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This blog is an amateur photographer's attempt to show how beautiful the world really is. He is drawn to the colors of nature like a moth to a candle light. What are showcased here are nature's grand display of colors at sunrise and sunset, beautiful beaches and off-the-beaten track locations in his beloved Philippines, waterfalls and some of nature's great sculptures, architectural gems, and other views from around SE Asia that he was fortunate to see at one point.

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July 8, 2008

missing cagbalete island


Orange skiffs on a hot summer day

Cagbalete Island in Mauban, Quezon (eastern side of Luzon, Pacific Ocean) is one of my most favorite destination. Ironically I have not written about it until now (a friend wrote extensively about our sojourn there in his blog libot).

Its a gem of an island off the coast of Mauban (4-5 travel hours from Manila, great directions on how to go there from this site - maintained by one of the resort owners. Some of my photos ended up in their gallery) with white sand beaches that can rival those in the popular resorts here in the Philippines.

From Mauban, its a 45 minute boat ride to the island. There are usually two trips daily, one in the morning (around 10AM) and another in the afternoon. Folks from Cagbalete constantly commute to Mauban to get supplies or to conduct trade. Cagbalete produces lambanog - a vodka like liquor fermented from sasa (a palm-like tree that usually grows on marshes and river banks).

Mang Lito (boat captain) personally ferried us to the shore

The island is bordered by Lamon Bay in the west and the Pacific Ocean in the east. It is privately owned but there is a small fishing community, called Sabang, in the southwestern part of the island.

A Cagbalete welcome (Sabang)

During low tide (at around 8AM and another one at around 9PM), a huge expanse of beach in the eastern side of the island is transformed into a desert like landscape. The water recedes almost 800 meters from the shore.

A stranded skiff

Low tide sand ripples

Cagbalete also has a diverse wildlife ecosystem. It is home to a variety of species of birds and land animals. You'll be able to see flocks of birds feeding on crustaceans and small fishes trapped in pools of water during low tide.

For those who can wake up early, Cagbalete's east side offers a great view of Pacific sunrise.

A Pacific sunrise

So whether you are a beach bum or a nature lover, Cagbalete has something to offer you. (I was happy to inspire quite a few to visit Cagbalete)

A Cagbalete summer day

But alas the rainy days are here! The mighty Pacific cooks up a storm on a weekly basis. I guess we all have to long for Cagbalete until the next summer.

More Cagbalete photos here.
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Lantaw
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17 comments:

.::. Vanny .:. said...

ganda naman ng mga pix! ;)

at in fernes, astig pumosing ni mang lito! ^_^

lagal[og] said...

love the sand ripples bai.
cagbalete seems to be a piece of heaven this side of luzon. tfs!

Lantaw said...

@vanny - thanks! buti hinde sya na "conscious" nung kinukunan ko sya ng pics :)

@oggie - thanks bai! tara na sa Cagbalete kahit tag ulan :D

Anonymous said...

Ganda! Love the colors, very lively and that sand ripples shot, galing. Been hearing a lot about Cagbalete lately. Hope I can visit the place soon.

Lantaw said...

bai Ferdz! salamat sa pag bisita. tara na sa Cagbalete! Hinde naman sya magastos masyado kasi we can just camp on the beach :).

escape said...

galing! ganda pag low tide. pero parang hindi white sand ang buhangin. pero siguradong ma eenjoyan.

ngayong ko lang narinig ang island na to. salamat sa mga links on how to get there.

Lantaw said...

@dom - may portions (Sabang and the southern tip of the island - Pansacola resort) na powdery white siya (well not really white white) and there are also portions where its "coral sand". thanks for the visit bro!

zherwin said...

buti nakauna na tayo sa cagbalete, recently na-feature sila (specifically ang villa cleofas) sa tv, sa studio 23. so medyo sumisikat na ang island.

hanggang ngayon medyo mixed pa rin yung pakiramdam ko sa pagsi-share ng info about cagbalete (both on my blog and on multiply) kasi mas maraming makakabasa, mas maraming makakaalam at makakarating sa lugar. maganda sa ekonomiya yun ng mauban pero di rin maiiwasan, kasama sa dagsa ng turista ang basura at pagka-istorbo ng lugar.

sana di sya mag-suffer katulad ng anawangin.

Oman said...

wow. i would love to go there someday. hidden paradise pala yan.

i somewhat share zherwin's sentiments, sometimes, its better that places like these remain hidden from tourists who likes to pollute them.

but anyhow, the place is just great and you captured 'em very well.

escape said...

allan magkano ang budget dyan?

zherwin said...

the dong, mura lang, para magka-idea ka, pasyal ka rito: http://zippinoy.blogspot.com/2008/04/is-it-okay-if-i-call-you-mine.html

at saka rito: http://zippinoy.blogspot.com/2008/04/cagbalete-island-how-to-go-there.html

Lantaw said...

@lawstude - as long as its not heavily commercialized I think OK lang. besides the island is privately owned. thanks for the visit bro!

@zherwin - thanks for the sharing the links. Already emailed Dom couple of days ago a spreadsheet of possible expenses for a simple Cagbalete trip :)

The Islander said...

is it the camera who did the magic or really the place that is great???

wow wow wow!

gusto ko maexperience ang mga sceneries na to.

Lantaw said...

@the islander - its one of the best destinations in eastern luzon. the place is really great bro. come to cagbalete during the summer, its like boracay + palawan without the crowd.

The Islander said...

great! ill persuade my friends to take cagbalete as the next destination.

Maubanin.. said...

Salamat naman at nagandahan kayo sa aming lugar. Balik lang kayo kung kelan nyo gusto.

Anonymous said...

Pwede po ba sumama sa mga fishermen mamalakaya?

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