Munting Malaguinoan Island
On our third day in Polilio Island, we set out to explore more of the natural wonders recommended by Mercy, a self-confessed nature lover whom we met at Ikulong Island. We were so grateful for the information that she shared with us otherwise we would have just skipped the trip to Puting Bato Island and to the picturesque coconut-laden paradise of the Malaguinoan Islands. Our boatman had originally told us that Puting Bato wasn’t open for the public and that the other islands were too far from Burdeos. With a bit of prodding from her, and the right price, our boatman finally agreed to our itinerary when he came to pick us up from Ikulong Island where we had camped for the night.
Approaching the small cove of Munting Malaguinoan Island
After exploring the caves of Puting Bato Island, we were off to our first beach of the day. Munting Malaguinoan Island is my favorite among all the islands we visited in Burdeos. It is surrounded by clear, blue waters and covered with palm trees and lush vegetation perfect for swimming and beach camping. Approaching its shoreline reminded me of the beautiful cove of Puting Buhangin on Pagbilao Grande Island. It is also bounded by limestone rock formations on both ends and its cove is covered with powdery sand. The clear waters reveal beautiful coral reefs and other colorful aquatic life as you near its shores.
One thing I like about this island is that you can easily access the beach on the other side of the island in just a few minutes walk (3 minutes or less). It’s like having two beaches in one place, a bit like Sabitang Laya in Caramoan (just smaller). The next island, called Malaking Malaguinoan Island, is also just a few minutes boat ride from Munting Malaguinoan Island. It is about 40 hectares in area and it has several white-sand beaches located along its coast.
Other side of Munting Malaguinoan Island with the view of Malaking Malaguinoan Island.
As the beach is almost one hour’s boat ride from Puting Bato Island, I was sort of expecting to find a secluded and deserted tropical paradise. But the beach was packed with so many people when we got there. It was also disappointing to see some rubbish scattered around the area. Holy Week vacation is a time you should avoid if you want to have this beach all for yourself. On the way to the island, our boatman pointed out an image of the blessed Virgin Mary etched on a growing stone. He said hundreds flock the smaller Malaguinoan Island to pay homage to this sacred image which they believe possesses miraculous powers.
Somewhere in this rock formation is the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary visited by the locals during Holy Week.
We would have chosen this place for beach camping have we known about it beforehand. It has lots of nice open, flat grassy areas amongst the coconut trees for pitching your tent. The owner of the island, Jose Manlimos lives in a small hut in the area and simply asks for a donation or whatever you can spare if you want to visit the island or camp on the beach. I wouldn’t have minded skipping all the island-hopping and just explored these two islands during our stay.
Mga kapatiran sa kulay 
HOW TO GET TO MALAGUINOAN ISLANDS
To get to the island, one can take a bus ride (approximately 3 hours) with Raymond Bus Company from Legarda, Manila bound for Real, Quezon. From Real, Quezon, here are some options:
1. From Burdeos – you may rent a boat from Sabang Pier and include these two islands in your island-hopping trip. (Please refer to this article for detailed instruction)
2. Alternatively it could be possible to rent a boat directly from Real to the island.
a. Ride a ferry boat from Real (Ungos Port) to Polillo, Quezon (about 3 hours) and then take a small fishing boat which can sit around ten to twelve (10-12) people to Malaguinoan Island which is about three (3) hours away or more.
b. Rent a private fishing boat (sitting 20 passengers) to ferry you directly from Real (Ungos Port) to Malaguinoan Island. The boat ride would last around four to five (4-5) hours or more depending on the weather condition.
Hi Claire, how much is the boat for your third day beach hopping?
We only had 2 days of island-hopping there,. Ist day : Anilon Island, Anawan Island, dumaan sa Buguitay Island then we were dropped at Ikulong Island to camp for the night, Charlie and I paid around 150 each for a group of 8 Php 1500. On our 2nd Day Php1700 – Pick up from Ikulong Island, Puting Bato Island with caves), Malaguinoan Island, Minasawa Bird Sanctuary (quite far from Burdeos) then back to Binombonan Island and pass by Bakaw-Bakaw Island.
It was our 3rd day in Polillo Island (not the town Polillo) and 2nd day only in Burdeos.
thanks Claire…We’re set to go this May 8-10 kaso 2 lang din kmi, mg camp lang din kmi…
Wow, good luck in the long journey and a one of a kind adventure. Don’t miss the Puting Bato Island for the beautiful caves. We only went to 2 caves there and missed that one cave where you have to go through for 3 hours and come out on the beach. If you are into this kind of adventure, try to go early and spend at least half day. We missed it because we didn’t know about it yet when we got there so we weren’t able to plan well our itinerary.
Ingat kayo, You will enjoy the journey there if not as much as the destination itself. Just have an open mind and adventurous spirit
I also like to explore the beauty of burdeos, quezon. I am from the province of Laguna.
Ms. Claire, napaka impressive po tlaga ng article nyo about Burdeos. I am proud to be a Burdean. Thx for featuring our town.
Thanks Blesie.
