SUMMER TIME: ISLAND RELAXATION IN SAMAL
By Walter Balane

www.istambay.wordpress.com

Boracay remains to be a paradise for tourists here and abroad with its fine white sand and inspiring sunsets. However, those who want to explore beyond the fringes of the island can normally look for other adventures on mainland Panay and other destinations in the Visayas identified as key ecotourism sites.

These ecotourism keysites possess natural cultural futures, availability of complimentary facilities, accessibility, and security that are selected based on the criteria set by the National Ecotourism Steering Committee (NESC), which is spearheaded by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

As the whole Visayas is a string of islands stretching from Panay to Samar in the Pacific, they are conveniently interconnected by ferry or by air linking each island’s urban centers (Kalibo, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Tacloban) to natural ecotourism sites in their respective provinces. These cities have modern tourist and communication facilities, banks and daily flights to Manila.

First stop is Mt. Kanlaon of Negros Occidental. It is one of the 13 most active volcanoes in the Philippines with a towering height of 2,465 meters making it the highest peak in the Visayas. Lush greenery shrouds its surface making it perfect for fine mountaineering, wild life watching, camping, rock climbing and scientific research for the scholars. While the best time to climb is between March and May, the park is always exciting to visit anytime of the year. From Caticlan, Boracay, take a bus or van to Iloilo City for a five-hour trip followed by a 45-minute fastcraft ride to Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental. You can then take the final one and a half hour trip to Mt. Kanlaon National Park.

At the other side of Negros Island, you can find the Apo Island Marine and Fish Sanctuary, which is considered as a “diving paradise.” From Bacolod City, travel by bus down south to Dumaguete City for about three hours, which is a charming place and is known as the “City of Gentle People.” You can then take a jeepney to the town of Zamboangita. From there, hop to another jeepney to Malatapay Market by the beach where you will find several boats with regular schedule to the island until 4pm. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes and the waves can get big, so you need to pack your things in waterproof bags.

Those who want a brush with thousands of migratory birds from Siberia, Northern China and Japan can visit Olango Island of Cebu. Anticipating scarcity of food and freezing winter, these birds travel nonstop from 3,000 to 15,000 kilometers making Olango as a major refueling station and as a wintering ground from February to April. Some of them take an onward flight to Australia and New Zealand. Ecotourists can also observe the 920-hectare protected wetland’s diverse coastal ecosystem. From Caticlan, tourists can take a direct flight to Cebu with its two daily flights. If you are in Dumaguete, you can take a fastcraft for two hours and a slow boat for five hours.

Just an hour and a half away by fastcraft is Bohol, famous for its Chocolate Hills and cuddly tarsiers. It is also sought for its deep jungle, unspoiled rivers, lush lowland or high seas, scuba diving havens, majestic falls and caves. The island has been declared as a Heritage Province as its tourism destinations include centuries-old churches, towers and historical landmarks. You can also fly out to Manila from Tagbilaran City.

Another destination you might like to explore is Lake Danao in Ormoc, which is an enchanting mountain refuge. The guitar-shaped lake covers an area of 148 hectares and is a consistent awardee for having the cleanest body of water in the Visayas. You can also spot some deer, wild boar or capering squirrels attesting to the rich flora and fauna of the place. It is also convenient to visit, as it is just a half hour drive from Ormoc City. From Cebu, you can take a fastcraft for less than two hours to reach Ormoc.

While in Leyte, proceed to nearby Sohoton National Park, Basey, Samar via Tacloban City, Leyte that is famous for its caves, a subterranean river, waterfalls, and an endless array of subterranean exquisite rock formations. As you make your way to the rock tunnels, there are natural bridges and huge sky-lit caverns, as well as over dozens of underground chambers or cave entrances on the faces of towering and rugged cliffs. The park has three navigable rivers: Basey, Sohoton and Bugasan Rivers. Tacloban has daily flights to Manila for a convenient travel around the area.

But these ecotour sites in the Visayas are just six of the 32 natural wonders of the country. For those who want to explore the rest of the ecotoursim sites, email philnedmanila@yahoo.com.