APO ISLAND - Jewel of the Philippines

Pea takes a day trip to Apo Island, a tiny volcanic island less than a mile wide located just off the coast of Negros, where she lives. Rated one of the top diving and snorkeling spots on the planet by Sport Diver magazine, the island is clean, quiet, and full of marine life. This is a straightforward travel vlog — beautiful scenery, friendly dogs, good snorkeling, and a simple Filipino lunch on the beach.

Getting there ​

• Departs from Malatapay Port with a 45-minute boat crossing
• Pea has wanted to visit for a long time but never found the time — finally made it happen

First impressions of Apo Island ​

• Bizarre rock formations with boulders that look like someone placed them on top
• The island reminds Pea of the fishing village where her mother grew up — she used to visit with her brothers as kids; it was always peaceful and quiet, just like Apo
• Struck by how clean the island is — "I hardly saw a single piece of trash"
• Houses are small but well-maintained — "it really looked like people were proud of the way they took care of everything"
• Compares the vibe to "the St. Barts of the Philippines" — even without yachts, she felt like she was living the high life

Exploring the island on foot ​

• Takes a wrong turn and ends up in someone's backyard — but the residents are friendly and smiling, so she just walks through
• Follows the sound of waves to find her way back to the beach
• Encounters multiple friendly dogs on the beach — jokes it should be called "Poochie Island"
• One dog has hazel eyes; another is sunbathing and she asks permission to disturb him

Snorkeling ​

• Gears up with rented shoes, mask, and life jacket (drops the life vest since she's a good swimmer)
• Reads the rules sign — which is confusingly worded to say "please touch the marine turtles" and "please feed the fishes" (meant to say please DON'T) — fine of ₱5,000 if caught
• Reports finding Nemo underwater — "I don't know where Dory is though"

Lunch on the island ​

• Simple Filipino meal prepared by Lucy: cucumber and tomato dipped in vinegar, "pancit" (noodles), chicken adobo ("inihaw" chicken), fries, rice, and banana for dessert
• Pea jokes with Lucy about the "big banana" dessert
• The lunch view: turquoise water with boats coming and going — "sometimes you just got to stop and realize how lucky you are just to see something like this"

Cost breakdown ​

• ₱2,100 per person (approximately $42 USD) covers everything: round-trip boat ride, food, tour guide, and snorkeling gear
• Pea calls it great value — "that's bang for your buck"

Souvenirs from the rocky beach ​

• The beach is very rocky with coral pieces scattered everywhere — Pea picks some up noting "they look like bones but they're actually corals"

• Pea felt genuinely sad that the day was ending — the island clearly made an impression on her

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