From Mambukal to Nogas Island, Anini-y Antique (How to go to Nogas Island)

Nogas Island. Picture taken from Anini-y hotspring

Last November 2013, after going to Mambukal Falls, I headed to Bacolod Port and rode a Weesum fast craft for P355. The craft left at 6:15pm and arrived at Iloilo port 7:45pm. At Iloilo port, I rode a jeepney going to Iloilo Super Market to ride a jeepney going home to Miagao, Iloilo. Jeepney from Iloilo to Maiago is P40 for regular fare. I arrived home at 9:00pm. I spent my night at home. I woke up at 6:00am, ate breakfast and prepared my things going to Nogas island(trunks, goggles, sunblock, etc). There are buses going to Nogas Island just beside the Miagao Church.So, I rode a Ceres bus going to Nogas Island with a signboard Anini-y - Casay. Bus fare is P45. If you are coming from Iloilo City there are buses and vans  in Molo on San Pedro Street, a block or two east of Molo Plaza or ride a van going to Dao(Tobias Fornacier). The fee for the van is P100. At the crossroad to San Jose and Dao, you can wait for a jeepney with signboard Anini-y-Casay and you can pay P30. Just tell the driver to drop you at Anini-y hot spring. Anini-y hotspring is the drop off point going to Nogas Island. It is two hours bus ride from iloilo city. My trip from Miagao to Anini-y hotspring took me an hour. At the hotspring you need to pay for the entrance fee of P30 and environmental fee of P50. Then I requested for a boat going to Nogas island. The boat costs P500 to and from the island. The island is just P10-15 minutes boat ride. Since I went there before lunch, I bought my lunch at the resort's cafeteria for an affordable price. I left the hot spring at 10am and enjoyed Nogas island from 10:15 onward.

recently built cottages in Nogas island

There's a lot of beautiful spots in this small island. Cottages are available for resting and eating. What will attract you most is the amazing alignment of Calachuchi trees that will welcome you along the way to the lighthouse. It usually blooms on May. So, visiting the island on May is perfect for picture taking. I went to the lighthouse and enjoyed the view. However, the lighthouse door is closed so I took some pictures just at the entrance of the lighthouse.

Me at the lighthouse

Nogas Island's lightouse

a view from Nogas island lighthouse

Below would be the view along the way to the lighthouse. 

After some picture taking at the lighthouse and calachuchi trees, I went to the shore and met some kids riding a small 'bangka'. So, I ask them what they were doing and who were with them in the island. They said they were just y themselves visiting the island hoping to catch some fishes. And guess what, they caught one with their own fishing gear. 

kids from nearby barangay playing with their fish.

After enjoying the island I requested my boatman to fetch me at the island by 3pm so that I can still enjoy the hotspring. Hotspring fee as what I mentioned above is just P30. After dipping at the hotspring I took a shower and prepared going back home to Miagao, Iloilo. There are buses just outside the hotspring resort going to iloilo City. Any bus with a signboard Iloilo will bring you directly to Iloilo City. thus I rode a bus and went back home to Miagao, Iloilo. 

If you are inquiring about the budget, that really depends on how many and how lavish your transportation and food would be. For a packbacker like me, P1000 is more than enough for my travel from Miagao, Iloilo to Nogas Island.

Mambukal 7 Falls Murcia, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental November 2013

Mambukal Falls is one the spectacular falls I have ever been to in Western Visayas. It is located in Murcia, Negros Occidental, an hour non-airconditioned bus ride from Public Market of Bacolod City. It has seven falls, which you can see when you trek it starting from Mambukal Resort. Some would go directly to the 7th Falls via 'single' motorcycle or private car, then trek down to Mambukal Resort. My experience was different, I trekked it from the resort going to the 7th falls then took a short cut back to the resort by foot. It was amazing! Mambukal is located at the base of  Mt. Kanlaon. It also has hot springs. 

Mambukal Resort Murcia Negros Occidental

So here are the details I wrote down when I went to the site:

I woke up six in the morning and prepared my backpack going to the falls. I ate my breakfast in the inn (Saltimboca Tourist Inn) which is just at the back of Calea Restaurant. After eating and resting, I rode a jeep with signboard Mandalagan-Libertad but you have to ask the driver if it will pass through the public market and advise the driver to drop you to the bus station going to Mambukal, Murcia. Jeepney fare is just P8. Do not expect much about the bus when you get to the public market. It is non-airconditioned, but this is the best way to get to the falls if you are in a budget, plus you get to smell the sweet scent of sugar cane along the way. It's very refreshing! Bus signboard is Nasugbo and fare is just P60 per person one way. We left public market at 7:41am and arrived at Mambukal resort at 8:40am. If you want a private car to bring you to the resort, then you have to ask your hotel to book for a private car. Cost of it ranges from P1500-P2000. 

Falls Number 1

The bus will directly bring you to the resort.After I registered at the tourism office inside the resort, they introduced me to a tour guide. Tour guide is a must in this travel. According to my tour guide, Rene Boy, it is an hour trek going to the 7th falls(without picture taking). We started hiking at 8:50 AM. It has cemented pathway but a little bit slippery when it rains. You can also see hanging bridges and big dream catchers along the way! I suggest you wear trekking shoes or a durable hiking sandals. I can hear the strong gushing of water on the first falls and a sweet scent of nature while going up there.The picture at the left is Falls number 1, if you feel that this is the falls you wanna try, then try dipping on it. There are still other falls up there! This is a 15feet tall waterfalls. The local government put a cemented trekking pathway and some decks for viewing and safety purposes in some of the falls like in falls number 2 and 3. This would make the trekking and viewing experience easier and safer.

Falls Number 2

Falls Number 3

Falls number 4 was covered by fallen trees due to typhoon Yolanda, that is why it is not included in this blog. Falls number 5 and 6 are interconnected and below are pictures of it. We stopped over Falls 5 and 6 at 10:16 am due to camera failure. I suggest you bring power bank for your phones and extra camera batteries. Always check your camera if it is functioning well.

Falls Number 5

Falls Number 6

We left falls 5&6 at 10:20am  Along the way we stopped by a local's hut to drink buko juice. I forgot the name of the plant on my left as seen in picture below, but according to the locals, they are like pandan leaves that give sweet scent in your rice. 

We reached the 7th falls at10:45am. The view is stupendous! It has big rocks all over the place. The place is well maintained unlike some of the local falls I've ever been to. Here are some of the pictures I took in the 7th falls of Mambukal.

The waterfalls is more than 30 feet. The water is cold you can even put your soft drinks there for just ten minutes and you can drink it like you just got it from your fridge! After staying at the last falls for more than an hour we went down at 12:02 pm using a short cut. We reached the resort at 12:50pm by foot. Of course, you have to give something to your tour guide! There is no exact amount that you have to give to your tour guide. Give whatever your heart desires. 

After dipping in the cold waterfalls I decided to try their hot spring. The cheapest cost for the hotspring is P50 and the one I tried was the Japanese Ofuro, which is P100. You can smell sulfur in the pool! It's great for the skin! It also relieves stress.

After the half day waterfalls-hotspring experience in Mambukal, I rode a Nasugbo Bus just outside the resort going back to Bacolod City. We left at 1:52 pm in mambukal and arrived in bacolod City at 3:20pm. Outside the resort they sell mangoes and semi-ripe papayas. It was my first time to try eating a semi-ripe papaya with soy sauce and vinegar. Try it, too! 

I hope this blog helped you to your travel plan to Mambukal falls.