicrafts for pasalubong

Don’t forget to bring home some locally-made products to your loved ones!

These handicrafts are known in the town of Balud as all material come from the swamp areas of Danao. From giant vases, handbags to wallets, Bukad handicrafts cost from P80- P2,000.

Can you handle this sss-cary activity?

Looking for a wild adventure?

Snake island is full of… yes, sea snakes! Which is why it is very important to have a local to guide you when you explore this. Despite its ominous name, the snake sanctuary is still a popular spot for tourists, and the guides can attest that nobody has been bitten (yet) in this island.

But while a trip to Snake Island may sound exciting, Drew Arellano does not recommend it to everyone as the risks can be too much.

Remember! Do not make sudden movements especially when you are near snakes! Always follow the pathway your guide will take. Safety first, Biyaheros!

Happy tummy, happy biyahero!

Bread Fruit at Bituon Restaurant

Make sure to try this when you go to Masbate!

Have you ever tried Reemas, Biyaheros?

Reemas trees are found all over the island of Masbate and locals eat its fruit. Drew Arellano says that it has the consistency of taro (gabi), the color of sweet potato, and tastes extra pleasant because of the coconut milk mixed with it.

And as Drew says, anything that has gata must be good!

Putan

This dish is Masbate’s version of Bicol’s famous laing. While the usual laing consists of taro leaves, coconut milk, pork, and chili, ‘Putan’ adds langka and dilis to their own version!

Drew says that you can pair this with rice, pizza, pasta, and even beef!

Sutukil Restaurant
Kinamaligan, Masbate City

What to do after a tiring activity? Food trip, of course!

For those who didn't know, sutukil stands for ‘sugba,’ ‘tula,’ and ‘kilawin.’ And for only P150- P200, you can already enjoy various seafood dishes like abalone in oyster sauce, seafood kare-kare, baked clams, and of course, the famous Visayan sutukil! Sulit na, fresh pa!

After all the heart-pumping activities and mouth-watering cuisines Masbate has to offer, at the end of the day, the relaxing countryside is a tranquil haven for wary Biyaheros who just want to escape the metropolis. --- VG / ARP, GMA Public Affairs