Sumilon Island lies just 15-20 minutes off the coast of Oslob in Cebu Province. This island though greatly underrated boasts of white powdery white sand beaches, refreshing turquoise water and a stunning sandbar that stretches to about a hundred meters. While in the island frolicking under the sun, you will be entertained by the gorgeous view of mainland Cebu and the endless horizon of deep blue ocean waters. Sumilon Island is undeniably one exquisite beauty but is often overlooked as the town of Oslob is not usually known for its beaches but more recognized because of the adorable whalesharks.
Sumilon Island is privately owned by Bluewater Island Resort so access is restricted to the sandbar for non-guests. A day in the island with Bluewater Island Resort is priced at P1500 during weekdays and P2000 during weekends but you need not spend this much if you are only after some fun beach-loving at the splendid sandbar. Allow me to tell you how.
First. Travel To Oslob
- From Cebu City – Ride a bus bound for Oslob in South Bus Station and alight in front of Brumini Resort. Travel takes about 3 hours.
- From Bacolod & Dumaguete – Ride a Ceres bus bound for Oslob and alight in front of Brumini Resort. Travel takes about 2 hours.
- From Bohol – Ride a ferryboat to either Cebu or Dumaguete then ride a bus to Oslob and alight in front of Brumini Resort. Travel may take about 4 hours.
Second. Charter A Boat To Take You To Sumilon Island In Brumini Resort
- Tip # 1: Rate is P1500/boat but the boat is not exclusive to you so you can always ask to go with other guests to save some bucks.
- Tip # 2: Don’t be swayed by locals saying that other guests might not agree to share the boat. Ask around and wait for other guests.
- Tip # 3: You can ride a different boat in going back to Brumini Resort from Sumilon Island. No need to wait for the other guests or to wait for the same boat which brought you there to be available.
- Tip # 4: There is a P50 Environmental Fee that locals collect in Sumilon Island and another P30 for the use of Toilet & Bath. You can change to your beach wears in Brumini Resort instead to save the P30.
- Tip # 5: The best time to go to Sumilon Island is during the low tide hours from 2Pm onward. There will also be less people during those hours so you can most likely have the place to yourself.
- Tip # 6: Bring water and food to keep you full while in the island savoring its beauty. Just don’t leave your trash. Pack them and dispose them upon getting back in Brumini Resort.
So now that you know, you might probably ask “how much will it cost me?” Here a sample budget breakdown
| SUMMARY OF EXPENSES (Cebu-Oslob Route) For a group of 5 | Round Trip Bus Cebu-Oslob 2 P165 > P330 Boat to Sumilon Island @ P1500 > P300 Entrance Fee > P50 Food > P150 Expenses to Side trip > P650 -Whaleshark watching P500 -Tumalog Falls P150 TOTAL <<>> P1480 |
| CONTACT NUMBERS | Brumini Resort - (032) 514 6623 Bluewater Island Resort - (032) 481 0801 |
Other places to visit after/before exploring Sumilon Island
- Go see the whalesharks (although I’m not much of a fan)
- Visit Oslob’s Heritage Park
- Visit Tumalog Falls
- Go chasing waterfalls in Samboan
Fun Under The Sun
There you have it folks. I just kept this post short and sweet for all you, my straightforward readers. For questions, feel free to buzz the comments box or my inbox.
If you have your own Sumilon Island story to share, drop them on the comments below and we’ll talk about it.
Our visit in Sumilon Island was part of our South Cebu Madness in July this year.
Until next time lovelies. Don’t forget to share. Ciao! 🙂
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68 Comments
This blog is very helpful. Thank you so much❤
Thanks Vanessa. Have fun! ♥️
hi, is there any other way to rent a boat going sumilon aside from brumini resort? thank you. 🙂
As far as I know, you can do it cheap either with Brumini Resort or the resort beside it. . The other option is via Bluewater Sumilon which is kind of pricey as you have to check in at resort itself.
Is the boat fee of 1500 going to sumilon at one charge coming back to Brumini resort too?
