“Tatay, the seashore shouldn’t be pink in any respect!” exclaimed our toddler as quickly as we disembarked from the boat and touched sand at Zamboanga Metropolis’s Nice Sta. Cruz Island—the house of the so-called Pink Seashore within the Philippines. And certainly, for those who take a glancing look, our son, can’t be extra proper. The seashore doesn’t look pink in any respect, however appears to be like relatively like every other white sand seashore within the nation. However, why is it dubbed as one of many few pink seashores not solely within the nation, however on this planet? Is Zamboanga’s Pink Seashore actually pink? Effectively, let’s discover out.
UNDERSTAND ZAMBOANGA STA. CRUZ ISLAND
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| A BOAT CROSSING THE WATERS BETWEEN MAINLAND ZAMBOANGA CITY AND STA. CRUZ ISLAND |
Santa Cruz Island is situated 4 kilometers south of mainland Zamboanga Metropolis alongside the Basilan Strait. It’s so shut, about fifteen minutes by boat, that it may well really be seen by the bare eye from Zamboanga Metropolis’s Pueblo, or downtown space. It’s additionally the backdrop for the annual Regatta De Zamboanga boat race held on the R.T. Lim Boulevard throughout the Zamboanga Hermosa Pageant.
It’s divided into two islands—the Grande or Nice Santa Cruz Island, which is the principle island, and the Little Santa Cruz Island, a small islet northwest of the principle one.
HOW TO GET TO STA. CRUZ ISLAND ~ BOOKING A TOUR
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| SANTA CRUZ ISLAND FROM AFAR |
Attending to Zamboanga’s Pink Seashore is, as our son says, straightforward peasy. There are two methods to go about reserving a tour at Zamboanga’s Santa Cruz Island, the place the Pink Seashore is situated.
The primary one is the DIY technique. You might contact the Zamboanga Tourism Workplace to order a tour, or just head over to the Zamboanga Tourism Workplace in Paseo Del Mar at the very least at some point earlier than your tour date.
However, if for some purpose, you have been unable to order a slot a day earlier than your tour date, you possibly can probability on a slot by going on to the tourism workplace in case they’ve nonetheless out there slots for the day. Observe that solely 400 guests are allowed to go to Sta. Cruz Island a day.
Zamboanga Tourism Workplace: islasdesta.cruz@gmail.com | +63 (062) 975-6341 | Reserving time 7:00AM to five:00PM, Every day
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| REUSABLE WATER JUGS FROM ITRAVEL TOURIST LANE, SHUNNING THE USE OF PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES |
The second is by reserving a tour through accredited Zamboanga tour companies. We had ours through iTravel Vacationer Lane. That is the best solution to go to Santa Cruz Island, they may deal with the whole lot from reserving a tour slot, paying for all of the charges, and making ready a luxurious lunch. Our As soon as Islas Day Tour was additionally booked via them. Extremely really helpful.
iTravel Vacationer Lane: +63 (995) 699-3274 | +63 (917) 722-6410 | +63 (917) 392-9474 | information@itraveltouristlane.com | Fb
STA. CRUZ ISLAND FEES
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| SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, ZAMBOANGA CITY |
Like most island excursions within the Philippines, there are charges vacationers have to pay when accessing the island. These are utilized in sustaining Santa Cruz Island and giving livelihood to the locals dwelling there.
• Entrance Charge: ₱30.00
• Terminal Charge: ₱5.00
• Ferry to Santa Cruz (10pax): ₱1,000.00
• Boat Switch to Lagoon or Sandbar (10pax): ₱200.00
• Yellow Boat for Lagoon Tour (2pax): ₱300.00
• Sandbar Tour (10pax): ₱100.00
• Small Cottage (10pax): ₱100.00
• Medium Cottage (15pax): ₱200.00
• Pavilion (30pax): ₱500.00
STA. CRUZ ISLAND DO’S & DON’T’S
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| SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, ZAMBOANGA CITY |
Earlier than going to Santa Cruz Island, you’ll have to personally attend a briefing at Paseo Del Mar. They may talk about what you possibly can and can’t do, and what you possibly can and can’t carry on the island.
