The Best Things to See and Do on Danjugan Island in One Day

(SPOT.ph) If what you've heard so far about Bacolod in Negros Occidental is all about food, wait until you get out of the city and explore the entirety of the province.

Negros Occidental has several gems hidden away, although sometimes painstakingly far from the center, waiting to be uncovered by tourists. One of these secret spots is Danjugan Island, a tiny isle situated off the coast of Cauayan in the southernmost part of Negros Occidental. The area spans 43 hectares, consisting of five lagoons, white-sand beaches, lush limestone formations, and mangrove forests. It is a wildlife and marine sanctuary teeming with bat caves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs as diverse as those found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

But before it reached this point, the Danjugan Island ecosystem was previously disrupted by destructive human activities and was once an overfished area. Its conversion into a sanctuary started when the previous owner tried to sell the tallest tree, which is home to a pair of nesting white-bellied sea eagles. Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc., which now owns and manages the island, offered to buy the whole island instead.

The sanctuary is never meant to be a resort. Although open to tourists, it was saved in 1994 for conservation. The founders made sure that the island remained in its natural state, and only less than 10% of it was developed. Due to the relatively few developments in the area, the place was severely affected by Typhoon Odette. Therefore, everyone is encouraged to visit to help fund the preservation operations of the sanctuary and support the locals who protect it.

Danjugan is considered one of the top eco-tourism destinations, with 572 marine fish species, 244 hard coral species, 74 bird species, 10 bat species, and 17 mangrove species. It is a sanctuary for wildlife and a sanctuary for the people who have visited it.

Here are the different zones and activities on Danjugan Island for one whole day:

Lagoons

The island harbors five lagoons teeming with corals and fish. Three of those lagoons are landlocked, and two of them are reached by the high tide. The only named lagoon is Moray Lagoon, named after the peppered moray eels that inhabit it. When you arrive at this lagoon, you will be directed to the pavilions built over the water's edge.

If you're feeling more adventurous, the tour guides will bring out the kayaks for you to explore its calm waters. There is also a learning center where facilitators train on the island's biodiversity. The room also contains a skeleton of a beached dolphin and remnants of various species of fish. If you haven't seen sharks before, you might also want to take this chance to see blacktip sharks in one of the lagoons in the sanctuary.

Beaches

The boat that you will be riding from the mainland will dock at Typhoon Beach, the western side of the island facing the Sulu Sea. The sanctuary's headquarters is composed of mud houses and is solar-powered. The beach camp has a nudibranch bar, where a hearty lunch is served for those going on a day tour. Food and water supply for the island are transported fresh daily from the mainland.

There are many other beaches around the sanctuary. With beige and soft sand adjacent to the second lagoon, Turtle Beach is the perfect nesting ground for marine Hawksbill and Green turtles during the rainy season. During our visit, it was only a few days after all of the baby turtles hatched from their eggs. Luckily, we were able to witness a few that hatched that day.

To time your visit with the hatching season, we recommend you check this with the foundation. Meanwhile, Tabon Beach and East Beach are home to beach stone curlews, one of the largest shorebirds. Tabon Beach is also where the tabon nests. Tabons are native to the Philippines, northeastern Borneo, and Sulawesi, and are chicken-sized, flightless birds.

Eagle's Nest

Near the Typhoon Beach Camp is the famous tallest tree that started the whole story of conservation for Danjugan. This Eagle's Nest is where the island's resident white-bellied sea eagles nest. Unfortunately, this has been one of the casualties of the wrath of Typhoon Odette.

Bat Cave

Near the third lagoon is a bat cave. This small limestone opening has hundreds of sleeping Geoffroy's rousette bats, also known as Old World fruit bats, and has a pool underneath. The same species is also found at Monfort Bat Sanctuary on Samal Island.

Sunset Viewdeck and Bamboo Bridge

For the best sunset views, make sure to visit these two spots. Go to the Bamboo Bridge for a majestic sunrise view and Sunset Viewdeck to capture the splendid sunset.

Watch Tower

The Watch Tower is the highest point on the island, approximately 80 meters above sea level. At this vantage point, you will have a good view of Agutayan Island from a distance and the scenic seascape.

Dive Sites

You can scuba dive or skin dive at Manta Reef, right across Typhoon Beach, or at Hillary's Reef on the eastern side of the island.

Tour Packages on Danjugan Island

There are packages you can choose depending on the amount of time you have on Danjugan SIalnd. For the Discover Danjugan package, you will have three hours to tour around the property for 1,500 pesos per person. For the Daytrip package, you will have a maximum of eight hours of stay for P2,500 per person.

Both packages already include round-trip boat transfers, refreshments, and guided activities with gear for snorkeling, skin diving, kayaking, trekking, birdwatching, and learning about wildlife.

But if you want to have a more immersive experience in nature, you might want to stay overnight. You can opt to stay in either of the camps, Typhoon Beach Camp for P4,500 per person per night or Moray Lagoon Camp for P3,500 per person per night.

Accommodation in the Typhoon Beach Camp includes non-air-conditioned private rooms with an ensuite bathroom. Moray Lagoon Beach Camp features open-air cabanas with individual mattresses and nets, while the toilets are shared. For both of the packages, in addition to the boat transfers and guided tours included, there will also be full board meals provided. Check-in time is at 12 p.m., and check-out is at 10 a.m.

Discounts are also available for senior citizens and PWD at 20%. For children ages seven to 12, they will pay half the price. For children six years old and below, they can join for free.

Where to Stay on the Mainland

If you want to spend the night on the mainland, you can stay at Punta Bulata Resort and Spa. Since their beach faces Danjugan Island, they can arrange a special private tour for you, and the boat can pick you up directly from the resort.

How to Get to Danjugan Island

If using public transport from Bacolod City, take a van or bus bound for Sipalay or Hinoba-an at the South Bus Terminal. It will take you four to five hours to get to Barangay Bulata, Cauayan. Alight at Crossing Remollos-Quadro de King and wait for the boat tour coordinators to pick you up to bring you to the boat dock at 8 p.m.

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