Apo Reef Natural Park: A Dive into Nature’s Underwater Wonderland
Set against the azure backdrop of the Sulu Sea, Apo Reef Natural Park is one of the Philippines’ most outstanding marine sanctuaries. Spread over 34 square kilometers, this atoll reef stands as the second-largest contiguous coral reef system in the world and is a mecca for divers and marine enthusiasts.
A Coral Paradise
The reef is a vibrant tapestry of over 400 coral species. Its expansive coral gardens, brimming with varying hues and structures, are nothing short of an underwater artist’s palette. The reef’s health and diversity make it a crucial breeding ground and habitat for many marine species.
Marine Life Galore
Divers at Apo Reef are often welcomed by schools of jacks, snappers, and the occasional curious turtle. The waters here are frequented by sharks, manta rays, and barracudas. On a lucky day, one might even spot the graceful dugongs or sea cows grazing on sea grass.
Lighthouse Views
Click the pic above to see her experience of visiting the site.
Apo Island, the largest in the reef’s three-island system, is home to a century-old lighthouse. A trek to its top promises panoramic views of the vast sea, punctuated by the distant silhouettes of Mindoro and other islands.
Bird Watching Haven
Click the pic above to see his experience of visiting this site.
Apart from its marine attractions, Apo Island is a sanctuary for birds. With its mangrove forest acting as a breeding ground, the island sees migratory birds, making it a spot for birdwatchers.
Getting to Apo Reef Natural Park
Land Travel to Sablayan
Whether you take a ferry to San Jose from Coron, or fly into San Jose, or a ferry to Roxas from Boracay, or a ferry to Puerto Galera from Batangas or fly into Puerto Galera, either way you will need to get to Sablayan, as that is the port from where the private boats and group tours leave to get to Apo Reef Natural Park. How to get to Puerto Galera.
From San Jose or its Airport to Sablayan:
By Land: Once you land in San Jose, head to the town proper. Here, you can find vans or buses bound for Sablayan. The journey can take around 2 to 3 hours.
By Private Vehicle: If you’re renting a car or have chartered a vehicle, drive from San Jose to Sablayan using the well-paved roads.
Sea Travel to Apo Reef
From Sablayan Port to Apo Reef:
By Boat: Sablayan is the jump-off point to Apo Reef Natural Park. At Sablayan Port, you can charter boats to take you to Apo Reef. The boat ride can take around 2 to 3 hours, depending on sea conditions.
Organized Tours: There are also tour operators and dive shops in Sablayan that offer organized trips to Apo Reef, which can include boat transfers, meals, and even diving or snorkeling gear. For the budget conscious, you can probably just go down to the port and jump on the next departure.
Travel Tips:
Book in Advance: Especially during peak seasons, boats and accommodations can fill up quickly. It’s a good idea to secure your boat reservations in advance.
Safety First: Always check weather conditions before your boat trip. Apo Reef is in the open sea, so ensure that the weather is conducive for the journey.
Camping: There are no hotels or resorts on Apo Island within the Apo Reef Natural Park. However, visitors can camp on the island. Remember to bring essentials like tents, food, water, and other camping gear.
Permits and Fees: Before heading to Apo Reef, secure the necessary permits from the Sablayan Tourism Office. They can also brief you on the do’s and don’ts while in the protected area to ensure the preservation of the park.
Environmental Awareness: As a marine sanctuary, it’s crucial to practice responsible tourism. Avoid touching the corals, follow guidelines, and ensure you don’t leave any trash behind.
Embarking on the journey to Apo Reef Natural Park may seem a bit lengthy, but the pristine waters, vibrant marine life, and untouched beauty that await make every effort worthwhile. Happy travels!
Conservation Efforts
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site nominee and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, the Apo Reef Natural Park is more than just a tourist spot; it’s an environmental stronghold. The Philippines’ government and local communities have undertaken commendable efforts to preserve and protect this marine haven.
Conclusion
A visit to Apo Reef Natural Park isn’t just a dive; it’s an immersion into a world that beautifully balances ecological importance with breathtaking wonder. It stands as a testament to the magic that happens when nature is left untouched and revered.
And such is the nature that is revered in an area not far from the Apo Reef Natural Park – Palawan. Between the popular tourist spots of El Nido and Coron lies a remote area adorned with 82 white sand beach islands and crystal clear waters. If you’d like to get off the beaten path we’d be happy to organize for you a group or private multiday boat tour expedition through this pristine area.