Learn and know this forward of your scheduled journey, as this may assist in planning your journey to Santa Cruz Island, particularly their coverage relating to single-use plastics.
• No in a single day tenting
• No taking of sand or seashells
• No leaving of trash on the island. Rubbish in, rubbish out.
• No single-use plastic luggage and bottles. Put your meals in microwavables or Tupperware packaging, and drinks on reusable tumblers.
• No vandalism of any variety is allowed.
• No climbing of bushes allowed.
• No pets allowed.
• No alcoholic drinks allowed.
• No smoking or vaping allowed.
• No fishing allowed, fishing rods are prohibited.
• No washing of dishes on the seashore allowed.
• No nudity allowed.
• Grilling of meals is barely allowed on designated areas.
• Loud audio system and videoke machines are allowed however want prior permits.
• Excursions are from 7:00AM to 2:00PM, Every day.
STA. CRUZ ISLAND TRAVEL TIPS
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| A VINTA AT SANTA CRUZ ISLAND’S MANGROVE AREA |
Know earlier than you go. Listed here are some suggestions for issues it’s essential to know earlier than going to Santa Cruz Island.
• Go early, as there’s a first-come first-served rule in case the island tour is overbooked. They solely permit 400 friends a day.
• The most effective time to go to Santa Cruz Island is throughout the summer time months of March to Might.
• Carry sufficient money for souvenirs and trinkets, there are retailers manned by locals promoting vacationer souvenirs proper on the island.
• You’ll be able to carry meals and drinks, however you’ll want to put it on microwavable or Tupperware containers as they don’t permit single-use plastics on the island. For drinks, put it on reusable jugs or tumblers—single use pet bottles should not allowed.
• Carry a snorkel with you. Zamboanga’s Pink Sand Seashore is an effective snorkeling space. Simply watch out with the present, because it will get robust at occasions.
• Carry aqua footwear in case you have, the Pink Seashore is suffering from crushed corals that’s uncomfortable to the ft.
• There isn’t a altering space in Pink Seashore, however you possibly can nonetheless carry a change of garments simply so that you’d be dry on the way in which again to Zamboanga Metropolis.
• Carry a hat, sunblock, and different sun-protecting issues particularly when visiting the Little Santa Cruz Island Sandbar, as there isn’t a shade on the island.
STA. CRUZ ISLAND DAY TOUR
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| SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, WITH MAINLAND ZAMBOANGA AT THE BACKGROUND |
I used to be really shocked that there’s extra to visiting Santa Cruz Island apart from Zamboanga’s Pink Seashore. My preliminary impression was that you just go to Santa Cruz Island only for the Pink Seashore. Effectively, I used to be improper, there’s extra to touring Santa Cruz than simply the famed seashore.
LITTLE STA. CRUZ ISLAND SANDBAR
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| THE SANDBAR AT LITTLE SANTA CRUZ ISLAND |
Relying on the tides, the sandbar at Little Santa Cruz Island could also be your first or final cease in your Zamboanga Santa Cruz Island tour. If the tide is low throughout the early morning, like after we visited, then it’s gonna be your first cease.
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| THE SANDBAR ALSO HAS THAT PINKISH HUE |
The sandbar is about half a kilometer lengthy and stretches from the ocean as much as the Little Santa Cruz Island. The sandbar is generally made up of damaged or crushed corals, remnants of dynamite fishing within the space from years previous. And even at this sandbar, you possibly can see hues of sunshine pink on the sand, like that of the Pink Seashore on the Nice Santa Cruz Island. That is from crushed pink organ pipe corals that litter the sand.
