Rating my Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort Day Tour Experience

Now that I'm done blogging everything about my Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort day tour, I will now give my verdict.

A day tour in the said resort is pegged at Php1,500.00 on weekdays and Php2,000.00 on weekends and holidays.  Pretty reasonable.  Inclusions are round-trip transfers from Bancogon in Oslob to Sumilon Island (the island is right in the middle of the sea so this is a must), lunch, island activities like snorkeling, trekking and kayaking and use of swimming facilities.

A massage is not included in the day tour package so I had to pay Php1,500.00 for an hour of their Hilot Lamang.  It was okay, but expensive.

Pros

What I really love about the place were the picturesque views.  I could be in their Pavilion, in the lagoon or in the beachfront and my views were all spectacular.  A must is to trek to higher ground for a sweeping panoramic view of the sea and Sumilon's neighboring islands.

I also appreciated that the resort built a payag-payag, benches and loungers and installed hammocks around the resort as guests could lounge just anywhere to rest.

When we were there, most of the guests were groups of young professionals but the place is also perfect for families.  They even have a children's playground by the Dive Shop.

Cons

Our lunch was a disappointment because the food at the Pavilion was not delicious.  It was limited too that even when some food ran out, they did not bother to replenish.

I was also concerned about the security of our things as they did not provide us with lockers.  They did offer a safety box for our valuables but this comes at a fee of Php100.00 so my friends and I took just one and in there stored our wallets and mobile phones.  As for our other bags, we were told to just leave them in any of the picnic tables or loungers as these are on a first-come, first-served basis.  Whoa.  Just like that.  No claim stubs, no assigned staff.  Nothing.  We decided on leaving our bags by the Dive Shop as it seemed to be the safest knowing that there would be Dive Shop attendants on standby.  

Speaking of the Dive Shop, its changing room was a little untidy as parts of the floor were wet and there were also slipper marks.

The service was okay but I could not help but notice that it was obtrusive.  The staff would greet guests engaged in a conversation or would talk too loud and laugh that lounging guests could hear them.  I also noticed how some of them would not follow proper comportment and bearing.  Many times, I saw their Dive Shop attendants slouching.  I even heard some of them shouting instructions at a companion who was already way up on the beachfront.        

at the Dive Shop

Suggestions

Trekking is a good activity that the resort offers but it disappoints because aside from the panoramic views below, the watchtower and the baluarte, there was nothing else to see.  It would have been more interesting to climb up and while doing so, identify many species of plants and trees endemic to the island.

Another activity that they can offer is bird-watching.  It was fun seeing all those birds but since I was doing it by myself, I was left wondering about the species of the bird I saw.  The management should keep track of all the birds seen in the island then catalogue them for their guests' reference.  As I also got frustrated with just hearing bird calls during our trek, it would help if the resort would provide those interested with a binocular.

I would also strongly recommend that the management invest more on training its staff as for me, it is the service that ultimately defines a company.  

For inquiries about Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort, please visit their official website.  Note that for day tours, they require reservations so they could arrange a boat transfer for you.  Just a tip.  Arrive there early (the earliest boat transfer from Bancogon to Sumilon is at 7:30 AM) so you will have more time to enjoy its facilities and activities until you depart the latest boat transfer back to Bancogon, which is at 5:30 PM.

Sunset at Sumilon Island

After disembarking from the boat, we had to wait for 'Nong Tallo who was my contact for our Oslob accommodations.

While waiting, I walked around the Bancogon's beachfront to take photos of the sunset.

These two are my favorite:

Dawn Settles in Sumilon Island

These photos are taken while we were onboard the boat that would take us from Sumilon Island to Bancogon.  I love the view of the mountains against the sea and the clouds.

The sun was also about to set as it was already 5:30 PM and so I was able to take a shot of the sky with a tinge of yellow-orange.

Leaving Sumilon Island

And then it was time to leave Sumilon Island.

