We’ve run down the epic Romblon tourist spots waiting for you to discover in the Philippines’ central islands in the Visayas region.
Romblon province is geographically located in the heart of the Philippine archipelago. While most tourists often overlook Romblon from their radar, the bounty of Romblon tourist spots never gets overwatched from the kin eyes of enthusiastic travelers.
Romblon is an archipelagic province consisting of three main islands: Tablas, Romblon, and Sibuyan, including the other 17 smaller islands. While this may sound confusing at first but, the seat of government lies in the town of Romblon in Romblon Island. So you are getting this.
Surrounding with seas and bays, Romblon is without a doubt a haven for beach enthusiasts and one of the unrated diving destinations in the Philippines.
Below is an outline of tourist destinations to the major islands of Romblon.
Learn about the epic Romblon tourist spots and discover their unrated natural beauty
Table of Contents
Tablas Island
1. Looc Marine Sanctuary
Most of the first stops when touring Tablas Island in Romblon is the Looc Marine Sanctuary.
Established in 1999, the Looc Marine Sanctuary sits on a 48-hectare protected area inside Looc Bay. As one of the oldest Romblon tourist spots, this sanctuary offers epic snorkeling adventures for every guest.
After paying the entrance fee at the tourism office, you’ll go off to walk to the end of Looc pier. You’ll then board a small wooden boat that will take you to the center of the Bay in about 5 minutes.
The center is an anchored wooden raft with roofing acting as a temporary shelter and drop-off point for tourists. An abandoned lighthouse that draws attention to its existence in the middle of the sea is not far from here.
Diving down underneath the waters highlights the tour in Looc Marine Sanctuary. Marine enthusiasts will love seeing different fishes, colorful corals, marine turtles, even eels, and giant clams.
Worry not if you’re an inexperienced diver. The anchored raft has a big hole where you can see fish right into the water. The fishes gather at the opening as staff feeds them with breadcrumbs.
2. Aglicay Beach
One of the best beaches in Romblon is the Aglicay beach on the eastern coast of Tablas Island. You can reach the beach in 30 minutes from the Romblon Airport, while it takes around 25 minutes if you’re coming from Looc downtown.
Aglicay beach is part of the resort, which is the only establishment you can see here. You don’t have to be a guest to grant access to the beach. Instead, you only need to pay for a small entrance fee, and voila!
Tourists will love the white-yellowish fine sands stretching around almost half a kilometer long enough to stroll at any time of the day. The towering palm trees, however, compliment the beach vibe and provides shades.
Aglicay beach is ideal for that much-needed swim during the summer season in Romblon. But, aside from swimming, there are also perfect spots to go snorkeling.
When you want to take a break from the sea, the trails to the nearby hills will take you to the breathtaking views of the cove.
As one of the secluded beaches in Tablas Island, guests can enjoy a sense of privacy at Aglicay beach.
3. Binucot Beach
Another idyllic beach to visit when exploring Tablas Island is the Binucot beach in Ferrol. Located in between Looc and Odiongan, you can reach this beach in 30 minutes either way around.
With its western location, expect those dramatic sunset views during the late afternoon visit. Thanks to its long stretch of white sand coastline, tourists will likewise love the tropical vibe and views as well.
You can spot a rocky islet that seemingly folds the beach into two separate coves fringed with coconut trees.
The best time to visit Binucot beach is during the high tide season when you love swimming on the beach. The sea bed here is more on a rocky bottom that gets exposed during the lows.
Whether you’re visiting for a short or extended stay, you can always expect an uncrowded beach space in Binucot beach.
When planning for an overnight stay, there are also a handful of beach resorts to choose from in Binucot beach.
4. Footprints Beach Resort
Footprints beach is one of the famous beaches in Romblon to visit whenever you’re touring Tablas Island.
While Footprints beach resort lies on the coast of San Andres, it is one of the faraway resorts from the port and airport. Needless to say, it stays true when you want to experience simple island life in Romblon, even for just a couple of days.
