Exploring Tulang Diot (Little Island)

GPS waypoint: 10°42'52.22"N 124°19'31.63"E
Location : Tulang Diot (Sitio), San Francisco (municipality), Camotes Islands, Cebu (province), Philippines
Fees: P10 boat fare, no entrance fee, P150 picnic table (optional)

Tudela Invite
I've always been curious about Tulang Diot but never made any concrete plan to visit until I got an invite from my 2 Tudela friends, Alyssha and Charlotte. The invite extended to the rest of the Kayla Me crew, but it didn't take off. With just a few days left before my departure from Camotes, I made a plan to visit myself and explore the island on an overnight stay. I made a last-minute invite to my Tudela friends if they wish to join me. They caught up later.

Getting There
I rode my bike to Tulang Daku (drop-off from the mainland) and asked the boatman where I can park my bike for an overnight stay. He offered his house - nice! Locals are friendly and accommodating here. The P10 boat ride was only 10 mins and I was dropped on the island. I didn't have to make arrangement for the return as there are many boats plying the route.

Beach Life
There is a semi-circular fine white sand beach on the southern tip of the island. This is where the tourists stay. On the northern tip of the island is a lighthouse which is hikeable. The lighthouse should offer a nice view but I didn't get there. The island is roughly 1.5 kms long at its longest. There isn't much else on the island although the locals say there is a cave (but not really offered to tourists). Essentially, you go to Tulang Diot for the beach and not much else.

Boat Tour
Alyssha and Charlotte finally arrived with Krystle, a colleague. We took a boat tour. First stop was a snorkeling site just a little distance away from the main town. The site was essentially a sea shrub area - nothing in the way of a coral reef. The boat went further north but the water got choppy and we had to turn back. According to the boatman, there are 2 more snorkeling spots.

Food Time
We got hungry and laid out our picnic spread for some eats - camotes, lechon, shawarma and snacks. It was a nice chill until it rained. It was ok, we were already wet. But soon after, we got cold. That ended the party.

Heading Back
With their boat waiting for them and my sleeping hammock already wet from the rain, I bailed and joined them on the return boat to Tulang Daku - no more overnight stay. At the mainland, we all got about our own ways - they on their motorbikes and me on my bicycle. They were nice enough to bring my extra luggage with them and dropped them off my place. This lightened my load and allowed me pedal fast enough to reach my place before it got dark.

Ending Thoughts
Tulang Diot is a nice getaway from Camotes mainland - boat ride is only P10 and it's not too far off. Except for the P150 table fee (it was really just a small table), there is nothing touristy about the place. The locals are not yet corrupted by cras tourism - they don't see you as walking ATMs. Sari-sari store coffee is just P10. If you're already in Camotes Islands, it's a worhtwhile side trip. To me, the no-karaoke feature is a homerun!

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

pictures courtesy of Alyssha, Charlotte and Krystle

Tulang Diot Tips

• island boat tours arranged from Tulang Daku (mainland) is P700, but that same boat tour if arranged from the boatmen of Tulang Diot is only P300!
• the boat tour is essentially a trip around the island with a snorkeling drop...nothing really in the way of an island boat tour - no cave drop-offs, no "another beach" swim, and the snorkeling isn't really that great
• there is no electricity - only generators
• you can buy water from the sari-sari store, but drinking water there still comes from the mainland - cheaper if you bring your water
• there is no lodging, but you can camp out on the beach - bring your tent, no camping fee
• no karaoke, so people already saturated by loud and blaring karaoke from the mainland can take refuge here
• boat ride is only P10/pax one-way
• no meals served on the island (so bring your food) but junk food snacks and coffee can be ordered at the local sari-sari store

Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines

tourist attractions

• Lake Danao Park - inland twin lakes in San Francisco
• Santiago Bay Beach - stretch of fine white sand with a cluster of beach resorts
• Buho Rock - dive boards perched from a high rock outcropping, Poro
• Tulang Diot - white sand beach on a tiny island just 10 minutes by boat from the main Camotes Island
• Busay Falls - groomed plunge pool, dirt trail walk with 2 stream crossings, Tudela
• Capasanan Spring - crystal clear open spring water source in San Jose, Poro. Free
• Hagnaon Spring - clean drinking water coming out of the rocks, dipping pool you might share with carabaos in San Jose, Poro. Free

caves

• Timubo Cave - groomed trail inside cave with lights, swimming inside, limited penetration
• Bukilat Cave - cathedral-like caverns, top lighting from cave openings, high tide swimming
• Holy Crystal Cave - cave formation glitters, human bones, limited penetration
• Paraiso Cave

important spots

• San Francisco - town center, wet market, municipal hall, eateries, live music, bar, Baywalk
• Poro - town center of Poro Municipality, port to Cebu City and Danao
• Tudela - town center of Tudela Municipality
• Pilar - town center of Pilar in the island of Ponson Island
• Consuelo Wharf - port for Danao ships
• Poro Port - port for Danao and Cebu City ships

resort hotel

•  Aladin White Beach Resort and Retirement Investment
  beachfront property, swimming pool, modern amenities and facilities
  Esperanza, San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu, Philippines

Camotes Island FYI / Tips

• Camotes Islands is a group of islands composed of 4 municipalities:
  1. San Francisco - this is the biggest municipality covering the West major island. Its town center is the busiest with the market, eating places, live music and the Baywalk. The beach resort clusters, however, are concentrated in Santiago Bay, Mangodlong and Esperanza
  2. Poro - Poro is on the other big island to the East. It has its own port and the town center is likewise busy
  3. Tudela
  4. Pilar - this occupies the small north east island
• the busy area where most of the social gatherings take place, eating places, is located at the Baywalk area of San Francisco, 30 mins by motorcycle from the Consuelo Port. Travellers usually stay in their resort outside the Baywalk
• the resorts in Camotes Island are scattered around the island. There are none around the Baywalk area of San Francisco
• perhaps the only downside to Camotes Island is the inescapable deafening sound of karaoke - it is played very loud and it's everywhere. In Baywalk, there are 3 karaoke bars beside each other going full blast all at the same time

Camotes Island Cost Index

• PHP 100 habal-habal ride from Consuelo Port to San Francisco
• PHP 55 Pale Pilsen beer
• PHP 10/pax regular fare for habal-habal within San Francisco
• PHP 500/tour habal-habal rate for island tour up to 2 pax
• PHP 800/tour tricycle rate for island tour up to 4 pax

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