Just a 45-minute boat ride from the town of Paracale, this island welcomes its visitors with its white sand and clear, emerald-green sea water.

As we neared the shore and saw the beach from the boat, everyone got excited and we all felt the urge to just dive in and enjoy the crystal clear waters of the island.

So when the boat docked, we immediately carried our bags on the shore, pitched our tents and then ran to the waters and started swimming and exploring the island.

Here’s how to get there:

1. Superlines and Philtranco in Cubao have direct bus trips to Paracale. But in case their scheduled trips to Paracale differ from your planned ETD, you may opt to take a bus bound to Daet and tell the driver to drop you off at Talobatib. From Talobatib, ride another bus to Paracale then take a tricycle from Paracale town to Paracale port. Approximate travel time from Manila to Paracale is 10 hours. Fare ranges from P500-P800.

2. Hire a boat to Macolabo Island. Approximate cost would be from P1000-P1500.