Philippines

1 Hr Flight South Of Manila
12 Mi East Of Busuanga Island
Mindoro Strait
Palawan Province, near Club Paradise Resort
Philippines

Property for sale: $575,000 USD  (Negotiable)

Currently there are two cottages (owners and caretakers), built of tropical hardwood, bamboo, galvanised roof and tiles. There is a new, covered, concreted well that provides plenty of good drinking water year round. The island is 300 feet at its highest, with four towering rock outcroppings on the southern end of the island, and more on the northern side which are full of caves. The anchorage for the island is on the eastern side, with a nice sandy bottom in a shallow reef protected lagoon perfect for shallow draft boats.



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The eastern side of the island, which is home to the large beach, has coconut palms backed by littoral rainforests. The other hills on the island are also covered in thick vegetation, which is home to a variety of wildlife including birds, butterflies and a host of other wildlife. The coral reefs surrounding the island are magnificent, and are mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide to the Philippines as one of the best snorkelling locations in the area.
From the air this island is shaped exactly like a turtle swimming through the water. Nicolas Rambeau the owner of Pansukian resort in Siargao attempted to buy this island about 13 years ago, and still regards it is one of the most beautiful islands he has ever seen. This island is one of the most mystical and magical that one could ever behold; the amazing limestone and agate cliffs rising out of the turquoise waters, the immense white sand beach, the eerie caves and its remote setting both make one feel that this island should really be home to Dr. No or some other eccentric literary character. The island reminds one of the movie The Beach or scenes from Thailand's exotic islands.

Lying in the Mindoro Strait which connects the South China Sea to the Sulu Sea is the limestone and red marble island of Dumunpalit, which means in the local Cuyonin language "the place which never changes."

From Manila one flies by Southeast Asian Airlines to the YKR airfield on the island of Busuanga, near the bustling port town of Coron. These are the northern parts of Palawan province, the "last frontier" and most undeveloped province of the Philippines, well-endowed with tremendous natural assets of pristine beauty. This part of the Philippines is hundreds of miles and many provinces separated from the troubled Muslim areas, and is very safe with crime almost unheard of (a quiet & peaceful area).

A half hour jeep ride takes one to San Jose, a small village at the mouth of the San Jose River. The airport manager, Elmer, has his men ready to load the supplies onto his 40 foot spider boat with bench seats for twelve passengers (Or one can arrange passage with Club Paradise's taxi and boat). The boat chugs out to sea, past Maricaban Resort in Maricaban Bay, past Club Paradise on Dimakya Island, past a huge rock with a pure white sandbar and one lone small tree, past Diboyayan Island, and towards Dumunpalit's four towers jutting up on the horizon.

Often, dolphins tag along as the boat cuts though the long rolling waves in the smooth, deep blue waters. As the hour passes, details of the destination island, isolated by ocean for ten to fifty miles on all sides, become more clear- especially the gigantic rock columns cliffs and blades that hang over the ends of wide beaches and encircling, foaming surf. The island profile and lush verdant curves are enchanting, and a full roundabout visual tour is again requested from the boat captain.

The visitor simply never imagined another earthly scene such as this- the lure and compelling attraction of Dumunpalit feels primordial and magical. The desire to explore overwhelms newcomers as they fascinate over the "needle" rocks, the island's turtle shape with four massive flippers and head, the central three hundred foot dome, the eagle soaring overhead. And the water's edge network of caves.

On the southeast, there is no surrounding reef and the boat slides up to the shore. Passengers disembark directly on the beach, which is hundreds of feet deep at this point, and S-curves around the corner for almost 2000 feet. This is the "front" side of Turtle Island, where lies the flattest areas, below the dominating loom of the steep hills. The "back" side also has numerous beaches, but is backed up by almost insurmountable slopes and cliffs, mostly covered by trees, shrubs, grass, or sheer rock faces.

