Romblon Guide
Although people are talking about it a little more lately, we went to Romblon out of pure curiosity. There was very little information circulating on the internet, but a couple of photos of a huge sandbar led us there, and what a great success! Romblon became one of our favorite islands from day one. Bonbon Beach is its main attraction, but we ended up falling in love with the tranquility of its other paradisiacal beaches, its coconut tree-lined roads and, above all, that non-touristy island atmosphere. And part of its charm lies in the fact that there is still very incipient tourism, which makes you feel like you are in an unexplored place. In addition, from there you can visit other beautiful islands such as Cobrador Island, perfect for those looking for pristine destinations. Does all this sound good to you? Keep reading this Romblon Guide and discover the best of it.
Romblon is one of the islands that make up the archipelago of the same name. Although Sibuyan, Tablas, or Carabao cannot be discredited, it is, in our opinion, the most complete of all. On this island, you will find spectacular beaches accessible by land transport, with the motorbike being the most comfortable and economical alternative. Touring its roads flanked by coconut trees is a great plan in itself, but if you combine it with beautiful people, an amazing sandbar, and historical vestiges such as a fort dating from the Spanish colonial era, you can’t ask for much more.
Romblon is still a very underexploited island. The accommodations do not stand out for their good value for money and, although more restaurants and the occasional souvenir shop are popping up, it is still noticeable that it does not enter into 99% of the itineraries through the Philippines. That is an attraction that does not go unnoticed by many and, in our case, the main reason to explore it. If you like a bit of adventure and don’t mind sacrificing time and comfort to get here, the reward will be huge. Discover in our Romblon Guide everything you need to squeeze the most out of your trip.
THINGS TO DO IN ROMBLON
We have already revealed a secret or two, but keep reading and start drooling:
- Bonbon Beach: this beach is what has launched the island to fame and, if you see a photo, you will quickly understand. With white sand and turquoise waters, what defines it most is a sandbar that connects Romblon with the islet of Bang-og. Visit it at high tide to enjoy it to the fullest.
- Beaches of Romblon: it doesn’t end at Bonbon, on this island you have perfect beaches that are almost always empty. Tiamban Beach, San Pedro Beach
- Fort San Andres: contemplate the sunset from this 16th-century fort, witness to the Spanish presence on the island.
- Marble: Romblon is considered “the marble capital of the Philippines”, so you will have the opportunity to see a lot of crafts related to this material, as well as quarries.
- Snorkeling and diving: the seabeds surrounding Romblon are full of life. You don’t need much luck to see turtles and, if you are a certified diver, you can see a lot of “macro” fauna.
- Island hopping: Romblon is great, but we encourage you to dedicate a day to exploring Cobrador, Alad, and Lugbung, 3 neighboring islands that will make you fall in love.
- Touring Romblon by motorbike: simply that, letting yourself go on its roads, greeting the locals, and enjoying its relaxed air.
Convinced? Well, you just have to keep reading more interesting details about this island here:
CRESTA DE GALLO ISLAND
Since you have decided to explore Romblon, we strongly advise you not to leave behind the opportunity to jump to Cresta de Gallo. This is, in our opinion, the jewel of the archipelago and our main reason for exploring this part of the Philippines. This uninhabited island has several white sandbars that will leave you breathless and, best of all, it is very likely that you will have it to yourself.
You won’t be able to reach Cresta de Gallo from Romblon, as it is quite far and there is no direct transport. You will have to do it from Sibuyan, but every cloud has a silver lining, as this one also awaits you with lush nature. In this Romblon Guide, we only give you a few details, read in detail everything you need to get to Cresta de Gallo:
HOW TO GET TO ROMBLON
Things get fun here because Romblon does not have an airport. The nearest one is located on the island of Tablas, which only receives, at most, one daily flight. So, if you want to arrive by plane, you will have to go first to Tugdan Airport (TBH), take land transport to the port of San Agustin, and then a boat to Romblon. Depending on the flight schedules, you may or may not be able to do this on the same day.
Don’t panic! It is also possible to reach the island by boat from other nearby islands. Such is the case of Panay since you have boats to Romblon from Roxas. On the other hand, there are also boats from Manila, which stop in Romblon. As you can see, it is a topic with a lot of substance and it would be impossible to tell you everything in this Romblon Guide. You can read it all in great detail and updated at:
WHERE TO STAY IN ROMBLON
Most accommodations in Romblon are concentrated in its capital, Romblon Romblon. Many of them are fairly basic hostels and, unfortunately, not very cheap. However, over time, the offer is improving. It is also here where you have the greatest variety of restaurants and, therefore, a comfortable place if you don’t want to spend too much.
Even so, if you would like to sleep in some charming place with sea views, you also have opportunities. In Romblon, there are several cool resorts with pools, only you will be a little more isolated and will have to rely more on the motorbike. You decide! You have a selection with the best ones at:
TIPS FOR VISITING ROMBLON
- WHEN TO VISIT ROMBLON: located in the Visayas, the best time to explore this island is between December and May when it is the dry season. For less chance of rain, opt for April and May.
- HOW MANY DAYS TO SPEND: in our opinion, the island deserves at least 3 full days, so you will need about 5 counting transfers. Since we advise you to go to Cresta de Gallo no matter what, we advise you to invest at least 8 days.
- INTERNET IN ROMBLON: in the island’s capital it works reasonably well, especially if you have 4G on your mobile. Of course, outside of it, it can be a little difficult to have a connection. If you are thinking of exploring with the motorbike, don’t forget to download the map on Maps.me or Google Maps.
- WHERE TO EAT IN ROMBLON: next to the port you will find several very cheap carinderias. If you need something more international, JD & G Italian Foods & Real Italian Pizza and Island Bistro are good alternatives. On the roof of the Romblon Plaza Hotel, there is a restaurant that serves somewhat basic food, but the views and atmosphere are cool.
- MONEY IN ROMBLON: in Romblon Romblon there are a couple of ATMs, but don’t trust them 100% because sometimes they don’t have money or don’t work. Try to bring some cash.
- GETTING AROUND ROMBLON: the best thing, if you have practice and a license, is the motorbike. In Romblon, they rent electric motorbikes for 400-500 pesos a day. If you don’t, don’t worry, you can go by tricycle wherever you want. You will just have to negotiate the prices.
- HEALTH IN ROMBLON: the truth is that, from our own experience, there is not a very powerful hospital infrastructure. In case you have any problem, you would have to be transferred to Manila, so it is very important that you travel with a good travel insurance for the Philippines like the one we carry. Here is a 5% discount on your policy.