The Ilog Bukana in Cagbalete Island is a popular destination for visitors. It refers to the mouth of the San Jose River where it meets the sea.
This was our third and last stop during our island hopping in Cagbalete. Your tour guide will show you around the ilog bukana (river opening) so you could enjoy the site of the mangrove trees surrounding the area.
Kuya Danny, who was our boatman at that time (arranged via Dona Choleng Resort), asked us if we wanted to see the opening of San Jose River leading to the ocean. Since we have already consumed our 3-hour island hopping allotment (most of which was spent taking photos in Yang-In Sand Bar) and have already asked for an extension, we agreed to spend a few more minutes to see the bukana.
Since this is where river and sea converge, water is obviously brackish. I love swimming in brackish waters but this, I would have to skip. We just took photos of the mangrove trees as we drove around.
Read more: A Walk Along Cagbalete White Sand Beach
The Ilog Bukana is filled with very healthy mangroves. The mangrove forest seems to be very rich and teeming with life. Basing on how it looks, it must be providing a safe haven for an ecosystem of different fishes and water creatures, hopefully no crocodiles. 🙂
We spent a good 15-20 minutes driving around the mangrove forest then left the area to go back to our resort.
Read more: Where to Stay in Cagbalete Island
How to get to Ilog Bukana
The Ilog Bukana is located about 600 meters away from some resorts on the island, making it easily accessible for leisurely swimming and taking photos. It provides a unique natural attraction to appreciate during a visit to Cagbalete Island.
Once on Cagbalete Island, you can arrange an island hopping tour that includes a visit to Ilog Bukana at San Jose River.
Many visitors include the Ilog Bukana as part of their island hopping tours, along with destinations like Yang-in Sandbar and the fish sanctuary. Renting a boat for 3 hours to visit these sites typically costs around ₱1,000 for a group of 6 people.
Read more: How to Go to Cagbalete Island
How much is the entrance fee?
There is no entrance fee to this attraction apart from what you need to pay for the island hopping tour.
