Apo Island Travel Guide
Southeast off the coast of Negros Oriental lies this small piece of land that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Apo Island is a volcanic island of just 72 hectares, but it is surrounded by 619 that make up the oldest marine sanctuary in the Philippines. This latter reason is what has put it on many travelers’ itineraries around the country, since you have an almost 100% guarantee of being able to swim with turtles in the wild. However, that’s not all. In this Apo Island Guide you’ll find everything you need to your travel.
A snorkeling and diving paradise thanks to its huge turtle population and reefs, Apo is also a perfect destination if you want to relax and embrace a contemplative pace of life. Although you can come on a day trip, our advice is to opt to stay one or two nights and slow your pulse alongside its charming inhabitants. If you need a bit of movement, besides finning around, Apo also has several cool trails to hike that will reward you with views of its neighbors Siquijor and Negros. Keep reading this Apo Island Guide and discover all its secrets:
THINGS TO DO IN APO ISLAND
We’ve already spilled the beans: what makes Apo Island special is its marine sanctuary, where dozens of turtles live. Swimming with them is a joy, but there are also several other little things you’re going to like:
- Swim with turtles: thanks to the huge amount of algae and seagrass beds, these beauties roam not far from the shore.
- Diving: Apo can boast some of the best dives in the Visayas region. It’s an ideal place for both experienced and beginner divers. Although the stars are the turtles, in Apo’s healthy reefs you’ll find more than 450 fish species.
- Hiking: Apo is a volcanic island and, despite being small, it’s quite mountainous. You have several short treks you’ll love.
- Beach: while it’s true it doesn’t have the best in the Philippines, on Apo you can still lie down to enjoy the sun and take a dip.
- Do nothing: Apo invites relaxation and, being such a little-touristed island, it gives you the chance to mingle a bit with its community.
In this Apo Island Guide we’re only giving you a small preview. Discover everything you need to make the most of your days on the island in:
HOW TO GET TO APO ISLAND
There are many ways to get to it, but the most economical—and the one we recommend—is the one that goes via Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental. From there, you’ll need to head down by bus or tricycle to Malatapay and then take a bangka (a traditional boat) to Apo. Watch out for this last stretch! The sea is usually a bit choppy, so keep your valuables well protected.
However, you can also reach Apo on a day trip from Siquijor, Dumaguete, Dauin, or Zamboanguita. From here boats go back and forth in a day carrying snorkelers or divers.
We explain in detail how you can enjoy Apo from several points in the Philippines:
WHERE TO STAY IN APO ISLAND
Although you could come on a day tour and head back, our advice is to stay overnight on Apo to make the most of it without stress. Don’t expect great luxuries, though. Accommodation on Apo is quite basic and, in fact, there isn’t electricity 24 hours a day or running water. However, the peace and quiet there make up for it. Liberty’s Lodge and Mario’s are the best known.
If you want more comfort, you have the alternative of staying in Dumaguete, Dauin, Zamboanguita, or Siquijor and taking a day trip from there. The dive resorts in Dauin are particularly interesting, especially if you want to discover the underwater life off this Negros coast.
In this Guide to Apo you’ll only find a summary; read about them here:
TIPS TO VISIT APO ISLAND
- BEST TIME TO VISIT APO ISLAND: you can go any time of year, but it’s better if you do it between November and May, which is the dry season and the water is calmer. If you decide to visit in the rainy season, bear in mind that boat trips can be canceled (we say this from our own experience).
- HOW MANY DAYS TO VISIT APO ISLAND: the island is very small and you can do it in a day, but we recommend spending at least one night/two days. That way you have time to soak it up a bit more and enjoy it as it deserves.
- MONEY ON APO ISLAND: you won’t find ATMs and, although some hotels allow card payments, they charge surcharges of up to 6% for it. Come with cash! You’ll find ATMs and money changers in Dumaguete and in Siquijor.
- INTERNET ON APO ISLAND: don’t expect anything wonderful… Hotel wifi barely works, so we recommend bringing your Philippine SIM card active and with data.
- BE A RESPONSIBLE TOURIST: please keep a safe distance from the turtles; do not touch, harass, or chase them. Respect the corals and sponges too, and don’t stand on or touch them.
- WHAT TO BRING TO APO: at the tourist office you can rent snorkel gear, fins, and booties, but for hygiene reasons we recommend bringing your own. You’ll find more information in Backpack for the Philippines.
- HEALTHCARE ON APO ISLAND: you won’t find hospitals on the island. In case you need emergency treatment, they’ll have to take you to Dumaguete or Cebu. Please take out good travel insurance for the Philippines that covers your snorkeling activity. Here you have a 5% discount on the one we use.