Quezon province stretches like a
narrow belt along the eastern coast of Luzon. It borders the provinces of
Aurora to the north, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur to the east, Bulacan,
Rizal, Laguna and Batangas to the west and to the south, the province divides
into two Tayabas which projects into the Bondoc Peninsula and the other end
curves towards the Camarines provinces. It has a total land area of nearly
12,000 square kilometers, consisting of 40 towns with Lucena as the capital of
the province.
Polillo group of islands is located in the northeast of Quezon Province. Polillo, Patnanungan and Jomalig are the three big islands facing the Pacific Ocean. These islands are not yet well-developed except for Polillo, the biggest of the three island, which also have a tourist hotel name Sea Horse. For many non-adventurers, they only get to hear about the island when there is a typhoon coming because it is used as a reference point by the weather bureau. But among conservationist, whether local or foreign, Polillo is one haven worth exploring and preserving.
In recent years, environmental groups have tried to cultivate among the residents of the island the ecological benefit of protecting different species of birds, animals, fishes and faunas. The people of the island responded overwhelmingly, thus, sanctuaries where provided to keep the irreplaceable species from extinction.
The quality of peace on Polillo is like a little prayer that you cast each dawn of the day. It brings serenity and warmth that slowly elude major cities in the country. The people in Polillo value family, traditonal customs and friendship.
Polillo group of islands is located in the northeast of Quezon Province. Polillo, Patnanungan and Jomalig are the three big islands facing the Pacific Ocean. These islands are not yet well-developed except for Polillo, the biggest of the three island, which also have a tourist hotel name Sea Horse. For many non-adventurers, they only get to hear about the island when there is a typhoon coming because it is used as a reference point by the weather bureau. But among conservationist, whether local or foreign, Polillo is one haven worth exploring and preserving.
In recent years, environmental groups have tried to cultivate among the residents of the island the ecological benefit of protecting different species of birds, animals, fishes and faunas. The people of the island responded overwhelmingly, thus, sanctuaries where provided to keep the irreplaceable species from extinction.
The quality of peace on Polillo is like a little prayer that you cast each dawn of the day. It brings serenity and warmth that slowly elude major cities in the country. The people in Polillo value family, traditonal customs and friendship.
How
to Get There
Before one can reach Polillo Island,
you must go to Real, Quezon. There are three ways of getting Real, Quezon.
First, from Shaw Boulevard, take a jeepney going to Cainta junction. From
Cainta junction, take another jeepney going to Siniloan, Laguna.
Second option is to take the scenic Sta. Cruz, Laguna route. You can take a Tritran bus at terminals at Buendia (tel. 8325231) and Cubao (tel. 9131525) or BLTB with terminals also at Buendia (tel. 8314700) and Cubao. The travel time is around 2 hours. Then, from Sta. Cruz, take a jeepney going to Siniloan
From there, you can take a jeepney going to Infanta/Real. From Real, take a tricycle going to its port. The travel time is around two hours and a half.
The third option is to go to Sta. Teresita st. Legarda and take either a bus or a van going directly to Real, Quezon. It is important that you arrive early at the port because the boats leave in the morning. there are only two boats that traverse Real-Polillo route and vice versa.
Second option is to take the scenic Sta. Cruz, Laguna route. You can take a Tritran bus at terminals at Buendia (tel. 8325231) and Cubao (tel. 9131525) or BLTB with terminals also at Buendia (tel. 8314700) and Cubao. The travel time is around 2 hours. Then, from Sta. Cruz, take a jeepney going to Siniloan
From there, you can take a jeepney going to Infanta/Real. From Real, take a tricycle going to its port. The travel time is around two hours and a half.
The third option is to go to Sta. Teresita st. Legarda and take either a bus or a van going directly to Real, Quezon. It is important that you arrive early at the port because the boats leave in the morning. there are only two boats that traverse Real-Polillo route and vice versa.
Where
to Stay
There are only a few accommodations
available for travelers. These are the Seahorse Hotel (tel. 6342859) which
charges around P1,800.00 and Herrera Plaza Lodging House (tel. 042-3148411)
which charges P150.00 per person. The difference would depend on its facility
like having communal toilets and baths and a restaurant. These accommodations
are walking distance from the port and are located along the main street.
What
to See
It is difficult to exactly recall
all the names of places that you can actually visit. All you need is one
good guide and you will remember the sceneries far more beautifully than you
can utter their names. The island is blessed with warm individuals and cool
places. It is therefore up to the traveler to discover the different wonders of
the islands like falls, caves, forests, water shed area, and fish and bird
sanctuaries. They have a lush green forest where you can see the different
species of birds and animals, some of which are endemic to the island. They
have a number of beautiful beaches as it is surrounded by water. In going to
these places, it is important to go there early in the morning because some
place entails walking or riding for four hours.
There are beige-sand beaches in the coastal areas with low-lying mountains in the background. A beach named Bigyan has an impressive formaion of mangroves and corals
There are beige-sand beaches in the coastal areas with low-lying mountains in the background. A beach named Bigyan has an impressive formaion of mangroves and corals
The San Francisco beach is about a kilometer hike from the Polillo Pier. It is ideal for travelers seeking fun under the sun, where fresh sea breeze never fails to blow and lovely cottages line the beach. Barangay Sabang is another promising tourist spot with its clean golden beaches, coconut plantations, and abundant fishing grounds.
Tamulaya Falls is believed to be enchanted and home to the dwarves and elementals. Another well known site is Minasawa, a bird sanctuary where several bird species can be found.
Past Polillo town is the town of Bordeous, a place which has a rich history. The place was originally called Visita, then changed to Bordeaux, and later Bordeous by the priest who presided the first-ever mass in the barrio. To date, people carry on with traditional customs of celebrating their fiesta, which they have observed since pre-Spanish times.
Bordeous is entry point to the smaller islands and islets. Here you will find wide beaches, timberlands, aquamarine waters, sandbars, bird sanctuaries and game refuge.
Another interesting destination is Jomalig, which originates from the word "humalik" meaning "to kiss." Jomalig is a solitude of beauty known for its blue coral beaches, wildlife and lots of seafoods including lobster that can be obtained all year round. Its boundaries are Patnanungan Island in the northeast, mainland in the southwest, and the eastern side of the vast blue Pacific Ocean. A favorite among business executives, this island offers a wide variety of white beaches and islets.
Additional
Information
There is a shop that offers Internet access.
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