With an unbelievable jump in tourist traffic since its subterranean river’s inclusion in the world’s New 7 Wonders of Nature, Sabang, Baranggay Cabayugan, has become a small town that hit it big.
Gone are the sleepy days when the only accommodations were thatched native bungalows and the occasional hammock. Big name resorts have made its presence very obvious, and this once unassuming “sitio” (a geographical unit smaller than ‘baranggay,’ which is the smallest political unit in the Philippines) has taken on splashy tourist trappings. But that is not what I came here for in the land of jungle trails and amazing vertical cliffs and awe-inspiring limestone formations that people the world over know as the Puerto Princesa Underground River. I came here to stay the night so I could get into the (reputedly) longest subterranean river that the mountains in here hide somewhere.
Cheapest Accommodation in Sabang (Puerto Princesa Underground River)
I thought I could break the record of finding a cheaper accommodation of P250 a day (this being a ‘sitio’), but the celebrity status of the river just won’t quit and makes it hard for a budget backpacker to find a place cheaper than $5 a day.
Sunbird Cottages
After several phone calls, I found a cozy and artsy accommodation that fits snugly in my travel allowance. The dormitory room I found at Sunbird Cottages (more famously known by locals as Blue Bamboo) was at P300 (US$7.50) per night but the room was good for two. Had I shared the room with another, it would indeed have been a lot cheaper than the one I found at Puerto Princesa. In fact, the owner’s son told me that if they happen to be fully booked and someone comes in for accommodation, they offer the sleeping quarters right above the reception area for only P150 a day.
Blue Bamboo has double occupancy native cottages with ensuite toilet and bath that cost P600. The one without costs P400, but it has T&B right in front of it.
Blue Bamboo’s Build-and-Design Philosophy
Blue Bamboo is located on the rockier portion of Sabang Beach and owned and managed by a native who inherited the land from her father. She indicated her desire to keep her accommodations ‘natural’ because it is how she liked it. As a result, she could afford to offer cheap room rates.
Blue Bamboo Restaurant
The reception area of Sunbird Cottages
Beachfront cottage
The cottages’ designs and the way they are laid out indeed reflect the owner’s nature-compatible philosophy. The cottages accommodate the movement of the wind and take advantage of the natural scenery. Lorena Abanes also utilizes native arts and crafts in her decor, best reflected in the reception and restaurant area where the ambience is airy, cozy and artsy.
Blue Bamboo is right on the rocky beach so it affords an ocean view even for the cheapest lodgers. The dormitory is situated at the foot of a hill and is home to a rich jungle life. I spotted a pair of agile and lightning-quick squirrel which jumped from one tree to another to try to escape from an intruder.
Inconveniences That Are Worth Roughing It
Cottage with no ensuite T&B
Cottages further back
The dormitory veranda
The dormitory with the T&B in the left foreground
Lounge area right on the beach
Despite the fact that I shared the dorm room with four other occupants at the time, I managed to enjoy enough alone time at the veranda overlooking the sea. I didn’t mind that I shared T&B with other occupants or that the room had no fan (just pull the curtain aside to let the breeze in) or walked to town for cheaper meals (their meals were quite expensive for my taste). The accommodation I got was definitely a real value for money, and thus far, the cheapest I found in Sabang (if you know of anything cheaper, please let us know in the comments!).
Electricity at Blue Bamboo via generator is only available from 6PM until 11PM. I have not seen electricity lines in this “sitio” and learned that businesses rely on generators for power.
Accommodation Options
There certainly were plush accommodations on the wharf area and on the sandy side (to the right when facing the sea) of Sabang Beach, so if your budget allows it, you can have the option to stay in comfier rooms with all the amenities necessary for a hassle-free holiday. Expect to pay upwards of P1,000 (good for two) to the really high-end P25,000 a night. On the bright side, power is 24 hours in these expensive resorts.
Blue Bamboo was close to capacity at the time of my stay. It would help to keep in touch with them prior to your arrival, but given the fact that there is no Internet connection in their resort and cellular phone signal can be choppy at times, booking ahead may be quite challenging (I had to call so many times to ensure I had a room to stay upon arrival). Still, check if you can book through http://www.bluebamboo-sabang.com/. Or, call Lorena Abanes at 0910-797-0038 (dial 63 for country code and 910-797-0038 for international calls). If she is at the resort, calls may be dropped or hard to hear; if she’s at Port Barton (San Vicente) or Puerto Princesa, she could entertain bookings better.
Click here for next article (Palawan series) – Ride Like a Local >>
Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita
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Article by Chris
Chris had a passion to contribute to society especially to fellow travelers like himself. He also had a passion for Southeast Asia and frequently visited. While brainstorming ideas, he decided that a travel blog dedicated to his favorite countries, Thailand and Singapore, could be more beneficial than any guidebook. Only one year later did the blog’s success bring in more writers, more countries, and more readers.
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