Mention Cebu or the Queen City of the South and the phrases that would come to mind are lechon, Larsian BBQ, Bantayan Island, Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Sto. Niño, Fort San Pedro, Ayala Center Cebu, Mactan, skywalk or edge coaster extreme adventure in Crown Regency Hotel, metropolitan city, Malapascua, and only recently Oslob whaleshark watching or Sumilon island. But I've never heard anyone mention Olango Island. (It was famous before, they say but my generation prolly knows not much).
Olango island is not too big. According to research, it's only 1,030 hectares (2,500 acres). Before, it was known for Olango Island Bird Sanctuary. It's accessible very accessible. We were just thinking what to do for the afternoon while eating dessert in Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu and we realized that a small port is located just beside it.
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| Mövenpick Strawberry ice cream which was pricey and NOT good |
We can go as far as Bohol, but the fastest route to be lost is in Olango, just 10-15 minutes at Php 15 (if I remember it correctly) from Mactan.
No plans whatsoever, we just contracted a tricycle to roam us around the island. But halfway thru, seeing the abundance of nature all around us, we decided for a walk. And we basked in these goodness:
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| Impromptu but ready with a map :) :) :) |
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| Like the road to an altar on weddings--- Olango way |
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| Coconut makes the perfect foreground |
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| Walka-thon and having a blast! Show me the way! :) |
Walking by foot, we arrived finally at the Marine Sanctuary. Here's the choices of activities that we can do but decided just to take it slow.
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| At the 1st sanctuary--- marine |
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| Marine Sanctuary activity options with price |
Just paid Php 25 for the Boardwalk fee. It was just a simple activity but I enjoyed immensely. It was a looooong boardwalk and along, here are the sights we marveled at:
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| Boardwalk, reveal your beauty! |
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Some 'displays' along the board walk :)
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| Now out in the open!!! |
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| Loving the strong wind brushing my hair! |
At the end was a raft but it was late in the afternoon already so just decided to enjoy looking at different starfishes. We could've snorkeled but again, was late in the afternoon that the current is strong already.
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| She sells seashells by the seashore? |
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| And we're going back |
Next stop was the once famous, was the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, home of over 60,000 migratory birds from as far as Siberia and China. The road/walkway going there was an adventure in itself. We walked around a few steps along the mangrove then hopped in its walkway.
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| Hello birds! Hello Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary! |
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| It's more exciting because it's under repair. *giddy much* |
See? It was sooo enjoyable! The island was so full of life that peering through the stones were small hermit crabs and in the water, school fishes going to their whereabouts that time of the day. This is the real #blessed.
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Show yourself, hermit! Don't be so shy
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A small concrete nipa with stairs at the end awaits where with the provided binoculars (because we paid Php 75 per head), birds are freely roaming around. Best time to go there was at 2pm already. Again, we were late so saw only a few birds.
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| Where birds can be seen on a 'platform' |
I know the picture didn't capture it with justice but with the sunset coming, we instead savored this sight. God's creation is truly amazing!
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| Laid back fun |
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| Ahhhhhh! This view!!! |
Unprepared, unplanned, didn't see that much and just chilled around but it wasn't bad after all. In fact, I had a great time just appreciating everything around... just absorbing the easy life in Olango. The island was so simple yet full of blessings. It's good once in a while to go with the flow. Though next time, I want to see more birds and more fishes. :)
Some photos courtesy of @mdms. Thank you for your better photos :)
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