Download GPX file for this article
13.5200120.9751Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Sabang is small town located on the northeastern coast of Mindoro Island, Philippines.

Understand

Sabang is one of the barangays (small towns) in the municipality of Puerto Galera. Sabang is at the northern terminus of the road from the municipality proper of Puerto Galera, which is a ten minute jeepney drive away. Sabang also consists of the following beaches:

  • Sabang Beach
  • Small La Laguna Beach
  • Big La Laguna Beach

Walking between the three you might not even notice the difference but each has a separate feel and activity level, Sabang Beach being the liveliest. Big Lalaguna Beach is the best for swimming with its clean sand and coral reef with cordoned swimming area prohibited to boats.

Get in

By plane

Effective November 2015 we now have a sea plane "Juan Air" from Manila to Puerto Galera. There are at least 3 airports on the Island, Calapan, Naujan and Mamburo but there are no scheduled flights except for Juan Air and the fields are primary used for flight training. The closest airport to Sabang is in Manila on the neighbouring island of Luzon. From the Manila airport, you'll have to travel by road to get to the port at Batangas. For the well-heeled, Subic Seaplanes offer direct transfers by air in their Cessna floatplanes.

By boat

A large banca used for transport between islands.

Many tourists arrive on pre-arranged transportation - via a banca arranged by their dive shop/hotel. You also have the option of arriving via ferry (from Batangas or a number of other islands). Ferries (mostly large bancas) land at Sabang beach frequently or at the port in Puerto Galera proper. White Beach and Balatero are other destinations from Batangas. Each of these are close enough to Sabang Beach to be a reasonable alternative if you don't want to wait for the next direct ferry. Just take a jeepney, trike, or motorcycle to Sabang from your alternative landing place. The ferry service is regular, departing every two hours (with reduced service during the monsoon season) from Sabang.

These banca ferries appear primitive. Also, they may be uncomfortably packed during high season. Emergency equipment, such as life jackets, are on board but supplies may be scarce. The trip between Mindoro Island and Luzon will take you around 80 minutes. Many resorts and some independent companies offer pickup from manila airport, a ride to batangas and a transfer in a large banca.

The earliest boat back to Batangas leaves Sabang at 5:45 while the last boat leaves Sabang at 2:15. Fare is P230 includes terminal fee. Note, upon arrival there is a controversial Environmental Users Fee (EUF) of 50php payable by anyone who looks like a foreigner

By bus

From Manila Public buses leave from various parts of Manila to the port of Batangas frequently. If you are leaving from the Malate/Ermita part of Manila, you'll want to take a taxi to the Buendia bus station and get the next bus to Batangas. From there see above for simple arrangements to transfer to a ferry for the trip over.

JAM transit runs hourly buses from their Cubao bus terminal.

An only slightly more expensive and much more convenient alternative from Malate/Ermita is the Sikat bus/ferry, a private service run out of the City State Tower Hotel in Ermita. The bus leaves at 8AM and after arriving in Batangas you are lead to the connecting ferry by a Sikat agent. However this has only one service daily which leaves Manila at 0830 hrs.

Whichever bus alternative you take, you'll usually be on the beach in Sabang for lunch.

From Angeles Public buses leave from Dau bus station in Angeles City for Cubao bus station in Manila, where you can transfer to Batangas. For a hassle-free van and boat combination transfer, Angeles2Puerto offer an affordable service leaving 8AM every day (except Wednesday) from Angeles City to Sabang Beach with the return trip departing Sabang at 10AM.

