Maniwaya, Marinduque

My memories of Marinduque, an island 3 hours by ferry or 1 hour by plane away from Luzon, Philippines include trips to the rivers, walking a lot around the neighborhood, and white, pristine sand on a separate island reachable by boat. I always thought about the calm and peace there, that although there isn’t much to do, I was a happy kid picking up shells or waiting for the sun to set. The island is called Maniwaya, and before tourism got a hold of this beautiful beach, it was an escape to only a handful of beachlovers.

Maniwaya is part of Sta.Cruz, a 1st class municipality in the province of Marinduque. The island can be reached by boat, roughly 1 hour from mainland  Sta.Cruz’s Buyabod port – it could cost around 150pesos or 3$ per head for a boat ride. Because Maniwaya is not so commercialized as most beaches, one can enjoy its almost untouched beauty, save for some establishments.  Those few resorts and accommodations have taken root and is thriving as a friendly community. At Maniwaya, one can get so close to nature, enjoy the clear waters, snorkel, go banana riding, paddle board,kayak, jet ski and even walk on Palad sandbar when the tide is low, which is usually in the mornings. There are also tents for rent, so you can see stars and constellations before you decide to get a few winks.

For accommodation, I recommend 3 Brother’s Beach, they serve you food for your entire stay as other resorts would (be sure to book this along with your bedroom/cottage bookings). There are fishermen around the island selling their catch to the restaurants and other food establishments, rest assured that you are eating the freshest seafood while in the island.