Cabugao Gamay ["smaller Cabugao", and "Cabugao" is the Hiligaynon word for "pomelo"] is simply the most photographed island in the Gigantes group of islands. Its small sandbar connecting two islets is now becoming to be the poster photo and unofficial face of Gigantes.

Its not surprising, the island is really beautiful. Cliche? Oh yes definitely! But I don't mind beautiful clichés.


Typhoon Yolanda washed away or eroded most of its fine white sands [photo above: the sand used to be up to the light green area even at high tide] and stripped its coconut trees of leaves, but the island is bouncing back.

There is a small hill on the northern end and this is where most of the photos of the island were taken from. A guide rope was laid to help the climbers. The area at the top is not very wide and could easily get crowded, but offers the best view. Its worth the climb on a sweltering day.

The swimming area is perfect after you have worked out a sweat climbing the hill. But our guide advised us to use snorkel/goggles to make sure we don't bump into jellies.  Care must be taken as well for the shore slopes from waist deep to "help I can't swim" deep in just a few meters.

Cabugao Gamay is one of the stops in the island hopping package offered by resorts in Gigantes Norte. If its not a package tour, you'll have to pay Php 50.00 as "entrance fee". See this map for island's location.