2024 Tablas Island DIY Travel Guide (Budget + Itinerary)

Just when we thought that we’ve seen so much of Romblon province during our adventure to Cresta de Gallo in Sibuyan Island and Romblon, Romblon, Tablas island surprised us with so much more with its unrivalled landscape to its unexplored underwater scene! It was just as marvelous yet unique as the previous islands and attractions in the province that we visited. If you’ve been eyeing it as well for a while now, here’s a detailed Tablas Island DIY travel guide for you including a sample itinerary and budget!

About Tablas Island

Nestled between the Sibuyan Sea and Tablas Strait is the largest of Romblon’s roughly 20 islands called Tablas. It serves as a key gateway for sea and air travel to its nearby provinces and even Manila as this is houses the only airport in Romblon. Fringed with stretch of white sand beaches and vibrant marine life, Tablas is a top destination for beach goers and diving enthusiasts as it is also particularly known for the famous diving spot called the Blue Hole. Due to its size and plenty of sights to see, a day or two is hardly enough to fully appreciate the wonders this hidden gem has to offer.

Top Places to Visit in Tablas Island

Island Hopping

1. Guindauahan Island
2. Tinagong Dagat
3. Lapus-Lapus Beach
4. Aurelio Cove

In Land Attractions and Sites

1. Looc Fish Sanctuary
2. Bel-At Point
3. Binucot Beach
4. Aglicay Beach

Where to Stay in Tablas Island

1. Aglicay Beach Resort – Check rates and availability
2. Binucot Lodge – Check rates and availability
3. Nivana Spa and Resort – Check rates and availability
4. Three-bedroom Villa – Check rates and availability
5. Kokonut Hut Retreat and Camping Site – Check rates and availability
6. Oliver’s Binucot Beach House – Check rates and availability
7. M’ Villas Farm Resort – Check rates and availability
8. Annabelle’s Resort – Check rates and availability

These abovementioned accommodations are mainly located in Ferrol, Alcantara and Comod-om. There are lodging and inns nearby Calatrava port but they are not listed in booking sites. Might as well contact your local tour guides ahead of time to book an accommodation for you in Calatrava since you’ll be arriving early.

How to go to Tablas Island

By Air

Manila to Alcantara by Air

From Manila, take a flight via AirSwift to Tugdan Airport (TBH) in Alcantara. Flights, however, are limited to once to twice a week only.

By Sea

There are several ferries and pump boats traveling in and out Tablas island everyday from Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Quezon Province and Aklan. However, it is a must that you’re aware of the Romblon ferry schedule prior to your trip to avoid hassle. Below are the trips that you may take:

Manila/ Batangas to Odiongan by Sea

1. From Manila, you may take a JAM Liner, ALPS, or DLTB Co. bus from Cubao, Buendia, PITX and Alabang to Batangas pier. These buses go straight to the port premises. Depending on the point of departure, the earliest trip is at 3:00 AM (Cubao, Buendia) to 6:00 AM (PITX) and the last is at 10:00 PM. Fare ranges from Php 200.00 to Php 250.00.
2. Take the 2GO Travel or Montenegro Shipping Lines ferry from Batangas pier going to Odiongan. 2GO Travel departs from Batangas pier to Odiongan at 9:00 PM every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday while Montenegro has regular trips daily at 5:00 PM.

Roxas, Oriental Mindoro to Odiongan

Take the MSLI ferry from Roxas to Odiongan. They have trips every Tuesday and Friday from Roxas, Oriental Mindoro that departs every 4:00 PM and back from Odiongan in Tablas island at 7:00 PM.

Caticlan, Aklan to Odiongan

Take the 2GO Travel ferry from Caticlan port to Odiongan. They have one (1) trip to Odiongan in Tablas island every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 2:00 PM. It arrives in Odiongan at around 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The same ferry departs for Batangas pier on the same day but at around 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM arriving at mainland Luzon at 5:00 AM the next day.

