ULTIMATE Guide to Jomalig Island: Golden-Sands Beach of Quezon

A previously untouched tropical getaway, Jomalig Island in Quezon Province is now one of the most sought-after beaches especially during the summer. Here’s an Updated Travel Guide to Jomalig Island, including personal tips for your trip!

I actually went here for an outreach event with Alon ng Pag-asa in 2015. At the time, Jomalig Island was still pretty much unheard of. It isn’t until a year later when it started getting around in social media.

Fast forward to the present — Jomalig Island is now more open to tourists. There are various resorts & homestays you can stay at and a standard island hopping tour you can book around the island.

Our Trip to Jomalig Island

I went to Jomalig Island as part of an outreach event by a group which will later be known as Alon ng Pag-asa. This trip is significant to me for a couple of reasons: I had my first taste of outreach work, I’d been wowed by the magnificence of Salibungot Beach in the island, and it’s also where I met Hali (my current photographer boyfriend).

Our group chartered a private bus. We rode from Manila to Ungos Port in Real, Quezon for 3-4 hours. From there, we took a 6-hour ride to Salibungot Beach, which was our camping ground.

After much eating, sleeping in the boat and watching the seemingly endless sea, we had an exciting glimpse of Salibungot Beach.

We camped at Salibungot Beach. As per the locals, this is the best place to stay in the island. We positioned our tents under the shade of agoho trees, about 15 minutes away from residential houses where fresh water for bathing is available. We saw another group of backpackers camped near the houses, which was a practical choice since the sand was so soft it was tiring to walk distances.

We cooked & prepared meals to last for our 3-day stay.

The morning after, we held the outreach event in Barangay Gango. We gave out school supplies and groceries, among others. We also held games and a feeding program. It was very heartwarming. The barangay officials said they were thankful because their area is often overlooked by other organizations.

Of course, during our stay in Jomalig Island, we made sure to enjoy its untouched beauty!

Salibungot Beach has one of the clearest waters I’ve seen as of yet. It was actually one of my few beaches that made gasped in awe. Also notable is its sand, which is a unique golden color like nothing I’ve seen before.

Local kids walked by selling fresh coconuts, so we brought one for each of us. We love fresh coconuts — who doesn’t? Hali even calls me takaw-buko. I don’t think we have enough of them in the city. The coconuts in Jomalig Island seem self-refilling because there’s so much coconut water in one piece.

We swam in the crystal-clear water. Some of my companions jumped from the loft area in the boat down to the open sea. (I was in a life vest being drifted away by the waves.)

We also island hopped to the snorkeling spots around the island.

The sunset here is amazing as well. When night came, we lit bonfires, cooked marshmallows on sticks, and star gazed.

Lastly, I’m grateful for our boatmen. We were supposed to take a public passenger boat back to the mainland, but they insisted that we stay in their boat without asking for additional fee for what is supposed to be a private service. They simply called for more passengers to offset the cost. Also, they made us free lunch!

This is one of my most memorable trips I’ve had. Not only was I captivated by the untouched beauty of Salibungot Beach in Jomalig Island, I also had a great bonding experience with my fellow volunteers and the locals in the island.

Here’s the video of our voluntourism trip in Jomalig Island:

About Jomalig Island (Quezon)

Jomalig Island is a popular destination for the summer. Jomalig is actually the smallest and least populated municipality in Quezon. Its name comes from the word “humalig” (which was later changed to humalik) from an old legend about lovers in the island.

If you’re coming here, take into consideration the long commute especially if you have children.

How to get to Jomalig Island

From Manila, there are 2 options to get to Jomalig Island in Quezon Province.

Via Real, Quezon

From Manila via this route, it takes 9-11 hours to reach Jomalig Island.

• Head to Legarda Terminal in Manila. Ride a bus bound for Infanta and get off at Real, Quezon. Night schedules are at 11:30PM and then 1:00AM. Morning schedule starts at 4AM. Travel time is 4-5 hours.
• Then ride a tricycle to Ungos Port.

Alternatively, you can also ride van. Travel time is 3-4 hours. The van may be unpredictable because you need to wait for the seats to fill up, but the driver can let you off directly at Ungos Port.

• From Ungos Port, ride a passenger boat to Jomalig Island. Boat schedule starts at 5AM up to 10AM daily. Travel time is 4-6 hours.

Seating is first come, first served. It’s best to arrive at Ungos Port and buy your tickets early to get good seats.

During off season, passenger boats to Jomalig Island are irregular. An alternative way to get to the island is by taking a passenger boat to Patnanungan Island. Travel time is 4-5 hours, fare is P350 per person. From there, charter a private boat to Jomalig Island. Travel time is 1 hour, boat rate is around P1500.

