Overview
Cleofas Cottages Campsite is a beachfront camping area at Cleofas Cottages, formerly Villa Cleofas, on Cagbalete Island in Mauban, Quezon. Campers use their own tents, pay ₱200/head/night, and reach the site by boat from Mauban.
This is a simple island campsite, not a car-camping ground. The camping option is bring-your-own-tent tent pitching without electricity. The resort also has huts and cottages, but this listing is for tent campers who want the cheaper beach setup.
Cagbalete sits in Lamon Bay and is known for wide low-tide flats, sandbars, and a long boat approach from Mauban. Low tide matters here. Boats may not dock close to the beachfront when the water is out.
How do you get to Cleofas Cottages Campsite?
Drive or commute to Mauban town, register near the tourist port, and take a boat to Cagbalete Island. Private boats go closer to the resort in about 45 minutes. Public boats land at Sabang, followed by a 15–20 minute walk or a short island transfer.
For a weekend driver, the practical map point is Mauban tourist port on Enverga Boulevard, not the island beach. Park in Mauban, settle tourism office requirements, then board either a private boat or the public passenger boat.
From Sabang, the onward options are simple: hike about 1 kilometer for free, ride a motorbike for around ₱50/head, pre-book a tricycle for ₱300 one-way for 2 people plus bags, or ask about a small boat transfer when tide allows.
How much does camping at Cleofas Cottages Campsite cost?
Bring-your-own-tent camping at Cleofas Cottages Campsite costs ₱200/head/night. That same ₱200/head/night is the total campsite fee used for fee_min and fee_max. It covers tent pitching without electricity and use of common toilet and shower areas.
A camping hut for up to 4 people costs ₱2,000/night, while cottages and rooms cost more. Those are not used for the tent-camping fee here.
Budget extra for the road and boat. Public passenger boat fares and private boat rates change. Bring cash for boat transfers, food, cooking fuel, kitchen items, alcohol corkage, and island transfers.
What amenities does Cleofas Cottages Campsite have?
Cleofas Cottages Campsite has common toilets and showers, running water for washing, and no drinking-water supply. Tent pitches have no electricity. Campers can cook on-site, rent kitchen utensils and LPG tanks, and use the grill for free.
The water rule is clear: overhead tanks supply toilets and baths, but campers must bring drinking water. Bring toiletries, towels, blankets, pillows, mats, and a power bank.
The island now has solar power, but the tent-pitching option is still without electricity. Do not count on charging at your tent. Heating appliances such as water heaters, rice cookers, hair dryers, and hair irons are prohibited. There is no restaurant at the resort. Pet and bonfire rules remain unconfirmed.
What do campers say about Cleofas Cottages Campsite?
Campers use Cleofas Cottages Campsite for a basic beach camp: tent facing the sea, white sand in front, and Bonsai Island visible during low tide. The tradeoff is access, because public-boat arrivals may require a walk from Sabang before reaching the resort.
The final approach can be rough in rainy weather, with mud and puddles between Sabang and the resort. That matters for a two-day trip. Arriving with heavy bags, coolers, or a late public-boat schedule makes the final kilometer harder.
The beach is the reason to go. Low tide opens broad sand flats, and the resort sits on the side of Cagbalete used for sunrise, swimming, and simple cooking at camp. Food choices are limited and prices can run higher because supplies come from the mainland.
Mobile signal varies on the island. Plan as if data may fail, bring offline maps, and keep boat contacts saved before leaving Mauban.
When is the best time to camp at Cleofas Cottages Campsite?
March to May is the clearest supported camping window for Cagbalete Island, with better beach weather and stronger low-tide appeal. Check the tide chart before booking, because low tide changes boat docking and can turn the beachfront into a long walk.
For weekend campers, leave early enough to reach Mauban before the useful boat window. The road leg from Manila is commonly given as about 3.5 to 5 hours depending on route and traffic, then the boat adds about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Rainy-season trips can still happen, but the boat ride and Sabang-to-resort transfer get rougher. Pick a fair-weather weekend, bring drinking water, and keep the return boat plan conservative.
