Our visit to Sumilon Island, Phillippines

We added Sumilon Island to our Philippines itinerary after seeing a stunning photo on Instagram. We had to know if it was just as breathtaking in real life and it did not disappoint. Since our trip was packed with activities, we opted for a day visit instead of an overnight stay, but if I ever return for a more relaxed getaway, I’d love to spend a few days soaking in the island’s beauty.

The resort on Sumilon offers boat transfers to the island from Oslob (city in southern Cebu), though departures depend on the weather. Fortunately, we had clear skies, making for a smooth and exciting ride. If you’re prone to seasickness, the journey is relatively quick, but taking a non-drowsy motion sickness remedy might be a good idea.

One of Sumilon’s highlights is its picturesque sandbar, which emerges when the tide is low. While the idyllic photos online made it seem empty, we found it to be a bit more lively with visitors.

Something that made it extra interesting was that hardly anybody was swimming in the water. Sure, people were wading around but not a lot of people were snorkeling around or exploring and for us, that was the most exciting part. We stayed close to the island while snorkeling and there were tons of fish, most notably lots of clownfish. One of the most exciting things for me was when the clownfish swam up to our gopro and booped the lens. The clownfish kept coming up to us and swam by us. When we would extend our fingers out, they would give little clownfish kisses. We did spot a few jellyfish, so staying aware of your surroundings is key, but overall, it was an unforgettable underwater adventure.

A day pass to the island includes lunch, access to the infinity pool (which, surprisingly, wasn’t too crowded), and towels. Overall, it was a seamless and adventure filled visit.