On the Island As on November 2015 the jeepneys leave Sabang every 20 minutes to Puerto Galera 5.5k from Sabang, and the same back to Sabang. Fare is 20php 1 way. The road is now all paved but there are certainly some broken areas. Work is currently going on in PG to re-pave all the roads. The trikes parked by Tropicana Hotel are 150 for the trike, whether it is one person or 4 persons. There are trikes who drop people off in front of VSB (Victory Sports Bar) who are not allowed to wait around for customers. Just look at them and ask 'Bayan' (means town) and for 40 pesos you are on your way, but you will have to share the ride if he has a chance to pick up more passengers. A motorbike to Puerto Galera is 50php. Remember there is no liability here. Motorbikes can be rented from @300-500php depending on the season and your battering skills. Boat can also be rented for daily trips. Price and destinations to be negotiated. There are regular vans to Calapan from where you can catch a bus to Roxas and ferry across to Caticlan, Pasay Island, Boracay. There is no regular scheduled bus service to Sabang but jeepneys make frequent trips from nearby Puerto Galera, three kilometers away. Jeepneys are a novel type of Filipino public transport that were originally engineered from surplus military jeeps left in the country after WW2. Now they are often home constructed around older Japanese vehicles with plenty of brightly colored decoration. Jeepney etiquette is simple, you go on, you pay your fare (it should be cheap, 20 pesos or less from Puerto Galera to Sabang), you wait until the jeepney is full and it will leave. However expect to be crowded in with a lot of people,and more often than not half the contents of the local fruit and animal market. Driving will be breakneck down 3km of partially unpaved road, but this is well worth it for the experience. A slightly more expensive alternative to the jeepney is the trike. These are motorbikes with sidecars converted to hold 2-3 passengers and then driven like things possessed down the same unfinished 3km road. Keeping in mind the obvious risk of accidents, enjoy! Motorcycles are also available for single (or two small) persons riding on back for about the same expense as the trike.

Get around

Its mostly walking in narrow streets. In 15min you are in Small Lalaguna and in 20min in Big Lalaguna (to the left side) If you want to go to Pt. Galera (to the ATM e.g.) take a Tricycle for 50PHP one way. A motorcycle or scooter can be hired for around 500php (Scooter) and 700PHP (dirtbike) per day, cheaper if longer.

See

  • 1 La Laguna Viewpoint. Along the sidewalk that leads between Big La Laguna and Small La Laguna you'll find a narrow path. Follow the path for 20 meters up the stairs and onto the top of a rocky out cropping which has an oddly placed cement pad at the top, as if for a house. From the top of the outcrop, you'll be provided with some lovely views of the surrounding beaches and the surrounding islands.
  • 2 Lighthouse Walk. Follow the road up past the market to the village of Sinandigan and on to the lighthouse where there is a spectacular view of the Verde Island Passage and Luzon to the north, and on a clear day the summit of Mt Halcon to the south. To the east you can see the City of Calapan in the distance and further on the horizon, the island of Marinduque.
  • White Beach. This beach is better than Sabang. Bancas can be chartered for the 30-60 minute (depending on sea conditions) trip along the coast to a fine stretch of white sand that is popular with locals. While the sand is not powder fine, it is excellent for swimming and has a number of small restaurants, bars and shops, mostly catering to Filipinos. It makes for a good rest day if you starting to find Sabang a little small in between dives. Some might find the large number of ladyboys, or transvestites, on the beach disturbing.
  • Sabang Webcam. If you want to See Sabang Beach live, there is a website that has three webcam locations for Sabang beaches, one each for Big La Laguna, Small La Laguna and Sabang. The webcam image frequency is once every 30 seconds so you can see the real-time vista, the weather and the people and boats coming and going.
  • 3 La Laguna beach. Located a short walk around the hillock off the upper edge of Sabang beach, this is a short beach (about 300 metres in length) and yet miraculously further divided into Big La Laguna and Small La Laguna beach. The beach itself is clean, with white sand (unlike the brown sand of Sabang), filled mostly with day tourists, has a few quiet resorts and at least five dive shops as of 2012. It is especially popular with Koreans.

Do

Two shell-less snails (Nudibranchs) on the coral, part of the small life beauty.

Most visitors to Sabang are attracted by the excellent SCUBA diving provided by the protected marine sanctuary. There are a number of dive shops in the area (estimated at around 35) that provide access to a micro (i.e. small life) heaven. The dive sites that feature a large variety of small sea life with the occasional shark or turtle. Several sites are drift dives and often turn into (strong) current dives with the best diving (for coral and small life) being at 18m or 60 feet. Almost all of the dive sites are within a 10 minute boat ride of Sabang which allows you to spend your surface interval on the shore and it also allows most shops to offer as many as four dive trips (single tank) each day. Prices for a single dive are around USD18~32 for a single tank dive, including equipment rental, boat and dive guide, with discounts for more dives and if you have your own equipment.