Yup. It’s just a 1x charge which covers a 2way transfer.
Is there a boat going to sumilon at 11am-12pm?
Hi Kaye. Yes. There is.
hi. if were already in oslob after we swim with the whale shark,, how many minutes to sumilog? and how much will cost us we are group of 10pax. just a side trip lng .
Hi. From oslob Whaleshark watching spot, getting to Sumilon jump off should not take more than 20 minutes. Maybe another 15 in getting to the island. For a group of 10, boat should cost around P2k-2.5k
Hi Keza..thanks for your blog..lumakas loob ko to go. Just a thought, could it still be the same if my family, a group of 4 still access the tip you gave on this blog..meaning drop to brumini resort then hire a boat..same pa din kaya rent…hope you caan give a feed back please, super thanks!
Hi Ethan. Yes. Same pa rin even when you are with your family. Boat fee may be the same if my changes man, minimal lang siguro. ❤️
Great! These things are indeed a great fulfillment to truly experience Oslob, not just the Whale Sharks. Thanks for this.
Aside from the sandbar, another thing to look forward to in Sumilon Island is the marine sanctuary. And it’s great that there’s a cheaper way to visit the island instead of paying 1,500 – 2,000 per head.
Hi Ysabel. Thanks for sharing ☺️
Hi Ms. Keza. Wanna ask if magkalapit lang yung Sumilon and Kawasan Falls and Osmeña Peak? Planning to go there e. Thanks!
Hi Pauline. Going to Kawasan Falls From Sumilon might take 2-3hrs via bus
So its not possible to do whale shark watching, a sidestrip in sumilon, and canyoneering in one day?
It’s possible actually but you will have to rush each activity. Whaleshark is like an hour the most. Now the crucial one is the canyoneering. Depends on your pacing, it might eat up 6-7 hrs and you should get it started early at 7 or 8am.
Which one should go first? Are we able to go back to Cebu after that three activity? Anyways, Thank you for always answering my queries. Its my first to go to Cebu and I will hope it would be a success. 🙂
Hi,
6am – Whaleshark
7am – Sumilon Island
8am – Canyoneering
If you would finish canyoneering before 5pm then you would still be able to go back to Cebu City.
Hi, how do we get from Tumalog Falls to Brumini Resort? We were planning to see Tumalog before going to Sumilon (we’re skipping the whale shark watching). Thanks!
And another thank you for this post. This is helpful as we are doing our own itinerary 🙂
Hi.. You would probably hire a tricycle or a motorcycle in going to Tumalog Falls so you can simply ask the driver to take you to Brumini Resort after. 🙂
We will be going to Cebu in Sept. mag ask lang ako if ano ang best ite for us if pupunta kami to theses places, oslob, kawasan, sumilon and simla?ano dpat unahin naming? thanks
I suggest you start sa pinakamalayo and trace your way up pabalik ng city
This infor is very helpful. I just want to ask, is it 1500 only for the both going to sumilon? so if we were 3, it’s gonna be divided by? thanks
Yes. 1500 can be divided by 3-10 people.
Hi Keza,
I found your blog very helpful but I do have a couple of questions.
1. When do we pay the fee for the boat if we choose to join other groups (it’ll just be the 2 of us)? Is it before or after the trip to Sumilon Island?
2. We plan to travel to Oslob from Cebu in the morning to be able to take a trip back to Cebu City in the afternoon. Do you think it’s possible?
Hi Jem!
1. After the trip to Sumilon
2. Yes it’s possible. There will still be buses going to Cebu city in the afternoon.
Hi! DUn po ba sa sumilon na fee php50, kita po talaga yung mismong sandbar????
Yes kita po as in dun po mismo kayo papunta pero depende po yun sa oras ng pagpunta. If pumunta kayo na high tide na di nyo na po tlga makikita. Better ask the locals what time yung lowtide. Normally kasi after 2pm yun.
Hi Ms. Keza
once na nakarating kami sa sumilon island with other group. any boat pa balik ng oslob pwede naming sakyan.
