Hernandez Guesthouse -Donsol
The Hernandez in downtown Donsol is a great lodging house for backpackers, with rooms start at 400 to 500 pesos, depending on the time of year and your bargaining skills.
It’s on the corner across from the Santiago – another great backpackers lodging house at the jeepney corner. Donsol can be visited on the cheap if you are on a budget.
There is a well stocked sari sari store downstairs and a great bakery in the back.
Hernandez has gated parking area behind the bakery.
The rooms vary in size and condition. The one above the bakery is the best. It’s a corner room with windows on two sides so you get a breeze blowing through.
Early in the mornings you might awaken to the smell of fresh bread and donuts being baked directly beneath you on the ground floor.
We were very satisfied with our accommodation and stayed 4 nights.
The Santiago Lodging House (across the street) has a better kitchen because you have access to a two burner gas stove. At the Hernandez Guesthouse (picture at left – note: no stove) you are only able to peel fruit and make cereal and sandwiches.
They do have a restaurant downstairs that just opened last year and the management probably wants the visitors to eat there instead of cooking for themselves. The meals are good and they are open quite late in the evenings. They also have a large stock of cold beer.
Here Elayne and Chip discuss the merits of having a double standard.
It was generally agreed that it is a useful social tool.
This is the cutest little monkey! She does not care for girls, however!
It’s a short walk to the market just around the corner. There is a vendor there selling great Batangas coffee – really good!
Vegetables, fruits, shampoos and soap are easily found but snorkels and masks are not to be found.
Donsol, the whale shark watching capital of the world, is growing every year as the word gets out.
Internet shops are springing up and the locals are profiting greatly by having this tourist attraction in their backyard.
Hernandez Guesthouse Donsol
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
the kitchen picture that you posted is that at the santiago house?
thanks!
Hello bren,
That picture is the the kitchen at the Hernandez Guesthouse, but notice that there is not a stove for cooking.
There is a nice big table for eating snacks, writing, having a drink or whatever but there are no cooking facilities at the Hernandez.
Last time I was at the Santiago Guesthouse, across the street, there was a two burner stove set up on the counter.
All pictures in this story were taken at the Hernandez in Feb of 2009.
cheers
dp
hey there
do you have a contact number or email to make reservations for the hernandez guesthouse or is it safe to just show up there? please advise! thanks!
krsitia
Hi krista,
I hope to be back up there next week and will try to get you a contact number.
I am pretty sure that they usually operate on a first come – first served basis.
Most travelers just show up and take their chances. The Hernandez and Santiago Guesthouses are my favorites but there are other places to stay as well. These two are across the street from one another right by jeepney corner. Tricycles to the tourist center, 4 kilometers distant, will always be available here too. (15 peso per person)
There is a guy with a killer Batangas coffee right around the corner by the park (if you need a little spark to get going in the mornings!)
hey dp
thanks for the quick response. im very lucky to have come across your blog. it’s simply fantastic. i have a quick question for you.
I’m arriving in Legaspi at 11am of April 21 and have to leave for Cebu from Legaspi at 1pm on April 23.
I was planning on going to Donsol straight away from the airport, register with the tourist office, do the firefly tour at night then the next day do the butanding swim then head back to Legaspi and do a tour of Mayon that afternoon or early morning of April 23.
Do you think this itinerary will work? Or would you suggest something else?
Thanks!
Oh and thanks for the coffee plug. I love coffee. I’ll def. try that out.
Hi krista,
Time wise it could work out – no problem. The wild card is the weather – rains would make both the whale shark swimming and the viewing of Mt. Mayon difficult.
I say “Go for it!” and take your chances.
ideas:
No need to register the day before for the whale sharks. If you are running late you can register in the morning (it only takes 5 minutes and 300 pesos)
The ruins of Cagsawa could be seen after you see the whale sharks on the 22nd or on you way from the airport to Donsol. Keep in mind that darkness falls around 6pm so you will have to get a move on it. To actually drive up to the observation point up on the mountain will take more time and it might not fit into your schedule.
