a travel advisory to Britannia Islands

Before you pack those bags and head for Britannia Islands in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, read on for a couple of suggestions and caveats.

1. If you can visit only one island, make it Buslon. [See photo.] It’s the most accessible and perfect site to take those pictures that would make your FB friends weep from envy;

2. The island-hopping adventure consists of a visit to the following: Buslon, Naked, Hagonoy, and Hiyor Hiyoran. The rates are: for a group of 15 or less, P1,500; for 20 persons, P2,000. Technically, it’s P100 per head in excess of 15.

Because the boatmen have been organized, they offer standard rates. However La Entrada offers P1,000 for a group of 10 or less.

3. The island-hopping tour has no time limit and should include the aforementioned four islands. The usual route is Naked-Hagonoy-Hiyor Hiyoran-Buslon. Don’t pay in advance for reasons you will read below.

Here are the usual tricks some unscrupulous boatmen foist on unsuspecting tourists and excursionists: a) That they can’t park at Buslon Island because it’s too crowded. Don’t agree. Insist!; b) When you reach Naked Island, they will say it’s difficult and risky to go to Hagonoy because the wind and the tide have shifted and changed. Don’t agree. Insist!

Don’t allow yourself to be shortchanged, visit the four islands at all cost or miss the fun. But should the boatmen get their way, divide the boat rental by four and that’s the cost per island, then pay only based on the number of islands you have visited.

Boats for hire are still available in the afternoon, but not later than 2:00 PM, that is, if you intend to go on an island-hopping tour. But if you visit only Buslon Island, you can still go there not later than 4:00 PM and go back to the mainland before dusk sets in.

By the way, the boat rental includes boatmen safeguarding your things.

4. The best way to visit Britannia Islands is early morning when the available boats are still plenty and you can choose which one to commission. This way, too, you have a longer time to enjoy the islands.

5. Nobody sells food and beverages in the islands, and so bring your own provision. But there are hotels and restaurants in the mainland that offer food and a place to stay at reasonable prices.

6. A toll fee of P30 per vehicle and an environmental fee of P25 for every two persons are collected before you reach Barangay Britannia.

7. As with anything in life, haggle.