An adventure in Olango

CEBU, Philippines – None other than IBC’s general manager Kitchie Uy greeted us when we arrived at the wharf. Our plan was to go on a quick cruise to an island, have an equally fast discussion on the team’s plans and goals ‘til year-end, enjoy a quick dip or snorkel in one of the marine sanctuaries of Lapu-Lapu City (we’re into lifestyle, after all), have a hearty lunch and then be back before sundown.

What we experienced was more than that, owing to the amiable decorum of the IBC crew and the extra helpful staff of Talima Beach Villas and Dive Resort (www.talimabeach.com), the company of good people, and yes, the feisty weather that added spice to the trip.

At the time, IBC was offering a special for only P1,950 treating up to ten persons to a trip to Olango Island with free snorkeling and fish feeding at the Talima Marine Sanctuary – a very affordable package for such an exciting adventure.

Since there were more than eight of us, we were given the Butete, which can hold 12 to 20 passengers and is equipped with an iPod dock for great music during the cruise, bean bags that ensured an extra comfortable treat as we enjoyed the warm Mactan breeze, wi-fi for people who can’t resist to take a peek at their mail or a brief visit to their farm in Facebook’s Farm Town while enjoying the company of friends, and complimentary beverages that will keep you hydrated while you bathe under the bright Mactan sun.

The smallest of the IBC fleet is the Bolinao, which can accommodate two to eight persons and would only be loaded with drinks and, yes, complimentary orange towels. This is ideal for quick transfers, especially if you don’t plan to spend time at sea.

The Butanding is the largest boat of IBC and can hold 20 to 35 people. It basically has the same amenities as the Butete.

The IBC is a novel concept stemming from the popularity of outrigger boats rented by friends or companies when they go on excursions to smaller islands around mainland Cebu.

On reaching the Talima Marine Sanctuary off the shores of Olango Island, we could not resist the inviting clear waters teeming with marine life and rich colorful corals. The Butete docked just several meters fronting the resort, so the waters are not so deep, just enough for one to reach the bottom and surface after a few minutes, without panting afterwards. The current was however pretty strong, proving the swimming bit to be a challenge.

According to Talima’s website, the 14-hectare sanctuary is home to groupers, parrot fish, mandarin fish and aquarium fish. The waters of Olango is also a favorite dive site, owing to sightings of thresher sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and various species of starfish.

By mid-morning, we were greeted by an approaching paddle boat which transported us to the captivating Talima Beach Villas and Dive Resort. The resort is the only one in the island and has the perfect view of Mactan Island. The waters are perfect. During low tide, you can climb down and have a leisurely swim in its shallow waters, but on high tide, the water becomes a bit deep, just perfect for fun dives.

Going to the resort, you can either enter through the usual route, which is by motorcycle from Olango wharf, or the way we entered it, from the sea, direct to the welcoming arms of the hosts as they bring you welcome drinks of fresh coconut water in its shell.

Should you dream of a private weekend vacation, then Talima is the place to go. The place is very exclusive, built to accommodate at most 20 guests only. It has two beach front suites, the Sinamay Suite and the Banig Suite, each with king-size beds, a cozy and spacious toilet and bathroom with hot and cold showers, walk-in closets, and your very own terrace.

The beach house, although located at the far end of the resort, is extremely divine. It has a mezzanine floor, two bed rooms each with walk-in closets and spacious toilet and bathroom with hot and cold showers. It has all the amenities of a rest house, including a living area, kitchen and a terrace with a dining area. The rooms in the beach house can also be rented separately.

Should a poolside room be enough for you, well, I would say enough would be an understatement because even the cheapest room available is quite spacious with beautiful interiors and a relaxing view to their beautiful tropical garden.

The resort also has a dive center called Polaris and they offer different diving tours to the many dive sites in and around Olango Island.

They also have an airy open-space restaurant and a beach bar with the perfect view of the strait. Around the resort are beach cabanas where you can relax and just take in the calming sea breeze as you while away in tropical bliss.

The sun deck offers a great view of the sunset, or just for you to relax and enjoy as time passes lazily. Should the sea be too much for you, you can swim in the infinity pool, which is just as enchanting.

Everything in Talima is about the view, but should I go back, I’d say it will be for the privacy and the sense of exclusivity that one experiences when in Talima.

So how did our adventure end up?

The winds suddenly picked up, overturning a small sailboat and prompting a fluvial parade to turn back. We, however, had to return to the mainland, so when the winds started to calm down a bit, we decided to brave the waters, the IBC stewards all wet as they pushed the small banca that we were ridding to bring us back to the Butete.

One great destination, two exemplary hosts. A day to remember, indeed!