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Travel Guide: Romblon Island, Romblon

Kara Santos

Romblon is one of the three main islands and capital of the province of the same name in the Philippines. Formerly a trading post during the Spanish period, Romblon Island is popularly known as the “Marble Capital of the Philippines.” It’s also a rising ecotourism destination home to stunning white-sand beaches and uncrowded diving spots.

The first time I visited Romblon Island on a solo trip, I was instantly charmed by the beautiful landscapes, the slow pace of life, and laid-back island vibe. Because the place felt so special, I didn’t even want to write about it for months. I think Romblon is an amazing destination for solo travelers, backpackers, couples and small groups looking for a peaceful and quiet destination where they can enjoy nature minus the crowds.

With travel bloggers Ferdz of Ironwulf En Route, Melo of Out of Town Blog, Aleah of Solitary Wanderer, Angelo of Angelo the Explorer. Drone photo by Ironwulf.

I’m very grateful for the chance to revisit the island along with fellow travel bloggers and media upon the invitation of the Department of Tourism (DOT) MIMAROPA Region and the Provincial Government of Romblon and the municipalities of Romblon. We got to witness the passion and energy of the locals during the Biniray Festival 2020 and really soak in the culture, hospitality, and cuisine. Romblon was also our jump-off point to explore Sibuyan Island.

Here’s some updated information I can share on how to get there, what to do, where to go, where to stay and where to eat in Romblon Island, Romblon.

Where exactly is Romblon?

Romblon is made up primarily of the main Romblon Island and smaller Alad, Cobrador and Logbon Islands. It is located along the coast of Romblon Bay, a natural harbor and safe haven for ships passing in the area during inclement weather. The main Romblon Island lies South of Manila sandwiched in between the two other bigger islands that make up the whole province of Romblon: Tablas Island and Sibuyan Island.

How to get to Romblon Island

Getting to and from Romblon Island is an adventure in itself. Based on personal experience, schedules are not strictly followed, so be flexible with your itinerary and be ready with snacks and other sources of amusement to kill time at different ports of embarkation before you begin and during your journey.

By air + sea

There are no direct flights from Manila to Romblon Island. The nearest airport is located on Tablas Island, Tugdan. From Tugdan, take a jeepney or tricycle to San Agustin. Land travel is about 1.5 hours and it costs P250 for a special trip on a tricycle. From the port at San Agustin, take a pumpboat directly to Romblon Town. Boats depart daily at 8:00 am and 1:00 pm. Travel time is 40 minutes and costs P200. If you miss the boat in San Agustin, you can charter a local fisherman’s boat to take you directly to Romblon Town for a fee of P1,500. Return trips from Romblon Pier to San Agustin on Tablas Island also depart every day at 8:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Alternatively, you can fly to Roxas City on Panay Island, then catch the 2GO ferry from the Roxas Pier to Romblon. 2GO Travel departs Roxas Pier around 3 pm thrice a week and arrives in Romblon around 8 pm. Flights last an hour while sea travel time is roughly 5 hours.

By sea

If you’re in the mood for slow(er) travel, another option is to travel by ferry from Batangas to Romblon Island directly. Three ferries: 2Go Travel, Navios Lines and Montenegro Lines offer daily trips from Batangas port to Romblon port. From Manila, you can take a bus (ex. JAC Liner) to get to Batangas Pier. Make sure to arrive 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the ferry. Travel time by sea from Batangas to Romblon takes about 8 – 12 hours.

NOTE: Ferry schedules may change, and trips may be canceled depending on the weather/wave conditions especially during monsoon months and when typhoons hit, so please check their website for updates.

2GO Travel

For budget travelers and those who have time to spare, the night ferry of 2GO Travel offers good value for money and is a relaxing and leisurely option. The Economy option is a bed in the non-aircon section, while the Tourist class is common bunk beds in an air-conditioned section. There are also a few private cabins for groups of 4 or 6 and staterooms. You can book tickets and check rates online at 2GO Travel. Separate cargo fees apply if you’re traveling with a vehicle or motorcycle.

