This is the 3rd tourist destination I visited in Luzon, the Hundred Islands in the City of Alaminos, Province of Pangasinan. It was just the day before the trip that I finally made up my mind to head for this destination, so its a sleepless night researching on other blogs and sites about the place about accomodation, food, culture, location and just anything for survival.
I proceeded to Victory Liner bus terminal in Cubao around 11:00 a.m., luckicly there's an aircon bus bound to the City of Alaminos that was schedule to depart by 11:30 a.m.,the bus was not filled up with passengers considering its the month of July (not yet the passenger season time), and as scheduled the bus departed around 11:45a.m.
Its a nice and very tiresome day trip but the beautiful provincial picturesque view from the bus window, free WIFI on board with food vendors selling just anything from hard deep-fried peanut, boiled eggs, buko pie, salted peanuts, balut, dried mango, chicharon, et cetera can buffer that boredom. (just be cautious if you have a weak stomach, if unlucky with this foods you might end up with an LBM).
It took me approximately 6 hours to reach the City Of Alaminos, it's almost dark when I stepped out of the bus, since its my first time in the city, Im worried that I might not get an accomodation nearby the Lucap Wharf (the wharf where the Bangka can be found to get you to the Hundred Islands). So I asked a tricycle driver to bring me to the nearest, not so expensive hotel nearby, I paid the driver 50.00 Php and he brought me to
Rose Plaza Inn just about 5 minutes from the bus terminal.
The hotel is a Drive-inn motel, with the rate of 700.00/24hrs thats about 50% difference if you'll take an accomodation within the Lucap Warf vicinity. I highly recommend this place if you are on a budget and if you want to roam around the city during night time.
That night about 10:00pm, the heavy rain downfall outside bit bothered me about the weather and curiously checking the twitter, weeh!! The province was place under signal no. 2 of the tropical storm Gorio, simply laughing at myself thinking its the consequence for not checking the weather prior the travel.
I woke up before 6:00am, and hired a tricycle going to the Lucap Wharf for 60 pesos amidst the fury of tropical storm Gorio, and seems like luck was on my side the weather is not as bad as expected, just a bit windy and some rain shower.
Upon arrival at the area I noticed that there's only few local and foreign tourist (mostly koreans) around the vicinity of wharf planning to cross the sea going to the Hundred Islands. The shots below is the wharf area itself and the colorfull small motorized wooden boats called "Bangka" are the only means of public transport to access the most beautifull spot in Pangasinan. This (Large category- wooden boats) can be hired for 1,800 pesos for 3 islands of your choice.
(Boat rental rate)
Day Tour Overnight Service Boat
Small (1-5 person) 800.00 1,400.00 1,400.00
Medium (6-10 person) 1,000.00 1,800.00 1,800.00
Large (11-15 person) 1,100.00 2,000.00 2,000.00
(The nearest local airport to Alaminos City is Loakan Airport located at Baguio City which is 72 kms , and the nearest International/Major Airport nearest Alaminos is the Clark International Airport about 159 kms)
For clarification prior your travel you may call up their local tourism office (075) 551-2505 / 552-7406
All photos taken with CANON DSLR 60D and CANON 17-40mm L Lens
