Chasing Turquoise Horizons in Maño: A Quiet Weekend of Waves, Rock Formations, and Sunset Dreams by the Tañon Strait

Last week, I shared with you a trip I took spontaneously with my boyfriend to spend our weekend somewhere remote and peaceful while ensuring we are not doing it expensively since we have to save for our future plans, specifically moving out from our home and living under one roof. We started it last week, but we figured out we should go out from time to time, especially on weekends, to have quality time with each other while waiting for the right time to move out. It might be a different setup, but still, little time and little expenses for each trip matter for our relationship, so we won’t get frustrated about our future and still live happily in the present.

Last week, I shared with you our trip to Biasong Village, where a remote coast is found, carrying turquoise blue water and rich marine biodiversity in the town of Maño. We liked it very much when we visited it for the first time, and it is only cheap to visit, including trip and resort fees, so this weekend, we visited it again and spent one whole day and night together in this silent space, where rolling waves and critters are what we could only hear during our stay.

Since I already shared with you this place last week, it would be redundant to state information about Maño again, so let's just take a look back at my previous blog that says Maño is:

Home to a stretch of green landscapes popular for prenup shoots and other photography opportunities because of its natural features that add a unique story to these arts. It is located in the southern part of San Remigio. Anyone who has been able to pass here knows that Maño really is a beautiful land, containing endemic plants and trees and a natural biodiversity. Maybe its green biodiversity made it also popular for visits. Now, whenever you are able to climb its valleys, to the north is a wide blue horizon of the sea. It will make you interested to travel towards the water while you are at the peak of its valleys. The view, a vast blue Tañon Strait, would make you intrigued that this beautiful coast lies in this part of Maño.

Speaking of Tañon Strait, this Maria Beach faces this strait directly and perfectly, which makes the beach ideal for legal fishing and other water activities, as well as a right place for family gatherings or celebrations. By the time you enter the gate of this beach, a peaceful landscape of coconut and other endemic trees greets you, with an elevated view of the blue ocean and majestic rock formations that border the beach. Cottages are installed here which vary in prices; for instance, a small cottage costs 500 Php, a medium cottage costs 750.00 Php, and a big cottage costs 1000.00 Php. Tables and chairs are also offered for 300.00 Php. We rented a medium cottage and paid an entrance fee for overnight of 80.00 Php only. We selected the tip part of the resort, which is a bit hidden from people, and the only view we had was the sea and an exclusive swimming area in between rock formations.

Rock formations are what I believe are the gem of this beach. They are beautifully formed, dressed with many trees that grow on them, and perfectly placed where waters can enter and create a mini-space for swimming. Scan through the photos, and you'll see some of the rock formations formed above the waters, scattered like little islands, with green aquamarine trees, varying in sizes. When I first saw them, I thought they were small islands, but they are just big rock formations. The distance from the beach to these rock formations is quite far; it will take energy and hundreds of swimming strokes to get there, and possibly I would run out of breath before getting there. Lol.

The clouds were perfect that day, as well as how they illuminated the water with its clearness and blueness. They felt refreshing, cool, and relaxing, almost like a full-body massage amidst the warmth of the sun. The clouds' formation added detail to our experience while swimming with our goggles and looking for unknown underwater creatures. I would be honest, the water that day was turquoise; it was impossible not to dive from the cliff and experience the beauty of Maño sea. Pumpboats were on standby, waiting for their owners to start the engine and navigate the blue sea waters. From time to time, I witnessed fishermen departing from this beach, and suddenly they were lost in the sea until dusk.

We witnessed its magnificent sunset by 5 o'clock. The sun started to hit our cottage an hour before, just perfect for a sun-kissed photo opportunity. It was cozy to witness this kind amount of light hitting your face, and then it changed into pinkish hues. From pink and blue skies, it changed to an orange-hued atmosphere while yellow colors spread subtly across the sky. The water was also colored like the sky, giving us another peak of interaction between natural phenomena and the environment in this beach.

How to Get There:

Assume you are at the North Bus Terminal in Cebu City, where most tourists start their trip towards the north. Search for a bus that is labeled "Hagnaya/Lambusan." The bus will take you there, and once you arrive in San Remigio, just say you'll stop at "Maño" and search for a tricycle driver that can lead you inside to Casa Del Mar Golf Course, which fortunately drivers know where this place is. And welcome, you arrived home.