Batangas to Romblon

Romblon to Batangas

Montenegro Lines Ferry

You can only buy tickets for the Montenegro Lines ferry at the pier (no online booking available). http://montenegrolines.com.ph/

Batangas to Romblon

Romblon to Batangas

Navios Lines Ferry

You can only buy tickets for the Navios Lines ferry at the pier (no online booking available).

Batangas to Romblon

Romblon to Batangas

There are other transfer options available from Caticlan / Boracay, Kalibo Airport, Roxas in Mindoro Island, Sibuyan Island, Tablas Island and Marinduque, but these involve a number of land and ferry transfers.

Getting around Romblon

Once you get to Romblon, tricycles are the main mode of transport, which can take you around town (P10 per person) or be chartered for land tours (P500 good for 6 people) around the island. Some resorts like Dream Paradise Mountain Resort offer air-conditioned vans (P400 per trip, good for 10-15 pax) for land tours.

For solo travelers, some shops near the port like Rusi offer motorcycle rentals for P400-P500 a day (or cheaper for longer rentals). Units available are mostly manual and semi-automatic motorbikes.

Romblon Island itself is pretty small, with a circumferential road of just under 50 km. In fact, you can loop the whole island by motorcycle in about 1-2 hours. Locals impose a speed limit of 40 kph. For those who can’t drive themselves, you can charter a driver to take you around the island (P800 – P900). I’d love to return bringing a mountain bike to loop the island, as the coastal road is very peaceful and traffic-free.

Island-hopping by boat takes a whole day, costing P1,500 for 2 to 5 people, and P2,500 for 6 to 10 people.

Where to go / what to do in Romblon

Romblon Poblacion

Romblon’s town proper located right next to the seaport is very compact and walkable. The main points of interest include the Romblon Town Marker made of marble, Spanish-era stone bridges, and traditional houses.

Cathedral de San Jose

St. Joseph Cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the province of Romblon. It’s one of the 26 colonial churches declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2001.

Fuerza de San Andres / Fort San Andres

Originally constructed in 1645, the twin forts of Romblon, Fort San Andres and Fort Santiago (now in ruins) constructed of coral stone once served as a fortress against Moro pirates and Dutch invaders in the 17th century. The reconstructed fort is reachable by climbing 100 steps on a small hill from town. The Fort offers a great view, especially during sunset.

Bonbon Beach

Bonbon Beach is the poster destination of Romblon Island, its striking sandbar often used as the cover of brochures advertising the island. It’s the most easily accessible and rewarding beach destination on the main island.

Half a kilometer in length, with a width of approximately 18 meters, this white-sand beach is connected by a sandbar to a smaller islet accessible by foot during low tide. Because of its accessibility, the beach is a popular spot for locals to watch the sunset.

Cobrador Island

Cobrador Island has a nice stretch of beach covered with fine what sand crushed corals with a gradually sloping ocean floor. Cottages are available for rent on the island, making it an ideal place for picnics and day trips.

Drone photo by Ironwulf

Logbon Island

Logbon is another island that offers one of the longest white beaches in town, spanning about two kilometers. The island has around 6 other white sand beaches.

Alad Island

In between Cobrador and Logbon Islands, Alad features excellent white coves and beaches, a seaside cave and snorkeling site and fish sanctuary. It’s also home to a small fishing village and beach resort that offers accommodations ranging from P800 to P7,000.

Talipasak Beach

A secluded beach resort in a cove with light beige sand and clear waters. Talipasak Beach Resort (also known as San Pedro Beach Resort) offers 8 native Romblonanon cottage houses located on the cliffside. Day trip visits are allowed for an entry fee of P50 per adult.

Dive sites and marine sanctuaries

Romblon is home to 17 marine sanctuaries and a number of dive spots. The town is located at the end of the Verde Island Passage, which happens to be the most diverse underwater ecosystem in the world. The government-protected Agpanabat Marine Sanctuary, not far from Apunan Lighthouse is a snorkeling and diving haven and nesting site for giant green sea turtles.

Where to eat & drink in Romblon

For hearty Pinoy favorites, comfort food and friendly service, check out Seaport Bar & Grill located along the main promenade in the poblacion near the port area and plaza.

We took most of our meals here while covering the Biniray Festival. Favorites include the chicken wings, shrimps, tuna with rosemary, pesto pasta, chicharon bulaklak, fresh fruit shakes, and smoothies.