Guests can likewise enjoy the peaceful sunsets in the Footprints beach resort, in addition to the calmer waves of the western coast.
The bungalow accommodations here sit right in front of the beach, offering unobstructed views of the sea. You can lounge on a hammock or chill by the restaurant while sipping your cold drinks. It’s a perfect place to unwind, relax, and detox from the stresses of city life.
You can use the kayaks and paddleboards to reach the nearby corals for snorkeling when going in for water adventures.
5. Mablaran Falls
The most known waterfall in Tablas Island is the Mablaran Falls.
Although the waterfall is less of an attraction, locals have conveniently transformed the area into more of a picnic hotspot.
To reach Mablaran falls, pass by the Linawan-Mablaran Falls Road, and the endpoint leads to the entrance of the falls.
A small waterfall feeds the large basin with fresh water from the upstreams. With towering trees surrounding the area, the place remains cool even during the high sun.
Aside from swimming directly into the freshwater basin, there are vine ropes where you can swing and drop to the waters.
Developments like seating areas, nipa huts, and changing areas were constructed to provide convenience to locals and tourists.
Mablaran Falls is a fun addition to your Romblon tourist spots bucket list, especially when you stay at the Footprints beach resort. Distance between the two is just a shy 10 minutes.
6. Blue Hole
When you want to explore unusual Romblon tourist spots, the Blue Hole in San Agustin is the right place to visit. This diving spot points near the coast of Punta Gorda and is a few meters away from the Gorda lighthouse.
Reaching this diving spot isn’t as complicated, even if it lies to one of the northeastern endpoints in Tablas. When going to the drop-off point along the dirt road, you need to descend a few steps until you reach a cliff.
If you’re not into swimming, you can still preview the dark hole from the cliff.
The blue hole has an opening of five meters which slowly widens down to its seabed sloping up to 30 meters down. However, note that diving during strong currents is not allowed as it can quickly push you back into the surface.
Experienced divers may appreciate its seemingly worldly existence of the dark opening underwater. Noting that it is the only known blue hole in the Philippines to date, the Blue Hole in Romblon is one of the bucket lists of divemasters in the Philippines.
7. Tinagong Dagat
Going for a cove hopping in Calatrava leads you to the northern-most tourist spot of Tablas Island, the Tinagong Dagat, or the hidden sea.
The Tinagong Dagat are two small lakes caved inside the upper land where water is still salt water.
The lake connects to the sea via an underground channel and influences the tide of each other.
Although a 10-meter land separates the lake from the shoreline, capturing aerial shots lets you appreciate its hidden-like location.
Tinagong Dagat is one ideal place to spend a quick picnic during your cove hopping tour in Calatrava, with its hidden setting as fortified by the limestones and trees.
8. Linao Ni Victo
This unrated waterfall is often out of the bucket list of tourists visiting Romblon in Tablas Island.
While locals and a few tourists know the place, finding the exact location in Google maps is unavailable.
Linao ni Victo falls pins down to Barangay Panique in Odiongan, nearing the boundary to San Andres town. Pass by the provincial road and turn to Tabing Ilog Road until you reach small signage pointing to the falls.
While it is best to seek assistance from the locals, adventurous tourists can easily find Linao ni Victo falls in no time.
From the drop-off point, walk by the grasslands for about 15 minutes, and you can then spot and hear the rushing waters of the falls.
The fall is relatively small in terms of drop, but the basin catches tourists’ attention. As calm as a bluish swimming pool! Rocky walls envelop the natural pool with varying heights, acting as a diving platform for the thrill-seekers.
Linao ni Victo is a great escape to cool down and take a break from the sea waves in Romblon.
Remember that there is no available life vest or floating device nearby unless you bring one.
Romblon Island
9. Bonbon Beach
Romblon Island is the central hub of Romblon province and is the home to one of the most beautiful sandbars in the Philippines.
Other than its pristine powdery-white coastline, the sandbar here makes a fair share of famous Romblon tourist spots in Romblon Island and the whole province.
