Beach Escapade: Hermits Cove

Last weekend, we had an impromptu beach getaway with the family. It was quick, because it was just a spur of the moment decision. We just wanted to de-stress and take a quick dip at the beach. Based on our friends recommendations, they suggested Hermits Cove, because the entrance fee is cheap plus we can bring our own food. So we traveled all the way to Kantabogon Road in Aloguinsan and see for ourselves what it looks like.

Here are the things that I like and I don't like about Hermit's Cove:

👍 Likes:

• No need to pay for the cottages or tables. It's free of charge, so long as you pay the entrance fee of PHP 100/adult and PHP 50/kid
• Being managed by Kantabogon Eco-Tourism Association (KEA). You have to pay to the lady assigned to collect the money and not from elsewhere or anybody
• You can bring your own food, free of charge. No corkage. 
• There are vendors there selling barbecue, mango shake and chips. Mango shake costs PHP 50
• They have people who were assigned to assist you in looking for cottages and if it's full, they will provide tables and chairs for you to use while waiting for the cottages to be vacated or vacant
• You can setup a tent if you have, free of charge
• Parking space is available but limited

👎 Dislikes:

• The road going there is challenging especially for compact cars, because it really is a rough, dirty road. It surely is a one tough bumpy ride. Good luck if it's raining, because the road gets to be so muddy and the road becomes slippery 
• At that time, the nearest toilet for shower and changing doesn't have enough water anymore. We had to pay someone to get us some water in a deep well just so we can take a shower. You have to shower in an open area, because there's no toilet near the deep well. Price ranges from PHP 15 to 30
• Not suitable for PWDs especially those on wheelchairs or those who couldn't walk, because you have to take the stairs going down. The flight of stairs going to the beach is steep. For those with kids, you really have to hold them as there were instances that the steps become slippery. Though, there are railings made of bamboo that you can hold on to. 
• Expectation vs reality. Totally different from what you see in the pictures. Though it's clean, less to no trash, because they have a staff who cleans up the place from time to time
• Another expectation vs reality. Even if it was managed by the tourism of Aloguinsan, still they can't do anything about the beach. It is similar to a public beach only that you are paying an entrance fee. There were parts of the beach where you get to step on a seashore or seaside plants, and some parts of the beach where you'll step on rocks and some parts where you'll step on pure sand
• The beach closes at 4PM or 6PM, if I'm not mistaken.So you can't stay there overnight even if you have a tent, unless if you are one of the locals or a resident nearby. 

It was already low tide when we arrived 

Exact location: Hermits Cove is located in Baranggay Kantabogon, Aloguinsan, Southern Cebu — only 1-2 hours away from Cebu City

Please take into consideration the travel time which would always depend on the traffic situation. 

BY V-HIRE or GT Express via Toledo:
– Go to Junquera St. in Colon and look for the vhire going to Toledo. Fare is PHP100 and travel time is approximately 1 to 2 hours. Alight in Toledo Terminal and from there take a jeep going to Aloguinsan. Fare is 35 ot 40PHP. Once you are in Aloguinsan, look for any habal-habal or motorcycle drivers that will transport you directly to Hermits Cove. Fare for the habal-habal or single bike motorcycle drivers would cost around 50-80PHP

BY BUS: Go to South Bus Terminal located at N. Bacalso Avenue near Elizabeth Mall. In the terminal, look for a bus going to Aloguinsan. Fare is PHP80 to PHP100. Estimated travel time is approximately 1-2 hours. Tell the driver or the ticket collector to drop you off in Aloguinsan Public Market and from there, look for any habal-habal or motorcycle drivers that will transport you to Hermits Cove directly. Fare for the habal-habal or single bike motorcycle drivers would cost around 50-80PHP

BY CAR: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps, and set your destination to “Hermits Cove" in Aloguinsan

BY GRAB/TAXI: Highly discouraged as this is the most expensive type of transportation going to Aloguinsan. Some taxi drivers would give a price ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 

Latest attraction in Cebu: The Anjo World experience

Last October 28, my eldest, Lucas turned 8 years old. Tight budget as we are, we decided to have a simple celebration just the four of us. We asked Lucas on what he wants to do and how he wants to celebrate his birthday. His choices were Anjo World, Cebu Safari or an unlimited play at Kidzoona. He chose Anjo World, because he wants to experience all the rides. We've been to this place twice, because the first time we visited the place, they were still on soft opening that time and there were only few rides available. During our first visit, we only paid for the Snow World entrance just so we can see what the inside looks like and checking if the unlimited rides were worth the price. Now that we saw in their official website that they added some rides including the Anjo Eye, choosing the Anjo World was the best decision. 

