Hundred Islands, Pangasinan: Hop, hop we go

The bus trip was quick. We left the Victory terminal in Cubao at 12:30am and we arrived in Alaminos, Pangasinan at 5:30. Alaminos was sleepy but the Christ-pretend carrying a wooden cross, and  men who painted their faces red and whipped their backs with rubber leashes, had been kept the town alive. Since our arrival was earlier than expected, we were compelled to look for a place for a quick nap.





It was a long weekend so all the resorts and guesthouses in Lucap, the jump-off point to the Hundred Islands, were full. Our trike driver suggested that we look for a place to stay in the next town and luckily, we were able to find two vacant rooms at Romanz.

We slept, woke up at 8am, and headed to the tourist center for the registration. The tourist officer told us that we can explore the islands until 5pm. We had our lunch, drinks, and some snacks packed at a nearby canteen. We rented a cooler for our beers and off we went.

From afar, the hundred islands looked like the Chocolate Hills. It was amazing seeing so many islets around me, in different forms and sizes, each with a unique beauty to boast for and a story to tell. Even more amazing how nature and time worked so harmoniously to form beautiful creations like this. We hopped from one island to another, saw caves, saw the islets from an aerial view, saw the islets from within, swam, snorkeled, drank on the boat, ate, laughed, sunbathed. For lunch, we asked our boatman to bring us to a less-crowded island where we spent the rest of the afternoon.

Tipsy and tired, we took off back for the tourist center at 4pm. I have to admit, hopping islands was tiring. Maybe because we've been drinking too much beer on boat. But who cares?

Hundred Islands travel guide

Fees:
Entrance fee: P20 per pax
Motorboat day tour rates (rates per boat, not per pax):
P800 for small boat that could accommodate 1-5 pax
P1,000 for medium boat that could accommodate 6-10 pax
P1,100 for a large boat that could accommodate 11-15 pax

Snorkeling gear: P300 per set (Friends who snorkeled were quite disappointed with the underwater scene so instead of getting several snorkeling sets, get just one which you can share with the whole group.)

Contact person: Joey Baniqued 09196809375