CARABAO ISLAND: Things To Do, Guide On A Budget & Itinerary For A Worthwhile Visit

Carabao Island is one small paradise at the southernmost tip of the Province of Romblon and is just an hour away from the world famous island, Boracay. Thought by many as a mere side trip but this island is so amazing, it is a worthwhile destination in itself. More than just the long stretch of beach with sands as white and fine as Boracay’s are caves, lagoons, diving spots and mesmerizing views. This island certainly knows how to entertain and captivate that you are guaranteed to have a great time should you decide for a day or two to visit. So in this article, I will be sharing with you how Carabao Island just made our adventure in Romblon even more magical.

A Day Well Spent In Carabao Island

Our visit in Carabao Island was part of our 4-Day Romblon Holy Week Escapade. Our goal was to surpass the epic adventure we had in the Babuyan Islands a year ago that we thought of nowhere else to do that but in Romblon. The province is one of the least visited in the whole archipelago which made the adventure sweeter. We love taking roads less traveled and Romblon is just the perfect place to do just that allowing us to escape the chaotic holiday crowd. Drafting our itinerary was a bit tricky for we wanted to keep everything cheap and feasible. The fact that we are going there on a holiday was already screaming spending a fortune but we still gambled and took our chance in jump starting our adventure in Carabao Island.

Related Read: ROMBLON 4-DAY ITINERARY: Guide, Budget & Everything Else You Need To Know

Choosing Carabao Island as our jump off point was probably the best decision we had ever made during our Romblon trip. It set the mood perfectly for us. The island vibes, the tropical goodness, the laid back atmosphere and the kindness we experienced were just few of our cherished memories of the island. Although there were some unexpected discrepancies with the cost as opposed to what were indicated on some blogs, they were minute next to the joy the island gave us. The plan was to only spend a day in Carabao Island and head to Tablas Island before sundown but since it was a holiday and boats going back to Tablas were no longer available, we were forced to spend the night there as well.

We arrived in Carabao Island at 9AM where every homestays and inns were already fully booked. Despite that, we were still lucky to get a beachfront accommodation which only cost each of us P100. It was a small open hut that allowed us to also pitch our tents at the beach. It wasn’t fancy or anything. Just some place we could leave our stuff while we tour around. After securing our shelter for the night, we immediately went on to explore the island on a motorcycle. None of us can drive so we hired drivers to take us to each tourist spot for a price of P700.

Our first destination was the Cathedral Cave where we spent 30 minutes to appreciate the beauty of an underground cavern. After that, we went for some adrenaline rush in its cliff diving spot which was a 30-feet drop. We decided to pass on Kuding-Kuding Point as it offers nothing different from what we just experienced in Cathedral Cave and went to see Tagaytay Point instead. We spent about an hour there basking at the beauty of sprawling grasslands and surrounding coastlines with Boracay Island peeping at a distance. Before sunset, we went back to our accommodation and spent the rest of the day exploring their very own version of White Beach.

What We Love About Carabao Island

• Despite Carabao Island’s reputation being the twin sister of Boracay, I like that it wasn’t crowded. It has this serene and laidback atmosphere that we really loved.
• There were lots of coconut trees! They line up along the White Beach giving us this insane tropical vibes.
• The White Beach really lives up to its reputation. Sands were as powdery white as Boracay. Water is of pristine cerulean color but with less people and noise.
• The entire island is surrounded with white sand beaches that you can basically just drive to any spot and still get a nice beach to yourself.
• There were very few tourists in the island despite us going there on a holiday. We had every tourist spot to ourselves and share them with some few amazing souls.
• With the exception of our motorcycle tour, everything in the island is cheap from seafood, accommodation to the cooking service we hired for our meals.

What Are The Tourist Spots In Carabao Island

There are several spots in Carabao Island which you could visit to get a taste of the island’s version of adventure and nature. All these spots could be visited via a motorcycle for a price of P500/person. Note that price could rise up during holidays.

