A Short Day in Paradise: Alcoy Beach for a day
Summer has always been my favorite season. This is the time of the year when the heat of the sun feels like cotton and the breeze smells like mom's cooking. It's not entirely true but let's just put it that way.
I'm already finishing my summer vacation days and I thought to myself why not visit another beach before heading back to reality. I sent a message to my oh-so-close friend who always says yes to adventure to meet up the next day. We traveled for 4 hours to a place where feeling good doesn't cost a thing. That was back then now there's an entrance fee to the beach, thank you tourism. Let's go!
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Travel Tips
- For flights, Skyscanner is excellent for comparing the best airline deals.
- For accommodations, our family trusts Booking.com for reasonable prices.
- Organize your trips easily with a Travel Planner.
- For tried-and-true travel and hiking gear, check out our Amazon Storefront.
How to get there: Cebu City to Alcoy Beach
From the Mactan-Cebu International Airport:
You can take a cab going to the South bus terminal. The estimated fare is 250 PHP – 350 PHP, depending on traffic. Or you can take it straight to Tingko Beach 1 in Alcoy, but we try for the cheapest travel method, which is by bus.
Alternatively, if you're familiar with Uber and/or Lyft, then you can download and use the mobile app, Grab, to book your transportation.
Travel time from Airport to South Bus Terminal: 1 hour (depending on traffic)
From Cebu City:
Take a cab or jeepney to South Bus Terminal which is a few meters away from Elizabeth Mall. The terminal is clean and organized. Buy your ticket at the counter and make sure to read the board signs placed in front of the windshield mirror before hopping inside the bus.
From the South bus terminal: take the Ceres Bus
Buses Operate from 1 AM – 9 PM
Bus Fare: 150 PHP – 180 PHP
Bus Route: Cebu to Alcoy
Drop-Off: Tingko Beach 1, Alcoy
Travel Time (bus/private car): 3-4 hours
Prices may have changed.
Bus Fare: 150 PHP – 180 PHP
Bus Route: Cebu to Alcoy
Drop-Off: Tingko Beach 1, Alcoy
Travel Time (bus/private car): 3-4 hours
Prices may have changed.
Tips
- Power outlets: are commonly type A, with standard voltage 220 V and frequency 60 Hz. Be sure to bring a universal plug adapter!
- Money matters: We recommend getting your currency exchanged via Western Union (WU) since you'll get a better rate than at the airport. You can send your travel budget to yourself and pick up the exchanged amount at the local WU.
- Convenient phone apps: Grab for transportation.
Survival Terms
- CR is the term for the toilet
- Salamat means "thank you"
Tingko Beach
Tingko Beach 1 Entrance fee: 10 PHP
This is a day trip adventure so my checklist was just small: bikini, sarong/mat, camera, sunglasses, water, or beer? and food.
We woke up late as usual for our road trip to the beach. The sun was blazing when I was out of the house and it was draining all the fluid I had in me. Nowadays going out on trips is a bit tiring, I think I can blame the weather for that. The temperature is increasing drastically and even rainy seasons in the Philippines feel like summer now. But of course, that won't stop us, we just have to deal with it and come up with a solution. We decided to take the air-conditioned bus bound for Alcoy. Good thing these days open-air bus is a thing of the past. It only means less exposure to dust and heat, which is quite convenient knowing that we have a long travel ahead.
Thoughts in my mind
The beach was crystal clear and shining brightly while dancing along with the blazing sun. A sight I've missed with every cell and fiber in my system, the warmth of being there reminded me of having ice candy or freezer pop with "pandesal" (a popular small bread in the Philippines) on a hot, sunny day when I was in high school. I felt contented and free as a feather back in those days. Now, I have responsibilities and have to prove my independence in providing for my own needs and welcoming to the world of being an adult. But you what, I have more freedom now, it's an exciting year for me as I get to go on more adventures and I'm investing in myself.
Entrance Fee
A little girl greeted us with a smile and asked for a 10 PHP entrance fee. I'm not particularly sure if that child was legitimate to ask for money but we were feeling good and it's quite cheap compared to other beaches. It was a secluded place back then and nobody bothered us in terms of crowd and space. Now, people flock to this place, and restaurants and resorts mushroomed everywhere claiming the beach as their property. The simplicity is gone. I'm glad I was able to have a glimpse of the old Tingko Beach.
The Beach
The beach was warm on the surface and the sand was cool below. It's very relaxing and I cut my hair really short which made my summer feel even better. The water was a bit calm with tiny waves coming once in a while from passing boats. It was silent even thou a lot of people were there. I guess I was in total peace of mind during that time that I was able to filter the loud sounds around me, the so-called "Inner Peace", that simply reminds me of the movie "Kung Fu Panda."
To get back from Alcoy to Cebu City, cross the street where the bus drops you off and wait for a Ceres bus to pass by. The same fare however travel time will be longer as traffic builds up in the afternoon. If you're not in a hurry an overnight stay will be a great idea.
Have fun and be safe ^__^
Do you want more adventure?
If you still have one more day to spare why not go to Oslob and see the famous whale shark or also known as "Butanding."
Where am I going next?
My next adventure is to Boracay, the island that never sleeps.
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