  • ABWonderdive. Is a PADI 5 Star Dive Beach Resort owned and operated by Danish couple Alice and Bjørn Askholm located in Small Lalaguna. Offering all level of PADI courses – from entry level up to Dive Master, as well as a wide variety of specialties taught in English, Scandinavian, German, French and Tagalog. Accommodation is in their own nicely appointed rooms or in one of the many resorts nearby.
  • Action Divers. Is a smallish dive shop has been in Small Lalaguba for more than 10 years but is very proud of its high level of customer satisfaction and safety. They generally run 3 dives a day at 9AM, midday and 3PM. Local guides know all the good spots and understands the tides in the Verde Channel. If you contact them they can put together diving and hotel packages to suit your needs.
  • Asia Divers. Is a reputable dive shop that has been around Sabang for over ten years. The divemasters, hailing from Britain, Germany, and Canada, are friendly and dive in smaller groups (usually four divers and one divemaster). They typically run four dives each day, including one night dive, and put together some nice hotel/dive packages with their sister resort, The El Galleon, located adjacent to their dive shop.
  • Atlantis Dive Resort. Is a Five Star PADI Career Development Centers; two of only few dive centers with such a rating in Asia, you will find the highest standard of dive education, first class facilities and world class dive guides.
  • Big Apple Dive Resort. Is the place for all your fun and scuba diving requirements in Puerto Galera. The resort is in the middle of Sabang beach and is central to and within a few minutes walking distance of all the famous nightlife and restaurants. The bar and restaurant are open 24hrs, serving a wide range of food and beverages. With two full size billiard tables in the bar overlooking the bay of Sabang it's a great place to make new friends and enjoy the fun loving atmosphere. A wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets from cottage style fan rooms to luxury air conditioned apartments with standby generators guaranteeing 24hr power. For the sporting fans there is 'Super Sports' Satellite TV showing live sports events from around the world. Fully equipped dive shop adjacent to the best swimming pool in Sabang offering PADI and SSI courses from open water to dive master at competitive rates.
  • Mermaid Resort and Dive Center, . Is a world-class resort offering accommodation, nature tours, and diving services. It has over 30 spacious guest rooms and suites that are newly renovated. The resort offers both international and local cuisine as well as a fully equipped beach-front shop with new and top-of-the-line compressor room.
  • Frontier Scuba. Owned and run by Rick Kirkham an instructor trainer with over 20 years experience diving in Puerto Galera (yet still loves to dive everyday). Frontier Scuba is TDI / SDI 5-Star Instructor Training Facility, one of only a handful in Asia. Packages are arranged including direct private transfers from Manila airport and excellent resort accommodation. Their partner resort have more than 40 rooms all with hot shower, cable TV and airconditioned and are very reasonably priced. One night aircon accommodation in twin share with full meals and three guided boat dives is U$98 per person. The dive center has trained naturalists as guides. Recreational courses are offered from the Discover Scuba 'try dive', PADI Open Water up to Divemaster and SDI courses up to and including the Instructor Course and Exams. The Technical dive center offers nitrox, Advanced Nitrox, Advanced Wreck, Extended Range, Trimix and Advanced trimix courses as well as Technical Instructor courses.
  • Sea Rider Dive Center, . 63 29215885994. The cheapest dive and courses rate in the island with excellent macro & pelagic spotter. Berde island trip and night diving are always part of their daily activities. They arrange accommodation and transportation from Manila Intl airport & Clark Field Pampanga Intl airport to Sabang vice versa. Free intro dive for Non Nitrox Divers. Free boat pick up for public commuters from Sabang pier or Muelle pier to Sea Rider. Free slot for group organizers and commissions awaits!
  • South Seas Divers. Friendly and fluent instructors in Jappanese, Korean, Tagolo, Spanish, and French. PADI courses offered at reasonable rates.
  • Song of Joy Divers. is located right on the Sabang beachfront and with accommodation options including a range of rooms with sea or poolside views, or the private penthouse suite. All rooms come with full facilities. Resort facilities include a freshwater swimming pool, restaurant specialising in International and Korean food, verandah bar overlooking the beach, Wi-Fi internet access and in-house massage. Dive Instruction on offer includes PADI courses from first time try discover scuba diving to professional divemaster or experienced diver education from the speciality programs.
  • Tech Asia is the technical branch of Asia divers. Run by an extremely experienced and dedicated team, they've been around for pretty much as long as Asia divers have. They can provide trimix and advanced nitrox diving and courses, and also supply essentials for rebreather diving such as sofnalime. They are reasonably priced, with a trimix dive (including gas) coming in under $100 They offer IANTD and GUE courses. The instructors also appreciate supplies of English tea bags, curry powder and Fray Bentos pies!
  • Puerto Galera Hash House Harriers. The local branch of the Hash House Harriers, an international group with clubs on every continent. All you need is a little taste for adventure combined with an enjoyment of the outdoors, when every Saturday afternoon a mixed group of Filipinos and Foreigners follow trails around some of the finest hashing areas in the country, when you will have the opportunity to see some of its most picturesque locations. You do not have to be super fit; the emphasis is more on enjoying the hash, and go at your own speed. If you would like to join in, meet at Capt'n Greggs Dive Resort on Sabang Beach from 3PM each Saturday. Runs depart at 3:30PM sharp. Cost for first time runners is 450 pesos for men, 350 pesos for women and 300 pesos for children which includes a t-shirt, post-hash drinks and transport. If you are already a member (i.e. you are wearing a hash t-shirt) subtract 150 pesos.
  • Snorkel at Coral garden. This can be arranged with any boat operator at Sabang beach. It costs 1500 pesos to hire a bangka for the day - usually they take you to a few secluded small beaches on the islands close by, and to snorkel at these places. Coral garden has the best snorkelling in this area - most of the corals are still alive, and the variety of colourful fish is amazing. A warning - the waters sometimes get cool so wearing a thin wet suit is not a bad idea.

