Carabao Island

How to get to Romblon Island, Romblon

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From Batangas Port

There sea transportations that leave from Batangas Port to Romblon Island. Below are your options

1. Montenegro Shipping Lines

The RORO Boat from Montenegro Shipping Lines is the popular sea transportation to Romblon Island from locals. The schedule of their boat is every 5PM every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Estimated Time of Arrival is 3AM the next day (10 hours).

Fare is

  • 954 Pesos/person – Economy
  • 1255 Pesos/person – Deluxe
  • 1446 Pesos/person – First class

Terminal fee of Batangas Port is 30 Pesos/person.

Going back to Batangas Port

The RORO Boat leaves the port in Romblon Island to Batangas Port at 2PM every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Estimate Time of Arrival is 12MN (10 hours).

Here’s the number of Montenegro lines (043) 723-6980, (043) 723-8294, 0917-597-1133 or 0922-889-1022

2. M/V Princess Annavell

The M/V Princess Annavell boat leaves Batangas port at 4PM every Thursday and Saturday. Estimated Travel Time TBA.

Fare is

  • 700 Pesos/person – Economy
  • 840 Pesos/person – Deluxe

Here’s the number of M/V Princess Annavell for updates and more information (02) 742-6148.

Author’s Note: It is best that you arrive at the port about 2 hours before the trip as you will still have to buy your tickets. Unfortunately, there are no online reservations for the ticket.

 

From Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon

A RORO Boat from Montenegro Lines ferry people from Ambulong Port in Magdiwang to the Poblacion of Romblon Island. The boat leaves Ambulong Port at 10AM daily. Estimated time of arrival at Romblon Island is 1AM (3 hours travel). Fare is 228 Pesos/person.

There is a 10 Pesos/person Terminal Fee when going through Ambulong Port.

Going back to Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island

The same RORO Boat will be leaving the the port at Poblacion, Romblon Island to Ambulong Port of Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island at 7AM. Estimated Time of Arrival is 10AM (3 hours) at Ambulong Port. Fare is 228 Pesos/Person.

There is a 10 Pesos/person Terminal Fee when you enter the Port at the Poblacion of Romblon Island.

Author’s Note: Be at any of the ports at least 30 minutes to 1 hour earlier as you still have to buy your ticket to ride the boat. Also pay your terminal fee as soon as you arrive at the port.

 

From Cajidiocan/San Fernando, Sibuyan Island, Romblon

Carabao Island, Romblon Travel Guide

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Beach at Barangay Poblacion, San Jose, Carabao Island, RomblonDazzling Dazzle at the Beach in Brgy. Poblacion

How to get there

You can get to Carabao Island from Tablas Island, Caticlan and Boracay Island. Instructions can be found here.

Where to stay

Upon our arrival at Brgy. Poblacion, Carabao Island we asked the people near our docking area on where we can stay. We met Ma’am Laura Bandala, a local of Carabao Island, she pointed us to a house made of nipa located at the beach front (my type of lodging). It has 2 floors and 2 CR inside. It was surprising when she told us that it was only 500 Pesos/night. We stayed there overnight. The downside of this lodging though is the water in the CR was a bit salty. It was somehow salty and because of that it was hard to take a bath. You can look for Ma’am Laura Bandala if you want to stay here.

Our nipa house beach front lodging in Brgy. Polacion, San Jose, Carabao Island, Romblon

How to get to Carabao Island, Romblon

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Boat from Caticlan, Aklan to Carabao Island, San Jose, Romblon

From Caticlan Airport, Aklan

From Caticlan Airport ride a tricycle by saying to bring you to the place where the boat to Carabao Island. Tricycle fare is 50 Pesos/tricycle. Travel Time is less than 10 minutes.

Locals populary call Carabao Island as Hambil, you might want to use this when asking around.

From here there will be boats leaving for Brgy. Poblacion or Brgy. Lanas in Carabao Island. All the boats here will be leaving around 8:30 AM daily. Only one trip per day. Fare is 80 Pesos/person. Travel time is 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Going back to Caticlan Airport

From Brgy. Poblacion and Brgy. Lanas passenger boats will be leaving Carabao Island around 5:30AM daily. Fare is 80 Pesos/person. Travel Time is 45 minutes to 1 hour.

From Boracay Island, Aklan

There are many small boats that ferry residents of Carabao Island that work in Boracay Island daily. Locals popularly call Carabao Island as Hambil, you might want to use this when asking around.

These small boats can be found in Bulabog Beach and will be going to either Brgy. Poblacion or Brgy. Lanas of Carabao Island. Just ask around on where to find these boats when you arrive in Bulabog Beach. They leave around 2PM to 5PM. Just ask around the beach to find them. Fare is 50 Pesos/person. Travel Time is 30 minutes.

Going back to Boracay Island

From Brgy. Poblacion and Brgy. Lanas, the small boats ferry back people to Boracay Island around 5:30AM to 7AM. Though I advise your ride only until 6AM as after that there are very few boats leaving to Boracay Island. Fare is 50 Pesos/person. Travel Time is 30 minutes.

From Santa Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

11 Things to do in Carabao Island, Romblon

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From Caticlan ride a boat to the island where there is powdery white sand, friendly people and cool activities to do. I’m not talking about Boracay, the party island, I’m talking about Carabao Island, the nearest island of Romblon Province to Boracay.

Welcome to Carabao Island

Carabao Island is an island municipality of Romblon province which is named San Jose. It got its name as the topography of the island looks like a carabao from afar at sea.

What I like about Carabao Island is that it still had that laid back and friendly feeling of a province, and the quiet night life. I’m a sucker for quiet relaxing dark nights, spontaneous swimming on clear waters and laughing out loud with the locals.

Here’s a list of what I enjoyed doing in Carabao Island.

1. Sitting on the side of the passenger boat

Boat Ride to Carabao Island, Romblon

On our way to Carabao Island from Santa Fe, Tablas Island we rode the passenger boat on the side. I love unobstructed views and some splashes of water. Toploading only offers the former. Besides, why offer your special someone the window seat when you both can seat with the best view?

You can also do this with the passenger boat from Caticlan, Aklan.

2. Swimming in clear sea waters

Swimming in Carabao Island, Romblon

When we arrived on the island, young children were swimming and would climb up on the katig of our boat. With the clear waters and smiles of the people swimming showing pure enjoyment on what they are doing, who would say no?

3. Walking on the powdery white sand beach

Beach at Poblacion, Carabao island, Romblon

We walked the whole stretch of this beach barefoot. It was powdery fine white sand.

We did it again at night when we bought some drinking water from the other end of the beach, but that time was low tide. Quiet strolls on the beach with stars at night, this is one of the reasons why I love Carabao Island.