Romblon Island Adventures
- Hans Pedersen
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
Photo album:
On Sunday, we started our journey bright and early at 4:30 AM, leaving Kalibo to head to Romblon Island. The trip was quite an adventure, as we traveled like locals and used different modes of transport to reach our destination. First, we took a private minibus to Caticlan, followed by a pump boat ride to Looc on Tablas Island. From there, we hopped onto another private minibus for an hour-long drive to San Agustin, where we boarded another pump boat to Romblon Island. Finally, a short tricycle ride brought us to our resort, where we’ll be staying for five nights. It was a long journey, but the beauty of Romblon—untouched and not crowded with tourists—made it all worth it.
Romblon Island is known for its vibrant marine life and its marble industry, which adds to the charm of this off-the-beaten-path destination. After settling into the resort, we couldn’t resist jumping into the warm, crystal-clear water right in front of our place—it is over 25°C. The resort is managed by Jerome, a friendly Filipino who grew up in the area and spent time in Europe, including a year working in Switzerland. Jerome's father had built this resort for retirement, but sadly passed away last year, leaving Jerome to run it.
In the evening, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset, followed by a delicious dinner at the resort’s restaurant. The restaurant is run by a funny British guy, David, and his Filipina wife, Tess, who have been living here for over 20 years. David has many amusing stories about his life in India, China, and Japan, where he worked for more than 20 years as an English teacher before settling in the Philippines. He also played a role in helping the local community, e.g. to get fast internet.
Exploring Romblon
The next morning, Melanie and I went for a jog to Bon Bon Beach, about 2 kilometers from the resort. It was amazing to experience the peaceful morning atmosphere there. Bon Bon Beach is a tranquil paradise in Romblon, known for its white sand and unique sandbar that appears at low tide. Surrounded by clear turquoise waters, it’s perfect for relaxation, snorkeling, and sunsets.
Later, we explored the city, which has a cozy and authentic Filipino vibe with some Spanish influences. It’s the main city of the Romblon and Tablas islands.
In the afternoon, we rented snorkeling gear from a dive resort run by three German-Filipino brothers. On our way back, we stopped at Bon Bon Beach again to snorkel and take in the late afternoon vibes. The coral and tropical fish were very nice, and the girls were absolutely hooked! As the sun set around 6:30 PM, we coukd experience a breathtaking display of colors across the nearby islands. We ended the day with another great dinner at the restaurant.
Island-Hopping Day
Yesterday, we went on a full-day island-hopping trip. We were picked up by a classic outrigger boat, run by a father-and-son duo who are experienced sailors and snorkelers. Our first stop was Cobrador Island, 45 min boat trip from our resort,
where we snorkeled in crystal-clear waters and visited beautiful beaches. We even saw a turtle near a coral garden, which was a thrilling experience.
Next, we visited a small beach on the island where Jerome’s family used to live. It’s a stunning spot with native Filipino houses and a tropical garden, though no one lives there anymore since his father passed away. After lunch, we sailed to Alad Island and had a quick coffee break at a small resort run by a French-Filipina couple. On the way there, Zara and I even got to jump off a 4-meter-high rock platform :)
Our final stop was at a marine sanctuary / coral reef just off a secluded beach, owned and managed by Josef, a Swiss expat who’s lived ther for 27 years. We saw several baby reef sharks, parrotfish, clownfish, and more during our snorkeling session—such an incredible experience, even if we had a few jellyfish stings along the way.
After returning to the resort, Melanie and I got a relaxing massage. We ended the night by inviting the masseuse and her German husband, Dieter, to join us for dinner. Dieter had left his investment banking job in Germany years ago at 39 and eventually settled here, more than 25 years ago. There three children still live in the area. It was a fun evening and the restaurant owner also joined our table after the dinner. Him and Dieter are close friends for many years.
Romblon: A Hidden Gem
So far, Romblon has been an amazing experience. The island’s authenticity, breathtaking nature, and friendly locals made us fall in love with this area.
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