With 2014 ending and 2015 just starting out. There shouldn't be any holiday til the next month. Luckily the Pope is visiting and January 15, 16 and 19 has been declared as special holidays. There's only a couple of weeks for us to plan and we scoured the world wide web for a quick travel to a place we've never gone before.
After a lengthy discussion (around two weeks) on where we should go we finally decided on Kwebang Lampas in Pagbilao Quezon and to try visiting Dampalitan or Borawan Island if given the chance. Minimal preparations at hand and we were ready for our first trip this 2015!
Alabang Starmall Terminal to Lucena Grand Terminal
We arrived at Alabang Starmall and with a dash of luck we got on board a bus that is about to leave. The fare is 180php per head and travel time is approximately 3 hours with light to moderate traffic. Lucena Grand Terminal is quite big and busy with a lot of traveling people. The pasalubong prices here are not too shabby but there's plenty to buy elsewhere. There's also a market, a couple of fastfood outlets and a convenience store branch. We had our quick lunch here and jump aboard on a jeep to Pagbilao Town.
Lucena Grand Terminal to Pagbilao Town
From Lucena Grand Terminal to Pagbilao Town the travel time is approximately 15-25 minutes. The fare is only 11php each. When you get there jump down the market and this will be pretty much your last chance to buy your camping needs at a cheaper price.
Pagbilao Town to Ibabang Pulo to Capascapas beach to Kwebang Lampas
Travel time from Pagbilao to Ibabang Pulo is around 45 minutes to an hour and costs 37php each. It's pretty far and the road is also being repaired at that time. We had a chat with a lady on our ride and she told us there were two ways to get to Kwebang Lampas. First is a trek through a part of the town a trail beside the power station. After that trek is a quick boat ride across a small lake to Capascapas beach and another 10-15 min or so trek to Kwebang Lampas.
 |
| "Kwebang lampas aboard a tricycle" |
 |
| "Our bangkero to Capascapas beach" |
 |
| "Capascapas beach" |
 |
| "Trail to kwebang lampas and our tour guides" |
Kwebang Lampas
 |
| "Kwebang Lampas" |
Kwebang Lampas is fenced around with barbwires with a sign "Grande Island Beach Resort". Othes also refer to this place as Puting Buhangin Beach. After entering you are then ushered to the beach's caretakers to pay the entrance fee, the boat ride across the lake and other commodities you may rent like cottages or tents. The entrance is 160php per person and the boat ride is 25php each to get there and when you leave. We rented out a tent at 300php since we plan on staying overnight and the cottages besides looking to be a pain to sleep on is worth 350php. Bringing your own tent is free of charge though as we were told.
 |
| "Grande Island Beach Resort" |
The resort is mostly underdeveloped with only a few cottages and the beach pretty clean except for a few trash here and there left by other travelers (remember to CAYG- Clean as you go to keep the place pristine and a nicer place).
 |
| "Grilling area" |
 |
| "Cottages" |
There are designated places for cooking and if you forgot to bring coal they sell them for 30php per plastic. There also sell drinking water for 45php for a liter and assorted cup noodles with hot water which is 35php if I recall correctly. The changing/shower areas are just woven palm leaves and pretty low and the comfort rooms which although made of rock is pretty dilapidated and doesn't have available water for bathing. They sell bathing water for 50 pesos for a container. Remember to bring your own light source when staying overnight since there is no electricity for the cottages and the are is very dark at night. There were other people staying besides us but the place although small is quite a paradise.
 |
| "Paradise" |
The sand is fine and pretty white but it is quite unappealing to play with when you know there are dogs frolicking around and you might accidentally scoop their poop. The water is very clear and nice to swim to and you can even see fishes without diving down with a snorkel. On the right side of this paradise is Kwebang Lampas which is one of the main attractions aside from the seclusion of the area and the white fine sand. The cave which spans through under a cliff jutting out from the mountain ranges. Bring your slippers when exploring the caves since the rocks and coral reef are sharp.
 |
| "Swimming with the fishes" |
 |
| "Fish up close and personal" |
 |
| "There were sea urchins too!" |
That pretty much sums our trip. Below is our itinerary and travel costs (meal costs and cottage/tent not included).
Travel Time
|
Travel Details
|
Type
|
Cost
|
Day 1 0700-1000
|
Alabang Starmall Terminal to Lucena Grand Terminal
|
Bus
|
180.00
|
1000-1030
|
Brunch at Lucena Grand Terminal
|
||
1030-1045
|
Lucena Grand Terminal to Pagbilao Town
|
Jeep
|
11.00
|
1045-1130
|
Pagbilao Town to Barangay Ibabang Polo
|
Jeep
|
37.00
|
1130-1200
|
Barangay Ibabang Polo to Capascapas Beach
|
Tricycle
|
50.00
|
1200-1215
|
Capascapas Beach to Kwebang Lampas
|
Boat
|
25.00
|
Day 2 1030-1130
|
Kwebang Lampas to Barangay Polo
|
Tricycle
|
100.00
|
1130-1300
|
Barangay Polo to Lucena Grand Terminal
|
Jeep
|
50.00
|
1300-1400
|
Brunch at Lucena Grand Terminal
|
||
1400-1715
|
Lucena Grand Terminal to Alabang Starmall
|
Bus
|
131.00
|
Total fare costs per person
|
584.00
|
||
Grande Island Beach Entrance
|
160.00
|
||
Bathing water(optional)
|
50.00
|
||
Total Costs per person overall
|
794.00
|
||
*More pictures will be uploaded to our page! Follow us here!
