Zamboanga-Basilan DIY Trip (February 2026)

 

On your birthdays, go to places you have never been yet.  And I promise you, it’s a core memory waiting to be unlocked.

Thank God for all the graces and provisions that I can still afford to have out of town trips.

I will always be grateful for strength, time and resources.

For my birthday trip this year, our destinations were Zamboanga City and Basilan.

Yey! Mindanao provinces have always been my dream places to visit.

I bought our plane tickets last November during the 11:11 sale.

While our tours and accommodation were booked via Klook and Trip.com.

Here’s the complete itinerary of our 4-day and 3 nights trip:

For Day 1:

At 2 am, we’re already on our way to the airport to catch our 3:45 boarding time via Cebu Pacific at NAIA terminal 3.

At 6 am, Bienvenidos Zamboanga!

What a beautiful way to witness the sunrise!

From the airport to the hotel, we just took a walk. It was more than 2KM walk.

Somewhere in the middle of our walkathon, we went to a local restaurant to have breakfast.

It was Mang Tinapay a local fast-food chain and bakeshop there. We tried their Mi Goreng and Knicker bucker.

After eating, we’re back to walking going to our hotel. We checked in at Urban Hotel which is in the city center.

We took a nap then we went out to have lunch. 

We walked again going to the city hall and there’s a nearby street food place where we had our lunch. We bought Mi Goreng with egg and rice. It’s yummy and it’s cheap! But just eat at your own risk. If your stomach is not sensitive, then I guess you can also enjoy the food as much as we did.

After lunch, we went to the city hall, 

Then we walked to Fort Pilar. We passed through Paseo Del Mar, but we didn’t go inside because we have a scheduled tour there by Monday.

So, we headed to the Shrine of Our Lady of Virgil Pilar to visit the church and said thank you.

We also fed the pigeons!

Then we went to the Fort Pilar museum to see the different exhibits featuring the rich culture and tradition of Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi.

Walking around Fort Pilar feels like we’re back in Manila inside Fort Santiago.

At 2 pm, we went back to the hotel to freshen up.

At 4 pm, we went outside again. First, we tried Satti. I enjoyed it but my husband didn’t like it. He’s not a fan of curry.

Then we walked again going to RT Lim Boulevard for sunset viewing and cheap food trip which was my favorite part.

We ate chicken pastil or patil, we had ice cream and some nuts.

When the sun went down, we went back to our hotel to rest early. We’ll have an early travel time the following day.

 

For our day 2, we got up at 4:30 am to prepare. We checked out of our hotel at 5 am and our boat schedule was at 6 am.

We rode a tricycle going to Zamboanga Port. And our destination for this day was Isabela, Basilan. We booked a ticket online and we rode Weesam.

It was an hour journey going to Basilan from Zamboanga. We had our breakfast inside the boat. We bought coffee, siopao and patil.

At 7 am, we’re already in Isabela Port, Basilan.

Our local tour guide met us there.

We first had a city walk tour before going to Malamawi Island.

Our first destination was their local market. 

We also tried the Pajam, it’s a sweetened rice cake.

It was Sunday and perfect timing for a church visit to Sta. Isabel Cathedral. 

Then we went to Basilan Provincial Capitol.

Next was we’re on our way to the boulevard or to their port going to Malamawi Island. Before we took a boat ride, we had a short stop at a nearby local food store and tried their different sweetened rice/ flour delicacies.

Next was our boat ride to Malamawi Island. It’s just a 15-minute ride.

Then we rode a tricycle going to White Beach Resort.

We had spare time for photo ops, leisure and swimming.

We even had a yummy lunch at the resort. We had a package fee that included lunch meal.

Then we’re back to Basilan main island.

It’s early for our boat ride back to Zamboanga so we still had time to try the Authentic Pastil. We rode a tricycle going to a house where they sell it. Pastil is an empanada style but with bihon on the inside deep in peanut sauce and chili vinegar.

We’re back to Isabela Basilan Port to ride a roro back to Zamboanga City.

Basilan is a peaceful province, with beautiful white sandy beaches and I won’t regret visiting it.

As we were back in Zamboanga City, we rode a tricycle going to Two Seasons Hotel in Tumaga. We checked in at 4 pm.

Then we went outside again because it’s just a walk away going to Masjid Rainbow – colorful mosque.

