As I was seeking for a place worth seeking for, scrolling the feeds of my social media accounts, I was stunned by a photo shared by a friend of mine. Miles away from the city, I felt the urge to venture the place I have never set foot before. I was really longing to visit some place like that to unwind and eventually move on. Move on from all the stresses in the city and all the heart aches caused by those people we care too much about.
I found the legendary Hermit’s Cove from the humble municipality of Aloguinsan, Cebu.
Credits
How to get there?
I am not really familiar with the long roads of Cebu since I wasn’t born and raised here but with my “Dora instinct”, I am subconsciously aware of every corner I turn to; though I’m not really that perfect because I was wrong about someone before. I shouldn’t have followed him in that left turn. I should have known better. I should have known that it was a trap! Anyway, I am not here to rant about how tragic my love story went hmmm but maybe in the next blog that would be interesting to tell. Watcha think steemians?
For now, let’s set Cebu City proper as your initial position specifically at the South Bus Terminal just a few walk from Elizabeth Mall. Look for those buses bound to Aloguinsan or Pinamungajan. The fare should be fair enough amounting to Php80 or that’s barely $2 per person. Sit comfortably as it will be a long ride from there. You’ll have to enjoy the journey, looking by the window, thinking about how he managed to hurt you. Choss! Haha! Kidding aside.
You’ll be dropped at the heart of Alouginsan where you’ll meet the nice and hospitable people of the municipality. I personally liked them because they are all eager to introduce any tourist to their wonderful town. From there, you’ll have to ride a “Habal-habal” (It is a typical motorcycle used for public transportation in most secluded places and have also widely used even in cities where traffic congestion sucks more than the throbbing pain your heart is feeling. Another choss! Hahaha) and pay for as low as Php60 or $1.2 only per person per trip. Well, you’ll have to cheer your heart out as the way to the hidden paradise won’t be easy and chill. It gave me the thrill as I remember the scenes in the American series “Wrong Turn”. It was my first time in that place so forgive me if I imagine way too much. Hehehe
Then Ta-daa! Getting to know the people and the place.
The members of the Kantabogon Eco-tourism Association (KEA) who are keeping the place clean & green and operational would welcome each visitor with a wide and warm smile. They even tell you this amazing history of their paradise.
An old hermit named Tabogon discovered the place so it was named after him, Hermit’s Cove in Kantabogon, Aloguinsan. Not just that. The association keeps and maintains peace and order in their paradise and they are truly strict and serious about it.
In all fairness, the association has indeed done so much to preserve and enhance the place. It has preserved the peace and as natural as possible of the whole place and at the same time it has enhanced the beauty and comforts each visitor would need.
Okay, let’s continue. Their nipa huts are built on the rocks in a cliff where they truly preserved the boulders and even the wild grasses. It’s just kind of spooky because snakes may possibly live in those holes. Oooh! But the association is always making sure that every tourist will be safe and can enjoy their time without being bothered of snake attacks. I don’t exactly know how they did that but I somehow trust the association.
Ready for the beach? Let’s go tanned!
Before the dramatically taken shots at the beach, you’ll have to take their 88-step stairs made from naturally carved boulders in the cliff added with some cement and smaller rocks to have a decent stairs. Well, they have also added some wooden structures to complete your landing to their SEAductive hidden beach.
Upon reaching at the mostly preserved beach of Kantabogon, you’ll notice the clean, white and tiny crushed shells with tiny to fine sands on the beach as you walk around. They will be a little painful when you step on them at first but you’ll eventually feel like you’re being massaged. But yeah that won’t be true to all because some may have a little sensitive foot than mine. I just happen to have a thick “kubal” (Cebuano term for that dead skin layer). Hahaha.
And of course if you really want that mas feels pose then try it here. I'm just a little bit shy so I wasn't able to maximize my photo ops. Hehehe.
If you've had enough of the maoy feels then indulge yourself with the beauty of the sea. You can enjoy salting your hair, drying your lips with the sea breeze, and the tiny crushed sea shells massaging your feet. If you can’t leave all the stresses from the city, then bring it there and drown yourself with thoughts of leaving all the negative things beneath the water you’re swimming from. Let the ocean get you and rinse you well. Let the sun dry you enough from tears of sorrow and replace it with moisture of hope and strength. Lastly, appreciate the life you have and the life in the paradise you’re in. Life is too short to waste on mourning to feelings gone. Be happily alive and be happy living your life!
For me, God’s gift of nature and life is what I exactly need to know that true love isn’t always found from our boyfriends/girlfriends. I’m now ready to cure what has been broken, find what has been lost and replenish what has been dried out. God himself is Love and that’s the true love we all need.
Other miscellaneous info you might need:
If you’re planning to stay for the night then their nipa huts are ready to give you cozy rooms at a price of Php1300 or $26. Of course that isn’t just a one-man room. A group of 7 or 8 will fit in. You’ll figure it out how. Hahaha
They sell freshly caught fishes in the beach which they can also cook for you. Hassle free and a complete package of your SEAmazing experience at Hermit’s Cove.
If swimming and getting tanned bores you, then they also have snorkeling for Php120 or $2.4 only. But if you like the amateur snorkeling experiences only, then their gears are for rent for as low as Php50-80 or $1-1.6 each.
If you think island hopping is expensive then you’re wrong because at Hermit’s cove, you’ll have to pay for only Php100 or $2 per head to be able to try their “short but sweet” island hopping. It would take you to Bojo River which is another stunning paradise of the town and especially the marine sanctuary. The boat will pick up tourists from Hermit’s cove and tour them around for about an hour and a half.
Last but surely not the least; they sell their traditional “suman” (glutinous rice cooked in glucose and coco milk wrapped in banana leaves). This has a very significant symbolism in the history of their humble paradise as this was the common food for the natives and Tabogon (the Hermit) himself. Have a piece of their culture and indulge in the pleasure of eating their special “suman”.
I hope I had made your virtual journey to Hermit’s cove interesting enough. And I also hope you’d visit the paradise yourself for real too. Like me, you’ll surely and definitely experience the SEArendipity worth a try for even just a one-weekend-getaway! Enjoy the trip with your friends, colleagues, and loved ones and surely do create memories worth remembering. God bless and bon voyaje mi amigo! Till next travel blog my fellow steemians!
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