Camotes
Overview
Camotes is known as "The Lost Horizon in the South" because of its unspoiled atmosphere. There are many spectacular sites, like the valleys of coconut crops, corn, and potato. Its beautiful picturesque lake, known for it's freshness and natural purity, won an award for being the cleaniest inland body of water. Unlike many other islands in the Philippines Archipelago, the fabled Camotes Islands off the coast of Danao City is a marvel. It is an astonishing toll of spectacular contrasts.
Until recently, these picturesque islands have remained remote and untouched. When visiting Camotes, enjoy the pleasures of pastoral rural setting and relax in the tranquility that comes with the setting of the sun. Camotes consists of four islands; Pacijan Island, Poro Island (Poro & Tudela), Ponson Island and the tiny Tulang Island. Pacijan and Poro islands are actually joined together by a paved road. Ponson island is separated by the Camotes Sea, and lies about (4) four kilometers northeast from Poro island. Tulang island is located to the north of Pacijan. Tudela, Poro, San Francisco and Pilar are four largest settlements on Camotes.
Majority of houses are built near the seashore alongside roads that circle all three islands. Some houses are scattered in the island's interior. The highest point of the island is 386 meters above sea level. It's climate is characterized by distinct dry season. The island is approximately 562 kilometers south east of Manila, 62 kilometers north east of Cebu and 25 kilometers west of Ormoc. Camotes Island has a total size of 20,964 hectares.
Climate
Camotes as a whole enjoys tropical weather the whole year round. We only have 2 seasons. The dry and the rainy season. The dry season is from March to June while the rainy season is from July to February. The nippy air of "Amihan" or the north easterly wind blows from September to March. From June to August, the south westerly wind or the "Habagat" turns up.
The "Habagat" wind normally goes through an eight days cycle, which means, eight days of storm and rain. After 8 wet days, the weather abruptly changes to sunny and dry, consecutively. During this season, Camotes Island is frequently visited by typhoons and low depression, wherein it floods the whole island, and blows the native houses' rooftops away.
Transportation
Camotes islands have a small airport, however, most of transport to and from the islands is serviced by sea transport. Polynesian like style boats with two outriggers are used for transport of people and cargo from Danao on Cebu island and from Ormoc City. These open boats are called "pamboat" and they are a real thrill to ride when the weather is fine. The totally enclosed speed boat "Ocean Spray" runs to Cebu City and back to Camotes a few times per day. The Ocean Spray boat departs from Pier-1 in Cebu and lands in Poro. Some people use this boat for commuting to work in Cebu because there is not much industry in Camotes islands. The travel time is a leisurely 4 hours on a clean and comfortable large boat.
Fares from Cebu to Camotes Island and vice versa:Tourist: P280.00 pesosEconomy: P220.00However, if you miss this boat, you will have to travel north of Cebu to Danao City, which is about an hours' drive north of Cebu.
Pumpboats to Camotes Island:From Ouano Wharf, Mandaue City daily at 1:00pm/Fare: P200.00From Danao City to Camotes Island/ Fare: P 180.00 From Ormoc, Leyte to Tudela, Camotes Island: Pumpboats departs at 09:00AM and 01:00PMTravel Time - 3 hrs.Motorcycles are used as the main means of transport within Camotes islands, unlike tricycles which are used throughout Philippines for people transport over short distances. Camotes Islands have only narrow trails to many places that are accessible to two wheeled vehicles only.
Light and Water
The two major sources of lighting is power and kerosene which are utilized by 43.9% and 55.5% of the sample house holds, respectively. Common source of water on the island is the community water system consisting of public faucets and individual (private faucets), at 40.6% and 23.8% respectively. Around 16.1% indicate tube/pipe well as a source of water; a 0.3% dug wells; and 5.2% spring. A 220V. The power depends on Camotes Electric Cooperative (CELCO) that energizes the mainland Camotes spring water by gravity. Jetmatic and deepwell pumps are great source of water. Some parts of the island, don't have water supply. They keep big water container jars and collect rain water during the rainy season.
Communication
A postal service office and telecommunication offices provide communication services. Otherwise, a cellular phone is accessible in all parts of the island. Landlines are also available for business and residential purposes which is powered by Globelines communication. Since there are landlines like globelines, a dial up service is available. Smart offers WIFI in Camotes, but they need to come up with more customers before they can offer the service to the island. Not many people in camotes owns a computer so it may take a while for SMART to offer this service. Philippines Long Distance Telephone offers a wireless internet connection that would be applicable to all the islands all over the Philippines.
Health Services
The municipal health center is provided with an ambulance. A private community clinic at southern poblacion also provides medical services.
Accommodations
In Esperanza, Poro, there's a hotel called My Little Hotel. They offer a lot of services with a variety of good food.
The islanders are group of warm, caring, and hospitable people. Numerous families are more than glad to play host to tourist and visitors through thier "Home-stay" program.Granada Pension House rent airconditioned rooms.Please inquire the local Tourism Council through PLDT 109 for reservations and for furthur details.EconomyAgriculture predominates with copra as top grosser as well as rice, corn, vegetables, fruits, root crops and some varieties of fish. Other small enterprises are livestock, poultry, pottery, hollow blocks-making, furniture, and soap-making.
