Pangasinan, Philippines – As one of the famous natural wonders of the country and a staple in school textbooks, Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan, is always high up on the travel list of Filipinos. Scattered on the Gulf of Lingayen, the area covering more than 120 islands is a protected national park by virtue of laws through different administrations.
So when Cathy invited us to her hometown one weekend last June 2016, we also grabbed the opportunity to do a day tour in the famous tourist attraction.
Hundred Islands Trivia
Said to be about two million years old, these rocky land formations are believed to be ancient corals. With most of the islets looking like green mushroom tops, some stand out because of their more interesting shapes. The most popular and developed islands are Governor’s Island, Children’s Island, Quezon Island, and Marcos Island.
This 2017, Alaminos City Tourism has been developing the previously named Martha Island into the “Pilgrimage Island“. A gigantic statue of Christ the Savior has been installed and a chapel and retreat house are in the works.
Hundred Islands Day Trip
Waking up early, we left Cathy’s home and took a bus to Alaminos. Of course, we also stopped by the wet market to stock up on food for our trip. After arriving at Lucap Terminal, we boarded a tricycle that took us to Lucap Wharf.
boats at Lucap Wharf, Alaminos, Pangasinan
The agenda? Island hopping, of course!
The tricycle driver dropped us off in front of the tourism office. Bypassing a few touts, we went straight to the registration area and took a look at the rates and procedure.
After pairing off with another group to save up on boat costs, we finally were on our way to explore some of the islets and islands of Hundred Islands National Park.
From the tiny to humongous, we passed by a lot of islands along the way, forgetting to count each one as we become enamored by their beauty. Lush vegetation on top of the islands and islets made them look more enticing especially to us city dwellers.
At last, we docked in Governor’s Island and went up the concrete stairs to admire the surrounding area from the famous panoramic viewpoint. This island has the highest peak among the islands, at 250 feet above sea level.
After that, it was fun and scary (for me!) to cross the floating plastic (pontoon) bridge to Virgin Island.
Although we didn’t stop by Romulo Island, it certainly looked like a good place to swim and laze by the sand. Marcos Island was also brimming with tourists so we docked on Quezon Island. We also passed by the interestingly-shaped Cathedral Island, with a grotto inside featuring a figure of Virgin Mary and her angels.
Romulo Island
Quezon Island
Quezon Island was a flurry of activities. There were people screaming as they were riding the banana boat, zip liners whizzing by, and other water activities for those with bigger budgets.
Famished and tired because of the heat, we ate our packed lunch on the dining facility while admiring the views.
The weather took on a different turn so we got going after eating our lunch. We stopped by a bit beside Bat Island to watch the sleeping fruit bats then landed on Cuenco Island (Cuenco Tunnel).
The tunnel going to the other side was made famous in a local Philippine telenovela (tv show). There’s a wooden cottage on the other side which is perfect for relaxing and taking in the view.
Too bad, though, because it started to rain so we had to get back to our boat. The rain didn’t let up and the skies look like there is, even more, rain to come, so we had no choice but to cut the island hopping at this point and go back to Lucap Wharf.
Bat Island – can you spot the sleeping fruit bats?
Hundred Islands National Park Day Trip Quick Guide
How to get to Hundred Islands from Metro Manila:
Unless you have your own private vehicle, the best way to go to Hundred Islands is by taking a bus bound to Alaminos, Pangasinan. Approximate travel time is around 5 hours. Bus companies you can choose from are Five Star, Dagupan Bus, and Victory Liner. Bus fare (round trip) is around Php 800.
Tricycle fare to Lucap Wharf costs Php 15 per person for a shared ride.
What else to do in Hundred Islands aside from swimming and island hopping:
Kayaking, snorkeling, camping, zip line, banana boat, helmet diving, caving, jet skiing, bird watching, parasailing, cliff diving
Where to rent gazebos:
Quezon, Clave and Lopez, Governor, Romulo, and Mayor
Hundred Islands National Park Fees, Island Rates, and Motorboat rates:
As of August 2017; Rates card from Alaminos City Tourism Facebook Page
Best time to go:
To get the most out of your day trip, best to go during the dry summer months from November to April. Or just check the weather forecast if you’re going during the monsoon season.
Packing list:
Sunscreen, aqua shoes, sunglasses, hat, food and drinks, trash bag, underwater camera, cash
*Reminders: As usual, be a responsible traveler and practice the Leave No Trace principles! 😉
Planning to overnight?
Look for hotels near Hundred Islands here:
Booking.com
Where to go next?
Have you been to Hundred Islands National Park in the Philippines?
LIKE IT? PIN IT!
Punita Malhotra
September 2, 2017 at 6:46 pmI can imagine passing 120 islands of different shapes and sizes on that day trip. I would be busy trying to compare the shapes to objects, animals and even food. One of them does look like a giant turtle to me! What a great trip. What’s the best time of the month to go?
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:26 pmBest of time to go to Hundred Islands would be the near the end of the summer. At least for me! hehe
Alice Teacake
September 1, 2017 at 8:41 pmAw sorry to hear that it rained on you! The islands in the Philippines absolutely fascinate me though! So cool to hear they’re two million years old! That’s awesome 🙂 I have only visited Palawan so far for island hopping. There’s still so much more of the Philippines for me to explore.
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:27 pmOooh yes! More than 7,000 islands left to explore. Hope you get to come back to Philippines!
Meagan
September 1, 2017 at 8:13 pmI literally had a hard time stopping to read because your pictures are GORGEOUS. It’s honestly amazing how many beautiful places there are to see in the Philippines – we’ve yet to visit, but it’s on the list, and now I want to bump it up a few spots!! Thank you for sharing!
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:28 pmHope you get to visit Philippines soon!
nisha
September 1, 2017 at 3:55 pmWow! What a lot of things to do! I guess I know where I an headed when I visit Philippines next.
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:28 pmYay! The Philippines is waiting for you!
Red Nomad OZ (Marion Halliday)
August 31, 2017 at 4:23 pmWow! Some of those islands look AMAZING – but I’m not so sure about the floating bridge! Does anyone ever fall off?? The tunnel sounds interesting too – but just as well the fruit bats were sleeping!! Definitely worth a visit!
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:28 pmNo one have fallen off that I heard. Me, almost! Haha but that’s because i’m clumsy hehe
Jo Castro
August 31, 2017 at 8:46 amWhat a fabulous adventure. We lived in the Philippines for a few years and mostly used to head south from Manila for holidays. But I’d love to get to Pangasinan.
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:29 pmHope you get to visit Philippines again!
Kavey Favelle
August 31, 2017 at 4:08 amGosh, these islands are stunning! That one that’s almost levitating over the beach and sea, it’s just out of this world. I don’t know that I would have thought to do this kind of tour but seeing your photos, yeah I’m adding it to my travel wish list.
Darlene
September 5, 2017 at 5:29 pmIt’s an easy day trip from Manila. Hope you get to Philippines soon!
Anna Faustino
August 24, 2017 at 10:26 amBelieve it or not, I’ve never been here! It’s one of those places that I would love to go but never got around to! Thanks for this guide- bookmarking it for my next trip back home.
Liliane Fawzy
August 23, 2017 at 2:41 amSuch beautiful pictures! Coincidentally there’s a national park in Canada called Thousand Islands National Park!
Noemi
August 20, 2017 at 10:56 pmI’ve never been and it’s silly because I have been to Pangasinan to visit a friend before. The floating bridge looks like fun but quite scary (at least for me). Quezon Island looks a bit…. hmmm… touristy? I can imagine the crowd of people there during the peak season. Too bad it rained while you were doing the tour, there’s always next time though. :p