Unlike the sandbars in Camiguin, the Bonbon sandbar connects an uninhabited island from the central Romblon Island during low tide season.
With enticing, clear waters and fine white sands, tourists will love spending some time wandering on the coast and at the sandbar. Make sure to check the tide forecast when you want to experience walking on the runway-like sandbar, though.
While private individual owns the area, tourists can visit the area free of charge. You only need to follow their rules of leaving footprints behind.
When visiting Bonbon beach, expect the absence of commercial stalls and resorts. Whether visiting for a quick or extended stay, make sure to bring some refreshments so you stay hydrated, especially on those sweltering days.
10. Fort San Andres
Take a break from your sea adventures and explore the boundaries of the city center. The Fort San Andres near the commercial district offers untamed sea views, the town, and mountains as the backdrop.
Built during Spanish colonialism, Fort San Andres is the oldest surviving structure in Romblon.
Acting as a fortified defense back in the days, Fort San Andres now boasts one of the historical Romblon tourist spots.
You can reach the entrance of the fortress either on a scooter or a steep stair of steps.
Fort San Andres forms a square shape with turrets on each corner. Its coral stone build speaks of its olden features that have stood the test of time.
Visiting Fort San Andres is free of charge, while donations are beneficial to local guides. It’s a lovely space to observe the sunsets of Romblon as well.
11. Saint Joseph Cathedral
Like the Fort San Andres, the Saint Joseph Cathedral in Romblon Island is also one of the oldest structures built sometime in the 15th century.
As one of the National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in Romblon, the Saint Joseph Cathedral is also the center of Catholicism in the Romblon province.
Its well-maintained architecture features coral stone construction to its facade, walls, and buttresses. You cannot also ignore its bell tower adorned with red bricks.
However, the cathedral’s interior graces the works of Romblon artisans from its stained windows, paintings, and ornaments originated in Romblon.
Make sure to include this in your Romblon tour. Visiting Saint Joseph Cathedral is ideal for faithful travelers and tourists who love exploring olden structures as well.
12. Romblon Marble
Besides natural Romblon tourist spots like beaches, mountain trails, and waterfalls, Romblon is also known for its rich marble deposits.
Quarry sites are found in the northeastern part of Romblon Island, and you can spot local artisans along the road.
Marvel at how they produce souvenirs like flower vases, ashtrays, animals, and even cellphone stands. Other products also include furniture like dining tables and baptismal fonts, while more significant portions allocate for construction materials.
You can imagine how skilled the artisans are in sculpting detailed items from the rock-hard stones.
Romblon produces different shades of marble products varying from white, cream-white, Italian white, and blue. Likewise, the most valued of the other color is the onyx black.
13. Tiamban Beach
Tiamban beach is your next choice of beach next to Bonbon beach when exploring the beaches of Romblon Island.
While Tiamban beach neighbors the more popular Bonbon coast, they share a lot of your typical dream Philippine beach. From the fine white sands to bordering towering coconut trees to pristine waters.
Tiamban beach, like Bonbon beach, lies on a privately owned property. Guests are also welcome to come by the beach for a small entrance fee.
Due to its geographical position near the cove, water currents are almost none during the calm weather. Hence, the quality of water in Tiamban is more crystal compared to other beaches in Romblon.
With its inviting ambiance, tourists can enjoy taking a quick soak or wandering along the whole stretch of Tiamban. The best time to visit is early morning for a peaceful vibe and afternoon to catch fantastic sunset views.
14. Cobrador Island
Off the coast of central Romblon Island are three smaller islands, namely Logbon, Alad, and Cobrador. When you want to explore more beaches when you’re in Romblon, you should go for a trip to Cobrador Island.
This smaller island features many white-sand beaches and a turtle sanctuary.
Reaching the island takes around 40 minutes of a boat ride, and you need to commission local boatmen. Most of which are on a lump sum price regardless of your group size.
Exploring the deeper coast of Cobrador is also home to abundant corals and marine animals. If you’re into snorkeling, you can bring your gears, rent from the locals in Cobrador, or secure rentals from Romblon Island before going in.