Caticlan, Aklan to Sta. Fe

There are pump boats with regular trips daily from Caticlan, Aklan going to Sta. Fe in Tablas Island. MBCA Venvi, MBCA Mica and MBCA Sandy have regular trips daily from Caticlan, Aklan to Sta. Fe in Tablas island. The first trip is at 10:30 AM and the last is at 3:00 PM. These boats also sail back to Caticlan on the same day. The first trip back to Aklan is at 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM is the last.

Caticlan, Aklan to Looc

A pump boat departs once from Mondays to Saturday from Caticlan port to Looc Port in Tablas island every 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM. The same boat travels from Looc to Caticlan every 7:00 AM to 7:15 AM on the same days.

Lucena to Odiongan

1. Make your way to Lucena Port in Dalahican.
2. Take the Montenegro Shipping Lines or Star Horse Shipping Lines ferry traveling to Odiongan. Montenegro ferries depart from Quezon at 4:00 PM and arrives in San Agustin at 4:00 AM the next day. Star Horse ferries, on the other hand, departs from Quezon at 4:00 PM and arrives in San Agustin at 3:00 AM the next day.

Getting Around Tablas Island

There are various ways to get around Tablas Island DIY way! Among those are the following:

• Jeepneys. If you are to explore the island from north to south, you should be aware that trips are very limited from point to point and that there are no direct trips from San Agustin or Calatrava to the southernmost part of the island. Cutting trips would be necessary with high regard to the schedule of jeep from Calatrava to Odiongan, the central municipality of the island. Below are the usual schedules of the jeepneys:

Route	Schedule	Fare
Calatrava to Odiongan	7:00 AM 9:00 AM 11:00 AM	Php 100.00
Calatrava to San Andres	7:00 AM 9:00 AM 11:00 AM	Php 50.00
Odiongan to Looc	regular trips daily	Php 100.00
San Agustin to Odiongan	hourly from 7:00 or 8:00 AM	Php 150.00 to Php 200.00

• Habal-habal. The motorcycle with a driver locally known as habal-habal is among the Tablas Island DIY ways to go around. You may either take one from a point to another for around Php 200.00 to Php 300.00.
• Self-drive motorcycle. Some resorts offer self-drive motorcycle rentals. Rate ranges from Php 500.00 to Php 600.00 excluding the gas.
• Van. Among the fastest and most convenient ways to commute around the island. Fare starts at Php 200.00 depending on your location and destination.
• Vehicles for rent. If you are traveling in big groups, this is probably the best and most convenient way to go around the island. For hassle-free transfers, it is recommended that you book a private vehicle to make the most out of Tablas.

Tablas Island DIY Travel Itinerary

Day 0: Manila to Odiongan (by sea)

1:00 PM – Depart from Manila
3:30 PM – ETA Batangas Pier
5:00 PM – ETD For Romblon (Montenegro Ferries)
2:00 AM – ETA in Odiongan port
2:30 AM – Take the van or jeep to Calatrava
4:00 AM – ETA Calatrava/ Early Check in/ Rest
Note: Make sure you’ll coordinate with your accommodation that you’ll be checking in early

Day 1: Island Hopping

8:00 AM – rise and shine, freshen up
9:00 AM – breakfast, buy food for lunch
10:00 AM – start island hopping tour
Places to visit:
Guindauahan Island
Tinagong Dagat
Lapus-Lapus Beach
Aurelio Cove
5:00 PM – end tour, back to accommodation
6:00 PM – dinner, explore Calatrava town
9:00 PM – back to accommodation, lights off

Day 2: Travel to Southern Tablas

7:00 AM – Rise and Shine, breakfast
8:00 AM – freshen up and pack up
9:00 AM – head to Calatrava jeepney terminal
10:30 AM (at times 11:00 AM) – ETD for Odiongan
12:30 NN – ETA Odiongan, lunch
1:30 PM – ETD for Looc by jeep
2:30 PM – ETA Looc, charter tricycle going to Looc Port
2:45 PM – ETA Looc Port, wait for boat going to fish sanctuary
3:05 PM – Looc Fish Sanctuary
5:00 PM – Back to Looc Port, wash up
5:30 PM – Charter tricycle going to Aglicay Beach Resort
7:30 PM – ETA Aglicay Beach Resort, Check in
8:00 PM – Dinner at Aglicay Beach Resort
9:00 PM – Lights off