We opted to go there on a weekday, because it's less crowded plus we get to save a little by taking advantage of the weekdays rate. It was also a good thing that October 28, his birthday was a Monday. We skipped Snow World this time and bought the Day Adventure Passes (without Snow world) and the Junior Day Adventure Pass (without Snow world) for the kids instead. I listed below the amount spent just for the entrance alone for a family of four:

2 adults (Day Adventure Pass without Snow world)         - 450/adult x 2 = PHP 900

2 kids (Junior Day Adventure Pass without Snow world) - 360/kid x 2    = PHP 720

Total amount paid for the entrance: PHP 1,620 (unlimited rides) 

Unfortunately, they don't have any promos for anyone celebrating their birthdays or even your birth month promos. For those thrill and adventure seekers who enjoys extreme rides, sadly the rides at Anjo World won't excite you at all. All rides shown on the picture above are the only available rides as of October 2019 including the Anjo Eye which usually starts to operate at 4PM. Though this month, the newest ride, the Pharaoh will be open to the public on November 30, 2019. Something to look forward in our next visit. Just like any other amusement parks, there's a minimum height requirement for all the rides. I listed below the rides that were only allowed for my two kids based on their height:

Belle - 43 inches 

• Mr. Toad
• Mr. Cup
• Golden Carousell
• London Taxi (with adult)
• Space Shuttle (with adult)
• Viking (with adult)
• Anjo Eye

Lucas - 47 inches 

• Mr. Toad
• Mr. Cup
• Golden Carousell
• Space Shuttle (with adult)
• London Taxi (with adult)
• Boomerang (with adult) 
• Tower Drop (with adult) 
• Viking (with adult)
• Anjo Eye 

  

  

 

The park opens at 1PM during weekdays and 10AM  during weekends and closes at 8PM. They have souvenir shops which you can buy souvenir items, and there were only few food stalls that can be seen inside the park. Available food stalls were Everest Ice Cream, Tender Juicy Hotdog stall, and lastly the popcorn and cotton candy food stall. Though, there's a food court outside the park, which they will allow you to go outside to buy some food and eat, given that you are still wearing the wrist tag, but food bought outside are not allowed to be brought inside the park. I find the food stalls a bit pricey though, but because the kids want to enjoy the rides first, we opted to buy food inside the park and here are the list on what we bought from the food stalls:

1. Jumbo Hotdog on sticks - PHP 25

2. Jumbo Hotdog on a bun - PHP 35-45

3. Cotton candy - PHP 30

4. Popcorn - PHP 50

5. Bottled water - PHP 25

6. Everest Ice Cream - PHP 50 (3 scoops) 

It was also deceiving when we bought the hotdogs, because the menu and the posters listed was a Jumbo hotdog, but when we saw the hotdog machine roller on display, we were surprised that it wasn't a Jumbo hotdog, but a regular one. We even asked the staff if that's already the Jumbo hotdog on display, because it wasn't jumbo at all. How did we know? Because my partner only eats Tender Juicy hotdog, so pretty much we know what a regular hotdog vs a Jumbo hotdog looks like. Oh well, we still bought the hotdogs anyway. 

They also have Funtastic Arena where you can buy coins and play games. 1 coin is worth PHP20 (if I'm not mistaken). So in the arena, you can play basketball hoops, tin can alley, hoop ring toss and the ball toss. Prizes depends on the count, I guess. The more coins, the more chances of winning and the bigger the prize is at stake. Though don't expect too much, because the prizes were just the typical stuff toys (not the gigantic ones). 

Despite the limited rides, the kids still enjoyed going back and forth. It was a great bonding for the family and a well-spent birthday celebration. We may not have enough funds to throw a lavish birthday party or travel internationally, but looking at my kids faces, the simple celebration was all worth it, no money can tantamount the happiness, joy and excitement they experienced on that day. Well, like what they always say, at the end of the day, family matters the most.  

How to get there?

Exact location: Anjo World Theme Park is located within Belmont One in Cebu South Road, Upper Calajoan, Minglanilla, Southern Cebu — only 1-1.5 hours away from Cebu City and 15-30 minutes from Starmall near SRP.

Please take into consideration the travel time which would always depend on the traffic situation. 

BY JEEPNEY:
– From CIT University or Punta Princesa or Bulacao/Pardo, ride any jeepney with a jeepney number 43 or 44 route going to Minglanilla / Naga.
– From SM City Cebu, ride any jeepney (usually 10H) bound for Bulacao or Pardo. From there, ride another jeepney number 43 or 44; route going to Minglanilla / Naga.
– Or from Ayala Center Cebu, ride a 12L jeepney going to Punta Princesa. From Punta Princesa, near the Punta Princesa church, you can see a jeepney going to Minglanilla or Naga. Inform the driver to drop you off at Anjo World Theme Park or at Petron Gas Station in Calajoan.

BY BUS: You can also ride any bus or mini bus going south from the South Bus Terminal. Make sure to inform the driver or the ticket collector ahead of time to drop you off at Anjo World or the nearest landmark which is the Petron Gas Station in Calajoan, Minglanilla.

BY CAR/GRAB/TAXI: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps, and set your destination to “Belmont One” in Minglanilla.

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. This is solely for personal use and comments/feedback were only based on personal experience. 

For more information, please visit their official website: Anjo World - Cebu Amusement Park