Dampalitan - Borawan - Kwebang Lampas

Manila to Padre Burgos

To get to Padre Burgos, get on a bus to Lucena. That will take about 3 hours. Then from Lucena, take a bus going to Unisan and ask the driver/konduktor to drop you off in Padre Burgos.

To Lucena
Bus/Terminal: Jac Liner, Kamuning Quezon City
Travel time: 3 hours
Fare: Php 218 (as of 4/16/2014)
Lucena to Padre Burgos
Bus/Terminal: Lucena Grand Terminal (we took the bus going to Unisan, but you can ask around for buses that would pass by Padre Burgos)
Travel time: 1 hour
Fare: Php 40

Padre Burgos to Dampalitan

We got off at a waiting shed in Padre Burgos. We bought supplies at the store along the highway and had brunch at a nearby eatery. The sales lady at the store offered to help with the boat. Apparently, the boat fare to the Islands has already been standardized.
Php 800- one island (Either Dampalitan or Borawan)
Php 1200- two islands(Borawan and Dampalitan)
Php 1800- Borawan, Dampalitan and Kwebang lampas

Dampalitan 

We decided to visit two islands, camping overnight in Dampalitan. From mainland Padre Burgos, the boat ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It is not a rough one, so you can really enjoy it.
Dampalitan is nothing like the beautiful beaches I have been to. The sand is coarse and its color not impressive. I was told that there is a lot of jelly fish (sometimes box jelly fish), though they have put a net enclosing the swimming area.

What is great about the island, though, is that it is not crowded. There is enough space to pitch your tent comfortably. You can also make bonfires (you can buy a pile of wood from one of the caretakers for Php 50), though I personally think this should not be allowed. When we were there, the weather was not very good, so I was not able to see its famed sunset view.
I enjoyed my stay here since it was a very quiet place. We also found spots good for taking pictures. Just go all the way to the left (if you are facing the sea) of the island during low tide.
However, I don't think I will like going back there. The beach is not very inviting and I think the pitching fee is ridiculous.

Here is some information about staying in the island:
Php 60- entrance fee (I think this is dependent on the number of nights you stay in the island)
Php 200- Pitching fee (even if you bring your own tent, you still have to pay)
Php 500- tent rental
Php 35- beer (SML)
Php 200- Red Horse Beer
Php 30- charging fee (1 full charge of phone or camera battery)

Tips:
- Bring enough drinking water if you are camping in the island, as everything at the store is very expensive.
- Camping in Dampalitan is advantageous if you consider space, since Borawan is too cramped.
- Take advantage of the fact that it is still possible to make bonfires at the beach.

Borawan

If I am not mistaken, I stayed in this island for about 40 minutes only. We visited Borawan on our way back to the mainland.
Accordingly, its name is derived from Boracay, because of the sand, and Palawan, because of the rock formations. It did slightly feel like you were in Boracay and Palawan at the same time. However, I think it is a bit overrated. The sand is not as fine as in Boracay and rocks are much better in El Nido and Coron.
Still, this island is worth a visit.
Borawan Information:
Php 80- Entrance fee (I think it is a bit more if you stay overnight. Not sure about that, though.)

Kwebang Lampas

It was my second time in Kwebang Lampas. Considering that I don't usually go back to places I have been to, this means that this place really made an impression on me. I like the white sand (albeit not as fine as I would like it to be) and its blue green water that does not disappear during low tide. Sure it is nothing like Calaguas, Boracay or Palawan, but it is so much better than Dampalitan and Borawan...combined. I thought, then, this was a place I could go back to many times, if I want to go swimming at a beautiful beach not so far away from the city.

Kwebang Lampas

All that changed this time. Of course, the cove is still as beautiful as I remember, but the care taker just ruined everything. The caretaker does not seem to know much about courtesy and customer service. I know that it was such a busy time for them, considering that the entire Philippines goes on vacation during Holy Week, but that's not an excuse for treating visitors without respect. Cut the story short, I am not going back to this place, and I am not recommending it either (especially after my misadventure with a coconut).


Check out Cagbalete travelogue here.

Travel Notes:

Padre Burgos to Pagbilao
Trave time: 40 mins
Fare: Php 30
Pagbilao to Registration Area (Kwebang Lampas)
Travel time (tricycle): 1 hour (could be faster if taking a jeep)
Fare (tricycle): Php 400 (split by the number of passengers)
Fare (jeep): Php 30 (Tricycle at the junction to Bgy Polo will cost Php 150)
Entrance fee: 80/night (no pitching fee unlike in Dampalitan)
Ten Rental: ranges from Php 300 to Php 800 depending of the size

Tips:

- Bring enough drinking water. The store at the island sells drinking water but at a very expensive price, sometimes, they run out.
- Fresh water for bathroom use is also sold but when there are too many people in the island, they could run out of it, too.
- Bathrooms are available but sometimes, you have to wait in a very long line. It's not as clean as you would like it to be.
- If you are coming from Padre Burgos, you do not need to go all the way to Pagbilao market. You can just tell the van/bus/jeep driver to drop you off at the junction to Brgy. Polo. From there, you take a tricycle that will take you all the way to the registration area. That would cost you about Php 150.
- Make arrangements with the tricycle driver to pick you up on your way back, as tricycles are not always available, unless, of course, if you are going with the crowd during peak season (like Holy Week).
- Note that the entrance fee is per night. I am guessing that whoever is running this place would like people to enter the premises several times. :P
- From Kwebang Lampas, you can walk it out to the Jeepney terminal. That way, you can save the P150 fare. Note that the tricycle ride will not take you all the way to Highway-Polo junction, but just up to the jeepney terminal in Barangay Polo.

Kwebang Lampas

See more of my travels here.