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| A RED ORGAN PIPE CORAL |
Observe, nonetheless, that as stunning as its waters are, swimming shouldn’t be allowed on the sandbar attributable to very robust currents. And stepping foot on Little Santa Cruz Island is off limits to vacationers since it’s an official Philippine army camp.
STA. CRUZ ISLAND MANGROVE FOREST LAGOON, STINGLESS JELLYFISH, VINTA BOAT RIDE
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| YELLOW BOATS USED IN TOURING THE SANTA CRUZ MANGROVE FOREST |
A tour of the Nice Santa Cruz Island’s mangrove forest lagoon might be included together with your tour of Zamboanga’s Pink Seashore. It really was our second cease. After the sandbar, we boarded a ship to the Badjao group, the place we transferred to smaller Yellow Boats for a really serene boat-paddled tour of Zamboanga’s mangrove forest lagoon.
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| UMBRELLAS ARE PROVIDED FOR TO SHADE AGAINST THE SUN |
Every boat comes with a information that rattles off details about the mangroves interspersed with vigorous jokes. He additionally harvested recent lato or sea grapes, to our toddler’s delight—it’s one in all his favourite meals. He shortly made a snack of it as we pushed alongside the mangroves.
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| STINGLESS JELLYFISH AT SANTA CRUZ ISLAND |
One other distinctive function of the Sta. Cruz mangrove is the proliferation of upside-down jellyfish of the genus Cassiopea, that are surprisingly stingless. Our information invited us contact it, with cautious directions in dealing with it correctly.
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| TRYING TO RIDE A VINTA |
And earlier than exiting the mangrove forest, a colourful vinta boat awaited us for a experience. All of us took turns, paddling the boat round an space of the lagoon, taking quite a lot of photographs for posterity, earlier than heading again to the Yellow Boat docking space.
GREAT STA. CRUZ ISLAND PINK BEACH – IS IT REALLY PINK?
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| SANTA CRUZ ISLAND’S PINK BEACH |
And eventually, it was time to go to the principle draw of the tour, the Pink Seashore. However earlier than we delve additional, let’s get the reality out, is Zamboanga’s Pink Seashore actually pink?
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| NOT REALLY BRIGHT PINK |
I noticed a number of photographs of Zamboanga’s Pink Seashore across the Web with the sand being portrayed as brilliant pink. When you consider it’s that pink, you then’d be disillusioned—these are closely photoshopped photographs.
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| OFTENTIMES, IT LOOKS LIKE ANY ORDINARY WHITE BEACH |
Upon first look, the Pink Seashore is hardly pink. It really appears to be like like an unusual white sand seashore, as my son says. However look longer, particularly on the foreshore space, the place the water rushes on and off the sand, and also you’d discover a really delicate shade of pink. You’d additionally discover this on the seashore itself when the solar hits it on sure angles.
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| CRUSHED RED ORGAN PIPE CORALS AT ZAMBOANGA’S PINK BEACH |
Look nearer and also you’d discover why, you’d see specks of pink sand—crushed pink organ pipe corals (Tubipora musica)—interspersed with common white sand. I’ve seen these on all of the pink seashores I’ve visited—Subic Seashore Sorsogon, Duyos Seashore Dinagat Islands, and Komodo Island in Indonesia.
And now that’s over with, let’s try what the Pink Seashore has to supply for vacationers.
GREAT STA. CRUZ ISLAND PINK BEACH
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| SANTA CRUZ ISLAND PINK BEACH’S SHADED TOURIST AREA |
Zamboanga’s Pink Seashore stretches for round 360 meters. It’s really longer than that, however most vacationers keep inside that fundamental space because the huts and pavilions are situated on these entrance.
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| THE SAND AT THE PINK BEACH IS FINE, BUT HAS BROKEN CORALS |
The sand is kind of positive, although not as positive as these in Boracay White Seashore, and is blended with bits of damaged corals that may be painful if stepped on. The seabed has a comparatively steep slope so swim near the shore for those who’re not good at swimming. Additionally, throughout our keep, the water present was fairly robust, so take warning when snorkeling removed from the shore.