You could even stop at the ruins of Cagsawa on the way to Donsol and just register for the whale sharks in the morning of the 22nd. if it is a clear afternoon it might be a good call. The turn off to Cagsawa is just past the town of Daraga and is quite close to Legaspi. The mountain tends to be clear early in the morning and later in the afternoon.
Have fun!
dp
hey dp
thanks for the insight!
so if i’m gonna swing by cagsawa before heading off to donsol, how should i go about doing that?
should i hire a cab for a couple of hours to take me around mayon?
thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. :) really. it’s very hard to come across reliable info from this far away.
kristia
Hi krista,
Going up the back side of Mayon will take several hours but a trip to Cagsawa is quick and painless.
I have shared the cost of a van with 7 others before and we split the 2000 peso costs. It is a bit of a drive to go around the back side.
A trip to Cagsawa near Daraga is a quick detour on the way from Legaspi to Donsol. That side trip would add an hour or so to the commute. You would be able to see if the mountain is clear when you leave Legaspi. If it is clouded over, just have the driver go straight to Donsol instead.
Try to catch it on the way back.
dp
hey dp
thanks again for your input. how much do you think i should budget for this short trip? would 2500 pesos be enough for one person or no?
my cousin is coming with me now. all i’m planning on doing is go to cagsawa, do the firefly tour, and the butanding swim.
thanks so much.
kristia
Hi there, I am trying to find out the tel number for Santiago and Hernandez, do you have it? It would be most helpful.
Thanks!
Angie
Hi Anqu!
Will try to get it for you, but I think that they would be hesitant to take a reservation if they already have a paying customer standing there in front of them.
Most lodgers at either the Santiago or the Hernandez are walk ins that just got off the jeepney at the corner.
Have a great trip!
dp
Hi krista,
2,500 pesos will be a bit tight. Consider passing on the firefly tour and just take a walk over the bridge at night instead.
If you use public transport – to and from Legaspi you should be ok, but a private taxi would not fit into your budget, nor would a trip up the volcano.
The Cagsawa Ruins – no problem , as it is just off the highway.
If you bring your own mask and snorkel, you will save 300 pesos as well.
cheers
dp
Hey dp, just want to thank you for your replies on both lodging and whaleshark situation in May.
thanks so much!
-Angie
Hello Anqi,
Thanks for the compliment! Keep in mind that the weather gets worse the further along you get in May. The heavy rains wash a lot of debris into the water and the whale sharks stop feeding.
Still, I have had some great days with the whale sharks in May last year.
cheers
dp
Hi Dp,
Just reading through… there are actually a lot of whales still… and less tourists… this off season am trying a few more activities…including kite boarding
Hi Raymond Yap,
Thanks for the update.
Feel free to add your contact info to the forum as well.
cheers
dp
——————–
Hi. Could you also include my hotel in your site.
Giddy’s Place
Clemente Street, Main Town, Donsol
(info @ giddysplace.com)
http://www.giddysplace.com
+63 (917) 848-8881
8 deluxe Rooms and 2 Family rooms with aircon, hotshower, ref and cable TV.
5 backpacker rooms with a double deck bed per room
Free WiFi in reception and dining area
Full Bar and Restaurant
SPA
I will also be open all-year round.
Thanks…
Hi there,
Do you know whether is it ok to register with Donsol tourism council in the morning, real early? I’ll be taking an overnight bus to donsol and will reach at 3am. I’ve heard that the interaction starts at 7 or 8am, is there sufficient time to do it?
Hello Michelle,
There is no urgency to get to the Tourist Center real early in the morning because they will not even be open.
You can arrive at the center at 7 – 8am and you will be there in plenty of time to get your permit, see the video, get assigned to a boat and see the whale sharks.
Maybe even grab a quick drink and breakfast at the cafe there.
Some guide books say that you have to be out there first thing in the morning to have the best success but just go with the flow and you will see plenty of them at this time of year (March).
Have fun
dp