Day 3: Exploring more of Southern Tablas

5:00 AM – Sunrise watching at Aglicay beach
6:00 AM – Hike to Aglicay Hill
7:00 AM – Breakfast
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM – Swim and chill by the beach
10:00 AM – shower, pack up
11:00 AM – check out, ETD for Ferrol
12:00 NN – Lunch at Binucot Beach
1:00 PM – Bel-At Point
1:30 PM to 4:00 PM – Chill, swim, snorkel or dive at Binucot beach
4:00 PM – Shower pack up
5:00 PM – ETD for Odiongan port
5:30 PM – ETA Odiongan port
6:00 PM – Board the ferry going to Batangas Pier

Tablas Island DIY Sample Budget

This Tablas Island DIY Sample budget assumes that you’re traveling to Odiongan from Manila by sea in a group of three. Take note that expenses may be cheaper if you travel in group.

Bus from Manila to Batangas	Php 250.00
Batangas Pier Terminal	Php 30.00
Ferry fare (Batangas to Odiongan, Montenegro Shipping Lines Tourist Accommodation)	Php 1,600.00
Jeep/ van to Calatrava	Php 200.00
Accommodation in Calatrava	Php 1,500.00/ 3 x2 days = Php 1000.00
Food	Php 500.00 x3 days = Php 1,500.00
Boat rental	Php 2,500.00/ 3 = Php 833.33
Guindauahan Island Entrance fee	Php 25.00
Tinagong Dagat Entrance fee	Php 20.00
Lapus-Lapus Beach Entrance fee	Php 40.00
Private Transfer from Calatrava to Aglicay Beach	Php 4,000.00/ 3 = Php 1,333.33
Triycle to Looc Port	Php 15.00
Looc Fish Sanctuary Entrance Fee	Php 100.00
Tricycle to Aglicay Beach Resort	Php 500.00
Aglicay Beach Resort (accommodation)	Php 1,800.00/ 3 = Php 600.00
Tricycle rental (Aglicay – Ferrol – Odiongan)	Php 1,200.00/ 3 = Php 400.00
Odiongan Terminal Fee	Php 10.00
Ferry fare (Batangas to Odiongan, 2GO Travel Cabin)	Php 2,200.00
Bus fare Batangas Pier to Manila	Php 250.00
TOTAL	Php 10,906.00
	Take note that the sample budget for this Tablas Island DIY may be cheaper if we’re able to catch the jeep from Calatrava to Looc. But since we wanted to make the most out of Northern Tablas, we decided to hail for a private vehicle instead.

Contact Information

For a hassle-free trip around Tablas island, you may contact the following:

Sir Auds (Calatrava, Northern Tablas tours and transfers) – Arnold Auds Mendez, +63 928 416 2999 or +63 945 348 6312
Kuya Ronie (Aglicay, Southern Tablas tours) +63 935 670 7276
Kuya Ian (Aglicay, Southern Tablas tours) +63 946 097 2230

Practical Tips from this Tablas Island DIY Travel Guide

1. Bring enough cash in Philippine peso. There’s not much of banks and money changer around but in the town proper only.
2. Ask around for a jeep schedule. They only have very limited trips daily. If you opt for convenience and okay with spending, you may arrange private land transfers.
3. Bring dry bag, reef-friendly sunscreen and power banks.
4. DON’T BRING LUGGAGES. Take this seriously. You’ll have a hard time carrying it around as you will be taking a lot of ferry and boat trips. The lighter you pack, the better!
5. There are no restaurants in the islands. Hence, make sure you’ll bring enough food in your island hopping tour. What we did was we brought food containers and bought food from the eateries at población.
6. Bring your mask and snorkel or diving gear. Tablas island is a haven for divers and snorkelers!
7. Network signal is sporadic to non-existent in most parts and in the islands.
8. Book your accommodations in advance especially if you’re going to follow this itinerary.
9. Always have a Plan B. Ferries traveling to and from Romblon cancel trips even without prior notice.
10. You can always haggle with tricycle drivers but do not lowball.
11. Always take note of the Romblon ferry schedule during your planning phase. This will save you a lot from hassle.