Buy

  • 1 Maxbank. The only ATM in Sabang accepting local and international cards with a 3% commission. In Puerto Galera, the Rural Bank and Allied Bank have ATMs which accept cards on the Megalink and Expressnet networks and at the Allied Bank Visa cards (debit / credit). The nearest banks with international Cirrus/Maestro links are in Calapan or Batangas (including ATMs at Batangas Pier).

The tourist center and the Tropicana restaurant do exchange money and traveler cheques as well as doing cash advances on credit cards. The exchange rates are not as good as in Manila, though. Western Union offices are located at the tourist center and at Tuping's Store (eastern end of the beach). Credit cards are not widely accepted in Sabang except at some of the larger dive shops and resorts, so it's best to stock up on cash beforehand.

Eat

The majority of restaurants are clustered in central Sabang. You'll also find restaurants along Big and Small La Laguna attached to the hotels and resorts. Prices are reflect Sabang's standing as a tourist detsination, ranging from around 150-300 Pesos for breakfast and 300-600P for lunch/dinner. Cheap eats can be found at a few local establishments

  • 1 Hemingway's Bistrot, Certified Angus Beef® Restaurant (at the west end of the beach). Located at the West end of Sabang beach. Hemingway's Bistrot featuring traditional German, filipino and international cuisine prepared by Master Butcher Pfannen Fred and Chef Jake.
  • 2 Toko's Restaurant. Located at Atlantis Dive Resort. Asia's finest resort restaurants in Puerto Galera and Dumaguete. Toko's is quoted by world renowned "Lonely Planet" travel guide book as "world class cuisine". Enjoy relaxed dining with superb menu choices freshly prepared by Atlantis team of dedicated local & international chefs.
  • Full Moon Restaurant - on Small La Laguna Beach, Full Moon serves a wide variety of Asian and International dishes and is popular with visiting divers as well as local expats. Daily specials are on offer as well as an a la carte menu, bar snacks and an extensive wine list. Head chef Manny has worked overseas for many years and can share some of his more colorful anecdotes as well as some great cooking tips!
  • Sunsplash Resort, Small LaLaguna Beach (5 minutes' walk west from Sabang), +63 9157009193. Sunsplash Resort offers breakfast and lunchtime menus with local and international dishes. In the evening at 5PM Sunsplash offers an all you can eat BBQ buffet for 250 pesos, with a selection of BBQ meats, salads, local and international dishes to choose from.
  • Capn Greggs. With an all wooden decor, and some interesting and punny (all pun intended!) posters on their walls, this second floor sea facing restaurant serves filling meals. Their vegetable curry with rice is especially delectable. It is also among the few restaurants in Sabang that has newspapers for patrons to read.

