TRAVEL GUIDE: Basilan and Zamboanga City Solo Trip Summary, Itinerary and Expenses

The Basilan and Zamboanga City Trip is a series of blog posts during my visit to south-western Mindanao last July 2-3, 2011. I waited for almost a year to be able to fly to "Asia's Latin City", via AirPhilExpress’ seat sale last year. Originally, my plan was to explore Zamboanga City, but Basilan came into picture when I met Dom, a fellow blogger. He helped me discover and experience Basilan’s exceptional splendor and exquisiteness, a beauty not everyone is lucky to see.

To date, Basilan is the 29th province on my list. Also, this is my 5th solo trip and my first time to set foot in Zamboanga peninsula.

DAY 1 - JULY 2, 2011

It was spent mostly in the island of Basilan. Upon landing in Zamboanga City Airport, I searched for my chosen accommodation in the city proper, had a quick breakfast and went straight to the port to catch a ferry bound for Isabela City, Basilan.


My Basilan trip is one of the most "nerve-wracking" journeys I've had so far. Known as one of the most dangerous provinces in the Philippines, I bravely set foot on this island province with the help of Dom's brother, Ludwig (Many thanks po!). The below blog entries narrate the experiences I had in pursuing with my goal of setting foot in Basilan, definitely it’s one hell of an adventure!

Blogs:

• Enroute to Isabela City
• The Houses on Stilts
• Road Trip to the Rubber Plantations
• A Tour Around Isabela City Proper
• How To Get There, Ferry Schedules and Fares, Tips, Itinerary and Contact Details

Expenses

NAIA Terminal 3 Fee Jeepney (Airport to City Center) Accommodation (1 night) Jeepney (to Zamboanga Port) Breakfast Zamboanga Port Terminal Fee Ferry to Isabela, Basilan Transportation in Basilan Lunch in Basilan Isabela Port Terminal Fee Ferry to Zamboanga Jeepney (City center to Accommodation) Jeepney to Paseo del Mar Dinner Souvenir Key chain City Proper to Accommodation Water 1-hour internet TOTAL

PHP 200 7 300 7 70 11 140 Free Free 4 140 7 7 195 25 7 20 10 PHP 1,150

Before day 1 ends, I went back to Zamboanga City and proceeded to the hostel to freshen up. I went out at night to have dinner at Paseo del Mar where I tasted a Crab dish from Alavar’s Restaurant.

DAY 2 - JULY 3, 2011

Zamboanga City is known as "Asia's Latin City". I was able to see and experience the food, the people and the sights in this highly urbanized city in the south-western part of the Philippines. An experience totally different from the rest.


Day 2 was spent mostly on visiting the different attractions in Zamboanga city proper as well as going to Pasonanca where I visited the parks and climbed a hill to have a good view of the city.

Blogs:

• A Bittersweet Food Trip Experience
• Bienvenidos Ciudad de Zamboanga!
• Pasonanca and Freedom Parks, Mt. Pulong Bato and La Jardin de Maria Clara Lobregat
• How To Get There, Accommodations, Transportation, Itinerary and Contact Details

Expenses

Tricycle to Jimmy's Satti Haus Breakfast (Satti) Entrace to National Museum Jeepney (City proper to Accommodation) Lunch Jeepney to Pasonanca Entrance fee (Butterfly Sanctuary) Habal-habal Rental Pasonanca to Camins road Camins Road to Airport 1-hour Internet rental Dinner Zamboanga Airport Terminal Fee TOTAL

PHP 20 50 20 7 90 10 30 70 7 7 10 50 40 PHP 411

Basilan and Zamboanga City Solo Trip

2-day Total Expenses: PHP 1,561.00

After exploring Pasonanca Park, I went straight to Zamboanga City Airport in Camins to catch my flight back to Manila.

Salamat Basilan at Zamboanga City! 'Til next time!

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