Travel

Eco-Tourism Park in Olango offers guests the sea, nature and plastic crocodiles

ECO-TOURISM PARK. Rubber crocodiles are placed at the seashore of the Island Eco-Tourism Park in Sitio Asinan, Barangay Sabang, Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City.

| Photo from Paz Radaza

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Pagasa on Friday, June 4, announced the onset of the rainy season.

But it is never too late to plan an island travel before you start to stay indoors.

And you don’t have to go far for your end of summer trip.

Head for the Island Eco-Tourism Park that is located in Sitio Asinan in Barangay Sabang in Olango Island.

Getting there is cheap and easy.

And your visit will help community members who operate and earn from the eco-park, says Jimmy Glomar, who is helping organize residents of Sitio Asinan.

ECO-TOURISM PARK. Two balsas that guests can rent as they enjoy the Eco-Tourism Park in Olango Island.

| Photo from Paz Radaza

How to get there?

Take a 20-minute wooden boat ride from the Angasil Port to the Sta. Rosa Port in Olango Island.

From there, board a tricycle for the 8 to 10 minutes ride to the eco-tourism park.

A P20 entrance fee is collected for those above seven-years-old, Glomar said.

When in the area, you can opt to lease tables for day use or tents for your overnight stay.

Rental for a table with 10 chairs or a tent that can accommodate 2 persons is at P250.

| Photo from Paz Radaza

While at the eco-park, you can do various water activities to enjoy and reconnect with nature.

Members of the Nagkahiusang Taga Asinan, Sabang Alang sa Kalamboan ug Kinaiyahan (NATAASKKA) that is operating the eco-park are leasing two “balsas” that you could use while you frolic in the area.

Each of their balsa can carry a maximum of 10 persons for a fee of P100 per hour.

You can also go trekking at the mangroves area.

At night time, you can go star gazing with your friends and family.

Just make sure that you don’t wander after 10 p.m. to avoid from getting caught for curfew violations.

And never miss its other attraction — the eco-park’s crocodiles.

Glomar says there are a total of 22 big and small crocodiles placed on the eco-park’s shorelines. But these do not bite because these are made of hard plastic.

| Photo from Paz Radaza

Glomar said the eco-park used to have a bamboo bridge that would connect the area to mainland Olango, but the structure was destroyed about six years ago by erosion and strong winds.

Sitio Asinan that has 34 households is isolated from the rest of Barangay Sabang during high tide.

Unsa man? Na convince na mo?

Tana, mang laag na ta sa dili pa mag sugod ang kusog nga bundak sa uwan!