For our dinner, we ate at a local restaurant near the hotel. We had batchoy and sisig. We also ordered sweet corn shake.

 

Thank you for the beautiful Day 2!

For our day 3, 

We woke up at 5:30 am because the tour will fetch us at 7 am.

After preparing, we went down to have breakfast. We had free breakfast.

At 7 am, our tour guide was already in the hotel waiting for us.

Then we went to Paseo Del Mar.

Our destination for this day was Sta. Cruz Island. It’s a fifteen-minute boat ride from Paseo Del Mar.

We had a briefing first before riding the boat.

Then for our first stop upon reaching Sta. Cruz Island is the Mangroves tour. We were able to see a portion of the 1877 hectares protected area. It’s a one-hour slow/motorless boat ride with a tour guide leading the way and explaining some details about the island. 

We also got to experience holding a stingless jellyfish. According to the locals, there were only 5 types of stingless jellyfish in the world and one of them lives here. They call it lazy jellyfish because they lay on the sea ground for a long time.

We also tried eating sea grapes or lato.

After the boat tour, we also tried riding the Vinta boat in which Zamboanga is well known.

Then we’re off to the little Sta. Cruz Island via 5 minutes boat ride to see and experience the white sand bar which is only visible during low tide or morning.

Since it was a Monday, we’re the only visitors as if we rented the whole island.

We just took some photos and then we’re back to the main island or to the Great Sta. Cruz Island.

We had some spare time for swimming and photo ops.

Our tour package that we booked via Klook also provided a simple snack for us. They cooked us lukot-lukot (sweetened deep fried rice flour) and unlimited black coffee.

We explored the island a little bit.

There were also locals who were selling accessories and so I bought some bracelets for souvenirs and pasalubong.

The sand is pinkish white and pure, and the water is crystal blue. Thank God for the good and sunny weather that we seized the day!

For lunch time, they provided a grand boodle style food! It was quietly a lot for just the two of us. But we surely enjoyed it!

We also shared the food with the locals because we cannot finish it all.

Words are hard to find expressing how amazed I was for that short period of our stay on the island. I’m just so grateful that we pushed through this trip.

At 2 pm, we’re back in Zamboanga City, in our hotel. We washed up and took a rest.

At 4 pm, we went to Canelar Barter to buy some pasalubongs for our loved ones back home.

We bought Malongs, Old town coffee, Cadbury powdered chocolate drink, and wallets.

Most of the products they are selling are from Malaysia since they are near that country – just a boat ride away.

After the buying session, we went back to the city center to eat Mi Goreng. We also tried some local food like Pyanggang – chicken cooked in coconut and Tiyulah Itum – beef innards in color black. It tastes like Papaitan to me.

 

And then we’re back at the hotel. We rode a jeep back to our hotel.

The following day, which was my birthday, was our scheduled flight going back to Manila at 2 pm.

This trip for my birthday is a core memory. It’s been a dream to explore all the provinces of Mindanao and I’m so happy to fulfill it one province at a time.

Thank you, Lord God for the provision, for the safe travels and for the happiness you let me have.

All Glory to God.

Happy birthday, Self!

To more places worth exploring.

 

 

Here’s the summary of our itinerary. I’ve also included our expenses (for two pax) – 2026 rate.

Itinerary

Day 1:

·       City Tour Zamboanga City

·       City Hall/ Provincial Capitol/ Plaza Pershing

·       Fort Pilar Shrine / Our Lady of Virgil Pilar

·       Fort Pilar Museum

·       Paseo Del Mar

·       Tried eating Knickerbocker, Satti, Patil

·       RT Lim Boulevard – sunset viewing

 

Day 2:

·       Basilan

·       Ride a Jetboat (Weesam/Montenegro Shipping Lines) from Zamboanga City Port to Isabela City, Basilan Port (1 hr boat ride)

·       City Tour at Isabela City Basilan

·       Market walk, try Basilan delicacies (Pajam, Lokot-lokot and other sweet delicacies)

·       Church Visit – Sta. Isabel Cathedral

·       Basilan Provincial Capitol

·       Boat ride to Malamawi Island, White Beach Resort

·       Leisure time/Swimming time

·       Lunch at the resort

·       Back to Basilan main island

·       Tried Authentic Pastil (empanada style but bihon on the inside deep in peanut sauce and chili vinegar)