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| PINK BEACH’S I ♥ ZAMBOANGA SIGN |
There’s an I ♥ ZAMBOANGA signal on the western facet of the seashore, which is a well-liked spot for selfies within the Pink Seashore. And I additionally noticed vintas being rented out to vacationers close to the realm.
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| VENDORS SELLING JEWELRIES AND TRINKETS ON PINK BEACH |
On the middle of the tree-covered a part of the seashore are stalls promoting jewelries, trinkets, and souvenirs.
SEAFOOD LUNCH
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| OUR LUNCH HUT AT ZAMBOANGA PINK BEACH |
Except for bringing your individual meals in Santa Cruz Island, DIY vacationers even have the choice of shopping for lunch on the seafood distributors on the island. There isn’t a restaurant, however these distributors can grill the meals for you.
Us, we booked our Santa Cruz Island tour through iTravel Vacationer Lane and lunch was already bundled with it.
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| SUPERB SEAFOOD LUNCH PROVIDED BY ITRAVEL TOURIST LANE |
Upon returning to the hut reserved to us after swimming, we have been greeted with a beneficiant unfold of steamed shrimp and crabs; grilled fish, rooster, and squid; recent fruits; and, Alavar sauce for dipping that actually elevated the dishes. I can actually say that it was among the finest seafood meals I’ve had in Zamboanga.
OLD BADJAO BURIAL GROUNDS CEMETERY
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| SANTA CRUZ ISLAND OLD BADJAO BURIAL GROUND |
Earlier than heading again downtown, we visited the Outdated Badjao Burial Grounds on Santa Cruz Island. It was a couple of minutes away by foot on the japanese facet of the Pink Seashore.
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| WOODEN EFFIGIES AS GRAVE MARKERS |
Situated good by the seashore, shaded by balete and calacuchi bushes, the cemetery silently sits. Lined with a thick carpet of dry leaves, it has no crosses or photographs you’d affiliate with Christian cemeteries since Badjaos, earlier than changing to Islam, have been pagans. The burial grounds are marked by picket effigies, a few of them on boats—signifying their kinship to the ocean as a nomadic seafaring tribe. A number of of the effigies have material on their heads, marking them as a high-ranking particular person.
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| A NON-BADJAO GRAVE IN THE CEMETERY |
There are additionally some stone and concrete grave markers, which aren’t related to the Badjaos, however in all probability from Tausug and Sama Bangingi tribes.
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| AN OLD WOOD INSCRIBED WITH A SYMBOL |
As of now, the oldest current grave with inscription hasn’t actually been declared but, whereas the latest one is from 1974. The native authorities, eager to protect the cemetery, has since disallowed using the burial floor, giving the Badjaos a more moderen burial floor on one other space on the island.
STA. CRUZ ISLAND MAP
STA. CRUZ ISLAND ITINERARY
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| SANTA CRUZ ISLAND MANGROVE AREA |
07:00AM • Arrive at Paseo Del Mar in Zamboanga Metropolis
07:30AM • Sta. Cruz Island briefing and orientation
08:00AM • Depart for Sta. Cruz Island
08:15AM • Arrive and discover Little Santa Cruz Island Sandbar
08:30AM • Arrive at Yellow Boat docking space
• Discover Mangrove lagoon
• Eat sea grapes
• Sail on a vinta
09:30AM • Arrive at Zamboanga Pink Seashore
• Swim and snorkel
• Lounge on the seashore
• Discover the seashore
• Purchase souvenirs
12:00PM • Lunch
01:00PM • Discover Outdated Badjao Burial Floor Cemetery
02:00PM • Depart to Zamboanga Metropolis Downtown
iTravel Vacationer Lane Zamboanga Excursions
Deal with: Mayor Jaldon St., Canelar, Zamboanga Metropolis
Contact Quantity: (0917) 724-3199
E-mail: information@itraveltouristlane.com
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