A Day of Sandbars, Soft Beaches and Caves
After that adrenaline impelling early morning exercise climbing the Taraw Peak, we are now prepared to continue our island hopping adventures. We are more than ready to take another day of awesome site of El Nido. This time we are heading to the eastern part of the Bacuit Bay.
Just like a beautiful song, each of the wonders you find in this charming town contain diverse chords and each of the harmonies are notes, cautiously and accurately chosen to create a harmonic symphony. Each note has its own timber, pitch, and tone, each contributing to become a fascinating harmony that enchants the mind and touches the soul.
ENTALULA ISLAND
I am glad we are still able to join our Nanay and Tatay here in El Nido for this tour. This time, more bonding and story telling of there endless adventure to travel the world together and enjoy the fruits of their hard work. Such an inspiring couple, a testament that true love still exist and sweeter on the road. (makahanap nga din ng kagaya ni Tatay..lol)
First stop is Entalula Island with white sand, turquoise water and amazing rock formation. It’s a nice scenic beach with one noticeable limestone standing like a sentinel.This place is really an ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling.
I really enjoyed the clear water and the different fishes I saw. I keep on chasing them not noticing that I am already in the deeper part of the sea, hehehe!
THE SNAKE ISLAND
After almost an hour, just enough to say that we have enjoyed the beach, off we go to our next destination. I am very much excited to see this: The Snake Island. Unfortunately, we were not able to see the sandbar coz it’s high tide and the couple we’re with doesn’t want to stay in this island as they find it a little bit dirty as compared to the first one. We stayed there for roughly an hour, since we can’t see the sandbar and take a dip we just managed to climb up the viewdeck and took some shots overlooking the view of the sea and the sandbar.
Our guide Elfer, led us to the trail that goes up to a viewing deck. Now, that’s Snake Island! Definitely one better site up here :)
Snake Island got its name from that long, pure white sandbar resembling a snake. Shoreward and seaward currents push the sand under the sea’s surface to form this sandbar. The long sandbar connects the mainland and the islet. At the other side of Snake Island is this dazzling aquamarine bay. Just look at how crystal clear that water is
Overlooking the Snake Island from the ViewDeck
The other side of the Snake Island
We even met some Russian folks and they requested to have some pictures taken with us (celebrity mode 101..checked!)
Our Guide Elfer with the Cool Russian guys (I forgot their names..lol)
CUDUGNON CAVE
After that speedy tour of Snake Island, we boarded our boat and headed to our next destination. The next island will be our lunch stop over. We docked at the beautiful white-sand beach of Cudugnon Point but that beautiful shore was not the high spot of this place. The best part was Cudugnon Cave, a sacred place behind the rock walls that borders the beach.
While waiting for our lunch to be served, we played like kids in the shore. I found this really cool swing and tree to get some wacky shots. When tatay roamed around, he asked some caretakers if they allow overnight stay and they said they are accommodating guests and even have packages available upon request.
After feasting ourselves with the great food served, we took a bit of rest before exploring Cudugnon Cave. We walked into waist-deep, unexpectedly warm water and go into a space between two rock ledges. At this point, I can’t help but think: why so many of El Nido’s and Bacuit Bay’s wonders are hidden by Mother Nature. To access the cave’s main chamber, we need to crawl through another tiny opening in the rock wall.
We climbed up a sandy, slippery slope and entered the cave’s splendid main chamber. Named after a Cuyonon word “Cudugnon” which means to shake since this was the hiding place for some Japanese and Filipinos during the war and they will feel the ground shaking every time bombs are dropped on the island. Guide said that thousands of years ago, Cudugnon Cave was a sacred burial site. In other words, this cave was actually used as a natural catacomb. Naturally, it is presently an important anthropological site.
Hole in the Wall
Ancient Palawenos and settlers from Borneo placed their deceased loved one’s bones in natural holes like these. Symbolically, it’s returning to Mother Nature’s bosom after spending a finite life here on earth.
Unfortunately, the bones and burial jars that dated back to the Sung Dynasty were extracted by archaeologists; the artifacts are now displayed in some museum out there.
CATHEDRAL CAVE
After exploring Cudugnon Cave, we went back to the boat and cast off to our next destination. We cruised to our next stop, Pinasil Island where Cathedral Cave can be found. The foremost feature of this island is that foreboding hole at the center . Up Close, this colossal cavern has an opening higher albeit narrower than that of the Underground River and surrounded by rocky cliffs that features unusual stalactites. This can be considered as one of El Nido’s awesome wonders.
Also, notice that lovely blue water. Looks very conducive for swimming, right? Our guide encouraged us to just go here for sight seeing because jumping in the water would simply mean suicide. It’s because the cave is home to several species of extremely aggressive, territorial and venomous snakes. There were some foreigners swimming though, good luck!
PINAGBUYUTAN ISLAND
After taking some photos of Cathedral Cave, off we go to our next and last stop for the day. Our boat captain then steered our boat towards Pinagbuyutan Island. It’s towering peaks maybe the first you will notice in Bacuit Bay as you enter the town of El Nido.
Along the way, we witnessed massive sea cliffs. Half an hour of cruising, we finally reached the dome-shaped island dominated by extremely high cliffs.
We walked along the shore and found this nice vine as a picture background.
Strolling to the other side of the beach, are we in a seaside golf course? Well, no, but it does seem like it! Pinagbuyutan Island has patches of grass and coconut mangroves. Interestingly, the air here was quite chilly. This portion of the beach is ideal for picnics.
We could have taken more photos on this side of the beach if not for this snake! (weeeeeh, let’s go back instead)
After an hour, we decided to call it a day and headed back to El Nido town. This tour is also wonderful and I enjoyed each island’s unique features especially the stunning view of the Snake Island and soft beach of Pinagbuyutan with the exemption of the snake’s presence.
We freshen up and prepared for dinner and this time we will try the famous El Nido soup served at Skyline Grill and Restaurant with our Nanay and Tatay in El Nido.
It’s time to say goodnight, after a tiring yet fun-filled day.
WALLET DAMAGE: Php 1,000.00 (Tour B) Skyline Grill and Restaurant Php 235.00
If you want to avail the services of our guides you may contact Kuya Nelson Fernandez at 09073271050. In case you will get a hold of Kuya Nelson’s services, please extend my regards to him.
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