How to get to the island:
1.Head to Cebu City.
If you’re taking a plane from Manila, I would suggest going to the island on the day you arrive. Nalusuan Island is closer to the airport than it is to Cebu City proper.
2. From the airport or Cebu City take a cab.
You can get a metered taxi or book van arrangements from the island. Nalusuan Island’s wharf is located at Tonggo, Marigondon right beside Bluereef Resort. Our one way taxi ride was around P450-500. GET your driver’s number and try to strike a deal with him to pick you up when you leave the island. Taxis from the wharf are sparse.
3. Take a boat to the island.
You have only one way to go to the island and it is through their boat. Rates vary depending on how many you are so best to inquire directly. We were only 2 and paid P2,000 for round trip boat transfers.
ROOMS
Stilt Rooms: ₱3,500 per night; good for 2 (Extra person: ₱1,000/night w/ breakfast)
• Deluxe Rooms: ₱4,500 per night; good for 2 (Extra person: ₱750/night w/ breakfast)
• Family Room: ₱6,500 per night; good for 6 (Extra person: ₱750/night w/ breakfast)
* Rates are inclusive of breakfast. Electricity (genset) starts 6pm-8am.
You can also book online via Agoda.com / TravelBook.
– Make sure to book at least 1 week in advance. They accept walk-ins, but the resort is fully booked at times.
– Electricity (Genset) starts at 6:00 pm and ends at 8:00 am.
– Bringing of foods and beverages are not allowed. Activities include snorkeling in the protected coral gardens, scuba diving, swimming in the wide sandbar.
Nalusuan is a man-made resort island in the Cebu Strait, the Philippines, and one of the islands comprising the Olango Island Group. The island, which measures close to a hectare, is situated in between the Province of Bohol and Mactan Island.[1] Originally a sand bar, it was reclaimed to allow the construction of the Nalusuan Island Resort, which occupies the entire island.
The island was originally and locally known as “kalusuan” meaning “a place of penises” in Cebuano. The local fishermen named it as such because the waters surrounding the island is teeming with sea cucumbers, which looked like the male genitalia.[citation needed]
The island is administratively under the town of Cordova.[2]
On May 18, 2009, American swimmer Paul Vanhoven swam unassisted from Mactan Island to Nalusuan in an effort to raise awareness to the damage that dynamite fisherman were causing to local reefs. Management of the Nalusuan Marine Sanctuary have long been trying to protect the local waters from dynamite blasts and over-fishing. Fish populations have rebounded back to healthy levels at the Sanctuary, and large grouper are becoming a common site again. In May 2009, a small nurse shark was sighted at the island, as more top predators return. Stressed? Depressed? Bored? Or just itching for another crazy adventure?
It is that time of the year again, I know. The time to have a break, leave everything behind and experience nature and life that only the ocean can give. Nalusuan Island in Olango Reef, Cordova Mactan, Cebu is both a breather for the soul and perfect for a marine adventure. The island with its long sand bar is a sanctuary to all the sea creatures and to the nature lovers. You can literally reach at arm’s length the abundance of marine life. The fishes that you have only seen in your plates in their natural habitat. It feels like you are a part of the sea, the island and the life under water. The adventure starts as soon as you ride the boat to the island, the challenging waves, the strong winds and the taste of the ocean. They offer a lot of fun things like snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, scuba diving, and so much more! The cottages are built right above the sea with breathtaking views. Imagine, waking up to the refreshing breeze of the sea while feeding the fish just right below the balcony. The bathroom was looking into the ocean so if you look out the window, you would see the sea. For an island without direct source of water, bathroom water wasn’t bad. There is no electricity from 8 AM – 6 PM. That’s not a joke. The island is a marine sanctuary so I understand provisions like this. We were able to endure no electricity during our visit because we went during August and it wasn’t boiling hot. I imagine it would get mighty hot during the summer season. It was windy in the restaurant during our stay so it was a good spot during the day. It is really nice to be in this island because you will experience many adventures that surely you’ll love.
NALUSUAN ISLAND VIDEO–> click here
©LYR LUCERO
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