Drink

There are many bars, cafes and street-side food stalls to ensure that you don't have to search far for something to drink. Cold drinks ranging from fruit milkshakes to soft drinks/soda to alcohol are inexpensive and widely available.

  • 50 Bar - Located at beach front of Atlantis Dive Resort. Relax to the view of Sabang sunset at the 50 Bar down on the beach where you can enjoy a selection of tasty snacks and pizza. The friendly bar staff will serve drinks until kate and entertain you with upbeat atmosphere and your choice of music.
  • Marti's Bar - Located in central Sabang, Marti's Bar is proof positive that it's the owner that makes the bar. Popular and inviting, Marti quit after 23 years as an Australian police officer to become the host of one of the friendliest bars in Sabang. For bookworms, an extensive collection of books makes this joint the unofficial book exchange of Sabang.
  • Floating Bars - Sabang has two floating bars open in the high season to which you can either swim (divers often end their day by ascending to one of them) or stand on the beach and have the bar's boat ferry you across.
  • Rafael's Rare Chords Bar - located at the western end of Sabang Beach (on the way to Small La Laguna) [1]. Small family-run bar popular with resident expats and tourists, open all day but most popular around sunset. Extensive music collection with menu that you can search and make requests. Good views, pool table, chess, TV, newspapers and free WiFi internet connection. Wide range of drinks at happy hour prices all day (SMB bottle P33) and cheap home-cooked snack menu.
  • The Point Bar - located above the Asia Divers dive shop, has a tropical, open-air design that offers 200 degree views of the Sabang and Big La Laguna Bay. It opens in the early afternoon but does not see much action until after the afternoon divers are done. It also gets quiet fairly early as the diver patrons retire to dinner and then return later for more fun. There are drink specials during Happy Hour which runs from 5:30 to 6:30. Food can be ordered from the El Galleon Resort restaurant menu. Famous for their range of devastating shots, the tradition for anyone who's completed a course with Asia divers or tech Asia is to wait until their instructors and course members are in the bar and then ring the large ships bell hung at the end of the bar. Ringing the bell means buying a round of shots for the whole bar, (Although this isn't as expensive as it sounds). You can also win T shirts by drinking a range of different shots. The point bar also has a fantastic BBQ night once a week which is well worth attending.
  • Girly Bars - November 2015 Sabang has 7 Girly Bars, Coco Lips, Broadway, Hammerhead is upstairs, Venus, Sabang Disco, Philippino Disco Midnight.

Sabang has six "girly bars." You can enjoy a drink while you watch the talent, including featured dancers. The drinks there are substantially more expensive than at regular bars. If you buy one of the girls a "lady's drink," you'll be paying extra again for the privilege of a chat with her. All girls are licensed by the municipality as "maids" but are prostitutes and can be barfined. Be warned, though: local licensing requirements aren't very strict. Some of the girls there may be underage!

  • The Outsider - November 2015. This place has been closed for over 3 years. It is now called Victory Sports Bar VSB and owned by Neil from England. It is a good place to sit and watch life go by.

Right across the entrance to Tropicana is this cozy bar run by Canadian expat Geno. Beer prices are competitive and the owner entertains customers every night as well as saying hi to passers-by. Breakfast and food are also available.

  • Castillo's - November 2015. This place has been closed for over 3 years.