·       Back to Isabela Basilan Port – ride a roro back to Zamboanga City (1 hr boat ride)

·       Back to hotel

·       Masjid Rainbow – colorful mosque

·       Dinner – tried chicken pyanggang, tiyulah itum

 

Day 3:

·       Package tour from Klook started at 7AM

·       Hotel pick up going to Paseo Del Mar – van ride

·       15 mins. Boat ride going to Sta. Cruz Island

·       Tour at the lagoon with mangroves

·       Touch the stingless jellyfish

·       Experience Vinta boat ride

·       Boat ride to Little Sta Cruz Island white sand bar

·       Boat ride back to The Great Sta. Cruz Island

·       Leisure time/ Swimming time at the Great Sta. Cruz Island

·       Lunch – boodle fight style care of tour package

·       2PM Back to Zamboanga City (mainland)

·       Back to Hotel to wash off

·       Pasalubong buying at Canelar Barter Trade

·       Dinner at City downtown, tried Zamboanga delicacies (Mi Goreng, Patil, etc.)

 

Day 4:

Flight back to Manila

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Total Expenses for two pax:

·       8,000 - Plane tickets (two way), booked via 11:11 seat sale

·       1,300 – Hotel Day 1

·       500 – Weesam Express boat going to Basilan

·       2,000 – Basilan Tour (includes boat ride, tricycle, resort package, tour guide fee)

·       500 – Weesam Express boat back to Zamboanga

·       3,000 – Hotel Day 2 and 3 (2 nights with free breakfast)

·       10,000 – Sta. Cruz Island tour (all in)

·       5,000 – Estimated for city transpo, food and pasalubong

30,300.00 – Grand Total (in Philippine Peso) or $500+ in US dollars

James Peak, Antipolo, Rizal (December 2025)

 

Our 5^th Wedding Anniversary Trip

James Peak, Antipolo, Rizal

 

Marrying your best friend is like having a merry life – with full of ups and downs yet you stood by each other.

I’m just so glad and grateful that my husband is as adventurous as me. Whenever there’s a place I want to go or to experience, he’s more than willing to go with me.

At some point, I get scared, but I still do it because he’s there for me and we do it together – still scared but secured.

The date was December 20, 2025 – our 5^th wedding anniversary.

At 10 in the morning, we’re already on our way to Antipolo, Rizal.

Thank you to Waze for helping us reach our destination. Before proceeding to our actual destination, we stopped by a grocery store to buy some food and things that we’ll be needing.

James Peak is located at Maagay 1 Lower Barangay Inarawan, Antipolo City. It is a newly opened camping site, still raw and with limited camping space, kubo and cottage rental. We decided to rent the kubo for a more comfortable sleeping ground. We paid in advance to secure our booking.

We parked our motorcycle in front of the house of the camping site owner near the basketball court and we began our hike.

It was a 15-to-30-minute hike going up to the camping site.

It also rained a bit when we first got there.

Upon reaching camping site, we headed to our kubo.

The room has a decent foam for sleeping with bedding and pillows and electricity. It also has a table and chair outside of the room where we cooked our food and ate.

We then had our late lunch before taking a quick nap. Hubbs cooked pancit canton with pechay baguio. We also brought chicken pork adobo.

At 5 pm, we went out our kubo to see the sunset.

As usual, sunsets make my heart sink. It always leaves me in awe of God’s wonderful creations. 

We’re on top of a mountain witnessing an orange to red horizon that slowly turning into dark mode.

For our dinner, Hubbs cooked cabbage. We also still have adobo left from our lunch.

Then the highlight of our day, a bon fire!

We roasted some marshmallows under the moonlight with city lights as our front view.

It was a cozy, simple and yet magical night for us.

 

At 10 pm, we’re back to our kubo to sleep.

 

The following day, we got up early to see the sunrise.

It literally and figuratively brightens up our day. The view was majestic. I just can’t get enough of taking photos and videos.

A happy anniversary indeed.

We checked out at 10 am and we’re back in Manila at 11 am since it’s a Sunday – no traffic to conquer.

It was a quick escape, yet it was memorable and we really had a lot of fun experiencing again a raw camping in a way.

 

Thank you, Lord God, for the provision, for the safety, for the wonderful places we get to experience and for the gift of marriage.

On to our next adventure!