Apo Island Guide – Incredible Snorkeling & Diving (Dumaguete, Philippines)

Apo Island Guide – Incredible Snorkeling & Diving (Dumaguete, Philippines)

A complete travel guide to Apo Island – an incredible hidden gem off the coast of Dumaguete, Philippines. Experience one of Asia's most biodiverse marine parks in this magical 74-hectare paradise.

Apo Island is one of those destinations that will truly blow your mind! If you want to get off the beaten path and discover a hidden paradise in the Philippines that your friends have probably never heard of, then do yourself a favor and visit Apo Island.

This incredible volcanic island is very small, covering a land area of ​​only 74 hectares. What is remarkable about this place, however, is the 106 hectares of pristine coral reefs that surround Apo Island.

In this guide, I'll cover everything you need to know about Apo Island, from logistics to inspiration for what to do, as well as some great underwater photos I took during my visit.
alt="Apo Island Negros Oriental">

About Apo Island

Firstly, you should not confuse Apo Island with Apo Reef. The Apo Reef is the largest coral reef in the archipelago and lies off the coast of Mindoro, another island in the Philippines.

Apo Island, off the coast of Negros, near Dumaguete City, is a beautiful volcanic island popular with divers, snorkelers and anyone interested in seeing one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines.

There really isn't much infrastructure here. You won't find any cars or even many motorcycles. Everyone moves on foot and all roads are unpaved. It's a beautiful place that focuses on nature and small, local community. There are only two accommodation options here, but most people only get by on a day trip from Dauin or Dumaguete.

Apo Island is a marine protected area and, since 1982, the longest-running community initiative of its kind in the Philippines. As a result, the corals and marine life are absolutely thriving!

To be honest, I have never seen so many turtles in one area as here!
alt="The main boat harbor of Apo Island">

Where is Apo Island?

Apo Island is located about 30 kilometers off the coast of Dumaguete, Negros. You can find it south of Siquijor.

It's hard to see on the map at first because it's really so small!

The easiest way to get from Dumaguete to Apo Island

You have a few options in front of you to get to Apo Island. Below I will describe each in detail.

However, if you just want to come here for an epic day trip to snorkel and explore the island, the best and easiest way is to book an organized trip from Dumaguete.

This trip includes:

• Transfer von Dumaguete nach Malatapay
• Pumpboot-Transfers
• Organisierte Schnorchelausflüge zum Turtle Point
• Leckeres Mittagessen auf der Insel
• 30-minütige Wanderung zum Habagat Trail
• Freizeit zum Erkunden und Entspannen
• Rücktransfer nach Dumaguete

This trip is really great value for money as you have paid for everything including food which is expensive at Apo!

alt="Day trip to Apo Island">

alt="Snorkeling with turtles in the Philippines">

Diving/snorkeling option from Dauin

On the east coast of Negros you will find a few dive shops that offer packages to Apo Island. This is because it truly is by far the best snorkeling and diving destination in the region!

I compared all the offers and spoke to a few to get the best prices. What I discovered is that Atlantis Resort (Atlantis Dumaguete) offerings near Dauin (pronounced da-win) and Liquid offer the best snorkeling and diving on Apo Island

Both of these dive centers/resorts offer day trips to Apo Island.

Opting to stay at these resorts is a good option if you are looking for nicer accommodation than Dumaguete in Negros Oriental. In this way, they also give you access to over 20 other sites on the black sand coast of Negros. This area is famous for frogfish and unique creatures you won't find anywhere else!
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alt=“DIVING IN DAUIN”>
alt=“DIVING IN DAUIN, PHILIPPINES”>

How to get to Apo Island independently

To get to Apo Island on your own, you should first head to Malatapay Port near Dauin, a tiny port village 30 minutes south of Dumaguete. You can take a jeepney here from the bus terminal in Dumaguete (heading south towards Zamboanguita) for about 20 pesos.

It's a good idea to tell the driver you want to go to Apo Island, he will know where to drop you off.

When you arrive in Malatapay, look for the signposts and follow them through a palm-lined market area to the jetty. Here you pay the ferry fee and environmental taxes.

Ferry price to Apo Island: 2500 pesos (round trip)

Environmental fee: 150 pesos

The boats run several times a day depending on demand.
alt="Boat to Apo Island, Philippines">

Can you fly to Apo Island?

No, you cannot fly directly to Apo Island. The nearest airport is in Dumaguete. If you're looking for cheap flights in the Philippines, check out CheapOAir and then compare prices on SkyScanner to make sure you're getting the best deal possible.

