Location
Getting There
Cagbalete Island is part of Mauban, Quezon so the first step to get to this island is to go to Mauban. If you’re commuting from Metro Manila you can take any of the bus lines going to Lucena (JAC Liner is one of the better ones). The trip will take around 4-5 hours if done early in the morning. Most of these buses will drop you off at the Lucena Grand Terminal where you can then board a non-aircon bus bound for Mauban. You can also take aircon buses bound for Mauban at SM City Lucena. The latter can take you to Mauban in roughly an hour compared to 1.5 hours for the non-aircon buses.
If you’re traveling on a private vehicle there are 3 ways to get to Mauban from the metropolis:
1. Take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and exit at Sto. Tomas heading towards San Pablo. From San Pablo head up towards Tiaong (take the diversion road to avoid passing though town), then Candelaria and on to Sariaya. From Sariaya take the road to Tayabas (to avoid having to pass through Lucena) and on to Mauban. This would seem to be the shortest route and would take anywhere from 3 to 4.5 hours depending on the traffic. We used this route and didn’t encounter a lot of traffic since we left early in the morning.
2. Take SLEX and exit at Calamba, Laguna. This route will take you through Los Baños, Sta. Cruz, Pagsanjan, Cavinti, Lusiana, Lucban and Tayabas before getting to Mauban. (Avoid the Sampaloc-Mauban Road as this is a stretch of rough road for almost a kilometer.) Longer than the first route, this one at least avoids traffic on the national highway.
3. If you’re coming from the northern or eastern part of Metro Manila an alternative would be to go through Antipolo then to the towns of Teresa, Morong, Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Lumban, Pagsanjan, Cavinti, Lusiana, Lucban, then to Tayabas before finally getting to Mauban. This can take 4-5 hours average.
At Mauban head for the port or pantalan near the public market and look for the tourist information and ticket booth. A 1-way ride to Cagbalete costs P50s .. We’ve read somewhere that there is a P50 terminal and “environmental” fee for visitors.. As of this writing boats leave Mauban to Cagbelete at 10:30 AM and at 3PM. Cagbalete to Mauban 7am and 1 pm. We learned that there are supposed to be 2 boats per trip but for our trip the other boat was chartered leaving the 10:30 passengers to cram at the only boat available to the public. These ferry boats will not leave without an approval from the Coast Guard especially during stormy weather.
Other Tips
DIRECTIONS FROM MANILA TO MAUBAN
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION – Take a bus at JAC LINER, DLTB, Lucena Lines going to Lucena Station in Kamias-Edsa, Cubao going to Lucena City. Then from GRAND LUCENA TERMINAL transfer to Mauban Bus Liner. For direct bus trip to Mauban, take JAC LINER at Kamias, Quezon City which leaves at 3:30am.
DIRECTIONS FROM MAUBAN TO CAGBALETE
BY PRIVATE BOAT – Going to Mauban Port, riding in a private boat directly going to Doña Choleng Resort. Price cost , it range from 2,500 to 5,000 depends on the boat capacity.
BY PASSENGER BOAT – Schedule is 10am and 3:30pm at price of 50per head. Going to Mauban Port, ride in a passenger boat which will bring you up to Sabang Port of Cagbalete. From there, you may rent a transfer boat that will lead to the resort.
BY TRANSFER BOAT – upon reaching Sabang Cagbalete , from cagbalete to Resort 1 way P500.
PARKING AREA theres a private parking area own by dona choleng resort . the parking is along PTT gasoline station(before reaching bridge) at Manaog Compound. Brgy. Polo Sitio Sabang. Theres a P100 pesos fee per vehicle per day.
