"hundred islands, pangasinan " a Province of Pangasinan Travel Page by zephyrgurl108

i was looking for a good place to visit over the long weekend which was not too far as baguio or ilocos. i wanted to head north as i am at the time currently based in clark, pampanga. i figured hundred islands since i haven't had a taste of the beach and summer was passing by. so with three other friends, we head to the bus terminal in dau (pampanga) and boarded an ordinary bus (there were no aircon ones) headed to alaminos. we paid P190++. i forgot to get my few pesos change and found out later that my friends did so too. the bus conductor told us he will give our change "later." looks like a cheating tactic. i wonder how many other people forgot to get their change.

after about 4 hours, we get off in alaminos city. according to the local government's website, we take a tricycle to the dr. gonzalo montemayor wharf and from their take the boat ride to the hundred islands. and so we did. we asked how much the fare was, and after looking at each other, the drivers quoted us 50 pesos per head. we found out later that it was only 80 per tricycle (6 km). and as we approached what was obviously the wharf, the driver turned to a side street and takes us to boatmen there. the other tricycle, carrying two of my friends, stopped and warned them that there's no food in brgy lucap (where the wharf is) and wanted to bring them back to downtown. my friends said, just follow us (the first tricycle). anyway, when they caught up with us, we were taken to the boatmen not in the wharf. we kept telling them that we need to eat first (it was around 11AM) and we'll deal with the boats later. they kept speaking in the local dialect and we had to push the driver to move on. so far, our transportation luck has not been very good.

at the montemayor wharf, you'll see a department of tourism hut and it is there where you need to register. there's an entrance fee of p20 per head and your choice of trip: p800 for a 3 island trip with 15-20 minutes allotted for each island and one is p1,400 for an unlimited trip to any of the islands plus cave. the boat was big enough for 4-5 people. we did the latter as we hoped to maximize our time on the islands without having to spend overnight there.

as for accommodation, there are many houses near the wharf where you can stay. we chose the villa milagros pension house (the tallest one and nearest to the wharf). we piad p1,400 for an AC room with own bath and 1 bunker bed and one queen size bed.

you can also choose to stay on the island but the boat price will be doubled as the boatmen will also stay there, plus you have to have either a tent or bring all supplies with you and stay in the nipa huts there. there's no electricity so you'd have to do it "survivor style."

all in all, discounting the transportation to alaminos, we had a wonderful time. once at the wharf, things have clearer sense of direction - upon registering, you will be asked if you also plan to go snorkeling and the gear would be given to you. then, you pay the gear p250 each and you pay the boat after the trip. the boatmen don't ask for tip but it's advisable to do so.
you will also be given life vests which you have to put on as you make your rounds of the islands.

the three most popular islands are: governor's island, where the view defines the beauty of the hundred islands, children's island, a small island perfect for swimming and quezon island with a wooden bridge interconnecting to a smaller island.