While we were staying on Sangat Island, we had the opportunity to do some "island hopping" to other stunning locations in the Calamian island group. The banca is the vessel of choice in the Philippines. Bancas are narrow-hulled wooden boats that have outriggers on either side to provide stability. They are used for aquatic transportation in all parts of the Philippines - and they are AWESOME!
The trushworthy banca
The first isand we visited was Black Island. It is quite a ways from Sangat, but it was worth the effort of getting there. Like Sangat, it is made of limestone, with with huge vertical cliffs dropping down to the shoreline. And guess what - from a distance the cliffs look black.
The cliffs of Black Island
Black Island, like other islands in the area was designated in 1998 as the Ancestral Domain of the Tagbanwa people. The Tagbanwa people are ethnically and culturally distinct from other filipinos. They are dark-skinned, make their living from the sea, and for the most part still practice their ancient animist religious traditions. Because the Philippine government granted them ownership of all the islands in the area, any time you come ashore you are asked to pay a small entrance fee (usually 100 pesos - around $2.50 US). Although it is a little annoying to have to remember to bring cash with you anytime you want to visit an island, the money provides an economic incentive for the Tagbanwa people to preserve the natural beauty of their homeland and to avoid the temptation to clear cut for temporary financial gain.
Welcome to Black Island
The pristine beauty of Black Island was simply stunning - both above water, and on the reef below. One of the things that this island is known for is a series of caves you can explore. They aren't developed cave with tour guides, just small caverns to explore by the light that filters in from the mouth of the cave. The swallows flew in and out of the entrance (one of the Tagbanwa people's exports is swallow's nests for bird's nest soup), and the occasional bat squeaked overhead. In one of the caves there was a deep, freshwater pond that we wer able to swim in.
The most spectacular island in the Calamians is Coron Island. It is a huge limestone island that has several deep bays and lakes that are ringed with razor-sharp limestone pinacles. It was like a set from Star Wars. Coron is a sacred location to the Tagbanwa people, and outsiders are only allowed to visit a few parts of it (albeit spectacular parts of it).
Welcome to Coron Island
A Tagbanwa hut
The first stop we made on Coron was Twin Lagoons, two adjacent sinkholes that are connected by a small cave and filled with warm seawater below and a layer of cold freshwater on top. In places the fresh and salt water would mix and produce a cool, but disorienting shimmering effect.
Swimming from one lagoon into the other
Sitting on a rock in the middle of Twin Lagoon
Our favorite spot on Coron island was Kayangan Lake, a land-locked sinkhole that is reached by a short trail from the beach. Kayangan lake is filled with fresh water, and it is the clearest lake in the Philippines. The snorkeling here was amazing, not because of the fish (there are hardly any), or because of the coral (there isn't any), but because of the wild looking limestone spires that poke up at you from out of the azure depths of the lake.
Kayangan Lake
This is one of the wierdest things we've ever seen - you should definitely take a look
The trail from the beach to Kayangan Lake takes you past a overlook where you get the view that is on all the web sites about traveling in the area.
A view from the top
The other island we visited to was Malcapuya. We went there because we heard that it had a beautiful white sand beach, but what amazed us was the color of the water.
Welcome to Malcapuya island
Another banca picture
It was hard to talk Jen into leaving this huge clam shell - she wanted to take it home
Well, that was our trip. Thanks for reading!
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