The cruise only took less than an hour back and forth since not everyone took a swim or snorkeled. When we came back, there were a few women who demonstrated pandan weaving and encouraged us to try and we made our own coasters to take home. There was also a 400-meter boardwalk cutting through the mangroves leading to a hill but it was currently damaged and undergoing repairs when we went there.
The Farmhouse Sidetrip
Since we took a full tour, we also had a snack at the nearby Farmhouse in Aloguinsan. It was a surprise to see an elegant Filipino-home style house turned resto with a warm earthly ambiance with a beautiful garden and organic farm. The hot tsokolate batirol was unforgetably good along with the other snacks like bread, biko and that camote and special house dip. A perfect afternoon snack to cap off this wonderful tour.
Personally, the Bojo River Cruise in Aloguinsan, Cebu isn’t as grand as the other mangrove systems I’ve been to but the effort of the community to instil the local culture and the depth of knowledge the guides have on Bojo River and its environs makes up for an enjoyable and informative experience all throughout.
Essential Info
For booking and inquiries contact Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (BAETAS):
Phone: (6332) 583.6797
Mobile: Rudney Carcuevas: 0905.9133.055 or 0922.4798.822
Jomalyn: 0926.490.6670
Email: [email protected]
Address: Barangay Bojo, Aloguinsan, Cebu, Philippines
The Bojo River Cruise rates are as follow:
- Package 1: Walk-in guests at P400/pax. Inclusion: the river cruise and swimming
- Package 2: Full tour at P650/pax (minimum of 5 pax). Inclusion: welcome lei, welcome drinks, lunch at Bojo River, snack at the Farmhouse, handicraft demo, river cruise and swimming
- Package 3: Students package at P650/pax (minimum of 5 pax). Inclusions: welcome lei, welcome drinks, lunch at Bojo River, snack at the Farmhouse, handicraft demo, river cruise, swimming, Baluarte Heritage Park tour, church tour, parola visit
For those who wish to swim or snorkel, they don’t rent out gears as of the time of writing so bring your own snorkeling gear.
About Oceana Philippines
Oceana Philippines seeks to restore the health, richness, and abundance of the Philippine oceans. By working closely with civil society, academics, fishers, and government, Oceana Philippines will promote the use of sound science based policies to help ensure sustainable fisheries and vibrant marine ecosystems.
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Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