While staying at Dream Paradise Mountain Resort, we enjoyed classic Pinoy staples like Sinigang na hipon, pork chops, ensaladang talong, fresh seafood, crabs and more. Dishes are served family-style and ideal for groups. The poolside restaurant in native hut cottages serves locals beers and has karaoke.

For solo travelers and couples looking for a more peaceful and secluded dining destination, San Pedro Beach Resort on Talipasak Beach has its own in-house restaurant catering mainly to checked-in guests. Meals usually need to be preordered beforehand and the kitchen service may be closed to day-trip visitors.

For a small island, there are a number of interesting foreign-owned cafes in town such as Big Chef, JD & G Italian Pizza, Old Sailor and Romblon Deli which cater to the expat community and international tourists.

JD & G Italian Foods and Real Italian Pizza serves delicious handmade pizza, pasta, antipasti and more, best paired with wine or beer.

Right next door, Old Sailor is a small German-owned bar serves dishes like Beef Goulash, German Meatloaf, Hungarian Sausage with french fries, Schnitzel, and a few interesting German beers like Erdinger and Will-bräu Hefeweizen.

Romblon Deli on the main street corner serves mostly international food, pizzas, pasta, and fresh fruit shakes.

For pastries and coffee, check out Coffee Time, which serves Kalinga and Sagada blends, cinnamon rolls and muffins. Monaco Ice Cream sells delicious homemade ice cream (P50 per scoop) with Italian ingredients and flavors like Straciatella, Cherry & Tiramisu. They also sell the German beer brand Oettinger in cans here. JD & G Pizza also has great desserts and gelato.

Budget travelers can find a lot of local carinderias serving cheaper eats near the port area and shopping center right next to the plaza. Cheap local beers available are San Miguel Beer, Red Horse, and Gold Eagle Beer.

Where to stay in Romblon

Dream Paradise Mountain Resort

Dream Paradise Mountain Resort is a tranquil retreat located inland where guests can relax amidst beautiful natural surroundings. The resort offers comfortable villas with a view of the natural surroundings of coconut groves, rice fields, and mountains.

The resort also has an adult swimming pool and kiddie pool, outdoor BBQ garden, small marble zoo, and poolside restaurant. With 22 rooms including family rooms, this is an ideal choice for families, larger groups, and events.

San Pedro Beach Resort

San Pedro Beach Resort is a secluded beachside resort with native huts located along the cliffside facing Talipasak Beach ideal for solo travelers and couples.

The native cottages nestled on the hillside have their own balcony and bathroom and the beach area feels very serene and private. 

Romblon Fun Divers & Inn

Centrally located in town, a few meters away from the Romblon Plaza and local restaurants and pier, Romblon Fun Divers & Inn offers Airconditioned rooms with, hot shower and other basic amenities. This PADI-dive resort is a good place to base for those who want easy access to island attractions and dive sites.

Here are some other accommodation options in Romblon:

What to buy in Romblon

Marble products are the main souvenirs in Romblon. The island’s world-famous marble comes in a spectrum of colors and quality ranging from white to black, gray, and tints of mottled white. You can find machine-cut marble souvenirs like mugs, plates, bowls, keychains, ref magnets, necklaces, ashtrays and mortars and pestle from many marble souvenir shops in town.

To get a deeper understanding of the marble industry and the work that goes into it, head to the marble quarries and sites like Kilometro Dos where you can see local artisans sculpting hand-made statues and home decor and engraving marble plates by hand.

Festival: Biniray Festival

The Biniray Festival is celebrated during the second week of January in honor of the Sto. Niño. Similar to Cebu’s Sinulog Festival, Biniray expresses the Romblonanon’s faith as Roman Catholics.

Street dancers paint themselves in black to depict the “Ati.” Locals also adorn themselves with vines & flowers and dance to the kayutang or bamboo tubes & sticks.

Travel tips and useful information

NOTE: Thank you to the Department of Tourism (DOT) MIMAROPA Region, the Provincial Government of Romblon, the municipalities of Romblon, Dream Favor Travel and Tours, fellow travel bloggers and all the people of Romblon for making this a fun and memorable trip.

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