When planning to stay for an extended time, bring in enough food and water as there is no restaurant or accommodation on the island.
If you fascinate turtles of any kind, you can easily spot sea turtles near the sanctuary. Snorkeling or swimming with turtles, by any chance, it’s a nice place to experience incredible things with Romblon tourist spots.
Sibuyan Island
15. Cresta de Gallo
Any tourist’s word of mouth from the locals when you’re in Sibuyan island is Cresta de Gallo.
Unlike the sandbars in Bonbon, Cresta de Gallo scores a longer stretch of fine white sands on both ends of the island and eventually borders the whole peninsula with raw white sand beaches.
The serene ambiance of Cresta de Gallo invites you to explore the whole island itself. You can bask under the sun, play all around the sandbars, or lie and rest under the shades overlooking Mount Guiting Guiting.
Aside from your usual laidback activities when visiting islands, Cresta de Gallo is a perfect place to capture fantastic drone shots, with every corner as picturesque as a postcard.
While making DIY trips on the island is doable, some arranged tours offer meals for added convenience.
Cresta de Gallo is an isolated small island down south of Sibuyan in San Fernando. A boat ride from Azagra Port takes you to the island in less than an hour.
16. Mount Guiting Guiting
Those looking for an extra adventure for their Romblon tourist spots adventure may take the challenge to climb Mount Guiting Guiting in San Fernando town.
With an elevation of 2,058 meters above sea level, this marks the highest point in Romblon.
The ideal itinerary for climbing Mount Guiting Guiting is three days minimum to maximize your climbing adventure in Sibuyan Island. After securing your DENR permit and settling local fees, their tourism office assigns a local guide with a ratio of one is to three climbers.
While it is pretty challenging to conquer G2, the climb is better for those with minimum experience than none, as mountaineers referred to.
The first day of the climb allows you to reach Mayo’s peak, where you will be spending the night. After that, however, you need to prepare for the second day as it is the time to summit and expect a more challenging and steep trail ahead. While the last day dedicates to your descend.
Mount Guiting Guiting translates to ridges, as best describes its peak. As daunting as it may seem, conquering this Philippine mountain is among the bucket list of avid local and foreign mountaineers.
You can read the blog of Jackson of Journeyera.com with his team about their Mount Guiting Guiting experience.
17. Cantingas River
Another tourist attraction one must not miss when in Sibuyan Island is the Cantingas River, still in San Fernando. So, tourists who want to skip the beach can still have fun from the freshwater pool basin in Cantingas River.
With all the clear and bluish coastlines of the islands in Romblon, the Cantingas River shares the same. Thus, this keeps the river one of the cleanest of its kind in the Philippines.
As a favorite destination of locals, the resort in the Cantingas river offers enough space to accommodate vehicles, while tables, and umbrellas for those staying for a picnic.
There is also a multi-platform diving spot to add some thrill for the extra ones.
Aside from being one of the Romblon tourist spots, the Cantingas river serves way more purpose in Sibuyan Island. A hydropower plant not far from the resort supplies almost 90% of the island’s power requirements.
🔗 Interesting Island Tourist Destinations | Camiguin | Siquijor |
Pack your travel bag and conquer Romblon tourist spots now
You’ll never run out of things to do and places to visit in Romblon. Given the less attention it receives, unlike other island destinations in the Philippines, discovering Romblon may be your next favorite.
Exploring the whole Romblon province may take much time, but why not give it a go. There are still way more to fit on the above list of Romblon tourist spots from stunning beaches, freshwater bodies like waterfalls and rivers, and postcard-worthy sandbars.
When planning a trip to Romblon, book your accommodation and avail of deals before the peak season starts. This way, you’ll get to have a better value and plenty of resorts and guesthouses to choose from.
Where are you going to visit first, then? Would you please share your thoughts in our comment section?
Safe travels!
Remember that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. For your guidance about the changes in health protocols, you may visit the guidelines from the Department of Tourism. Stay safe.