Travel Destination 101 : Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary, Cebu, Philippines

jenesa (65)in #travel • 7 years ago (edited)

_{Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary from a distant view}

A Great Day friends!

I find it's time for another travel blog to share. You might want to include this in your travel bucket list.

In October last year, during the semestral break, I was given the chance to pay a stay in Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary for work immersion purposes for 2 weeks. If you have followed me @jenesa, I am pretty sure that you have noticed that a few of my blogs were telling things I did in the resort. Enough of the work experience there, I am to share to you now how spectacular and lovely the place is, how to get there, and yes, of course the food and activities to enjoy in the resort. I hope it will help you a lot.

Let's get started!

NALUSUAN ISLAND RESORT AND MARINE SANCTUARY

Olango Reef, Cordova Mactan, Cebu,
6017, Philippines

Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary is a man-made resort island. Originally, it was a sandbar but was then reclaimed to permit the construction of the island resort. It is one of those comprising the Olango Group of Islands. Locally, it was known as Kalusuan, a Cebuano term which means "a place of male genitalia", which later on made to Nalusuan. It was named as such because the place is swarming with sea cucumbers which looked like the genitalia of males. Nalusuan occupies the entire island which is just close to a hectare.

_{The wooden way to get into the resort from the front side}
This wooden way is one of those that give the island resort a unique appeal. If we'll get into the resort from the front side, we really have to take this route. Of course, the resort's tourists are usually dropped in the front, the entrance. But for special request perhaps, you can get in from the rear side.

_{The rear side of the resort}
It's where sand bar's view is very much enjoyed by the tourists most especially when the water level is low so it is not that advisable to get in from here. So if you don't have any concern, it's better to enjoy the thrill of walking through the wooden trail to get in from the front side of the resort than from the rear.

Room Accommodation

_{Single beds in a stilt room}
The resort has 17 rooms (14 stilt rooms, 2 deluxe, 1 family room). Stilt rooms are made of bamboos which made the place comfortably free of heat. What makes these even more distinct is that they lean mightily on the live rock, plus, their verandas where you may take a break and grab a cup of coffee.

_{Stilt room's veranda}
The panoramic ocean view from the private verandas of each stilt room gives you a postive vibes to begin your day, and adds delight to your stay. You can see from here different species of fish swimming freely with all their might, and to have a close watch of them from your veranda, make them stay near you by throwing them fish food which costs Php 20.00 - 30.00.

On the other hand, deluxe and family rooms are concrete ones with ample space right for your friends and family. Like stilt rooms, these are air-conditioned that might add a cool sensation to your great stay.

Room rates:
Php 3,500.00/night - Stilt room
Php 4,500.00/night - Deluxe room
Php 6,500.00/night - Family room
_{*Rates are with continental breakfast}

Sports and Recreation

Snorkeling

_{Snorkeling in Nalusuan Marine Sanctuary}
Since Nalusuan is a marine sanctuary, it is best to go snorkeling to have a better feel with the marine life in the island resort. Again, to let the fishes stay in a place that's much closer to you, feed them. See below.

_{This is how they behave when feeds are dropped.}
For snorkeling set, you have to pay Php 300.00 for the rental.

Ocean Kayaking

_{Play with paddle and kayak.}

Ocean kayak is one of the most enjoyed aqua sports in the resort. It's more fun with friends. It's worth trying. I would say that your Nalusuan's journey might not be complete without grabbing a taste of it. Go experience the calmness of the water as you go drift to where you wanted. Here's another photo.

_{Kayaking with a touch of the sunset.}
You can avail of the experience with kayak for Php 250.00.

Sandbar Strolling

_{Nalusuan's sugary white sand}
Sand bar has always been a part of my interest whenever I go to beaches and all that. I find it a perfect place for my photo opt. haha! And yes, in Nalusuan I never failed to enjoy its sugary white sand. It felt good and it made me act like a kid. Writing your names on the sand, stamping your feet that'll cause the sand to fly like magic dust are some sort of fun that you don't wanna miss with.

More:
Scuba Diving
Banana Boat
Paddle Boat
Jet ski
Beach volleyball
Pingpong

Food To Enjoy

Other than the place itself, food also makes the travel more interesting. We get to be more alive and kickin' when the talk includes food. Right? We are always excited to take a bite of every food item that the place offers. Common or not, we never fail to let the chance passed by without taking a lick of everything good.

I am this excited to share to you the food in the island that for me will make you love the place more. These are just some of those mouth-watering ones.

_{Pork steak}

_{Chicken in Mango Ginger Sauce}

_{Spicy Buffalo Wings}

_{Beef Bulgogi}

_{Breaded Pork with mayo-garlic dressing}

_{Korean Sweet Style Ham}

_{Fresh Fruit Basket}

_{Seafood Basket (grilled fish, calamares, spicy steamed crab, grilled squid , shrimp on stick, with kimchi, pancit canton & potato chips)}
These are some of their best selling food. Once tasted, always wanted! I would say that everything in the island is worth trying - the activites that'll make you feel like a kid again, and yes, these foods that'll give a kick to your meal which might gonna push you to ask for more.

Food package:
#1 - Php 600.00/person
#2 - Php 760.00/person
_{*This is inclusive of the entrance fee (Php 200.00)}

If you don't wanna avail of the food packages, you may just pay Php 200.00 for the entrance fee so you can get in the resort and enjoy the Nalusuan feels.

Resort's Facilities

_{Fish pond}
The resort has this pond where they cultivated Milk fish, Mackerel, Tuna, Turtles and many other marine lives. It adds fun factor for your eyes. I'm sure you'll love it.

_{Resort's Bar}
You can grab shakes, fresh fruit juices, chips and crackers from here while enjoying the view of the sandbar accross just like what we did. haha! They are my friends from the Department of Education, Cebu province.

_{Boat Transfers}
For boat transfers, round trip is from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm

2-10 pax: Php 2,500.00
11-25 pax: Php 4,000.00
26-50 pax: Php 8,000.00

Others:
Room service
Souvenir shop
Island hopping
Boarwalk

How To Get There

_{We took the Tonggo wharf route to Nalusuan.}
From Mactan International Airport...
Take a yellow cab or metered taxi to Tonggo wharf, a private port of Nalusuan Island. It is located beside Ocean pearl in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City. Or, to Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Resort located in Punta Engano, Lapu-Lapu City. Beside the resort is the port where boats for hire are available to charter you to the island destination of your choice.

For a budget trip, you may get on a yellow multicab at the international departure gate of the airport. Get off at Marina Mall. Take a multicab with a sigboard Punta Engano to Movenpick Hotel or Crossing to Marigondon where you'll get on a tricycle to Tonggo Wharf.

_{This is at Tonggo Wharf.}

_{Disclaimer: I haven't taken the Movenpick Hotel route to Nalusuan, but I would suggest that you take the Tonggo Wharf route especially if you're on a budget trip. Being just within the city, I have found it cheaper to get on the Nalusuan's boat transfers than getting on other boats for hire.}

Estimated Budget

TRANSPORTATION (Tonggo wharf)
Via taxi:
Php 300.00

Via public jeepneys:
Php 7.00/each - To Marina Mall
Php 12.00/each - To Crossing Marigondon
Php 60.00/group - Tricycle to Tonggo wharf (6 pax/tricycle)

For boat transfers, food packages, sports and recreation and other fees, you may refer above.

_{Note to consider: The best time to visit Nalusuan is around March to the end of May or early June as the weather is favorable. However, it is not an assurance that the weather's fine on summer months. So it is best to check the weather condition before drifting to Nalusuan for there might also be some boats which do not take risk chartering you to your island destination in this case.}