Davao del Sur - Beach Bumming on Passig Islet Aqua-Eco Park Resort

To me, beach bumming is going to the beach and do nothing. That's what we did when we went to Passig Islet Aqua-Eco Park Resort in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. From Digos City, we took a bus bound for Davao City and asked the bus attendant to drop us in Barangay Bato, in the municipality of Sta. Cruz. From the main high-way it requires about 300 meter of walking to get to the tourism office. Don't worry, the road leading to Passig Islet is well marked, you won't get lost.

To Passig Islet

It's a bit exhausting to walk that long, especially under the heat of the sun. It's really tiring!

The gate to the Tourism Office

At the tourism office/reception area, we paid an entrance fee of 25 pesos each, 100 pesos for the cottage and 20 pesos each for the boat ride. Since we were told that there is no store on the islet, we asked our boatman to buy food for us which we brought to the islet as our lunch. We walked through the picturesque footbridge surrounded by lush mangroves.

Stunning footbridge surounded by lush mangroves

At the end of the bridge is the docking station of boats going to the islet. From here, Passig Islet Aqua-Eco Park Resort can be seen from a far.

Passig Islet as seen from the docking station

The boat ride to the islet only took about 10 minutes. It was a safe ride through calm waters.

One of the boats used to transport guests to the islet

Upon stepping on the islet, we looked for our cottage to settle our things then we started to roam around.

Walking around the islet

The islet is really small, you could get around it in just a few minutes. It is surrounded by rubber tires to keep it from eroding. I heard it is not actually an islet but a sand bar, the tires keep it from eroding and eventually diminishing.

Rubber tires surrounding the islet

We're here!

There are cottages lined up at one side. At the center is a huge function hall that can be rented for big groups or for some gatherings. There are toilets and shower rooms, as well as nipa huts (500 pesos/night) if you wish to stay overnight.

Open cottages

Nipa hut for overnight stay

The clear waters around the islet is so inviting. We saw visitors having a good time swimming in the shallow waters.

Shallow and clear waters

Checking on the beach

It was very windy during our visit and the weather is so unpredictable. It would rain for several minutes then the sun will show up again. We just spent most of our time in the cottage enjoying the sights around.

Boat

Enjoying the sights

Bumming at the cottage

A boat passing by

Floating cottage

At around 2:00 PM, we decided to leave the islet. We sent a text message to our boatman for him to fetch us. It took him a while to arrive as the water started to get rough.

Bye bye Passig Islet

It was an awesome beach-bumming experience on Passig Islet Aqua-Eco Park Resort. We needed to bid goodbye to this nice islet as we have to get back to Davao City for my early evening flight to Manila. This ends my "6-day Davao Region + North Cotabato trip" that happened last year.

Waiting for the boat

PASSIG ISLET FEES

Entrance Fee - 25 pesos
Small Cottages -100 pesos
Medium Cottages - 250 pesos
Nipa Huts - 500 pesos/night
Function Hall - 5000 pesos
Pump boat Fee - 20 pesos (round trip)

HOW TO GET TO PASSIG ISLET

From Davao City, take a Digos-bound bus at Ecoland Bus Terminal. Tell the driver or the bus attendant to drop you at Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur near the gym. Fare is about 80 pesos, travel time is about 1 hour.

From General Santos or Digos City, take a bus going to Davao City and tell the driver or the bus attendant to drop you at Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

NOTE: Before riding the bus, make sure to ask the driver or the bus attendant if they know where Barangay Bato in the municipality Sta Cruz and if the bus will be able to stop there.

This trip to Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur happened on June 12, 2012 during my "6-day Davao Region + North Cotabato trip". Davao del Sur is the 67th province on my list. COMPOSTELA VALLEY Lunch at Magnaga Waters Beach Resort in Pantukan DAVAO ORIENTAL A Quick Stop at the Sleeping Dinosaur of Mati City Mati's Dahican Beach is one of my Favorite Beaches in Mindanao Surfing and Skimboarding in Dahican Beach TRAVEL GUIDE: Mati City, Davao Oriental NORTH COTABATO Strolling around Kidapawan City The Hot and Boiling Lake Agco in Kidapawan City "Lost and Found", a Sanctuary at the Foot of Mt. Apo TRAVEL GUIDE: Kidapawan City, North Cotabato DAVAO DEL SUR Beach Bumming on Passig Islet Aqua-Eco Park Resort

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