Bohol | Paddling through Banacon Island Mangrove Sanctuary

Entering Banacon Island mangrove “We can’t find our boat!” paddling master, Buzzy Budlong, tells me after several attempts of trying to spot...

Entering Banacon Island mangrove

“We can’t find our boat!” paddling master, Buzzy Budlong, tells me after several attempts of trying to spot our convoy outrigger boat through the maze-like passageways of Banacon Island, north of Bohol. Buzzy was at the back of our double kayak as I was the one in charge to shoot. We wait for the others south of the largest man-made mangrove island in Asia. He switched places with my assigned-writer friend, Oggie, back to his favorite yellow stand-up paddle (SUP) board, Mango Float. His sight looked far to the mainland. “Let’s head to that lighthouse!” he pointed. “Is he kidding?!” I thought. That’s almost 10km away by sea and we’re passing through two sea channels and an island. But he paddled on. He’s crazy like that which also partly makes him great.

Buzzy leads our group in this mangrove tour

Buzzy Budlong

We were looking for a different kind of adventure in Cebu and Bohol. And here comes Buzzy Budlong, a passionate paddler, whether on a kayak, SUP or a canoe. Water is his element and he moves fluidly on it. I watch him stand-up paddle his way to shore and marvel at the ease of his paddling and form. Earlier I saw him effortlessly do a bound-headstand on his Mango Float while paddling through calm waters within the mangrove forest passages. It is unquestionable that he has the skill. He even paddled from Saranngani Mindanao to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte for 88 days back in 2009, guiding (and pushing) his Singaporean counterpart, Koo Swee Khoo in an epic paddling expedition. And in this trip, we look into his recommendations for paddling adventures.

Up to 15-feet high bakauan mangroves

Banacon Island Mangrove Forest

A 425 hectare mangrove forest north of Bohol under the municipality of Getafe (also called Jetafe) was our first destination. This man-made island has a good concentratin of “bakauan” (Rhizophora Stylosa) a common specie of mangroves in Bohol living along tidal flats. To get here, we rode a large outrigger from Mactan, Cebu. Keeping us company are, environmental researcher, Maria, line-fishing enthusiast Vincent and the ever reliable boat crew.

We prepared our kayaks and paddle boards off the island and started our way through the mangrove passages. As we get closer, the aquamarine water gets incredibly clear. Banacon Island mangrove forest is a community initiative which has started since 1957. Fifteen hectare of the land is occuppied by about 200 families relying on the rich marine life living within the ecosystem such as shrimps, shells, mollusk and other crustacians. We made our way through narrow passages and also shallow estuaries. We saw the bridge where a community resides. One problem the mangrove forest faced was the misuse of its resources. Some locals, resort to cut the mangrove trees to use it as firewood. To protect the island, it was turned into an eco-tourism destination.

Banacon Island is the largest mangrove plantation in the country

A kid from a local community watches us as we pass by

Getafe and essential info on the next page…

Carrying paddle boards through the shallows

Paddle to Getafe

If I was not tasked to take photos for this assignment, I would gladly put it aside and paddle happily through these waters. It was obvious from the curious stares and waves of the community children to call our attention that people paddling these waters are not common. The waters, shielded by mangroves remains calm and gently stirred By the residual waves from outside. There are pockets of tranquility within these natural walls of nature.

Once we made exit south of the island, I had the chance to do some actual paddling. We paddled towards the mainland with the lighthouse as our guide. There were portions on the nearby island where the current pulls our kayak closer to shore but still, Buzzy, seemed to be remain unfazed on his paddle board While we paddled wildly back to course. Two hours later, about 8km further, we have reached the mainland of Getafe. It was a feat that seemed impossible at first but Buzzy had a certain way of motivating people. To go beyond the barriers in their mind and challenge themselves beyond their comfort zones.

At Getafe, we had ample time to rest while we wait for our transportation to arrive. The missing outrigger boat also arrived shortly when we got on shore. And just in time as our van came, a warm sunset bid us goodbye.

Kayaking through the mangroves

Essential Info

The Banacon Island Mangrove Sanctuary Paddling Tour can be booked through IslandBuzz Kayaking and Stand Up Paddle Tours. The 8km, whole-day tour is available year-round for Php 4,900 per person for a minimum of 2 persons and a maximum of 10 persons for a group.

Contact Buzzy Budlong at islandbuzzphilippines@gmail.com or call +639275683799. Visit www.islandbuzzsupandkayak.com.

Kayaks from IslandBuzz tours

Kayak and paddle board

Sunset at Getafe port