Pink Beach, Great Sta. Cruz Island, Zamboanga City - A gem hidden before the eyes of Filipinos

Pink Beach, Great Sta. Cruz Island, Zamboanga City

- A gem hidden before the eyes of Filipinos

Author’s note:

I am writing this blog because I was really amazed with the beauty of this island beach. But more importantly I am writing this blog to fulfill the request of the locals there. They asked me to put them in the internet and inform the Filipinos that such marvelous beauty actually exists in Mindanao. Please do read and share for them. ^_^

 

Getting there.

The only mode of transportation going there is through a large boat in Fort Pilar. If you want to go there you need to make reservations because sometimes there are many tourists who want to visit the island. Unfortunately I don’t have the contact details for you to make the reservations.

 

The boat transport will start fetching the tourists at 7AM. It’s a medium-size boat which could fit in 15 persons. The fee for the boat is just Php 100 and the boat ride would be 10-15 minutes long.

You could make an arrangement with the ferry man at what time you want to be fetched back to Fort Pilar. The tourism officers would tell you that you must be picked up a little after noon time since the tides would be rising and the waves would grow bigger since the island is in the middle of an open sea.

Setting foot on the island you will be welcomed by the large letters planted in the sand which reads I ZAMBOANGA. You can opt to just stay under the shade of the trees and enjoy the cool breeze or you can also rent a cottage which comes in affordable rates, or you could just also rent a table. There are comfort rooms and dressing areas available, as well as a place to grill your food.

You need to pay Php 25.00 for the environmental fee. This is how the locals maintain the beauty of the island. I can see in the near future that this island will become even more beautiful in the near future.

The pictures won’t do the beach justice. The sand on the island is not literally pink, but it would look pink because of the red coral fragments by the bay. As you walk further from the shore the sand would then be more of dirty white to gray. The water by the shore is very clear and picturesque, but you can’t swim too far from the shore because at that the waters will be too deep.

At the back of the cottages are vendors selling “pasalubong items” at affordable items. As they have told me the story, their pasalubong items are manufactured from old tree roots which could negate bad luck and serve as a charm. They also have stainless necklace and bracelets, as well as keychains and ref magnets.

But what caught my attention is an open shell with what seems like small beads attached to it. This is what they call as “The Mother of Pearls.” You’ll be amazed at how pearls are actually made. Search it on google 😉. Out of these pearls they will make pearl necklaces and bracelets.

 

Just this year, this Pink Beach in Sta. Cruz Island was hailed one of the best beaches in the world by National Geographic channel. This is what saddens the locals as I have talked to them. The beauty of the beach has been overshadowed by our negative perception of Zamboanga City due to Zamboanga Siege. I tell you, its perfectly safe on the island, they even have military officers roaming the area.

Let us visit the island. Why go to other places and countries when we already have a world-renowned beach of our own?

'Til next adventure then!

p.s. All photos are mine. If you wish to use it kindly take out with proper credits ^_^