Cruising Down The River in Aloguinsan

One of the perks of being an online freelance worker is the fact that you own your own time. You essentially pick the time when you work and where you work (just as long as there is a good internet connection). As an OFW, you can have a vacation while you work. One of my jaunts outside the big city brought me to a town somewhere on the western coast of the island of Cebu. The place . . . Aloguinsan.

 Aloguinsan

Aloguinsan is a fourth class municipality located in the western coast of Cebu. It faces Negros Island and was formerly a part of the town of Pinamungajan. The town is home to a number of tourist destinations, including the Balwarte, Hidden Beach, Hermit’s Cove and the Bojo River.

Bojo River

The Bojo River in Aloguinsan is one of the more popular tourist destinations in the town. The river is 1.4 kilometers long and is home to around 70 bird species. The locals have been able to identify twenty-two mangrove species in the river through the help of experts. The word “bojo” actually has two meanings depending on the language being used. The word means “river ceiling” in Spanish and “hole” in the Visayan language.

Bojo Rive Cruise

The Bojo River has been gaining attention due to the river cruise conducted by the Bojo Aloguinsan Eco-Tourism Association (BAETA). The river cruise initially started on June 19, 2009 and takes around three hours to finish. The tour starts off with a short lecture about the river and its denizens along with the organization managing it.  

The Bojo River was also named as one of the Top 100 Sustainable Destinations in the World for 2016 during the World Tourism Day. The list is an initiative of Green Destination along with Destination Stewardship Center, Travel Mole’s Vision for Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Travel International, Asian Ecotourism Network, and Quality Coast. It was also a recipient of the 2015 UN Tourism INsPIRE Awards in 2015 for being the Best Community-based Tourism Initiative in the Asia-Pacific region.

The association managing the river cruise actually offers two packages to visitors who want to join the cruise. The first package is the walk-in package, which costs PHP 400. It only includes the cruise of the river itself and the chance to swim close to the mouth of the river. The second package is the full package, which costs PHP 650. The full package requires a prior reservation and would require a minimum of five people. It includes the river cruise, opportunity to swim, lunch, welcome lei and a demonstration on handicraft-making.

Since I was only joined by three other friends, we opted for the walk-in package. It was actually a blessing in disguise since we were able to save a good amount. We had lunch at the place that provides the food for the full package. In effect, we only paid a small amount for the food included in the full package. And since we had another place to visit, we would not have stayed long enough to watch how handicraft was made by the locals.

Tips to consider:

• ·         One very important thing to consider is that you need to pass by The Farmhouse before you can go on the river cruise. All payments, be it for the walk-in or the full package, are made at The Farmhouse. If you go straight to the river cruise without passing by The Farmhouse, you would end up backtracking since they will not allow you to go on the cruise unless you present the official receipt from The Farmhouse.

• ·         Getting the walk-in package may be a better deal for penny-pinchers. You can take your lunch at the Aloguinsan Public Market. One of the stalls there supplies the food for the full package of the cruise.

• ·         If you are not bringing your own vehicle, be aware that there is a specific amount you need to pay when you hire a motorcycle to the place. This prevents any unscrupulous individuals who may take advantage of visitors who may not know the fare.
• ·         Bring suitable clothes for swimming. There is an area close to the mouth of the river where you can take a dip.

The Bojo River Cruise in Aloguinsan is gradually becoming one of the major tourist destinations in the island of Cebu. With the increasing focus on green tourism, the river cruise is definitely the next big thing in the tourism landscape in this part of the archipelago.