Danjugan Island

Danjugan is a small island off the southwestern coast of Negros that was logged and fished out by the 1970s and then bought back, replanted and protected - now run as a marine and wildlife reserve by a conservation foundation, with a field station used for education programmes and a strict cap on visitor numbers. What has come back is remarkable for the size of the place: five lagoons ringed by limestone forest, mangrove, caves used as roosts by several bat species including large fruit bats, more than seventy bird species, and reef around the island that is protected as sanctuary zones with clear water and healthy coral. Visits are by prior arrangement only, run as day trips or overnight stays with accommodation in simple cabins, and include guided walks, snorkelling and often a talk on the reserve's work. It is a working conservation site with visitors, rather than a resort - the rules reflect that.

What you actually see

• The five lagoons - saltwater pools inside the island.
• The bat caves - roosts in the limestone.
• The sanctuary reefs - protected coral around the shore.
• The forest trails - regrown limestone forest and viewpoints.

When to go

December to May for calm crossings and the clearest water. Bookings must be made ahead - visitor numbers are capped and walk-ups are not accepted.

Honest expectations

Access is by arrangement only, and the island is not open to casual visitors. Accommodation is basic cabins with limited power and water. Rules on where you may walk and swim are strict, because the place is a reserve first.

Nearby

Sipalay's Sugar Beach and dive sites are south along the coast; Bacolod is the provincial hub north.