Astig talaga samin hindi lng nadidiscover ksi malayo
thankful kame senyo kasi pinuntahan nyo at naifeature nyo pa
Mag Boboracay ka pa ba??? Burdeos nalang diba? Mas mura pa kulang lang idevelop pra mag karoon ng mga night clubs and bars Ado! punta na!
thank you for visiting our island miss claire i am also a burdean and thank you for uploading your picture in malaguinoan because i really miss that place
ado taga dyan din ako eh hehehe
I had fun exploring Burdeos. It’s a beautiful place.
Hi Claire! I am excited to stumble in your website. We had 3-day beach camping at Anilon on Dec. 26-29, 2009, just near the deep well, with my wife Clarice. The fishing folks were very hospitable, we feasted on fresh catch daily, with vegetables from the kaingin at the island interior. We skin dive at the reef 50 meters off the sandy beach which is teeming with life, some unfamiliar to us and even an eye-to-eye with a barracuda one time. Like what you did, we island hop. We can never get enough.
Dec. 29-Jan. 2, we pitch tent at Munting Malaguinoan right in that cove in your picture. You are right, Malaguinoan is superb! Our plan was to go explore more islands further out and camp but we were enchanted by Malaguinoan. So we stay as long as we can, as we like. and spent New Year’s Day with Tatay Jose instead. (I cooked him 5 kilos pork adobo and 3 kilos biko, whew! And it was just the 3 of us and Tatay’s army of dogs. We acquired ingredients at Calutkot Island.
The whole island was ours, no one there except the owner during our stay. We had 3-4 hours bonfire every night at the edge of the beach, we never had shortage of firewood. I make makeshift shower from a borrowed 5gal container tied to the shortest coconut tree at the beach for my wife. To operate, I just tilt and pour the content. Tatay Jose was generous with his ample stocks of rainwater. He never asked anything, though, I had to pay for gasoline in our several trips to Calutcot for supplies. In our gratitude, I left Tatay some of our gears which could be useful to him. We are planning to go back there whenever there’s enough time and perhaps proceed to the next islands dotting far out to the pacific. It was one of our great adventures aided only by Google Earth. Congratulation for discovering the place, too!
BTW, how is Tatay Jose doing in your last visit? He was such a gentleman. Still wondering how he’d survive in such a remote island.
Wow, that’s one heck of an adventure Lyndon, wish we could have stayed longer too. The islands around Burdeos are beautifully remote, perfect for couples who are adventurous and for those don’t like tourist-y places. Tatay Jose is doing well. He didn’t charge us any entrance fee when we got there last April 2010. He embodies a person of great simplicity -living in a paradise with just the basic things in life. Life is uncomplicated after all, if we will simplify our needs
so nice place….
wah!!! astig! how come taga quezon ako and yet ngaun ko lang toh nalaman wawa ako tsk sinu gusto sumama paguwi ko??? wwwwoooohhhhhhhhooooooooo
Pupunta na yan, dali isama ang buong barkada
Ikutin muna ang sariling atin .
hi claire, thanks 4 the helpful info about the place
my friends and I are planning on going to Burdeos and as part of the itinerary, we also wud like to go on an overnight camping in Malguinoan Island.. however, a friend’s mom warned us that maraming NPA daw sa Polilio and it kinda affected their reactions towards our original plan,, i know there are a lot of connotations about NPAs though we are not afraid on NPAs itself but on possible dangerous encounters(?)..
1. so do you think it is safe to stay for an overnght camping in Malaguinoan?
2. may tenant ba sa island na ito or anyone that can guide is through with our stay?
3. may mapagkukuhanan ba ng maiinom at magagamit na tubig?
Thanks!
Hi Pauline, I have been to many places known to be “haven” of NPA. and yes I was warned about Pollilo, in fact a day before we arrived on the island, there was a soldier who was killed but we still pushed through with our plan. But whenever i talk to locals, they say it’s ok and safe, I always rely on the local’s knowledge just because they know everyone and some of them are even friends with “them”. I just travel sensibly, respect the local customs and keep a low profile when I visit a new place. (Yes there is a caretaker at Malaguinoan Island and you don’t need a guide to explore it, your boat man will be the one to bring you there. I suggest that you bring your own drinking water, and bring extra just in case.)
were u able to took a bath in the island? u’ve got a good point about keeping a ‘low profile’ demeanor when goin to these places. actually i have no problem w/NPA issues(I’m from bulacan and from a university known for being their ‘breeding ground’), only because some of my frends who’ll join the trip aren’t comfortable w/it..kinda not the adventurer type(T_T) nonetheless,thank u for the info, now i cud explain about it and can convince them hopefully to go on with my original itinerary..thank u once again
Claire,
We r leaving this Fri and read Lyndon’s message and got so encouraged to check this island and stay overnight in Tatay Jose’s island. Last minute shopping I have 2 do is to buy a tent, etc. We may stay for 3nights/4 days in Quezon. I’d like to visit Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas in addition to Malaguinoan overnight stay. Can I ask for ur advice what itinerary we should follow to maximize our stay. And is it best to use private transporation than public for easy and faster commute? I also left u a message under Sorsogon because that’s our next trip following Quezon! Thank you!
claire, ang ganda naman ng adventure mo sa burdeos, quezon. tuwing kailan ba may napuntang mga adventurer doon para naman may makasabay kung sakali.
Hi Mon, organize ka na lang ng weekend trip doon at mag-invite ng mga kasama. Hindi pa kasi sya masyado napupuntahan ng mga turista.