This bar and grill is on the fourth and fifth floors of a building right near the Western Union office in Sabang. It has a live band and karaoke and a good view of the beach on the roof. The bar, however, charges a "table fee" of P100 when the band is playing and P50 when karaoke is being run.

  • Cheap Charlies Bar (Located on the ground floor of the Tropicana Castle.). 4pm-5am(or later). If you're looking for a bar that offers you a genuine local experience with a western touch then Cheap Charlies is the place to go. It is known for it's cheap drinks, free karaoke and simple but delicious food. If karaoke is not your thing they turn off the karaoke later in the night and turn up the music. Opens at 16:00(4pm) and closes around 5:00(5am or later.) It is located just down the hill from Max Bank, ask any local and they will be happy to show you the way.

Sleep

Sabang Beach

  • Marti's Bar & Accommodation, . Has a few rooms to let right above the bar for about P600 a night. Rooms have private bathroom and kitchen. After diving, go have a beer with Marti.
  • Angelyns Beach Resort. Great value for money makes this one of the best buys in Sabang. 40 air-conditioned rooms complete with TV, hot shower and mini bar. Breakfast is included in the price and the resort has a beach front restaurant and swimming pool. Reservations can be made through Frontier Scuba in conjunction with dive packages and transfers. Rates are from P1250~P1900 per room per night including breakfast. Unlike other resorts there is no additional service charge or VAT.
  • Atlantis Dive Resort. The people, you come first in everything Atlantis do, whether it’s your honeymoon, your first time on scuba or a dedicated photo dive for the most experienced divers. Atlantis resort team has decades of experience in all areas, but what makes us stand out is the way we make you feel. When you return, which we are sure you will… it’s just like coming home.
  • Big Apple Dive Resort. Offers a range of accommodation from budget fan rooms to luxury apartments. Located right on the beach in the middle of Sabang close to all the action, Big Apple has a large outdoor pool, 24 hour restaurant with pool tables and 24 hour Sports Bar with satellite TV showing all the latest sports action live. Recreational diving, dive packages and PADI dive instruction are available at very competitive rates.
  • 1 Sabang Inn Dive Resort (200 m east of the ferry jetty), +63 432873198, . Good value for the money, many packages to choose from. Located right at the beachfront in the quiet area yet just a minute walk away from the nightlife. it is a blend of perfect location with a beach front atmosphere - a friendly staff and, of course diving. Budget room 700-1000, standard 1000-1300, deluxe to VIP 1200-2400.
  • Sabang Oasis, Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera, +63 43-2773564. Sabang Oasis is the newest and most modern resort in the center of Sabang. With a rooftop bar and swimming pool giving amazing views acroos the bay. All rooms have hardwired internet access and high pressure solar heated showers, 5* hotel standard mattresses and air-con as standard, refrigerators and safety boxes are also fitted. Nightly rates are 1500-1800 with discounts available for longer stays. 1500.
  • Red Coral - This is a small motel that has cheap rooms with kitchen and a view of the water. 1,100 pesos per night in low season. Right next to the Big Apple Dive Resort.
  • Tropicana - This is one of the larger and posh hotels in Sabang. The hotel is in the form of a castle and the Austrian owner Paul runs the place with his Filipina wife and family. Nice digs except for hot water problems. Booking can be made via agoda.com.

Small Lalaguna Beach

  • El Galleon Resort. Has a nice waterfront location on the point separating Sabang from Big La Laguna. If you are in Sabang to dive, you could easily spend a week and never venture further from El Galleon and its adjacent dive shop, Asia Divers. There are three types of rooms (budget, poolside and ocean view), all are quiet (no roosters or generators nearby), clean and close to the pool. Nightly rates for double occupancy range from $36 - $60 with discounts available with a dive package. Rates do not include service charge and taxes The resort also has a fine restaurant and is one of the few in Sabang that offers waterfront dining.
  • Portofino Resort. Has a waterfront location with a pool and a bar just inside the front wall. Restaurant and Bar are good. There are studio, single bedroom and two bedroom apartments which can be self catering. The elavated rooms at the front have a good view. Nightly rates for twin occupancy are posted on their website but could be negotiable when you contact them, so far its not Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year or Easter!
  • Out of the Blue Private Villas. Offer the most luxurious villas in Puerto Galera with great views in a quiet environment on the hillside overlooking Small La Laguna Beach. Choose from 10 fully furnished luxurious 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedroom villa suites or 4 private spa villas.

