Exploring Olango: The Project SAGO Experience

Olango is an island situated to the east of Mactan and Metropolitan Cebu. The place is home to the Olango Wildlife and Marine Sanctuary. While the island is within proximity to Metropolitan Cebu, the number of local tourists who get to visit the island is tremendously low. Olango is a nature’s frontier and as a Cebuano, I cannot afford not to visit this place. Finally #TeamLaagan decided to enjoy an overnight escapade in the island. And there comes Project SAGO which stands for Summer Adventure: Go Olango. With less than a day of preparation and decision making, we activated our traveller modes and went without even having an itinerary. What I love with unplanned getaways is that they are usually filled with surprises.

Getting to the Island (Goodbye Island Hopping)

At first, we wanted to avail the service of a private Bangka so we can do the usual island hopping which most tourists would do when they are to check Olango and its neighbouring islands. The previous plan was overruled by the idea of an overnight stay. Certainly, it will be less expensive and we can enjoy more of what Olango has to offer. From Mandaue, we rode on a PUJ to the ferry terminal near Movenpick Hotel (Php 9.00). We went on a Saturday but much to my surprise, the ferry terminal is not congested. Indeed, the island receives just a handful of visitors. We paid for the terminal fee (Php 5.00) and the fare for the ferry ride (Php 15.00). Our group has waited for about 15 minutes before we were able to hop into the motorized Bangka that would take us to Olango Island. The trip was more or less half an hour and was surely enjoyable. I personally love the waves and the picturesque view of Mactan Island as we move farther from it.

The Epic Fail Part (Tricycle, Cemetery and Shalala)


Upon arriving in the port of Olango, we did our usual group picture. It was past 2 pm and we still don’t know where to go. We rode on a tricycle which was a little pricey considering that they get a few passengers. Each of us paid 9 pesos for a roughly 1.5 km ride.  We went in proximity to the cemetery since one of us has relatives living there. We were hoping that we could stay for the night and save the cost of finding a place for accommodation. Sad to say, it appeared like we were not welcomed. Well, those were not my relatives but I was not pleased by how inhospitable they were to us. We were ignored. We decided to just proceed to find a good beach. We wanted to plunge into the water. Damn, the Philippines is too hot! A local directed us to a beach named Shalala. Going there, we paid 20 pesos per passenger. There were 10 of us and we have had to squeeze ourselves on a tricycle only to find out later that we will be asked for 30 pesos each. (Yes, we are tihik and we usually aim to minimize our expenses!) After tirelessly bargaining, I managed to convince the driver to have it at 20 pesos per passenger. Phew! To add up to our dismay, we ended up disappointed with Shalala. The place has no view and the swimming area is surrounded by mangroves. There was really no view at all. (I have nothing against Shalala. It was a good place but not just the place that one would love to stay.)

Olango Paradise Island Resort, The place to be!
After all the disappointments, I suggested to the group that we’ll just head straight to the San Vicente Marine Sanctuary. Again, we paid 20 pesos each for a tricycle ride and we really have to squeeze ourselves the second time around on a single tricycle. Since it’s already late, the activities that can be done in the sanctuary are limited to swimming and sightseeing. Fortunately, we saw that there is an adjacent resort. That is Olango Paradise Island Resort. We checked the resort and we were amazed. The place is what we have been looking for. It has its own exclusive access to view the Bird Sanctuary and it was just beside the Marine Sanctuary.

         
The staff and crew of OlangoParadise Island Resort were very accommodating. We settled for three tents along the beach for our overnight stay (Php 350.00 each). The resort offers lots of activities. There is boating, water sports, bird watching and so much more. There is also a good bar and bistro which offers mouthwatering dishes and fresh buko juice. They have cosy air-conditioned rooms and cottages where you can relax and unwind. The pool was still under construction when we visited. They property is huge so strolling around it is really enjoyable. During our stay, the resort owners were there. I was really impressed how hospitable and accommodating they were. We did have a little chit chat and I am positive that the place will surely become more awesome in the future. Hopefully, the momentum and the spirit of putting a place that is pro costumer and pro nature will never fade away. We did lots of stuff in the resort. (Nothing illegal... hahaha) I enjoyed most the bird sanctuary trail. (Tips: The resort charges a corkage fee of 500.)

Bird Sanctuary and the Marine Sanctuary

The marine sanctuary is a place to visit. There is a minimal entrance fee and fees for various activities like fish feeding, snorkeling and swimming. There is not much to do in the Bird Sanctuary but make sure you have your camera and a sharp eye. The place is so awesome that even if you don’t get to see birds that often anymore, it is still worth a visit. By the way, a thrift shop where you can buy souvenirs and stuff is found close to the Marine Sanctuary.

Project SAGO Wrap-up

The experience was awesome. #TeamLaagan shared lots of laughs and unforgettable memories in Olango. If you want a place to stay, Olango Paradise Island Resort is the place to be. Olango should receive more support from local tourists and people should know that beyond island hoping, there are lots of things that you can do in Olango. Project SAGO was another awesome feat for #TeamLaagan. Kudos!