Romblon Hotels

Romblon is more than just the Marble Capital of the Philippines. Explore the province’s breathtaking, natural paradise and unique cuisine.

Romblon is a province composed of three major islands (Romblon, the island, Sibuyan, and Tablas) and 17 smaller islands. Located in Southern Luzon, it is right smack at the center of the Philippines.

The province is also one of the few places in the Philippines with a well-preserved, natural environment (75% uninterrupted rainforest area). It has 34 waterfalls, and home to the Cantigas River, the cleanest inland body of water in the country. Tourists will never run out of beaches, dive spots, mountains, and even heritage sites to explore.

How to Go

By plane

You would need a combination of air, land, and sometimes sea transportation to travel to certain points in Romblon. If via plane, take a daily flight out from Manila to Tugdan Airport in Alcantara via Philippine Airlines operated by PAL Express. If you chartered a private plane, there is a small airstrip that caters to general aviation and tourism in Sibuyan Island.

By boat/ferry

From Manila, you can take either take a ferry service with Montenegro Lines, 2GO, and Romblon Shipping Lines. They all dock at the capital town of Romblon or Odiongan. There are also ferry services from Manila to Magdiwang in Sibuyan Island, and Manila to Cajidiocan.

By land transportation

From Manila, board a passenger bus at Cubao or Buendia Pasay terminal to Batangas Port. From there, purchase a ticket to board a Roll-On, Roll-Off (RORO) vessel with Montenegro Lines, 2Go Travel, or with MV Navios.

Getting Around

As Romblon is made up of islands, most of them are only accessible via sea transportation. Wooden launches and pump boats link Romblon also to barangays that do not have any roads or existing ferry services. When on land, you can take a combination of jeepneys, motorcycle taxis, tricycles (a motorcycle attached to a sidecar), and minibuses going to your destination.

Tourist Attractions

The province of Romblon is just among the many locations in the Philippines that has physical proof of Spanish rule. Check out the forts of San Andres and Santiago in the town of Romblon, which served as fortifications back in the 17th century against Muslim pirates.

You can also find Fort San Jose and Banton Church, 1600-old forts also built to ward off the pirates, in the municipality of Banton. Visit the centuries-old image of the Holy Child, or the Santo Niño de Cebu at the St. Joseph Cathedral and Belfry houses.

Top Things to Do

When in Romblon, island-hopping should definitely be on the top of your list. Stop by Cobrador Island, which is reputed to hold rare deposits of black, gold, and marble, and a white-sand beaches, and the Santa Fe Trail, which consists the beautiful Tablas Strait, the neighboring island of Boracay, Panay, and San Jose islands, and Looc Bay.

Explore the marine life and the beautiful coral formations when you go for a dive at Romblon’s popular diving spots. There is an abundance of them, especially turtles, at Turtle’s Feeding Place and at the San Pedro Sanctuary.

You can also rough it out and go on a hike. Mount Guiting-Guiting or G2, is a mountain popular with hikers who want to conquer the most difficult and technically challenging mountain to climb in the Philippines. Before hiking, though, make sure that you have an experienced guide or sign up with a guided tour to help you.

Where to Eat

Sarsa is a dish made out of small shrimps mixed with young coconut and chili, all wrapped up in coconut leaves. This dish is best paired with hot rice. Available in local carinderias (eateries) and wet markets, best to buy this early in the morning because it tends to get sold out.

Don’t forget to try the local seafood as well. Aside from the freshly caught fish and shrimp, try also the sihi shells cooked in coconut milk. Available in carinderias in Looc Town, you need to eat it by coaxing the meat out using a pin.

If you want something healthier to bring down the cholesterol from eating all that meat and seafood, try the Inaslum, which is soup made of any available fresh vegetables in season.

Nightlife

There aren’t as many nightclubs or bars available in Romblon, due to the province’s relative isolation. However, you can visit neighboring Boracay, which is two hours away via pump boat, should you crave for the party lifestyle.

On the other hand, you and some buddies can actually just bring your own drinks, chips, and blankets and hang out under the stars at a nearby beach. If you want to have a bonfire, ask permission from local tourism or your lodging management if it’s allowed and/or if they can have someone safely set it up for you. Meanwhile, some resorts in Romblon may have the occasional shack that offers cold beers and a videoke machine for you to sing your heart out.

Where to Stay

Finding a hotel in Romblon would entirely depend on your itinerary. However, it is suggested that you book one that offers access to the beach and a beautiful, unobstructed view of the mountains.

Dream Paradise Resort offers a cozy place for a two-star hotel stay near the mountains. San Pedro Beach Resort along the shores of Talipasak Beach is also a traveller’s favorite due to its accessibility to Romblon’s uncrowded beaches. Rent a nipa hut cottage here with basic accommodation for 2 at P800 a night.

If you want a room near a town plaza with access to urban facilities, book a room at Romblon Plaza Hotel along Pres. Manuel Roxas Street. A room for 2 guests start at P700 a night.

Travel Tips

• If you like to explore and wayfind the area within your hotel’s vicinity, ask at the reception if they can lend you a bike or a motorbike for a fee.

• When booking a hotel in Romblon, check the hotel’s shuttle and inland transportation options.

• Consider waterproofing your electronics and other important documentation and papers, like your IDs, money, and itinerary, with see-through Ziploc bags.