Has anyone heard of Pamilacan Island? I bet not too many have.
Be introduced to another unique island in the Philippines, a place that is not known to many but holds great beauty so worthy to see and experience – a “hidden gem” called Pamilacan Island.
How to Get To Pamilacan Island
Pamilacan is a small island in the Municipality of Baclayon, Bohol. This island is situated 12.5 kilometres south of mainland Bohol and lies at the heart of the Bohol Sea. It has a small population of around 1, 500. You can reach the island by taking a 50 to 80-minute ride via native pump-boat called “banka” from Baclayon Pier.
Pamilacan is a perfect place for those who want an authentic island experience, white sandy beaches, lush coral garden, abundant marine life, meet playful dolphins, get in touch with relatively undisturbed nature and run away from the crowds of mass tourism. Aside from locals, you will often have the island almost exclusively to yourself.
Pamilacan Island Day Tour: Diving and Snorkeling
Pamilacan is home to one of the best diving and snorkeling sites in the country – lots of corals, starfish, seagrasses and fish, big and small. A coral garden and marine sanctuary is located nearby, only 5-10 minutes boat ride from the island. Moreover, Pamilacan also offers good chances of dolphin sightings. The island is frequented by large congregations of different species of dolphins. It was because of this reason that I became interested in this island.
Pamilacan Island Dolphin Watching Tour
Back in 2015, I went to Bohol as a solo backpacker and targeted to reach this island to experience the dolphin watching activity. Back then, I was grateful to meet Kuya Ricky, a local fisherman and a DOT-accredited guide, who made my Pamilacan adventure possible.
With much excitement, I embarked on an early morning adventure. I was advised that dolphin watching requires an early start. That is, between 6:00-8:00AM or before the harsh heat of the sun. According to Kuya Ricky, dolphins are happiest after they eat breakfast. When they are full, this is the time when they are most playful – showing up and down in the water, making dolphin sounds, spinning around and chasing waves. Dolphins that are commonly sighted here are the Risso’s dolphin, the playful Spinner dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spotted dolphins and Fraser’s dolphins.
Keeping in mind that these are wild creatures in their natural habitat, sightings are not guaranteed. However, with experienced fishermen as guides, expeditions have a high probability of sightings. Their uncanny abilities and ecological approach have continuously protected these marine mammals over the last 20 years.
The dolphin watching experience here was just amazing! It still remains one of my best travel experiences – to be out there in the wild, having a front seat in an authentic dolphin watching show, seeing hundreds of happy dolphins playing around their natural habitat. It was a humbling experience unlike any other.
I knew back then that I would go back to this island, share the richness of this place and tell stories about its beauty.
Life on Pamilacan Island
Life on Pamilacan island is pretty simple and basic. There are no big hotels, no fancy restaurants, no ATMs and no convenience stores. It is definitely not the island destination for average tourists looking for comfort.What to expect? -an authentic experience of typical Philippine island life where pristine nature is put to premium. As there are no luxury hotels here, one is given the opportunity to focus on nature, experience a slow life and live like the locals.
There are several local, family-owned businesses around the island that can cater to travelers’ needs – boat rental, dolphin-watching activity, snorkeling, and a small “sari-sari” store. These small stores also sell beverages and small snacks.
Pamilacan Island Accommodation
For accommodation, there are simple beach huts around the island. These are usually made from locally sourced materials such as bamboo and nipa. Rooms have bamboo beds, with mosquito-nets, maybe a small fan, basic bathroom and a small balcony. Meals are prepared by local families, done through simple cooking using fresh and local ingredients that guarantee the real taste of a typical Filipino meal.
Massage by the Beach: Filipino Massage by Local Women
You can also indulge in traditional Filipino massage by the beach, under the shade of the tree. This service is provided by active community of local women who were professionally trained (sponsored by an NGO) as a way of supplementing their income. Each of these women has a unique story to tell. They are binded by their desire to make a living for their family and their new appreciation for tourism as a sustainable source of income.
National Cultural Treasure: 200-year Old Spanish Fortress
An interesting historical feature on the northeast end of the island is a 200‑year‑old Spanish fort, a watchtower used by the Spaniards to look out for intruders, such as pirates and other enemies. The site has been declared a National Cultural Treasure and stands beautifully on white sands looking out to sea.
Is there Electricity at Pamilacan? Is there a clean water supply?
The electricity here is scarce; they rely on a combination of solar power and municipal generator. Thus, no aircon rooms at all. There is also no running water on much of the island, as such, one will learn to deal with the water stored in the drum container, bathe and wash the Filipino way using a bucket and a dipper (balde at tabo) and save water every time you use it. They get their clean water from the mainland Bohol or store rainwater to be used for other needs. Toilets are “flushed” with buckets of salt water.
Surely, Pamilacan is not a typical vacation that one could expect – if you don’t have the heart for real adventure then you might just not appreciate this island experience.
Pamilacan Island History
Pamilacan’s name was derived from “pilak”, a large hook used to spear whales, manta rays, whale sharks and dolphins. This name is evidence of the islanders’ former history as hunters of large marine animals.
In the late 90’s, when a Fisheries and Administrative Order was introduced to protect these creatures, whale, whale shark and dolphin hunting became illegal. The community had to find new means of survival, and through combined efforts with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and World Wildlife Fund Philippines (WWF), an ecotourism plan was developed.
Pamilacan’s dolphin and whale watching tourism was made the first pilot project in the implementation of the Philippine National Ecotourism Strategy.
On an island where tourism was previously not known, it was difficult. Community members who once earned their living from catching whale sharks and dolphins were now to be their protectors. They were to guide visitors with their boats to the waters to observe the dolphins in their natural habitat — no jumping into the water with them, no touching, no harassing, just sitting in the boat to observe the dolphins having their breakfast.
The program started from zero. In the beginning, there was no itinerary, no set activities, no product interpretation, no facilities or equipment, no marketing. And hardly anyone on the outside even knew about this island.
So with the support of the local government unit (LGU), community-based tourism was introduced. A sustainable dolphin watching activity was planned, product branding was created, boat and safety equipment were provided, local guides were trained, tour operators were tapped and for the first time, Pamilacan was included in the printing of tourism promotional materials.
Over time, the program has thrived and replaced the commercial hunting practice with a sustainable tourism income source.
This is a classic example that when we take care of something, it gives back double or even thousand fold. It is a beautiful story of how key tourism stakeholders (community, government, private sector) can have a shared responsibility to create an impactful change and how tourism can uplift the economic condition of a community. I hope we can have more areas that share the beautiful story of this island – how it shifted from extractive short-term commercial fishing to a long-term sustainable livelihood, that is, community-based tourism.
The world is continuously changing and tourism is fast growing. Set foot on this island before its magic is gone. Stay overnight. Give this island a chance to be one of the highlights of your travel experiences in the Philippines.
this is really great…. a great info for a great place to be in one’ travel bucket list!!! thank you Ms. Lesli
Many thanks Mary Mhonic. We will have more articles like this that highlight secret hidden gems 🙂 #choosephilippines