Mama Gie’s Homestay at Masasa Beach

Hi, I'm Angel! 🌴✨🌊 Our stay at Mama Gie's Homestay was amazing! Mama Gie and her husband were very welcoming and helpful throughout our stay. What we loved most were the friendly and understanding locals. They were incredibly kind and hospitable. From the moment we arrived, Mama Gie greeted us with a warm smile—it felt like being welcomed home by a grandmother after a long journey! Her smile, the crystal-blue ocean, and the boatmen's greetings made us excited to swim and explore the island. We stayed in a modern kubo with two air-conditioned rooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen with utensils and gas. All the rooms were so clean and smelled lovely—like a homey, welcoming home, not at all musty or unpleasant. All you need to bring is food and a cooler; there's even a grill! (Note: there's no refrigerator.) The homestay has stable Wi-Fi for Facebook and Messenger, though gaming might be a little laggy. Be aware that the island's electricity isn't as stable as on the mainland, but the homestay provides a generator. Mama Gie has a small store selling shampoo, soap, and other essentials, plus ice (though it's often cheaper to buy ice at Anilao Port). Uling (charcoal) isn't available on the island, so buy it beforehand. Local vendors sell halo-halo, pares, and ihaw-ihaw if you get a craving. We didn't have time for island hopping (it's a 4-hour tour), but snorkeling is a MUST! The beauty of Masasa, Tingloy Island, is breathtaking. You'll love seeing the pawikans (sea turtles), diverse fish, and vibrant corals. Mama Gie or her husband can arrange boat trips for island hopping (2000 pesos for 4 people) and snorkeling (200 pesos per person). Important Note: Getting to Anilao can be stressful. Due to ferry suspensions, there are limited ferries, leading to long lines. We arrived at 4:00 am and still faced a long wait. I hope they resolve this issue, as it's causing some tourists to cancel their bookings. To avoid the long ferry lines, we asked Ate LJ, one of Mama Gie's Homestay owners, for help. She stayed with us until we boarded the ferry to Tingloy Island from Brgy. Talaga Port (250 pesos per person). From Papaya Shore, we took a mini-boat to the homestay (50 pesos per person). It's wise to bring extra cash in case of ferry suspensions, allowing you to hire a private boat. For our return trip, we took a mini-boat to Mahabang Buhangin (30 pesos per person), then a tricycle to Tingloy Port (120 pesos for 4 people). At Tingloy Port, we learned about a ticket cutoff due to limited tourist capacity. Arriving at 2:00 pm, we faced a 4-5 pm ferry departure. Instead, we opted for a private boat to Gasang Shore (250 pesos, discounted for children; free for babies aged 1-3). After a 20-minute wait, the 35-40 minute boat ride took us to Gasang Shore. A jeepney (3-5 minutes) was available to Anilao Port, but we used our pre-arranged van. Note: Private boats can carry up to 30 passengers, and you'll likely share the boat with other tourists. The Tingloy LGU assists with arranging private boat transport. That's all! I hope this review helps. A full video will be uploaded this June on my YouTube channel, "Angel Lou"—please support my mini-vlogging! And don't forget to bring your own food, as there's no market on the island.🌴✨🌊

Very recommended. Mama gie and her family are very accommodating