Apo Island things to do

Whether you've booked a day trip or are planning a visit for a few days, you're in for a treat! Below is an overview of what to expect, with insights into what to do on Apo Island. I've also included a few photos from my trip that I hope will inspire your visit.

Snorkeling on Apo Island

Snorkeling is definitely one of the top activities on Apo Island! This marine park is absolutely incredible! No matter which place you visit on Apo, you will be surrounded by rich and unique marine life.

Turtle Point is a great snorkeling spot to see turtles. In fact, you'll probably even spot a few on the way into the boat! That's because Apo Island is something of a turtle hotspot. Female turtles come here to feed on the abundance of algae and exist safely in the peaceful absence of poachers and predators.
alt=“Snorkeling on Apo Island Dumaguete”>
alt="Turtles on Apo Island">

Scuba diving

It is no exaggeration when I say that Apo Island is one of the best diving islands in the Philippines. You will undoubtedly see large schools of pelagics, bannerfish, batfish, turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, frogfish, lots of nudibranchs and of course turtles!

• Rock Point Ost
• Meeresschutzgebiet (unglaublich)
• Kan-Uran
• Kapelle
• Largahan
• Cogon-Punkt

You can visit the Liquid Dive Center to learn more about the dive sites.
alt="Diving, Philippines">
alt="Anemonefish in the Philippines">

Relax on the beach

After all that snorkeling and diving, one of the best things to do on Apo Island is to simply relax and unwind on the beach! There are a few beaches to explore on Apo Island including:

• Hauptstrand (direkt neben dem Bootshafen)
• Rock-Weststrand
• Strand des Meeresschutzgebietes

alt="Boat to Apo Island, Philippines">

Hike up to the lighthouse

If you're looking for a great sunset spot or a fantastic vantage point of the crystal clear waters below, then add a hike to Apo Island Lighthouse to your list of things to do!

This slightly steep path begins at the boat harbor and climbs to the highest point on the island. Of course there is a lighthouse and some cows who seem to love the view.
alt="Sunset Lighthouse">
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alt=“Cow on Apo Island”>

Hike the Habagat Trail to the Apo Island Viewdeck

One of the best hikes you'll find here is the Habagat Trail to the observation deck. This lovely walk winds through the small villages and up to a beautiful viewpoint.

I flew my drone from here and captured some of my favorite pictures from my whole trip to Apo Island from Dumaguete!
alt="Apo Island, Dumaguete, Philippines">
alt="Sunset in Negroes">

See also: Best Things to Do in Cebu

Enjoy real island life

You may think you know island life, but you really don't until you visit Apo Island! This incredible piece of paradise is the epitome of the term. Tiny villages, beautiful nature, no time restrictions and limited resources.

The people who live here are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. It's a testament to their nature and a wake-up call for those of us, myself included, who often get sucked into a fast-paced, often materialistic world.

alt="Apo Island Village">
alt=“Filipino Hoop Games”>

Where to stay on Apo Island?

While a few small guesthouses have sprung up in recent years, there are only two main accommodation options on Apo Island: the Liberty Lodge and the Apo Island Beach Resort.

Currently you can't actually book these online. Instead, it's best to just rock out and hope for the best.

Otherwise, it's a good idea to stay at either Liquid or Atlantis Resort in Dauin and just take a day trip to Apo Island.

Of course, you can also stay overnight in Dumaguete and take the island day trip from there!

Tip: Click on the Stay links above to find the best accommodation options with current prices for each destination.
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More photos of Apo Island

Here are some more photos I took on Apo Island. I hope you like it! If so, let me know in the comments.
alt="Apo Island Lighthouse">
alt="Swimming with Turtles">
alt="Sunset Turtle on Apo Island">
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alt="Turtle Portrait">
alt="Turtle Sunset ">
alt="Turtle in the Darkness">
alt="Dog on Apo Island">

MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

If you would like to use photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. For high resolution & commercial use please contact me directly.

More Philippines travel guides and adventure inspiration

And that concludes this comprehensive travel guide to Apo Island Dumaguete (Negros Oriental). This secret paradise is by far one of my favorite destinations in the Philippines and one that I would heartily recommend to anyone interested in seeing what the Philippines has to offer.

While you are here on my blog, be sure to check out some of my other travel guides to the Philippines. I'm sure you'll find some epic travel and adventure inspiration!

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