After swimming on the beachfront, my friends and I headed back to the changing rooms near the Dive Shop to freshen up and change.  It was all done in a rush as it was already 5 PM and we were  trying to catch the last ferry that would depart the island at 5:30 PM for Bancogon. 

Before leaving, I took this photo of the gazebo where I had my massage.

Nivea Sun Invisible Protection Transparent Spray

I just have to post this as I love the shot above and also because I am happy with how effective it is.

I hate putting on sunblock as I don't like the sticky icky feeling and the smell but after getting sunburned on my Camotes Island trip, and with my natural coloring still not returning even after 6 months, I realized just how important a sunblock can be.

Thankfully, our days of lathering on some sticky liquid that leaves that obvious white residue on our skin are over thanks to Nivea's Invisible Protection Transparent Spray.  This innovative product has a non-greasy and transparent texture that offers immediate and effective protection. It is also quickly absorbed and contains a highly effective UVA/UVB filter system.  As it is a spray, it is more convenient to use.  It is also water resistant.

Before this, I used Nivea Sun Immediate Sun Protection  SPF 50 PA ++ but its sunblock smell put me off.  It was effective, though.  Then I tried Hawaiian Tropic Ozone Sunblock UVB/UVA Protection The Ultimate 70 SPF during a recent trip to Siquijor but it failed to protect my skin despite its 70 SPF.

Nivea Sun Invisible Protection Transparent Spray only has SPF 30 PA ++ but it works and is very effective in protecting my complexion.

Sumilon Island's Sandbar

During our briefing, we were told that Sumilon Island's sandbar shape and even location changes depending on the season.   The staff added that the shape it took that day was that of the letter I.  Interesting.

Sumilon Island's Beachfront

Finally, I reached the island's white-sand beachfront.  Here, I took these photos of the sand, the sky and the sea before swimming with my friends.

I love this shot of the sun that was about to "break" from among the clouds so it could set.

Here in Sumilon Island's Beach, the sand was white and fine but still not as fine as Boracay's but it would do.  The downside?  It's so small that it was crowded with people when we were there.

Wild Poinsettia

On my way to the beachfront from the resort's payag-payag, I passed by its forest, which was not really much as there was no variety of plants.  But I did see birds flitting among the trees' branches but they were flying so fast and wary of any movement that I failed to take their photos.

In that forest, this red-and-green-leafed plant caught my interest because it looked like a poinsettia.  Interesting, as it was summer and I have never seen such a plant before.  

I made a search online and though I'm not really sure, I think this plant is a wild poinsettia.

This blog from Marta shares that the wild poinsettia's milky sap can be used as bush medicine and is a remedy for warts and corns.

More Scenic Shots of Sumilon Island

When I woke up after snoozing at the payag-payag, I decided to join my friends who I knew were at the beachfront swimming.

Previously, I posted scenic shots I took when I went strolling in the island.  Those shots were all taken on the side where the resort's lagoon was and now, I will post the scenic shots I took from the other side of the resort, which covers the area from the payag-payag to the beachfront.  

This side of the resort also houses its guest rooms.

Before reaching the beachfront, I passed by the resort's forest, which I will cover in my next post. 

Lounging at the Payag-Payag

In the resort's official website, it lists Lounging at the Payag-Payag under Island Pursuits.  A payag-payag is the local term for something like a gazebo and is usually made of native materials like bamboo.

After my Amuma Spa experience, I did exactly that and it was such a laid-back thing to do - just staring at the picturesque view of the sea and neighboring islands while the gentle breeze blew.  I felt so worry-free  I even dozed off for some time.

Amuma Spa Experience

After swimming, I was finally off to experience my much-anticipated massage.

Its Amuma spa tariff and the spa essentials displayed in the lobby when we arrived were what convinced me to have a massage.  Those and the fact that the past months were such a busy season for us that my backache felt worse. 

