When we arrived at Ambulong Port in Sibuyan Island, Romblon for the second time, we were planning to visit the tourist spots of the Municipality of Magdiwang. First things first we needed to look for a place to stay so we could rome around without being restricted by our bags. Dazl already had a plan to stay at Sanctuary Garden Resort and so Jessica and I followed her commands. We negotiated first with a tricycle driver and agreed on a price of 45 Pesos per person for the 15 minute ride to the resort.
Tricycle at Ambulong Port
We passed by the National Highway and saw Mount Guiting-Guiting. According to one of the locals that we talked with on our first trip to Sibuyan Island, he told us that Mount Guiting-Guiting always had a cloud covering it, therefore if we saw the peak of Mount Guiting-Guiting we would eventually marry someone very soon. So if you’re looking for the girl or boy of your dreams maybe you want to try your luck on Sibuyan Island.
View of Mount Guiting-Guiting from the road
Going back to the tricycle ride, we finally arrived at the Sanctuary Garden Resort and I quickly liked the welcoming spacious garden of the resort. On the left was a big pavilion which is their restaurant. On the upper parts of the hill at the back of the restaurant there were rooms. At the farther side there were big houses made from wood and stones.
We asked a lady at the restaurant on how much is there per night. I was expecting a high price since from what I have seen it was really a nice green resort, but the lady said that their cheapest would be 200 Pesos/person/night and there was an available room of that price. Since it was already 11:30AM, we decided to have lunch first before heading to our room so we didn’t have to go back to the restaurant.
During the wait for our food, I was asking the lady again on what we could visit around town. She told us that we could do their Hiking Trail around the resort, do Firefly Watching at night, visit the Lambingan Falls, or hike to the DENR Station at the foot of Mount Guiting-Guiting passing by a dam, Dalipi River and a Mango Orchard. She also suggested that we visit the other municipalities and showed me a map around Sibuyan Island that points to different tourist spots around.
Map of the different Tourist Destinations of Sibuyan Island
After lunch we settled on our room. Took a quick nap or just sat by outside the building to rest. I liked the building and our room as it was mostly made of wood. And after 30 minutes we went to do the Hiking Trail around Sanctuary Garden Resort.
One of the dormitory type lodge
Our room
We started at the back of the restaurant and went up the flight of stairs to the different rooms at the hill. After passing through them while walking on concrete stairs the trail just ended and continued to a clearing where Mount Guiting-Guiting can be viewed.
Lodge on the hill
Dazl taking a photo of Mount Guiting-Guiting
Then there was a garden above that had large tents to those who would like an outdoorsy type of sleeping quarters.
It was a 20 minute hiking trail and a good warm up for what we will do next, that is to hike outside the resort to visit the DENR Station of Mount Guiting-Guiting.
Shoes of an adventurer
Sanctuary Garden Resort Details
Location/Address: Brgy. Tampayan, Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon
Contact Information/Numbers: 0920-217-4127, 0907-186-6635, 0918-457-4294
Rates when we visited (May 2013)
| 200 Pesos/person/night | Fan Room, Common CR |
| 500 Pesos/room/night | Fan Room, Common CR |
| 800 Pesos/room/night | Aircon Room, Common CR |
| 1,500 Pesos/room/night | 3 persons, Aircon Room, Private CR with hot shower |
How to get to Sanctuary Garden Resort
Arriving at Ambulong Port at Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, ride a tricycle at the port and tell the driver to take you to Sanctuary Garden Resort. Fare is 45 Pesos/person. Estimated Travel Time is 15 minutes.
How to get out of Sanctuary Garden Resort
One could walk to the National Highway where tricycles pass by frequently, but that’s a bit of a walk. The resort has a multicab service that can take you to town or to the port. Their multicab is also what we rode when we did the Firefly Watching Tour.
Follow my Sibuyan Island, Romblon Series
- Sanctuary Garden Resort in Magdiwang
- Dam, Dalipi River and DENR Substation at Magdiwang
- Lambingan Falls in Magdiwang
- Firefly Watching in Magdiwang
- Journey to Cajidiocan
- Late Afternoon Around the Town San Fernando
- Tricycle Tour from San Fernando
- Busay Falls in San Fernando
- Cantingas River Resort in San Fernando
- Dagubdob Picnic Grove in San Fernando
Follow my Romblon Province Series