Yes. Basta if sa puting boat kayo sumakay, puti din sasakyan nyo pabalik. Pag sa pula, pula din…
Hi Ms. Keza! okay lang po ba kahit di na magrent ng tutuluyan don?
Hi. If daytour ok lang pero if overnight, need nyo magbook sa bluewater kasi private resort po yun.
hi keza meron ba makainan sa sumilon island?
Hi. Sa mismong resort po dun sa island meron pero off limits po non guests ng bluewater resort. Bili na lng po kayo food before going there
Hi Keza! I just want to ask if is it possible to have whale shark watching, tumalog falls, and sumilon island tour in 1 day? We’re planning to go there this July. Can we just walk in? Thanks!
Yup. It’s possible. You can go on whaleshark watching as early as 6AM then that will just take an hour. You can then see Tumalog Falls. After Lunch you can go to see Sumilon Island.
Is the 1,500 boat ride only one way? Also, what is the time of the boat’s last trip back to Oslob? Thank you!
Hi Ky. P1500 is 2 way na. 4PM is the last trip back to Oslob..
Hi Keza! I am originally from Davao City and planning to go to Cebu this weekend. After riding a bus via oslob where will I stop and anu sasakyan ko after? Hoping for your response. Thank you!
Just ask the driver to drop you off at Brumini Resort
Hi! I just want to know if you have any idea as to what time are the boats going to be available from brumini to sumilon? Is it gonna be available as early as 6am? We want to be early kasi..thanks much
Hi Kaye, I think boats are available as early as 6am kasi we were there ng 7am and pagdating namen may mga tao na agad dun sa island so okay lang na early kayo…
where to rent a boat?
Brumini Resort.
Hi po,just want to ask of how many persons will be on the 1500/boat? Were planning to go there tomorrow and we are 8.
It can fit 15 – 20 pax.
Hi, yung boat rental ba is for round trip na?
Yes po roundtrip na. 😊
good for ilang tao po yung boat na 2k if weekdays?
15-20 pax po
Possible po if after Sumilon, mag Canlaob in Alegria kami or better mag moalboal nalang?
Depends on the time you’ll allot in Sumilon. Are you after canyoneering in Alegria?
Hi! we don’t have to check in at Brumini Resort?
Hello, pano po yung gamit niyo? iniwan niyo po ba sa brumini resort? thanks 🙂
Nope. We took it with us.
Hi, you mean Brumini Resort na ang nag arrange ng boat niyo to Sumilon Island kahit na hindi kayo nag check in dun? 🙂
Hi, you mean Brumini Resort provide boat rental even if we dont book a room with them? 🙂
Yup. Di kelangan magcheck in sa resort. Pwede kayo dun sumakay ng boat paSumilon. Please note that if you go to Sumilon via Brumini Resort, restricted access nyo sa Sumilon Island. Dun lang kayo sa sandbar allowed but other parts of Sumilon Island are strictly for resort guests only.
Hello. Sa mismong resort po ba kayo ng pa sched ng boat? Or may mga boating rent na po dun na kakausapin nyo lang? Kasi nag inquire po ako ngayon sa resort and they cost us 1500 each person access to sumilon bluewater resort mismo. Ang gusto lang sana namin is sandbar 🙂 Thank you
Nope. Not in Bluewater. If you are only after the sandbar, your option is Brumini Resort. You can simply go there and boats will be waiting.
Hi! Did you join a group going to Sumilon Island? I can only find the 1,500/pax package online. I’m trying to find another way to get to the island coz we’re only 2.
Hi Reginna. Just follow my tips on the blog. We were just 2 when we went there but you can save on cost if you’ll join group
Hi reginna, when is your schedule going to the sumilon island? my boyfriend and I were also looking for a group so we can join them.
Hi what are the recommended cheap accommodations in oslob? how to get to tumalog falls because we want to go there before going to sumilon island?
Hi Janine. Try New Village Logde. They have affordable rooms for sharing. And to get to Tumalog falls, you will need to hire a tricycle. 😊