Badian is known for Kawasan Falls and its gift of challenging its visitors to an exhilarating canyoneering experience.
But in our recent trip to this southern Cebu town, located 104 kilometers from Cebu City, we skipped the falls and headed to Lambug White Beach for two days and one night of nothing but the glory of sand, sea and sun
The last time we packed our bags for a dose of saltwater was last July 2018 on the occasion of the twins’ fifth birthday. I am ashamed that it took me so long to plan another beach outing. So I tried to make up for my insensitivity to my children’s love for the ocean by organizing this trip, which led us, the northern Cebu residents specifically from the town of Liloan, to take on three modes of transportation to get to Badian, southern Cebu.
Destination
Why Badian?
My husband asked me this question when I told him we were going south for a beach adventure. Unlike me, Jeff does not like long bus rides. But I told him that I have been meaning to visit Lambug White Beach in Badian to check out what people on Facebook have been raving about as one of the finest beach destinations in Cebu. My brother, Hendrix, already went there two years ago and told me about an affordable accommodation option (more on this later) that will give us a beachfront room at the fraction of a cost that most high-end resorts charge.
Lambug White Beach is located about 15 to 20 minutes from the Badian town proper. I thought it was just near the highway but it actually took a bumpy and scenic trip to reach the secluded beach from the town center.
From the town center, the tricycle traversed barangay roads which zigzagged through a golf course, residential houses, and tropical vegetation. There were animals left to graze by the side of the road. My children loved everything they saw. They were singing on the road with wide smiles on their faces!
There is no entrance fee for day use in the beach. The local government of Badian is not charging any environmental fee. When we were there, there were several groups who pitched their tents by the shoreline. If you pitch your tent near any of the resort, they usually charge P50. But if you set up your tent in areas where there are no resorts, you won’t be charge any fees.
But this does not give anyone the license to be careless.
The white sand is definitely the most attractive part of this beach but we found trash along the stretch of this wonderful destination. On the morning of January 3, Thursday, my children and I strolled the beach and picked up trash. There were plastic bags, bottles, straws.
I love that this is a public beach that gives everyone access but something has to be done about the garbage. The caretakers and owners of the resort do a good job in keeping their surroundings clean. From my observation, I noticed that the tourists/visitors are the trash culprits. So let this post also serve as a reminder to anyone planning to visit Lambug Beach: please practice the leave no trace principle.
Do not abuse nature or you won’t have a clean beach to enjoy in the coming years.
Lambug White Beach is a paradise for those who just want to enjoy the beach. We spent two days swimming and building sand castles. Our meals were either grilled or cooked in pots on top of charcoal grill. Our room was basic with three huge beds and a comfort room. We open our door and infront of us is the beach. Up to this day, eight/nine days after the trip, my children still talk about the crabs, the sand and the ocean.
For the complete itinerary, click here: Itinerary-Badian.
Getting there
To get to Lambug White Beach from Cebu City, take a bus bound for Bato via Barili at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. When in doubt, just ask the people in the terminal and they will direct you to the right bus.
We preferred the Ceres air-conditioned bus that charges P160 per person (adult) and P130 per person (children). We occupied three seats for adults (Jeff, myself and Ate Joy) and two seats for Nick and Toni.
Travel time takes three hours. We asked the bus conductor to drop us off near 7/11 store. My brother, Hendrix, was not in the same bus with us. By the time we arrived in Badia, he was already waiting for us by the highway.
A blue tricycle was on standby to bring us to our home for the night, 5J Lodge and Beach Resort. As mentioned, Lambug White Beach is not near the highway. After an interesting drive from the town center, the driver brought us to a spot which served as a parking area and then guided us as we went down a flight of stairs to the resort.
I am all for adventure so we had a memorable journey to get from Liloan to Badian.
- Tricycle from our home in Liloan to the taxi stand in Bag-ong Dan;
- Taxi from Bag-ong Dan to Cebu South Bus Terminal;
- Bus from South Bus Terminal to Badian proper;
- Tricycle from Badian to Lambug White Beach.
Going home was less adventurous:
- Tricycle from Lambug White Beach to Badian;
- Bus from Badian to Cebu South Bus Terminal;
- Taxi from Cebu South Bus Terminal to our Liloan home.
I thought this will be a stressful exercise but I actually had fun. Check out the big smiles.
Accommodation
It was my brother, Hendrix, who told me about 5J Lodge and Beach Resort, which he is familiar with having stayed there two years ago.
We looked for their contact details on Facebook and read on people’s reviews about the lodge and the service. We decided to stay there after reading positive reviews. Room rates are between P1,000 to P2,500 and can accommodate big groups. Hendrix suggested that we pick Room 10, which will give us the beachfront room. The room can accommodate 8 to 12 people. It is only a fan room but the breeze from the ocean made the room cozy. My children and their Dad slept ever so soundly that night, while Hendrix pitched a tent on the beach, right infront of our room.
For an overnight stay at Room 10, we spent P2,500. We paid P1,000 to the resort, a few days before our trip. We paid the balance of P1,500 upon checking out.
Please take note that this is a basic accommodation. The restroom is clean but do not expect a sophisticated shower and bath.
You can borrow utensils, pots and grill from the caretakers/owners.
Beside Room 10 is a sari-sari (teeny, tiny convenience) store which sells the basic necessities. They also sell charcoal for your grilling needs. They sell softdrinks, alcoholic beverages, chips and other snacks. A five-gallon bottled water is sold at P80 which came in handy because there is no free drinking water in the area.
If you need specific items though, then make sure to buy them in advance because it will be quite a challenge to look for a ride that will take you back to the town center; that is, if you did not bring your own vehicle. Hendrix brought everything we need before we went to Lambug White Beach so our meals were all prepared outside our room with all the necessary ingredients placed on one table.
Contact 5J Lodge and Beach Resort at 0926 283 0537 or through their Facebook page. Room 10 is the “ground floor” room in their profile picture. Above it is Room 11. But be sure to pick Room 10 though so water supply will not become a challenge.
Expenses
We spent a total of P7,660 for everything. Hendrix spent for most of our meals. You won’t believe it but he only spent P1,080 for one roasted whole chicken, fish, pork, eggs, chicken, spices and hanging rice. That amount fed us for three meals. Amazing! Jeff and I split the expenses for the other items.
Not bad for a trip that involved four adults and three children.
For detailed expenses, click here: Breakdown of Expenses – Badian.
We are off to experience other beach destinations and camp sites within the year as I made a promise to involve the family in more outdoor adventures in 2019. But I would go back to Lambug White Beach and 5J Lodge in a heartbeat. Unlike Tabuelan 2018, this beach trip to Badian’s Lambug White Beach had the children and Jeff experience grilling food, spending as much time as they want to swim and make sand castles, meet new friends and play with dogs, and just enjoying the sunrise and the sunset.
Dear readers, I wish you and your family can also enjoy this place. But remember to always treat your destination with respect. Leave no trace and… enjoy the journey as much as you enjoy the destination.
What about you? Where have you been so far?
