We booked a private boat for our Samal island hopping trip with our family of 15. We ended up sharing one with almost 40 people instead. Sounds like a disaster, right? But somehow it still turned into one of the most memorable family days we have had in a while.
How Our Samal Island Hopping Plans Changed
We arrived at Sta. Ana Wharf around 7 in the morning even though our call time was 7:30. We were celebrating two things at once, Ate Gay-gay’s birthday from the day before and her graduation, plus my husband’s cousin flew in all the way from New Zealand with his girlfriend to visit. It felt like the perfect day for it.
The plan was simple. Private boat, just our family of 15. But the night before, my friend who owns the travel agency called to say the small boat, the one fit for 20 people, had a broken katig. It was the weekend, so almost every boat was already booked and there was no similar sized boat left. So instead of our small private boat, we ended up on one that fits 60.
When we got there, there were already more than 20 people on board. By the time everyone settled in, we were probably around 40 in total. Not exactly the quiet, just-us trip we imagined. But more people meant more chismis and more chaos, which honestly is not always a bad thing.
Breakfast While Still Sailing
We started sailing at 7:30. On our way to the first stop, the tour guide and boat crew already started preparing breakfast for everyone. Boiled eggs, fried bangus, and biko. I had my coffee too since I did not get the chance to drink any before leaving the house.
Eating breakfast while the boat gently moved and the wind hit our faces already felt like its own little celebration.
Babu Santa, Talicod Island (and My Little Accident)
Our first stop was Babu Santa in Talicod Island. We stayed there for about an hour. My brother in law flew his drone while the rest of us went straight to swimming.
At one point I went back up the boat to get water and forgot to wear my slippers. I slipped and hit more than half of my right side, especially near my right chest area. Grabe, ang sakit. It was so sudden I actually laughed out loud instead of crying.
Did that stop me from swimming again? Of course not.
Angel’s Cove and All the Snorkeling
From there we went to Angel’s Cove. I rented five snorkeling gears for the family and we spent about an hour just floating around, looking at whatever we could see underwater. Nothing fancy, just us, the water, and a lot of peeking under our masks.
Dayang Beach, Vanishing Island, and the Dragon Boat
Around 11 in the morning, we headed to Dayang Beach where we had lunch and went for another swim. The food, the sun, everyone laughing at the same time, it all just felt right.
By 12:30 we were off to Vanishing Island. Some of the younger ones in our group booked a dragon boat ride, and two groups from our boat ended up joining in. We stayed there for around an hour and a half just watching them paddle, scream, and laugh the whole time. It looked so fun even from where we were sitting.
Sabang Cliff (The Jump I Chose to Skip)
After that, we went to Sabang Cliff, a 25 foot cliff you can jump from straight into clear blue water. I really wanted to try it. But because of my fall that morning, I already knew I would suffer for it the next day, on top of how tiring it looked just climbing up.
My husband comforted me and said I already had my cliff jumping moment back in Sohoton, which was even taller, and that experience alone was already such a good memory. He was right. Sometimes you just let a moment go and be okay with it.
Wishing Island and Why We Just Swam
Our last stop was Wishing Island. We did not go around the tiny islet, even though it is believed that whatever you wish for there will really come true. We just swam around the boat instead, tired but happy.
Not a Lot of Photos, and That Was on Purpose
I did not take a lot of photos this time, and honestly, that was on purpose. I am not really a beach person or an island person if I am being truthful. What I really love is swimming, and getting to do that with the whole family, everyone splashing around together, felt like exactly where I wanted to be. So instead of reaching for my phone, I just stayed in the water and let myself enjoy it. It reminded me a little of our trip to Isla Jardin del Mar with my high school friends, another day where the simple moments mattered more than the photos.
Heading Home
We arrived back at Sta. Ana Wharf around 4 in the afternoon. Our boat crew wanted to head back early because if we came back too late, all the other island hopping boats would already be there and there might not be enough space to dock, just like what happened that morning. We even had to cross over another boat just to reach ours. Since we had two seniors with us, our tour guide and the rest of the group were really patient about helping them through it.
It was a full, tiring, and honestly funny kind of day. From the boat mix up, to my little slip, to almost trying the cliff jump and choosing not to, everything about it felt real and unplanned in the best way.
That night though, right after we got home, my husband, my brother in law, Ate Gay-gay, and my aunt in law had to rush straight to the hospital to admit my mother in law for a blood transfusion. It reminded me how a day can hold both joy and worry at the same time.
I am still holding on to the laughter we had out on the water while we take things one day at a time.
If you are planning your own Samal island hopping trip with family, I hope your day turns out just as memorable, chaos and all.
Talk soon.