Zamboanga City will thrill you with its pink beaches and colorful island adventures

Zamboanga City may be known for its colorful vintas and tasty Satti, but did you know that Asia’s Latin City is also home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

Whether you crave water activities or you just want to lay back and enjoy the tranquility under the coconut trees, you will surely love to zip that trip to Zamboanga City.

Exploring Santa Cruz Islands

A 15-20-minute boat ride from Paseo del Mar will take you to the Great Santa Cruz Island.

A 15- 20-minute boat ride from Paseo del Mar will take you to the Great Santa Cruz Island.

The Santa Cruz Islands are divided into two—the Great and Little. The bigger one, called Great Santa Cruz Island is open to tourists, while Little Santa Cruz Island is off-limits to the public. The jump-off point to the islands is at a port located at Paseo del Mar in the city proper. 

As the islands are declared protected landscape and seascape, rules are followed to preserve and protect the ecosystem. Before guests are allowed to board their boats, they are briefed by the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) on their policies. Officers will conduct an inspection on bags to check for single-plastics as these are not allowed on the island. The collection of corals, shells, and sands from the island as souvenirs is also prohibited.

PAMO conducts an inspection on guests’ bags to check for single-plastics as these are not allowed in the island.

A less than 20-minute boat ride from Paseo del Mar will take you to the Great Santa Cruz Island. You will be greeted by the island’s serene tropical vibe surrounded by crystal-clear blue waters. It is also famously called the Pink Beach because of its pinkish-white sands. The culprit? It’s the pulverized red organ-pipe coral washed up on the shores mixing with the fine white sand.

Red organ pipe corals

The Great Santa Cruz Island was named among the 21 best beaches in the world by the National Geographic in 2017, and is considered the banner destination of Zamboanga City.

The Great Santa Cruz Island, also called the pink beach, was named among 21 best beaches in the world by National Geographic in 2017.

Crushed red organ pipe corals mixed with fine white sand make up Santa Cruz Islands’ famed pink beach.

Among the activities the island offers is the lagoon tour. Locals, mostly members of the Sama-Banguingui tribe, serve as tour guides and boat paddlers who will take you around the lush green cover of mangroves. The 182-hectare lagoon is home to species of seagrass, mangroves, and sea creatures.

Hadjan Taup leads the lagoon tour on Santa Cruz Island.

According to Hadjan Taup, one of the community tour guides accredited by the Department of Tourism, mangroves serve as breeding ground and natural habitat for many fishes and shellfishes and thus contribute to the local food supply, while seagrasses serve as natural filter and improve water quality.

Adding to the tour experience is the friendly resident of the lagoon: the upside-down jellyfish called Cassiopeia. Guests can gently interact with this so-called “stingless” jellyfish. Fresh lato or latok or sea grapes can also be harvested from the clear waters of the lagoon.

The upside-down jellyfish also known as Cassiopeia

Fresh lato/latok or sea grapes harvested from the clear waters of the lagoon

The island is open to tourists from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. except on Mondays and Fridays, as these are designated days for maintenance and clean-up. Guests are advised to coordinate with the PAMO and book ahead as number of guests allowed in a day is limited.

Souvenir items such as keychains, pearl necklaces, and bracelets are also available on the island. Price starts at PHP25 per item.

Vanessa Taup has been selling souvenir items on Great Santa Cruz Island for 15 years now.

The entrance fee to the island is PHP20 per head, and the terminal fee is at PHP5 per head. Transport fee is PHP1,000 for a maximum of 10 passengers roundtrip. Cottages on the island can be rented: the small one at PHP100 is good for 4-6 persons, a large cottage costs PHP200 and is good for 8-12 persons, while a pavilion which can accommodate 20-40 persons costs PHP500.

For inquiries, you may reach PAMO at +639056019316.

Hopping around Once Islas

Can’t get enough of Zamboanga City’s beaches? Once Islas is another gem the city is proud to have. As derived from the Chavacano language of Zamboangeños, Once Islas is made up of 11 islands, namely Sallangan, Lambang-lambang, Kabugan, Lampinigan, Panganak, Baguias, Buh-buh, Simaddang, Sirommon, Baung-baung, and Bisaya-Bisaya. Of the 11 islands, only the last three are open to tourists.

Rock formation on Bisaya-Bisaya Island

This eco-cultural and tourism destination was opened in July 2018. It is situated off the Moro Gulf where each island boasts its lush species of trees and is surrounded by fine white sand shores and pristine turquoise waters.

A traditional dance was performed on Sirommon Island to welcome guests.

The islands are mostly inhabited by Sama-Banguingui communities, who also act as island wardens to maintain its cleanliness. Supported by the local government, the islands’ stewardship is a community-driven project which aims to promote tourism and at the same time create livelihood for the locals. 

Tourists can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling on these picturesque islands. Adventure lovers can also trek around the majestic rock formations and natural infinity pools.

Guests can enjoy kayaking on Bisaya-Bisaya Island for PHP300 per hour for 2 persons

Guests who wish to satisfy their seafood cravings may feast on scrumptious lunch meal prepared by local Sama-Banguingui women upon request. Crabs, squid, fish, or lato/latok (or sea grapes)—it’s all here! Thirsty? Fresh coconut juice is also available on the island!

Satisfy your seafood cravings with a hearty meal prepared by Sama-Baguingui women while enjoying the relaxing ambiance of Sirommon Island.

Fresh coconut juice to quench your thirst for only PHP25

The local government also advocates sustainable tourism as they put a cap on the number of tourists the islands can accommodate in a day. Jessica Fabrigas of the city tourism office said only a total of 200 guests will be allowed on the islands per day so tourists are advised to book in advance. Walk-ins will not be accommodated. Overnight stay in the island is also not allowed.

Similar with Sta. Cruz Island, Once Islas is open to tourists from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., except on Mondays and Fridays. It also implements a garbage in-garbage out policy. 

The jump-off point is at a mini-pier in Barangay Panubigan, just about an hour away from the city proper. Both the entrance and environmental fees are PHP100 per person. Guests may also avail a cottage on the island which costs PHP150 per day.

Prior to boarding, guests will be introduced and briefed by local community guides. A guide will be assigned per boat which can accommodate a total of 5 guests. Guide fee costs PHP300 per boat/group. 

Guests may choose between two island hopping routes: BiBa route and the Island Cruise. The BiBa route drops off visitors on Bisaya-Bisaya and Baung-Baung islands and costs PHP1,200 per boat for a group of five. Meanwhile, the Island Cruise drops off guests to Baung-Baung, Bisaya-Bisaya, and Sirommon Islands and cruises to the other eight islands and costs PHP2,000 per boat for a group of five.

Island cruise en route to Sirommon Island

Once Islas tour guide association president and Tausug-Sama Banguingui native Huraida Malik said she and her fellow tour guides were thankful and excited now that more and more guests had been visiting the islands as this meant their livelihood was back on its feet.

Huraida Malik, a Tausug-Sama Banguingui community guide in Zamboanga City’s Once Islas

“Hopeful po talaga kami, nasayahan po kami kasi dumarami na ulit ’yung mga turista na pumupunta sa amin. At saka malaking opportunity sa amin ’yung tulad niyo na bumisita sa amin kasi malaking tulong na ma-promote,” she said.

For inquires, guests may contact the city tourism office at +63629756341 or book a slot by sending an email to onceislas@gmail.com.

See you in Zamboanga City! – RC, GMA News

PART 1: Zamboanga City hopeful for tourism recovery amid border relaxation

This story is produced through AirAsia Philippines’ Route Story Conference which aims to promote destinations and aid in the recovery of tourism hubs across the country.