Imagine yourself in an island not too far from the shore—merely eight minutes by outrigger boat. But this island, with its entire circumference embraced by azure waters, seemed so remote that it was nothing like the bustling city you left three hours prior. Sumilon Island is one of the best I’ve been to, and thankfully, situated in this gem of a place is a luxury resort called Bluewater Sumilon that made our stay nothing short of great. Read more…
GETTING THERE
It was three in the morning, and we were still reeling from partying in Cebu City hours before. Nonetheless, being true travelers, we picked our bags up and went to the Cebu South Bus Terminal to catch the bus to Bato that was making a stop at the town of Oslob.
I woke up when somebody shouted Oslob. It was only a little past five in the morning, and honestly, I was too woozy to comprehend anything. We attempted to perk up and wait at a small bakery, but the drowsiness was too much that we napped on a dirty concrete bench by the roadside—as curious locals watched us. Had we known that it would only take two hours to reach Oslob from Cebu City in the morning, we would’ve taken a later bus.
The complimentary boat service to Bluewater Sumilon departs from their private pier in Bancogon, and we got there by jeepney from the town proper, not knowing that buses do pass by the area. We arrived there minutes early for the 7:00 AM boat departure.
Their own pier has a breezy receiving area, with a good vantage of the island and the sea. An infectiously perky attendant, smiling at the sight of us, served us cold lemongrass juice that was so memorably fresh. While he was fixing our reservation and attending to other guests, I accidentally dozed off on one of the couches until he called us to board the boat.
We knew we were in for a grand holiday.
THE SCENERY
We docked at the sandbar after eight minutes, as one of the boatmen related to us that the sandbar was displaced after a typhoon ravaged parts of Cebu a year or two prior. But the vista of illuminating white sand engulfed by impossibly crystal blue waters was breathtaking nonetheless—it was a beautiful scene reminiscent of what we see in postcards.
Walking around Sumilon Island, we were always met with gleaming water in gradients of blue to blue green. Seeing cerulean touching the horizon was relaxing to the eyes—and perfect for pictures. The inner shutterbugs in us wasted no time snapping photographs all over the island, leaving no picturesque angle untaken.
THE ROOM
Bluewater Sumilon, for exclusivity, merely has seven cottages split into two deluxe rooms each. Our room seemed like a minimalist native casa with the earth colors, and the bamboo and wooden elements—only that the furnishings were modern, of course.
At 48 square meters, our deluxe room had more than enough space for two comfortable double beds with quality linen, a small living area, a desk, an electric kettle with coffee and tea, and a well-stocked mini bar with refrigerator. The bathroom was elegant and quite spacious as well, and it was provided with a complete set of towels and amenities.
The sliding door doubled as the room’s large window, and it lead us to the private veranda facing the sea. We loved how we woke up to a spectacular view in the morning and how the fresh sea breeze wafted into our room, day in and day out.
THE FOOD
With a dramatic panorama of the sea and mainland Cebu, The Pavilion was where we had our square meals that were either served in a buffet or as a sit-down. However prepared, the food was consistently delicious that honestly, we looked forward to every mealtime.
Their buffets, while not as extensive as those in five-star hotels, had several choices from appetizers to desserts. The breakfast we had combined Western and Asian favorites, while during lunch, their buffet included fresh seafood cooked in a variety of ways.
Their sit-down meals always consisted of a starter, choice of an entree, and dessert. Aside from the squid and prawns we had for dinner, I thoroughly enjoyed the Japanese breakfast, which was comprised of miso soup, grilled pink salmon, an omelette, and sliced fruits.
RELATED POST: Bluewater Sumilon: Among the Philippines’ Best Islands (PART 2)
BLUEWATER SUMILON
Sumilon Island, Bancogon, Oslob, Cebu
Contact:+ 63 32 318 3129, +63 917 631 7512, and sumilon@bluewater.com.ph
Social Media: Facebook and Twitter
Notes: Stay packages and day tours available. Accepts major credit cards.
Photos were taken using the powerful Sony Alpha NEX-6. Know more about it here. Follow Sony Philippines on Facebook and Twitter for updates!
