Solenn Heussaff’s ‘Isla’ travel guide to pristine Danjugan Island, Negros Occidental

Learn more about the island featured on GMA-7’s summer special, “Isla”, hosted by Solenn Heussaff and Mikael Daez.

“Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling Isla!” (Don’t be a stranger on one’s own island!)

That was the battle cry of “Isla”, GMA-7’s 2014 summer special. Hosted by travel junkies Mikael Daez and Solenn Heussaff, the show set out to show off the beauty of the Philippines’ islands. “Each year, travel websites and magazines come up with lists of must-see places for tourists,” says Mikael. “One thing they have in common is they always mention the Philippines.”

So forget Boracay. Here’s an underrated island we should be proud of.

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This is part of a series on the islands featured on “Isla”. Read about other featured destinations: El Nido, Palawan; Oslob, Cebu; Lobo, Batangas; Siquijor; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental

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Danjugan Island

What to see

“It’s full of wildlife, both on land and underwater,” says Solenn. “I’ve been to many places around the world, but I always come back to the Philippines. Let me show you why there’s no place like home.”

Located off the coast of Negros Occidental, Danjugan Island is a little-known destination despite being near popular tourist spots like Bacolod and Silay City. From Silay, you can take a three-hour jeepney ride to the town of Cauayan, where you take a five-minute bangka ride to Danjugan.

Danjugan is an undisturbed ecosystem protected by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Incorporated. Their facilities are all solar-powered. The whole island is made of limestones home to many animals. There’s an unexplored cave, home to seven species of bats, where visitors can peer in but not enter to keep the ecosystem safe.

The island’s lagoons have crystal clear waters that carry shades of light blue and seafoam green, and most of the time, no one else is in sight. “If you want to propose, this would be a good spot. Or if not … you can just go skinny dipping!” jokes Solenn.



At sundown, head to the Sunset View Deck. Here, you can sit on benches or lie in a hammock to watch the sunset from an elevated vantage point.



Back at Cauayan, you can go snorkeling at Typhoon Beach. Years of cyanide fishing destroyed much of their marine life, but they’ve been working to restore its ecosystem since 1994. Now, you can see colorful corals growing where the dead ones used to be. Fish and giant clams have come back, too!



To date, there are five species of mangroves, 572 fish species, 244 species of hard coral, 74 species of microalgae and eight species of seagrass in the areas of Cauayan and Danjugan.

What to eat

Negros Occidental is known for its desserts, such as young coconut boiled in syrup for two hours, fried suman sa ibos, and more.



Where to stay

Many tourists use Punta Bulata resort as their entry point to Danjugan, since it's just located five minutes away from the island. Punta Bulata can also arrange transfers and water activities in Danjugan.



On the island itself, guests can also stay in mud houses, which may not sound impressive but actually resemble bahay kubo-like cottages with high ceilings and bamboo roofings. Staying here is also easy on the pocket at P2,750 per person per night, inclusive of meals, snacks, snorkeling, and hiking.

Text by Cristina Tantengco, photos by Redge Estrada, Instagram photo by Solenn Heussaff.

–PF, GMA News

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This is part of a series on the islands featured on “Isla”. Read more:
Mikael Daez’s ‘Isla’ travel guide to laid-back Dumaguete
Solenn Heussaff's "Isla" travel guide to stunning El Nido, Palawan
Mikael Daez's "Isla" travel guide to 'glamping' in Oslob, Cebu
Solenn Heussaff's "Isla" travel guide to Lobo, Batangas
Mikael Daez's "Isla" travel guide to mystical Siquijor