History
When the Spaniards first arrived in the Camotes Islands, they met some natives digging potatoes, and asked them the name of the island. The natives, thinking that they were being asked what they were digging, replied, "Camotes." Thereafter, the island retained that name, camotes, or potato island. (camotes)
Camotes is known as "The Lost Horizon in the South" because of its unspoiled atmosphere. There are many spectacular sites, like the valleys of coconut crops, corn, and potato. Its beautiful picturesque lake, known for it's freshness and natural purity, won an award for being the cleaniest inland body of water. Unlike many other islands in the Philippines Archipelago, the fabled Camotes Islands off the coast of Danao City is a marvel. It is an astonishing toll of spectacular contrasts.
Until recently, these picturesque islands have remained remote and untouched. When visiting Camotes, enjoy the pleasures of pastoral rural setting and relax in the tranquility that comes with the setting of the sun. Camotes consists of four islands; Pacijan Island, Poro Island (Poro & Tudela), Ponson Island and the tiny Tulang Island. Pacijan and Poro islands are actually joined together by a paved road. Ponson island is separated by the Camotes Sea, and lies about (4) four kilometers northeast from Poro island. Tulang island is located to the north of Pacijan. Tudela, Poro, San Francisco and Pilar are four largest settlements on Camotes.
Majority of houses are built near the seashore alongside roads that circle all three islands. Some houses are scattered in the island's interior. The highest point of the island is 386 meters above sea level. It's climate is characterized by distinct dry season. The island is approximately 562 kilometers south east of Manila, 62 kilometers north east of Cebu and 25 kilometers west of Ormoc. Camotes Island has a total size of 20,964 hectares.
Climate
Camotes as a whole enjoys tropical weather the whole year round. We only have 2 seasons. The dry and the rainy season. The dry season is from March to June while the rainy season is from July to February. The nippy air of "Amihan" or the north easterly wind blows from September to March. From June to August, the south westerly wind or the "Habagat" turns up.
The "Habagat" wind normally goes through an eight days cycle, which means, eight days of storm and rain. After 8 wet days, the weather abruptly changes to sunny and dry, consecutively. During this season, Camotes Island is frequently visited by typhoons and low depression, wherein it floods the whole island, and blows the native houses' rooftops away.
Transportation
Camotes islands have a small airport, however, most of transport to and from the islands is serviced by sea transport. Polynesian like style boats with two outriggers are used for transport of people and cargo from Danao on Cebu island and from Ormoc City. These open boats are called "pamboat" and they are a real thrill to ride when the weather is fine. The totally enclosed speed boat "Ocean Spray" runs to Cebu City and back to Camotes a few times per day. The Ocean Spray boat departs from Pier-1 in Cebu and lands in Poro. Some people use this boat for commuting to work in Cebu because there is not much industry in Camotes islands. The travel time is a leisurely 4 hours on a clean and comfortable large boat.
Fares from Cebu to Camotes Island and vice versa:Tourist: P280.00 pesosEconomy: P220.00However, if you miss this boat, you will have to travel north of Cebu to Danao City, which is about an hours' drive north of Cebu.
Pumpboats to Camotes Island:From Ouano Wharf, Mandaue City daily at 1:00pm/Fare: P200.00From Danao City to Camotes Island/ Fare: P 180.00 From Ormoc, Leyte to Tudela, Camotes Island: Pumpboats departs at 09:00AM and 01:00PMTravel Time - 3 hrs.Motorcycles are used as the main means of transport within Camotes islands, unlike tricycles which are used throughout Philippines for people transport over short distances. Camotes Islands have only narrow trails to many places that are accessible to two wheeled vehicles only.
Light and Water
The two major sources of lighting is power and kerosene which are utilized by 43.9% and 55.5% of the sample house holds, respectively. Common source of water on the island is the community water system consisting of public faucets and individual (private faucets), at 40.6% and 23.8% respectively. Around 16.1% indicate tube/pipe well as a source of water; a 0.3% dug wells; and 5.2% spring. A 220V. The power depends on Camotes Electric Cooperative (CELCO) that energizes the mainland Camotes spring water by gravity. Jetmatic and deepwell pumps are great source of water. Some parts of the island, don't have water supply. They keep big water container jars and collect rain water during the rainy season.
Communication
A postal service office and telecommunication offices provide communication services. Otherwise, a cellular phone is accessible in all parts of the island. Landlines are also available for business and residential purposes which is powered by Globelines communication. Since there are landlines like globelines, a dial up service is available. Smart offers WIFI in Camotes, but they need to come up with more customers before they can offer the service to the island. Not many people in camotes owns a computer so it may take a while for SMART to offer this service. Philippines Long Distance Telephone offers a wireless internet connection that would be applicable to all the islands all over the Philippines.
Health Services
The municipal health center is provided with an ambulance. A private community clinic at southern poblacion also provides medical services.
Accommodations
In Esperanza, Poro, there's a hotel called My Little Hotel. They offer a lot of services with a variety of good food.
The islanders are group of warm, caring, and hospitable people. Numerous families are more than glad to play host to tourist and visitors through thier "Home-stay" program.Granada Pension House rent airconditioned rooms.Please inquire the local Tourism Council through PLDT 109 for reservations and for furthur details.EconomyAgriculture predominates with copra as top grosser as well as rice, corn, vegetables, fruits, root crops and some varieties of fish. Other small enterprises are livestock, poultry, pottery, hollow blocks-making, furniture, and soap-making.
History
When the Spaniards first arrived in the Camotes Islands, they met some natives digging potatoes, and asked them the name of the island. The natives, thinking that they were being asked what they were digging, replied, "Camotes." Thereafter, the island retained that name, camotes, or potato island. (camotes)
Labels: Cebu, Central Visayas
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11:14 AM
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