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Carbin Reef and Suyac Island 2020 Travel Guide: The Famous Island Hopping Tour of Negros Occidental

Carbin Reef and Suyac are islands situated in Sagay City. These are the two of the fastest rising island hopping attractions of Negros Occidental and you can visit them on a day tour along with other reefs, sandbars, and islands that consist the 32,000 hectares’ of the most successful marine sanctuary which is the Sagay’s Marine Reserve.

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How to get there

These two beautiful attractions can be toured by boat so you need to go to the old Sagay Port first.

To get to old Sagay Port from Bacolod City

  • 2 and a half hours bus/van ride to Sagay City from Bacolod North Bus Terminal – Php150/person fare
  • 15-minute tricycle ride to Tourism office in old Sagay port – Php10.00 each, maximum of 5persons

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The Carbin Reef Island

Carbin Reef Island is roughly a 20-minute boat ride from the old Sagay port and it is nothing more than a sandbar. The only structure there is the watch-house that serves as a guard post, a wooden post with signboards of different places on it, and a few lineup of cottages made of bamboo for the guests. Other than that, it’s bare and uninhabited. Its cream-colored sandbar surrounded with turquoise seawater are the first two things that made me fall in love with this island.

The best time to start the tour and reach Carbin Reef is around 7am when the sun isn’t striking hot and stay there for 2hours at most. Although there are cottages available for rent, you would want to enjoy basking on its white, fine sand and take lots of photos.

Things to do in Carbin Reef

  • Go scuba or free diving, but you need to bring your own gears.
  • Snorkeling
  • Sand-building

The reef has a maximum capacity of 100 persons, 70 for reservation and 30 for walk-ins which is why it is highly recommended to book for a reservation in advance. For booking, you may contact Sagay City Information & Tourism Office, 034-488-0649 or email us them sagaycityinfo@yahoo.com.

Fees and Prices

  • Admission Fee (for non-residents) – Php100.00
  • Boat service costs around Php500-1,500 depending on the capacity and size of the boat and an additional of Php40.00 for every excess person.
  • Additional Php500.00 to Panal Reef (optional)
  • Additional Php500.00 to Maca Reef (optional)
  • Additional Php300.00 to Suyac Island
    *This is supposed to be an additional expenses but we were able to rent a boat for 1,500 for Carbin Reef and Suyac Island for 5 persons. We didn’t include Maca and Panal reefs on our tour.
  • Cottage Rental Fee – Php300.00 (small) & Php500.00 (big)

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Suyac Island

From Carbin Reef, you’d get on a 10-minute boat ride to reach the majestic island of Suyac which is famous for its Mangrove Forest. It is a community-based eco tourism place that is managed by its own residents and a members of attendants association in Suyac Island. This eco park is a home to one of the oldest and largest mangrove on Negros Island.

However, the mangrove forest itself covers 500 hectares of various species of mangroves, black and soft corals, species of giant clams, marine turtles, giant fruit bats that you can see from the watchtower, and a lot more.

Things to do in Suyac Island

  • Kayak tour and go deep inside the mangrove forest to see bats and birds
  • Walk on their bamboo-made boardwalk and explore the entire mangrove forest
  • Climb up to the watchtower and see group of giant fruit bats
  • Experience their 2-day pre order local seafood fiesta lunch
  • Take a dip during high-tide
  • Low-tide can be fun when you take photos with the mangrove trees and play with the starfish. Don’t take the starfish home, though.

The mangrove forest is only available for day tours, but they are getting ready to build cottages for overnight stay.

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Fees and Prices

  • Entrance Fee – Php50.00
  • Terminal Fee (this is not included in the entrance fee that you pay in the tourism office) – Php10.00
  • Cottage Rental – Php500.00
  • Corkage Fee for selected foods – Php150.00/group
  • Paddle/Kayak Tour (this is only available during high-tide) – Php300.00/person

Sample Itinerary

7:30 AM – Arrival at the Old Sagay Port
8:00 AM – Arrival at the Carbin Reef Island
–2 hours is enough to enjoy Carbin Reef. You can visit Panal and Maca reefs to maximize the tour. Take note of the additional expenses listed under the Fees and Expenses of Carbin Reef if you’d like to include them.–
10:00 AM – Departed from Carbin Reef to Suyac Island
10:15 AM – Arrival at Suyac Island
12:00 NN – Seafood Fiesta Lunch
2:30 PM – Departed at Suyac to Old Sagay Port

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Overall Travel Tips

  • March to May are the best months to travel to experience this tour and to also explore other places of Negros Occidental.
  • Mobile signal is available but weak on these islands. Better enjoy your time with the nature while you’re there.
  • Always do advance booking on island hopping tours and research details as much as possible before the trip.
  • Bring cash with you to avoid hassle. Tourism office and local rides only accepts cash.
  • Secure your gadgets in a waterproof bags.
  • Bring your own food and drinks.
  • Do not forget to pack your travel skincare products especially sunblock. Here’s an idea on what to skincare products to pack on a beach trip. 
  • Take your trash with you, so you need to bring garbage bag and dispose it properly.

More Things To Do In Negros Occidental

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Comments

  • July 9, 2020

    Such a breathtaking view! Thank you for sharing all of these!

    reply
  • July 8, 2020

    Dipolog ka padin mamsh? Oy akoy di pa nakakapunta sainyo.

    reply
  • June 24, 2020

    The scenic view caught my attention, I never imagine that a place like this exist in Bacolod. I thought they are only known for Bacolod Chicken Inasal. I’ll put this on my travel list and hopefully I can write an article about this too. Maybe I should try exploring more parts of the Philippines to discover more of its beauty.

    reply
  • May 27, 2020

    Will definitely add this to my bucketlist once the pandemic ends. Sobrang ganda ng lugar at ang linaw ng tubig. Thank you for this detailed guide, really useful

    reply
  • Wendyflor
    May 22, 2020

    Whoa, it’s a long travel from Bacolod. But it is worth it to be in such a place. and you look good, too!

    reply
  • blair villanueva
    May 21, 2020

    Thanks for sharing your adventure! Saving this destination for our future trip to the Philippines.

    reply
  • May 20, 2020

    Never knew about this Suyac Island before until I reached this article. Your photo at the seashore wakes my wanderlust gene. Hoping for a Clark-Bacolod promo airfare in the future.

    reply
    • May 27, 2020

      This is my first time to hear about Suyac Island but my goodness! The beauty of the place! I personally love to explore places that are not overrated or widely known. I hope when my vacation is longer, I can experience this paradise.

      reply
  • May 20, 2020

    I’m taking notes on this. Hope I could be able to travel here soon and when everything’s already fine. This really is a precious island.

    reply
  • Tala Martinez
    May 19, 2020

    Mukang masaya po dyan. I remember my friends na super happy nung mag-island hopping sila. I’m not an outdoor person kasi, kaya di ako nahilig mag-travel. But lately, nung ma-stuck ako sa house na di nagwo-work because of my LO, parang gusto ko na mag-travel, ganda kasi ng mga nakikita ko online, hehe

    reply
    • Kristel Yamzon-Oliva
      May 19, 2020

      Sobrang ganda dyan Ms.Khae. ?
      Talaga namang worth it ang travel mo kapag dyan ang destination mo.
      Ma rerelax talaga ang isipan mo dito. ?

      reply
      • Kristel Yamzon-Oliva
        May 22, 2020

        Sobrang ganda dyan Ms.Khae. ?
        Talaga namang worth it ang travel mo kapag dyan ang destination mo.
        Ma rerelax talaga ang isipan mo dito. ?

        reply

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