A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Zamboanga City is one of my favorite destinations in Mindanao. With its stunning natural sights, vibrant culture, preserved history and amazing cuisine, it’s a place I don’t mind revisiting again and again. “Asia’s Latin City” is known for strong Hispanic and Latin influence. Zamboanga City is the center of economic activities in Mindanao, with its modern international seaport and airport serving as the entry point in the country to many destinations in Southeast Asia.
When you think of Zamboanga City, the images of the rainbow-striped vintas immediately come to mind. But aside from the colorful sails of the outrigger boats, did you know you can find a colorful Rainbow Mosque in the city as well?
Masjid Al-Islamia, also known as the Rainbow Mosque, can be found in Brgy. Sta. Maria along Tumaga Road (Veterans Ave. Ext.) in Zamboanga City. The mosque was repainted sometime after the Marawi Siege in 2017 as a tribute to the fallen heroes. It was painted in vibrant colors as a call for peace and unity.
Continue reading “Rainbow Mosque in Zamboanga City: Masjid Al-Islamia”Most tourists associate Zamboanga City with Sta. Cruz Island, famous for having a pink sand beach. But there’s a new eco-cultural tourism destination that you can check out in the area: Once Islas.
This cluster of eleven mostly uninhabited islands and islets belong to the remote villages of Panubigan and Dita in Zamboanga City just recently opened to the public in July 2018. These unspoiled islands are ideal for low-impact activities like swimming, kayaking and trekking.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Once Islas, Zamboanga City”Sta. Cruz Island is a small island in Zamboanga City famed for having a pink sand beach. I was awed by the island’s beauty when I first visited in 2013. I was a bit worried when it started gaining popularity because National Geographic included it in a list of the best beaches in the world. While such a distinction can ruin a place and put it in danger of over-development, I was glad to see that the island remained as beautiful and pristine as ever when I returned several years later for in time for their Summer Festival.
Pink sand beaches are quite rare. There are a only a few of them around the world, the most famous of which can be found in Bahamas & Bermuda. Thankfully, we don’t have to travel abroad to set foot on one. The Greater Santa Cruz Island in Zamboanga City, in the southern region of the Philippines, is famed for having pink coralline sand.
This small inhabited island located in the Basilan Strait is just 4 km south of the downtown area of Zamboanga City. It can be reached within 20 minutes by motorized boats. In recent years, the beach has gained popularity as a tourist attraction in the city. I’m really glad to have visited this bucket-list worthy beach prior to my trip to Tawi-Tawi. Continue reading “Zamboanga’s Pink Sand Beach”
Zamboanga City’s La Hermosa Festival which was held last October 7-12 was one of the most colorful festivals I’ve witnessed in the country. From the hundreds of vintas with their rainbow sails racing on the sea in the annual Regatta de Zamboanga, to the festive flurry of activities, it was like a gigantic box of crayons just spilled over the whole city. Beyond the elaborate floats and vibrant costumes of the street dancers, it was great to see the community spirit as locals took part in the different festivities. Here are a few snapshots from the event.
Continue reading “Regatta de Zamboanga & La Hermosa Festival”
From afar, Merloquet Falls looked like a white curtain pinned to a lush forest wall just flowing in the wind. Up close, the waterfalls was even more dramatic and grander than it looked. I kept the photo-taking short, as I wanted to join the locals who were relaxing under the cascades.
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