Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Manjuyod Sandbar

Manjuyod Sandbar was our last destination for our 5-day vacation in Negros Oriental.  It was quite raining but we still proceed to Bais City.

From Dumaguete, we hailed a bus going to Manjuyod, Negros Oriental.  The bus ride costs Php48 and travel time took an hour.  We were dropped at Mercado de Bais in Bais City and flagged a trike going to Canibol Wharf (opposite Capiñahan Wharf) for Php80 for the six of us.

There was an LPA and the it was raining so hard, so we are having second thoughts crossing Manjuyod.  Though still thinking twice, my husband already negotiated the boat that we will be using.  It's regular rate is Php2,500 with dolphin watching already included in the package, but with the angry waves the boatman said it will be impossible to get to the Tañon Strait, the dolphin watching area.  It is Php1,500 if we will be crossing Manjuyod sandbar only, we bargained it for Php1,300.




This pristine 7 kilometer stretch of premium white sand can be accessed via a short 15 minute boat ride from Capiñahan Wharf in the South Bais Bay, Bais City Negros Oriental. It is basically an island towards the North Bais Bay in the Tañon Strait that emerges only during low tides. On the island you can find native wooden houses built on stilts – and which, during high tide, appears to be floating on the water. These cottages could be rented for overnight stays and can be booked at the Bais City Tourism Office. 



While we were in the middle, my husband said that we should get back, Janelle said "kaya yan!"... The boatman said that we can cross safely. I know that safety must first be considered most especially when you're traveling with kids.  Last na to, I'm just glad we crossed Manjuyod sandbar.  We hope we can be back here when it's really sunny and of course, dapat low tide =)


Though technically belonging to the jurisdiction of the neighboring Manjuyod town, the sand bar is closely associated to Bais City because of its proximity and popularity in the Bais area. It is also a major stopover during dolphin and whale watching group tours organized by the Bais City Tourism Council. The boat is temporarily anchored so that the guests can picnic, swim, sunbathe, and laze around, snorkel or scuba dive in the waters surrounding the sand bar.

The Manjuyod Sand Bar is an estimated 600 hectare total strip area, including the submerged portions. Also known as the Sumapao Shoal, it is a certified tourist attraction because of its unique characteristic. It has been said that among the tourist spots in the vicinity, this one has the most potential.












  

When planning to visit the Manjuyod White Sand Bar, it is advisable to book in advance for a boat to take you there. The Bais City Tourism Office can be reached at (035)541-5161 / 402-8174 Fax (035)402-8181. Boat rate is P2,500 for a group of 15 and P3,000 for a group of 20. This is already basically for an entire day of use.

The organized tour package includes dolphin and whale watching at Tañon Strait, stopover at Manjuyod Sand Bar for lunch and other activities and finally, a visit to the Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove Park before heading back to the wharf. You can opt to bring your own lunch or have the Bais City Tourism group cater the meal for you for around 100 – 200 pesos per head.


Manjuyod sandbar if you arrived on a low-tide =)
photo extracted from www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com
photo owned by Glenn B. Mendoza


TIPS: Before you visit this amazing place, make sure to check your calendar and learn when it's low-tide and high-tide. The sandbar is submerged at high tide, making it impossible for you to step in to the sand, like what happened to us.

Contact Hadji Adiong at 0947-5255390 of Canibol Wharf and tell him we recommended him to you so you can avail of boat discount, hehe =)

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7 comments:

  1. nice, planning to visit this place

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  2. Hello po! Yan langg po ba ung contact number po ni Kuya Hadjii? Naghahanap po kasi kami ng boat for Manjuyod hehe ung mura lang. Thanks po :)

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  3. Hello po, do you have any idea where to stay? Yung affordable lng po we're planning to visit manjuyod po kasi. We just want to have an affordable place to stay there. Thank you!

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  4. i like your blog and how you totally took honest pictures. :) i've been doing a lot of research on Manjuyod and an ofcmate even said 'they're just pictures' ... bec if you really think about it, the really totally beautiful pictures (i'm not saying they're edited) are the ones posted...
    your blog though, gave me a real view and what to expect should we decide to push through.

    :) thank you.
    appreciate this blog.

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  5. Hi! I'm planning to visit the famous sandbar & wanted to know if you have any info how much to rent the cottages in the sandbar overnight?

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  6. hi
    i have been trying to book an overnight stay at the sandbar but am struggling on how as im still in australia
    please contact me
    mollyjwoods22@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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