Filitour planned our tour very well.Good recommandation for the overnight stay.The crew was very helpfuland they prepared very nice meals for us.Strongly recommended
The best experience of my life!!I wanted to surprise my girlfriend with a special engagement in beautiful El Nido!!Melasel arranged everything for me and had so many great suggestions and knowledge of how to make this a magical day! I was super worried because it is difficult to arrange such an important event when you live on the other side of the world! But Mel was amazing and understood exactly what I wanted! And went out of her way to accommodate all my requests!She even had a clever story to tell my girlfriend to cover the photographer being with us all day!On the day the weather was very rainy with many showers. Mel and Rene were in constant contact with me with plan B and even contacted our hotel to discuss options of hosting the proposal there. Completely above and beyond what I paid for.Luckily in the end the weather gave us a small window and Mel set everything up beautifully on a sand bar floating in the middle of crystal clear waters surrounded by limestone islands with stunning rocky formations.Island Hopping in the Philippines somehow peered into my brain and delivered a perfect replica of the proposal I had in my head.It was simply perfect down to the smallest detail! Thank you so much, I cannot recommend you guys enough!!
I give 5 stars because they actually helped me to arrange the tour to Balabac in last minute. However, because the money wired through the local bank in my country took time to be processed, so i missed the boat due to peak season as many people paid before my money was received by the tour guide.As most of people usually feel, once your money has been transferred out to someone you do not know, you probably frustrated that your money would not be able to be refunded.But not in my experience. I dont need to be worry, the owner refunded me the money he has received (minus the bank fees). He promised to refund me and he did it. It was around 18.700 Pesos.So, eventhough i didn't manage to go with the tour, but i am really satisfied with their legitimate and great business practice. Hopefully, people will try their services and not worry about their legit business!Thanks a lot!
The most wonderful experience from booking to beach! Karel and Mel were so fast and responsive to my very last minute trip over the holidays. We booked a private boat for two and could not have been happier with our four day trip! We didn’t think about anything other than snorkeling the entire time. Linda, our captain, cooked wonderful meals and took us to totally empty beautiful beaches. We loved staying the night in Pical especially! Wonderful to experience the Philippines this way! Will come back again and would recommend to anyone!
We booked the 3 day 2 night expedition, from Coron to Sibaltan.First of all the booking part was really simple. I organized this trip to the Philippines last minute for my family (my parents and my uncles) but Karel answered all my questions very quickly and really made everything easier for me. It was an incredible experience. Albert, our tour leader, is a wonderful guy, always smiling and ready to help us. They assisted us in everything and really took care of making everything go smoothly. The accommodation on the islands is as spartan as you expect but the location of each hut alone is worth the trip. The wonder of nature was then added to the goodness of cuisine. It's really difficult to argue how you can cook all that goodness on a boat.If you are looking for an authentic experience, in contact with nature, off the beaten track, this company's private expedition is certainly for you.
What an unforgettable experience! We did a two night (3 day) island hopping tour from Sibaltan to Coron. Everything was so well organized and the boat crew were amazing and really made sure we had a great time. The accommodation was rustic, but added to the authentic experience of the Philippines. Karel always responded to any queries we had promptly. Our boatman, Albert, was the most amazing chef and we enjoyed every meal. The crew taught the kids how to fish with a line which was their highlight of the trip. They took us to the most unbelievable snorkelling spots along the way. Would highly recommend this trip.
This is a must to do!!Super ultimate tour is the best with Kayangan and barracuda lake, twin lagoons (my favorite), coral garden (blue fabulous coral) were the best. It’s really worth it to pay for private tour (3500 to 4000 PHP). You will also have to pay for entrance fees (150 to 200PHP by location) and eventually shopping at the market - must do (count 300 for 2 for fish, pork, fruits and vegetables, water).
I was looking for a personalized excursion to the stunning Bacuit Gulf.Based on the comments, I contacted Mel.Very responsive, very efficient and perfect organization.The on-board staff were very friendly and very helpful.And I'm not even talking about the meal on board...a marvel.In all fairness, this excursion will remain an excellent memory and I cannot recommend Mel and his team highly enough.A big thank-you.
This tour went well above all our expectations! I couldn't recommend this enough! The boat crew, captain and tour guide were nothing but amazing, everyone was so kind, helpful and friendly. The crew knew the best spots to visit that weren't overcrowded with tourists, 3 times we were lucky enough to have whole islands to ourselves! It was my partner's birthday while away and everything went above and beyond, bonfire, cake, birthday card, singing and celebrating with us.If you love camping this is definitely a tout you should do, it has been the highlight of our trip!!
We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.
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Apo Reef Natural Park
Average rating:
1 reviews
Perry
Oct 25, 2023
by Perry
just the best
Probably the best snorkelling that i have ever done in my life took place from an official tour boat visiting part of the Apo Reef. There were turtles in the sea and the aqua waters themselves were clear and limpid.
Set against the azure backdrop of the Sulu Sea, Apo Reef Natural Park is one of the Philippines’ most outstanding marine sanctuaries. Spread over 34 square kilometers, this atoll reef stands as the second-largest contiguous coral reef system in the world and is a mecca for divers and marine enthusiasts.