It was also in the lobby that I booked for Hilot Lamang that according to their tariff is a massage only variant of their signature Amuma Hilot.  To expound, it says Hilot Lamang involves long flowing strokes and techniques to relax tense or spastic muscles.  It is a treatment that increases the joints' range of motion, soothes the nervous system and reduces swelling and helps eliminates toxins from the tissues.

My massage was done in this gazebo overlooking the sea.

My therapist was Elnisa who had been a therapist for about two years and considered a senior one that she would sometimes oversee the training of others.  She was friendly and chatty and from her, I learned that a former colleague had overseen the resort's operations months ago and is now handling one of Bluewater's resorts.  She was very chatty that I found out who among our celebrities had stayed there.

My Verdict

While my massage indeed relaxed me, I couldn't help but compare it to how we do our massage in Plantation Bay.  Elnisa was okay but she did not ask me questions on how my massage was going e.g. is the pressure right?  Such a question usually forms part of the experience as it guides the therapist on how she is doing and if the guest is comfortable.

Another downside was that since the massage was done in the open, though the view was scenic, it could get uncomfortable every time other guests passed by as some would glance at us.  

Shots of Sumilon Island's Pools

When my friends decided to go snorkeling, I opted to stroll around the island as I did not want to swim in the salty sea.  But the water, albeit the freshwater one, still beckoned so I ended up swimming on the resort's pool.

This is another downside of the resort as the pool was too small.  Funny that a staff shared that it's an 'infinity' pool when it already got too crowded when about 10 guests simultaneously went swimming on it.

Aside from the main pool, there were also two smaller ones that I was told were jacuzzis but the jacuzzi was not running when I was there.

As the main pool was right across the Pavilion and visible to many guests, I ended up swimming in the two smaller ones for privacy reasons.  On the latter was where I took my favorite shot of that bird amidst a sea of colorful bougainvilleas.

Little Spiderhunter Amidst a Sea of Bougainvilleas

As promised in my previous post, here's a picture of my favorite shot when I went bird-watching in Sumilon Island.

I'm not sure if I got it right but it could be a Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra).  I'm sure about the flowers being bougainvilleas, though.

Bird-watching at Sumilon Island

While I shared that I was disappointed at not seeing any birds during our trek of the island as I only heard bird calls, I was happy to later find out otherwise.  

The first birds I saw were small and black and very noisy.  I am not sure what they're called though.

Then I found this pigeon, which was the most difficult to photograph among them as it would walk away fast at the tiniest detection of movement.  I chased it for maybe 10 minutes and took about a dozen photographs before getting an acceptable, not blurry one.

Then there's this shot I took while I was having a massage.  Yup, I took this while I was lying face down and having my back kneaded.

I actually have a favorite shot of a bird among a colorful sea of flowers  but I will cover that in my next post.

Yellow Flowers Galore at Sumilon Island

While I was organizing my Sumilon Island photos, I could not help but notice that the only three flora photos I got bore the color yellow.

First off is this photo.

I just googled "Yellow Vine Flower" and got lucky with the results as it identified the flower above to be Allamanda, also known as Yellow Bell, Golden Trumpet or Buttercup Flower.

Next is this photo I got of a calachuchi, also known as Plumeria or Frangipani.

Last is this photo of a cluster of yellow flowers.

I tried searching its name but failed.  But this is a very common flower in the Philippines as I see it in many houses, especially in provinces.  I even remember that our neighbor has this and when I was a child, I would make a crown out of these flowers.

Strolling Along Sumilon Island

After our rather disappointing lunch, we rested a bit.  My friends then decided on kayaking, which is also included in the day tour package, while I opted to book for a massage at 3 PM and just roam the island to take pictures.

I started at the pavilion where I took photos of their sungka (a Philippine mancala game) and the cute wooden chairs carved like animals.

Going down the beach, I spotted this hammock where I laid down to enjoy the breeze.

I was also able to take a photo of my friends having fun kayaking.

Noticing how colorful the roots of mangrove trees were, I zoomed in for a closer shot.

And here are some of the scenic shots I took.

Doesn't the clear and vivid blue-green water look so inviting?