Coconut palms project above the forest canopy and a flock of "toto yalo" (totally yellow) birds wheel and dart amongst the larger trees. The two caretakers carry off the supplies and baggage, down the woodsy path, past their own cottage and the banyan tree to the rear, about two hundred yards to the owner's cottage- small, cozy, quiet, and right on the beach of the calm lagoon. The water catchment tank is full from the rains, and the tiny kitchen wing is stocked with cooking firewood. Fresh coconuts are stacked in the corner for refreshing drinks.

After settling in, unpacking, and a quick shower and snack, the entourage drifts along the beach to splash a little in the lapping waves, maybe go ahead and take that first swim in the four foot deep sandy bottomed reef-tamed ocean water. Then the path leads inland to a clearing with banana and citrus trees, and two wells at the base of the hillside. The manual water pump calls us over, and we pump the handle to test the clear drinking water. Surrounded by miles of salt water- and here, delicious fresh water! A sense of security descends..

Soon the dusky skies turn dark and fill with a myriad of twinkling stars. A campfire on the beach becomes the focus for evening conversation and the making of plans for the morrow.


Cave exploration?
Kayaking?
Hiking?
Gardening?
Bird watching?
Snorkeling?
Maybe climbing up to the lookout ledge on top?
FEATURES OF ISLAND:

1. Main beach 2000 feet long- top notch quality
2. A dozen other smaller beaches around the island
3. Rock formations like Mars, the Moon, Tibet, etc
4. One special cave with two entrances- one from sea & one from land
5. Natural arch bridge at water's edge
6. Numerous two hundred foot cliffs
7. Many birds, Monitor lizards, Palawan eagle, butterflies, bumblebees, some harmless boas, a wild chicken that "barks" at night
8. Series of cave networks in northeast rock peninsula
9. Beautiful corals- red, blue, orange pieces on the beaches
10. Mature indigenous forest with huge trees, amoghis, natuk, banyan etc
11. Twenty acres flat good-soiled lands for orchards, gardens, lawns, golf (!) or a horse!
12. Red marble cliffs and piles of building stone: good for construction
13. A slope covered in marble chip debris
14. Reef protected sand bottom lagoon
15. Boat landing right onto beach except in roughest weather (then use a tender or dinghy)
16. Plenty of year-round potable water
17. Fifty mature coconuts and many new ones planted
18. No mosquito or sandfly problem
19. Lookout near top of hill gives beautiful views of surrounding ocean & islands
20. Local legends of Japaneses buried gold bars from WWII (seriously- we found an excavation on the highest point & our workers took a day off to search the caves)
21. Explorer's paradise, hiker's fantasy, diver's dream, swimmer's delight
22. The "Needle Rocks" with erosion holes in their centers
23. Natural, pristine environment
24. Two acres flat meadowland on top of "saddle" between two hills
25. Numerous rocks and islets surrounding the main island are included, which provide roosts for birds and create fascinating wave and tide action

IMPROVEMENTS & DEVELOPMENTS:

1. Small but solid frame construction caretaker cottage with septic, kitchen, toilet, shower, porch, metal roof- Palawan style beach house
2. Larger (350 sq ft) guest cottage of superior construction with tiled kitchen, tiled shower & toilet room, septic tank, porch, Rain catchment system and 2000 liter stainless holding tank, right on beach of
lagoon, rattan detailings, double walled.
3. Network of "barefoot" quality paths across the island
4. Cleared areas of several acres for gardens and many fruit trees planted, including bananas, tamarind, papaya, coconut, mango, citrus, rambutan. Mature bananas, papaya, coconut trees.
5. Two water wells dug and concrete lined & covered with Jetmatic manual hand pumps installed- plenty of potable, year round water for bathing, drinking, irrigating the garden
6. Two responsible, productive caretakers from nearby village are proven worthy and reliable- they stay on the island at all times and work full time for total 9500 pesos a month (about 55 pesos per dollar, or US$172).
7. The island has its own new boat (2005) and new engine (2004) for the caretakers to maintain island needs.
8. Removal of thorn bushes completed and much is landscaped.
9. A 100 x 75 foot clearing ready for owner's residence.
10. Beach bench for sitting by guest cottage.