Big Lalaguna Beach

  • Campbell's Beach Resort. Situated at the far western end of the beach, Campbell's Beach Resort has rooms to suit every budget from 990 pesos per night. All rooms are absolute sea frontage with double beds, air conditioning, cable TV and private bathroom with hot showers. Additionally Deluxe and Penthouse Rooms are equipped with refrigerators and safety boxes. The bar and restaurant is a great place to relax and enjoy the sunset and offers a full range of drinks and Thai, Filipino and Western dishes as well as the best Angus Steak on the beach! Private Transfers from Angeles and Manila can be arranged, as can adventure activities, tours and scuba diving.
  • Lalaguna Beach Club. In the center of the bay, La Laguna Beach Club is the most up-market hotel on the beach with an emphasis on diving. The resort has 31 rooms, 28 rooms offering air-conditioning and mini bar, cable TV, plus 3 cottages with electric fans. All rooms have private bathrooms and modern comforts including hot water. There are 6 family rooms available, consisting of 1 double bed and a set of bunk beds. (stretcher beds and mattresses available for children.) Popular activities which can be offered by the resort are beach picnics, mountain hiking, golfing and fishing. The Beach Club also offers dive trips to other destinations aboard the live-aboard dive vessel M.V. Rags II.
  • Swengland Dive Resort. Swengland Dive Resort is a new establishment located on the beach at Big Lalaguna, and caters to holiday makers and recreational divers. There are 14 fully air conditioned rooms each with private en-suite bathroom, queen sized bed and cable TV from just 1,100 pesos per night and from just 900 pesos per night with fan. Enjoy an ice cold beer in the bar as you watch the sunset over the Batangas Channel or have a game of pool on the full-sized billiard table. The restaurant offers both Filipino and European cuisine and specialises in authentic Chinese food. Other facilities include cable television, internet access, 24 hour electricity, international telephone and fax service, money changing and travel booking and confirmation.
  • Scandinavian Divers (Big La Laguna Beach Dive Resort), Big La Lagunga Beach (15 minute walk from Sabang or 4 minute boat ride), +63 918 626 2157. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. Small resort with full services right on Big La Laguna Beach which is preferred by everyone for swimming and snorkeling. 8 poolside rooms, and 1 to 3 bedroom waterfront suites. Full diving instruction, waterfront restaurant and a bar named SKYbar. Free wi-fi available to guests and divers. US$ 27-195.

Longer Term Stays

There are several houses and apartments for rent in and around Sabang including many with beach front locations. Listings for these properties are hard to come by before you arrive; unfortunately, for rent signs and listings are most easily found by walking around.

Go next

Returning to Luzon The average visitor to Sabang goes back the opposite way he or she came.

To go by public transport, travel to Batangas by passenger banca from the station on the beach near Eddies Bar. Other departures are from Puerto Galera (Muelle Pier), Balatero and White Beach. An alternative route to Batangas is via Calapan (one and a half hours jeep ride from Puerto Galera) where there are regular Roro and fast passenger ferry departures for Batangas. This is especially useful in stormy weather or typhoon warnings when ferry service in the Sabang/Puerto Galera area is suspended.

If you came over on the Sikat, you just have to take the ferry/bus trip back to Manila in reverse. The ferry leaves for Batangas at 9:00 or 9:15AM. Just check in 15 minutes before departure at the Sikat booth near Eddies.

Other options include hiring a private banca to take you to Batangas.

Beyond Sabang Calapan is also the place to head to pick up a bus bound for Roxas (4 hours) where there are regular ferries to Caticlan (Boracay)., or if you want to visit Mindoro Occidental and Apo Reef, Abra de Ilog, accessed through the pier at Wawa.

This city travel guide to Sabang is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

Template:No Wikipedia link