• White Beach – You don’t actually need a motorcycle to get a taste of the island’s most precious beach. You’ll be captivated by this stunner upon disembarking. Sink your feet into its silky soft powdery white sands and bask at its beauty which is set to take your breath away instantly.
• Cathedral Cave – If you are big on spelunking then Cathedral Cave is the perfect place to be. Have fun getting passed its obstacles while being entertained by amazing rock formations. And if the adrenaline rush is still not enough, take a 30-feet plunge into the deep blue sea. A time spent in this awesome spot is hardly a time wasted.
• Kuding-Kuding Point – Another spot where to get your dose of stoke is Kuding-Kuding Point. This has one of the most breathtaking views in the entire island.
• Tagaytay Point – If you enjoy rolling hills and sprawling grassland with a scenic view of the coastline and nearby islands then this is where you should be. It’s a quiet place where you can simply lie down under the sky and let the chirping of the birds be your music.

How To Get To Carabao Island

• From Manila – You can fly via CebuPac to either Tablas or Caticlan. In Tablas airport, ride a jeep to Sta. Fe port. From there, take a passenger boat going to Carabao Island. In Caticlan airport, ride a tric to Tabon Baybay Port. From there, ride a passenger boat going to Carabao Island. Either route would take 2-3hrs to the island. Also passenger boats are available only starting 6-9AM. If you miss it, you may need to charter a boat for a price of P2000-P3000.
• From Batangas – There are several ferry trips from Batangas going to either Odiongan (Tablas Island) and Caticlan. 2GO has daily trips to both destinations.
• From Boracay – If you are in Boracay, you can simply go to Bulabog Beach and look for boats that you can charter to go to Carabao Island. A boat for day tour will actually cost P1500.
• From Romblon Island – If you are in Romblon and wants to get a glimpse of Carabao Island, there cheapest route would be to ride a passenger boat going to San Agustin. From San Agustin, you can ride a jeep to Sta. Fe and take the passenger boat from there going to the island. Total travel time is more or less 5 hours.

Useful Travel Tips

• Travelling to Carabao Island is normally cheap but expect a different scenario during holidays. The usual motorcycle tour which we read on some blogs priced at P300/person went to P700/person on our visit.
• If you’re travelling here during the holidays, have your accommodation booked in advance. Agoda could help you find the best place for the best price according to your taste.
• Passenger boats going to the island from either Tablas and Caticlan are available from 6-9AM and boats leaving the island to either destinations are available until 4PM.
• Upon disembarking, you will be asked to register your names and pay an environmental fee of P30/head. Tricycles and motorcycles also line up outside the port so you could easily get a ride to your hostel or destination.
• Most of the accommodations are located near the beach so no need to walk far if you are going for a dip.
• Most of the resorts there will have a facility where you can cook your food. However, if you’re like us and you would rather enjoy the island than spend time in the kitchen, there are various eateries there that would offer to cook your meals for you.
• Bring enough cash. There are no ATMs in Carabao Island.
• Cellphone coverage is decent for all networks. Mobile data is also available.
• Carabao Island is small and peaceful. It is the perfect contrast to its neighbor, Boracay so expect not to find any bars and party lounges.
• Tagalog, Bisaya and Hiligaynon are widely spoken but locals can very much speak and understand English.
• And of course the most important, RESPECT THE ISLAND AND ITS PEOPLE. Do not litter. Bring reusable water and food containers to avoid using plastic. Do not vandalize. Respect their rules, their culture and their beliefs but don’t hesitate to point out some things they can improve on.

Where To Stay In Carabao Island

Budget, Itinerary & Other Essentials

Our visit to Carabao Island was part of our 4-Day Romblon Holy Week Escapade. This island can either be your entry or exit point as it has access to various transportation options. As for us, this was our entry point but Carabao Island can very well become your main destination.

Related Read: ROMBLON 4-DAY ITINERARY: Guide, Budget & Everything Else You Need To Know

There you have it lovelies. Have you included Carabao Island on your bucket list yet? No.. Well, you should. I swear this island is all worth it. So tag along your friends and plan your trip. Until next time. Ciao!