Via other routes

It is also possible to reach Jomalig Island via Atimonan (Quezon) and Panganiban (Camarines Sur). However, boat schedule is irregular.

How to get to your resort

Once you arrive in Jomalig Island, you need to register and pay appropriate fees. Then ride a habal-habal to your resort. Fare is P50 per ride.

3 Days Itinerary to Jomalig Island

Here’s a sample 3-day itinerary to Jomalig Island.

Day 1	1AM – 5AM Ride bus to Real, Quezon 6AM – 11AM Ride boat from Ungos Port to Jomalig Island 11AM – 11:30AM Check in at accommodation Enjoy beach / Free time
Day 2	Island hopping / habal-habal tour
Day 3	7AM Breakfast, break camp 11AM – 4PM Ride boat back to Ungos Port 4PM Merienda 6PM – 11PM Ride bus back to Manila

There are tour agencies offering a 2-day trip to Jomalig Island. Personally, I would recommend going for a 3-day trip instead so you won’t get too tired from the travel.

Where to stay in Jomalig Island

Salibungot Beach is considered the main beach in Jomalig Island. However, it is no longer allowed to camp here. Instead, there are other resorts & homestays you can book in the area.

For groups, there are cottages and transient houses available.

Here are some recommended resorts:

• Tejada’s Resort: 09399097532
• South Pacific Island Resort (SPIR): -0-78285161
• Madi’s Island Beach Resort: Facebook / 09184157376 or 09499489210

Jomalig Island Tourist Spots

You can explore the island by going on an island hopping tour or renting a habal-habal.

Here are the places you can visit:

• Puno ng Walang Poreber. A lonesome tree in a grassfield. This is a popular IG spot among millennials.
• Kanaway Beach. A stretch of beach with rock formations. It faces the Pulo and Manlanat islets.
• Golden Sand Beach. A beach with picturesque sandbar.
• Turtle Rock Formation. As its name suggests, this is a big rock shaped like a turtle.
• Little Boracay. A powdery white-sand beach likened to Boracay Island. The beach is under Panama Beach Resort.
• Lingayen Cove or Little Batanes Island. Another white-sand beach. You can climb atop some rocks to get a good view of the beach.
• Salibungot Beach. This is considered the main beach in Jomalig Island. Along the shore is an I Love Jomalig signage. (The signage wasn’t there yet when we visited. I hope that they had put it somewhere else rather than along the beach.)

Reminders and Tips

Here are some important information about Jomalig Island.

• It’s best to visit Jomalig Island during summer. During ber-months up to January, waves can be rough and boat trips may be cancelled. As such, traveling is not generally recommended.
• Tricycle and habal-habal are the main modes of transportation in the island.
• As of 2023, most — if not all — resorts now have stable electricity.
• There are eateries in the island; resorts also offer meals for reasonable fees. I suggest taking this opportunity to enjoy fresh seafood and coconuts.
• There is an ATM machine in the island. To be safe, it’s still best to bring cash with you.
• There is decent data for both Smart and Globe.
• Currently, there are no high-end resorts in the island. If you’re the type who’s okay with modest accommodations and camping, you will enjoy staying in Jomalig Island.

Jomalig Island Rates

Here are the current expenses (UPDATED as of 2023):

Transport	Bus from Manila to Real, Quezon: P230 per person Tricycle from Real to Ungos Port: P20 per person Boat ride to Jomalig: P500 per person Habal-habal from Jomalig to your resort: P70 per person
Activities	Island hopping: P1200-4000 depending on boat size Habal-habal: P800 (maximum of 6 hours tour)
Fees	Environmental and tourism fee: P170 per person Entrance fees: – Golden Sand Beach: P20 – Kanaway: P30 – Little Boracay: P30 – Lingayen Cove/Little Batanes: P50
Others	Accommodation: around P500 per night Food: around P150 per meal

A safe budget for a 3D/2N stay is around P4000 per person.

Contact

Any inquiries not included in this short guide, you can ask the tourism officer below. We haven’t availed the services of the guide below, but he’s been mentioned a few times in online forums.

• Jomalig Tourism Office: Facebook

Has this guide to Jomalig Island in Quezon Province been helpful to you? Let us know in the comments below!

What to read next:

Looking for fun, affordable summer getaways near Manila? Check these out:

• Alibijaban Island and Burias Island (Quezon & Masbate)
• Jomalig Island (Quezon)
• Maniwaya Island (Marinduque)
• Bulalacao (Oriental Mindoro)
• Tambobong Beach and Cabongaoan Beach (Pangasinan)

Also read:

• Best Beaches Near Manila for Quick Getaways