My gear during the entire trip while aboard the roro from Calapan.

This is the 16th and last installment of the Luzon – Visayas – Luzon Loop series. Click the image on the right to check out the rest of the posts.

It’s the end of the road for my first Luzon – Visayas – Luzon roadtrip or what I fondly call, theLOOP. Its been really an arduous but enjoyable adventure across many provinces, thousands of kilometers and new discoveries. The total cost might be more than taking a plane Manila-Cebu-Manila but the experiences I gained, PRICELESS!

Will I do this again? SURE! And I will not only repeat it if time and budget allows but I’m looking at longer routes ahead!

Cheap accommodations in Kalibo.

While in Kalibo in Aklan, I managed to keep costs at a minimum by staying at this P135 (about $3) dorm type accommodation just beside the bus and van terminal. Good thing that even if it was pre-Ati atihan, I had all the room to myself. Beats renting an expensive airconditioned room.

Disembarking passengers at the Roxas wharf.

From Caticlan, the roro stops at Roxas in Mindoro Oriental. But really, its a long trip, the longest in the entire loop which takes 4 hours at a minimum and 6 hours at maximum depending on the weather. Not really a too enjoyable boatride as you can only see nameless islands, the sea and sky. Better to sleep it off if you don’t mind the boring B movie being shown.

A usual scene after every roro disembarkation, passengers boarding their respective buses.

After disembarking the roro, the bus scenes were at least orderly and not too chaotic compared to what I experienced in Allen, Northern Samar. Too bad, I didn’t get to ride a bus but was left again with no other option but a vhire. Unfortunately, as it was already evening, I have to forgo the Mindoro scenery.

Sleeping it off while taking the three hour roro trip to Batangas.

The roro from Calapan, Mindoro Oriental to Batangas City takes just 3 hours and even if it was already around 9PM, there are still trips between the two points.

Luzon at last!

Arriving in Luzon, it was another crowded vhire trip for me. After three hours, I am back home in Makati and took a much needed rest.

This is the LUZON-VISAYAS-LUZON LOOP.

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger and freelance photographer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten for CNN Go and his photograph published in the May 2010 issue of the National Geographic Magazine.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.